TWO:

"She's such a cute baby!" Aunt Sara said as she played with Lara's tiny fingers. It was the day before Lara's christening and we were over at Aunt Sara's place. Lara wrapped a hand around Aunt Sara's finger and closed her eyes to sleep contentedly.

"I think that should be the other way round- she's the one who's got you wrapped around HER little finger." Cary commented with a grin. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. Ever since Lara's birth five weeks ago he'd been spending more time at home and with us than in the workshop. I was a little concerned that this might be bad for the business but Cary assured me it was a slow period coming into the winter months. Personally though, I thought he would have told me anything to make sure I didn't object to him spending all his time with us. And when I watched the look on his face when he spoke to, or played with, Lara I couldn't say a word. My fears that Lara wasn't really Cary's baby had not diminished. In fact one afternoon May had got up and then come back with a huge photo album which not only had baby photos of her, Cary and Laura in it, but also her parents and Grandma Olivia and Grandpa Samuel. She'd flipped through it, occasionally glancing over at Lara before signing to me that nobody looked anything like Lara. Aunt Sara had laughed and explained that babies don't always look like their parents, and then added Lara could very well look like my parents, or me. I breathed a sigh of relief at Aunt Sara's words; if anyone even suspected that Lara might not be Cary's daughter I didn't know what I'd do.

"I hate to be argumentative, but she's certainly not the only one who's wrapped around Lara's finger." I said with a grin.

Cary looked sheepish, but he knew I was right. Not that I was complaining; in my opinion a daughter needed both parents and the fact that Cary practically worshipped Lara made me smile with happiness.

"It's nice to have another Laura in the family." Aunt Sara said, a soft smile on her face.

Cary and I exchanged glances and he leant forward towards his mother to say gently "Ma, its Lara, not Laura."

"I know." Aunt Sara replied. "But I know that it's to represent Laura, and look, she's even as good a baby as Laura was. Its almost like god has given us another chance."

I took a deep breath. Even though Aunt Sara had seemed better for a long time and now only occasionally saw the psychiatrist and had been weaned off the pills, that kind of comment gave me shivers. I didn't want her to regress and end up getting even worse than she had been before! Maybe calling Lara after Laura wasn't the right thing to do after all.

"Ma," Cary said patiently. "Don't say things like that. You know perfectly well Lara is Melody and mine's baby, and therefore god is not giving anyone a second chance."

"I am completely aware of that Cary Logan. All I meant was that it was nice to have another baby in the family." Aunt Sara said getting up. "Does anyone want another drink? Or perhaps another one of my special muffins?"

"No thanks Ma, we better be getting home. We've got a big day tomorrow." Cary said, and he stood up too. He reached over to pick up Lara's basket and she opened her eyes to gurgle at him. "She's going to look so sweet in that dress you made for her Ma."

"Yes Aunt Sara," I echoed. "It's wonderful. When Holly saw it she said she was jealous that she hadn't thought to ask you to make something for Nelson's christening the other month. She made do with something she bought!"

Aunt Sara pursed her lips briefly. "Well at least she didn't stick him in something covered in moons and stars or what have you." She said.

Cary and I both laughed at the image.

As we drove home I commented on whether we were doing the right thing having called Lara after Laura. "I don't want Aunt Sara to have problems with it." I said.

Cary nodded. "The same thing occurred to me, but I thought at the same time that I wanted to call her that for Laura. And even though she might have freaked us out a bit for a moment back in there, it was nothing to worry about- she's not regressing or anything."

"I can't help but worry." I said, leaning my head against the car window and staring at.

"Don't I know it." Cary teased me. "Honestly Melody I think if you had nothing to worry about you'd probably worry about the fact that there was nothing to worry about."

I had to laugh.

*****

The next morning was a beautiful day despite the fact that it was the beginning of November and the weather had been growing steadily colder. I looked out the window of Lara's nursery with a smile. For a moment I wondered whether Laura and Uncle Jacob up in heaven, or wherever they were, were giving us their support but then I shook my head. I didn't believe in that kind of thing.

When we arrived at the church where the christening was to be held I was surprised to see so many people there. Holly, Kenneth, and the two Nelsons were there and they were the first to hurry over to greet us all.

"Look at how much she's grown in so little time." Holly said, peering at Lara who was wrapped in a blanket and being carried proudly in May's arms. "I keep meaning to come over more so Nelson and Lara can get used to each other but things have been so hectic lately."

"I know." I said with a laugh. "I never seem to find the time to do half the things I want to do lately."

"Jacob would be proud of my little great-granddaughter eh Sara?" The judge asked.

Aunt Sara looked thoughtful and was silent for a moment before replying. "Yes," She finally agreed. "Yes he would. You remember what he was like when Cary and Laura were born. He was always very proud of his little girl. So of course he'd be just as proud of his granddaughter."

"We better get into the church. If we're not careful the ceremony will begin with out the guest of honor." Cary said, and we all walked in. May was to be Lara's godmother, a job she was taking very seriously indeed. In fact when I saw May with Lara I was amazed at the gentle and patient way she handled her. Perhaps, I thought, having survived with a handicap for so long had given May her great nature? The christening didn't go very long, and Lara seemed completely nonplussed by the attention she was receiving both during it and afterwards. I had to admit we really had been blessed with a wonderful baby. As I watched everyone pay her attention and then turn to Cary and I to tell us how lucky we were I agreed with them feverently. Maybe Cary was right about my worrying. Everything was going so well in our lives now and why shouldn't it after all we'd been through? Who was I to tempt fate by thinking things were going TOO well? I had to learn to just relax and enjoy the happiness my life was giving me.



[A/N. This chapter is a bit shorter than usual I know but it's almost Christmas and I wanted to get this chapter up like I'd said I'd try to do. I'll be back to write some more in a few days.]