Even in spite of the sheer size of Abby's parents place and in spite of the elder Sciutos both being different, Abby had always been thankful that the atmosphere was very normal. Just like any average American household. In that vein, but mostly because an entire slew of people would be converging on the house later, Gloria had assigned chores to everyone. There was no time for dawdling.

Miraculously, Abigail finished first and left out with Beau. For some sort of adventure.

But when Abby was done with her task, her first objective was to seek out her mother.


"I finished everything." she reported.

Gloria arched an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes." Abby told her mother as she fixed a determinedly straight look on her face. "I actually have an errand to do now."

Gloria realized at once that she was being doled the run-around, but she didn't question it.

"Alright." she said simply. "Just don't step foot in your uncle's bar."

Abby chortled. "So that's where Abigail went with dad. I'll steer clear."

"Have a nice time out." Gloria checked the time on her watch. "I still have a few more things to do. See you later."

Abby bid her mother good-bye and set about with getting ready to leave.


Her next destination was the local shopping avenue.

It had everything. Several restaurants, two bars, all kinds of shops, a salon, and a bakery. At the very end of the street was a local market. There was even a hotel. It was all a beautiful amalgamation of seemingly random things that somehow just made sense. Abby had never questioned it.

Especially because there was a jewelry store. Devereux's Place.

A bell tinkled overhead as Abby pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Someone called out to her. "Abby? Is that you?"

Cecile Devereux was an old friend of the Sciutos, and Abby had known her for a large chunk of her life. She had even gone to school with Cecile's children. Her jewelry shop had forever been a paradise to Abby. And she had always appreciated Cecile's listening ear.

Abby hugged her old friend when they drew level with each other. "How are you?"

Cecile beamed. "I'm fine, just fine. What brings you back to Jefferson Parish?"

"I'm back for the holidays… and my family is here."

Cecile read into the pause. "You have your own family now?"

It was Abby's turn to beam. "Yes, and I'm so happy about it. Dreams actually do come true. There are five of us, and my love's name is also Abigail. It's a long story of how we all came to be."

"That's quite alright. I hope to meet them." Cecile spoke these words pointedly before changing lanes. "What brings you to the shop today?"

Abby showed Cecile her own jewelry. "My girlfriend gave me this ring a little while ago. It isn't to mark an engagement..."

Cecile realized what she was thinking. "Because it's a promise, and now you want to get a ring for her. Got it. You've certainly come to the right place, cher. What does your love like?"

"Silver. And her birthstone is topaz because we actually have the same birthday."

"Amazing." Cecile shook her head in wonder and beckoned to her friend. "I still keep all the fun rings up front."

Abby followed Cecile to the main counter at the head of the shop. Here she pored over the different rings while Cecile tended to a new customer. Every row had something exciting to look at.

Finally—

"And there you are." Abby murmured.

Indeed, the ring that had caught her eye was gorgeous. And so Abigail. Its band was made of simple silver. Directly in the middle was a topaz that had been cut into the shape of a heart. Encircling the gem was a loop of silver, embedded with tiny gems. Absolutely everything about the piece was perfect.

Abby didn't have long to wait for Cecile to be finished with her other customer.

"Well," the old woman remarked as she joined Abby from the other side of the counter. "I take it that you found something."

"Yep. I would like to purchase that fabulous topaz ring, please." Abigail pointed to it.

Cecile lifted the item out of the display case. "This one is very much a beauty. Do you know Abigail's ring size?"

"It's eight."

"I understand." Cecile glanced at the clock on the wall. "If you return in an hour, I can have this polished and in her size. What do you say?"

Abby didn't have to hesitate. "Yes, please."

She paid for the purchase and then left the shop.

At the end of an hour filled with visiting her favorite shops and stopping for tea at the café, Abby returned to Devereux's Place and Cecile was pressing a small velvet box into her hands.

"Here you go." she said. "Are you giving that ring to Abigail today?"

"I am." Abby pocketed the treasure. "Excited really doesn't begin to cover it. Thank you for all your help."

"You are most welcome, cher. Please come by with your family when you can."

Abby nodded. "Oh, I will."

Cecile gave her a parting wave and called to her as she left the establishment. "You take care, now! Give my best to your parents!"

Abby promised she would.

When she closed the door behind her, she found herself sighing. It was a small journey back to her parents' place. If only she could teleport there. She really needed to see Abigail already.


Of course, Abigail was yet out with Beau upon Abby's return to the house. It would be awhile.

So as to prevent Abigail from wearing a hole in the front hall with her unending paces, Gloria spoke to her.

"Did you have a nice time out?" she said in a pleasant tone.

Abby stopped pacing and physically turned to face her mother. While Gloria was adept at communication, she couldn't lip read when the other person was facing away.

"Yep—I did have a nice out. My jaunt took to me to Cecile's. I got a promise ring for Abigail." she dug the ring out of her pocket and handed it over. "This was just calling to me."

Gloria opened the box and peered inside. "Oh, I can see why. It's gorgeous. Abigail is going to love i—"

Their conversation was interrupted as Ellie Grace and Hennie came dashing through. Both little girls were excited about something.

"What's up with you two?" Gloria asked them.

Ellie Grace danced excitedly from one foot to the other as she looked at her. "Mama said that everyone will start coming here after Papa Beau and Auntie Abigail come back!"

Gloria's eyes flickered towards the door. "Did you hear papa's car?"

"Yep!"

At the main window Hennie squealed, "I see them!"

Ellie Grace ran to join her.

Gloria sighed as returned the now-closed ring box. "Oh, to be that young and excited by everything."

Abby hid the box again. "Hennie only really opens up like this around her best friend, Cooper. They match each other in personality and enthusiasm."

"Who are Cooper's parents, pray-tell?"

Abby was kept from answering when Beau and Abigail finally entered. Their welcoming committee greeted them before promptly doing everything they could to make them vacate the area. Hennie and Ellie Grace then posted themselves at the big window again. Both of them were taking their jobs as lookouts very seriously.

"What was that for?" Abigail asked in amusement as Beau and Gloria left for the kitchen.

"I think our nieces have taken upon themselves to be lookouts. Apparently, everyone is due to arrive soon."

"Oh!"

The surprise was not to be missed in Abigail's tone, but neither was the part where her voice had gone up an octave. She was nervous.

"Come on." Abby took her by the hand. "Let's go upstairs."

Abigail immediately felt better about a scenery change. "Yes. That is a good idea."

Neither Abigail spoke again until they were in their bedroom and the door was locked behind them.

"What did you and my dad talk about?" Abby asked.

"My Ohio life, and how his family met Gloria's." Abigail kept a straight face because not forgotten was Beau's blessing. "Things like that."

"And you're not going to tell me the specifics because of reasons, I guess." Abby said in amusement. "Let's get ready. I have a feeling that we have a small window of time before the arrivals actually do begin."

Abigail returned to feeling nervous. "Wish me luck that I don't accidentally put something on incorrectly."

Both women soon grew absorbed in putting on their party dresses.

When Abigail was halfway through dressing herself, the last thing she expected was to see Abby on one knee. Much less with a beautiful ring in hand.

"Uh… what are you doing?" Abigail asked the other woman.

"This is a promise, just like what you gave to me at home." Abby moved closer to her. "Everything will all be better one day, and when it is, we'll be living our happy ending. All of it will be beautiful. I can't wait for it. Will you please wear this ring?"

Abigail's heart was light with joy. "Of course I will."

Abby stood and slid the ring on to Abigail's hand. It shone brightly by the room's lamplight.

"I love it." Abigail hugged her and kissed her soundly. "Thank you."

Both of them could have stayed in that moment forever, but they couldn't. Family would be arriving. Soon.

This prompted them to really stay focused. Soft kisses and touches would happen later. When they were in bed. Part of this trip would also be about just being together so they could build happy memories to replace Abigail's terrible ones. But neither woman could or would deny that they craved each other. It was just the way they were.

Meant to be.

Soulmates.


In a true feat, Abby and Abigail managed to make it back down to the front hall before any visitors arrived. This was impressive. Ellie Grace and Hennie remained stationed as lookouts. By now, the cousins were inseparable.

Ellie Grace gave a happy cry. "Look! There's cars now!"

Sure enough, a classic Volkswagen Beetle was pulling into the driveway. Just behind it arrived a pickup truck.

Hennie turned to her aunts. "Who is it?"

Abby checked. "The first car belongs to Uncle Horace."

"What about the big truck?"

"That's what Uncle Teddy drives."

Hennie digested this information, but then all at once, her face fell.

"My tummy is a little icky…"

And she immediately ran towards the kitchen.

Ellie Grace headed after her. "Wait for me!"

Abby arched eyebrow as she said to Abigail, "How did I know that Hennie would do that?"

"Because reading that child is a breeze now." Abigail answered nonchalantly.

"Okay. That makes total sense."

Abigail's thoughts began drifting. "Mhm…"

Abby took her girlfriend's hands in hers to give her something to focus on. "Everyone is going to love you, babe. Just take deep breaths now. That's all you have to do."

Abigail happily followed her advice.

Uncle Horace entered the house with his wife. Both of them were very good-looking people, and were dressed for a good time. They even greeted Abigail as if she was an old friend.

She basked in the love.

Full introductions were had just as Teddy and his wife made their way inside. These Sciutos moved on to Abigail after greeting their niece.

"Abigail! Have you been settling in well?" Teddy wanted to know.

"Oh, yes. Thank you. I love it here."

Teddy hugged her and then held her out at arm's length. "Excellent. I want to introduce you to someone."

His wife moved forward, half a pace. "I'm Zoe. Would you like to be friends?"

"Yes, I would."

Zoe gave an approving nod before showing her a carpet bag she was carrying. "There are gifts in here for you and your family. Gloria told us about the holiday birthdays."

"On top of that," Teddy chimed in. "It's your first Sciuto Christmas. That is definitely worth celebrating."

From the doorway leading to the kitchen, Horace also held up bag. "We did the same as them."

"Pardon me for echoing myself," Abigail said to all of the elder Sciutos. "But thank you again. I'm so happy already."

"That makes us happy to hear. Welcome to the family." Zoe motioned towards the main window. "I think I hear more people coming."

Sure enough, even more of the Sciuto kin were making their way up the front walk. There was a small knot of them.

So Abby's aunts and uncles made their exit.

Abigail turned to her girlfriend as a new thought hit her. "Do you and Luca have any cousins that you grew up with? We don't have any at all."

"There are six cousins, and they're all older than us." Abby sighed. "Everyone else happens to be spread to the four corners of the globe. My brother is technically the only cousin who lives in Louisiana."

"But you and he are the only grandchildren who have the only regular ability to make it home for the holidays? Is that why they spoil you? I've seen it already."

"Well, you really learn fast. They also love Emerald that way because she married Luca. Everyone will apply that logic to you." Abby kissed Abigail on the cheek. "Us having the same birthday is just a coincidence. What do you think?"

Abigail was honest. "I think that I'm feeling incredibly loved. I just wish that feeling love from a 'home front' family like this one wasn't a foreign concept. Does that make me a bad person?"

Abby's heart lurched. "Oh, Abigail... It does nothing of the sort and you have nothing to feel bad for. The family that raised you caused inexcusable harm. What matters is that you got away. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I do."

"Perfect. I will tell you these things for as long as you need to hear them." Abby said seriously. "I mean it."

Abigail kissed Abby's hand. "Thanks. I appreciate that. And you. I just have one more question—do the other Sciutos know about what the Van Dekkers and I went through in Ohio?"

Abby shook her head. "No. All they want to do is love you. That's it."

"Okay." Abigail gave her a genuine smile. "I guess I just needed some reassurance."

Abigail smiled in return. "That is totally normal."

A car door slammed outside.

"More family us here." Abby tucked a stray strand of Abigail's red hair behind one ear for her. "There you go. Are you ready now?"

"I am." Abigail said with complete confidence. "Bring 'em on."

And Abby happily introduced Abigail to the rest of the clan as they came through the front door. Everyone welcomed this new person. She embraced them. It was as if she had been part of the family all along.

Abby's one constant thought that night, as she watched Abigail warm up and then eventually join in the festivities, was all about how she couldn't wait to marry the love of her life.