"A TOY-TOY!"

Pete literally vibrated with joy, bouncing and giggling with his little fist wrapped tightly around a wad of Charles' slacks as his father unhinged the lid of the wooden crate so the little one could peer down at the small creature who was perched on a stone, its head craning up towards the light.

"I will lift it out and you can pet its shell, bird." The tortoise's head and legs tucked back into its little house as it was lifted from the crate and then moved to the palm of Charles' other hand. "Here you go."

Livy and Poppy were right behind their brother, their heads just over his shoulders as he reached out to pet the rough back of the animal, the action inducing another bout of nervous giggles from the toddler.

"Is it a boy tortoise or a girl tortoise, Daddy?" Poppy asked as she reached over and hesitantly touched the rough shell with one quickly removed finger while Livy moved around to peer into the dark space in which the creature had tucked its head before resting her hand on the top of it, her fearless move soon copied by her little brother.

The old farmer who had sold the tortoise to Charles had assured him it was a male, but given that Father Christmas was receiving the credit for the gift, he simply shrugged his shoulders. "We'll have to let Gran Bill give it a look over. He's knows more about these kinds of things than Daddy."

Elsie was perched on the corner of the sofa, brushing a few tears from her cheek as she basked in the pure joy exhibited by her baby's bright smile and continued giggles in reaction to the gift.

"I hold it, Daddy?"

"What do you think, Mumma?" Charles glanced over at Elsie, smiling at the obvious delight she was taking in watching the scene before her.

"He might tinkle or poo poo on you, baby."

The toddler laughed. "It's okay if he poo poos, Mumma. It's okay."

Knowing the girls were eager to tear into their own gifts, Elsie quickly encouraged Pete to sit on the sofa next to her. "Why don't you sit here and hold it with me so the girls can open some presents."

"Here you go, Petey." Beryl lifted the little one onto the cushion and draped his lap with the ever-present tea towel she kept tucked in the apron around her waist. "Just in case he decides to he needs to potty."

His little fists tucked up against his tummy, his eyes grew large as his father gently placed the animal in his lap.

"Just sit very still and maybe he'll pop out his head."

"I stay still, Daddy," the little one promised.

The Carson girls' squeals filled the room as they unwrapped their various gifts; a wooden high chair for Poppy, and its twin which Elsie had managed to find for Mary Ann early the previous week, while Livy had pulled the paper from not only a beautiful pair of pale blue fairy wings with silver sequin detail which she immediately pulled on, but also a space helmet which inspired stifled laughter from the adults as she insisted on wearing the two together.

Elsie was focused on her daughters when Pete suddenly let out a little gasp and reached up to grab her sleeve. Looking down, she let out her own gasp as the little tortoise's head was full extended, as well as his legs as he began to survey the landscape of Pete's lap, eventually turning and taking a few steps up onto the little boy's belly.

"Mumma, the toy-toy is looking at me." Pete whispered as he held perfectly still, his arms tucked against his sides.

"It likes you."

Bill crouched next to the sofa, carefully lifting the animal for a moment, his movements so light and quick, the tortoise didn't even retract his head and legs before being placed back into Pete's lap. "This little fellow has a "v" shaped notch down by his tail. It would be a "u" if he was a she."

"Did you hear that, baby? He's a boy toy-toy," Elsie whispered as she leaned over and kissed her child's head. "What do you want to call him?"

Pete looked over at his father who was busily helping Livy construct a small Punch and Judy set. "I want to call him "Daddy."

"You do? Does he remind you of Daddy?"

"Uh-huh."

Elsie gave his dark curly head another kiss. "Oh, sweetie Petey, I think we might confuse both your toy-toy and Daddy if we call them both "Daddy," so what about "Little Daddy" or "Wee Daddy?"

"Wee Daddy. Let's call him Wee Daddy."

No sooner had the tortoise been christened with his new name did he live up to it, christening his new owner's lap with a thin stream of wee.

A myriad of other toys, clothes, books, and record albums soon littered the room as Mary Ann opened the last gift which Phyllis and JoMo had brought in with them upon their arrival.

"Oh, Mary Ann!" Poppy cooed as the little girl carefully pulled out the contents of the box. "They are beautiful! Three baby dresses with little matching pants!"

Mary Ann carefully ran her hands over each dress, her fingers delicately exploring a series of buttons which decorated one dress, rickrack on another, and delicate little satin bows along the border of the third, each set of pants also decorated with the same notions as their coordinating frock.

"I can dress Trina and always know she matches! Thank you! Oh, thank you, Aunt Phylly!"

Elsie bit her bottom lip as she watched Phyllis lean over and happily accept a hug from the little girl.

"Phyl stayed up all night making her those doll clothes. She sewed on each and every button and bow by hand so Mary Ann could feel which dress her baby was wearing." Joe murmured in Elsie's ear as he wiped away a smattering of tears.

Hoping Phyllis had discussed the matter with him, she took a chance and whispered, "She's a sweet little girl who deserves sweet parents."

"And I am going to do everything I possibly can to see that we become those parents," he answered before slipping away to retrieve Trina from the nursery for the little girl who was gently nestled at his wife's side.

Looking about the room, the warmth blooming in Elsie's chest from Joe's declaration was suddenly overtaken by a twist in her stomach as she looked over to find a disappointed Richard Clarkson staring down into the bottom of his tea cup.

A buffet of muffins and scones, as well as juice, tea, and coffee had been consumed over the morning as the adults helped the children assemble their various gifts, read books, and retrieve Wee Daddy out from under whatever piece of furniture he had escaped to from Pete's clutches.

Livy, still attired in her fairy wings and space helmet made her way to her mother's side, the early hour at which she had awoken catching up with her as she let out a large yawn.

"Do you like everything Father Christmas brought you, sweet pea?" Elsie asked as she rubbed her daughter's little arm.

"Uh-huh," the little girl answered, but there was a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"What's the matter, lovey?"

"I guess he gave away all of his lookalaylees before he came to our house."

The blood rushed from Elsie's face as she remembered the brown paper wrapped parcel that was still tucked under a shelf in the pantry.

"Oh, baby." She pulled the little girl to her, lifting the funny helmet from Livy's head and helping her slip out of the wings so she could climb onto her lap for a cuddle as her mind raced in search of a means to get the ukulele from the kitchen to a place where it could be found.

Noticing his wife cradling their younger twin, Charles asked Richard to help Pete with the assembly of a small plastic car race track before making his way over to the sofa where he gave Elsie a questioning look.

Crooking her finger, she managed to get him to lean down where she could whisper to him while she rested her other hand over Livy's ear. "Brown parcel, second shelf of the pantry. U-k-e-l-e-l-e. I forgot all about it."

Charles stood, nodding with understanding and began looking around the room, an idea suddenly forming as he glanced over at Bill who was ratcheting the final bolts to a frame which held a large spring suspended rocking horse that Father Christmas had left for all three Carson children. He then scanned the floor and finding what he sought, he tucked it into his pants pocket, grateful he hadn't begun to clean up the discarded wrapping and tags from the gifts yet. Catching Bill's eye, they met near the corridor outside the kitchen, a few whispered words resulting in nods and a handing over of something small before Charles disappeared into the kitchen and then unseen towards the front door, a brown paper package now wearing a discarded tag that read "To Olivia From Father Christmas" at his side as he slipped into his coat and wellies before leaving the house.

The telephone rang a few minutes later and Isobel picked it up, her face lighting up as she looked over at the sofa where Livy was still being cuddled by her mother. "Miss Olivia Carson, someone very important would like to speak with you."

Jerking up and away from her mother, she was off the sofa and running towards a smiling Isobel. "Who is it?"

"Just say "hello" and you'll find out."

Lifting the weighty receiver to her little ear, Livy eagerly answered, "Hello? Olivia is here."

Her eyes grew big as she looked up at Isobel and then to her mother who was watching from over the back of the sofa.

"HELLO, FATHER CHRISTMAS!"

The loud, joyful greeting caught the other children's attention and Poppy took Mary Ann's hand, the duo, along with Pete making their way to the telephone table as Livy listened intently to the rich, low voice at the other end of the line.

"Uh-huh…Yes!..Thank you for all of our presents!..Yes, I did want a lookahlaylee, but it's okay…you did?..Oh, thank you!...I will…Happy Christmas! Goodbye!" Handing the receiver back to Isobel, Livy began to bounce as she announced, "I talked to Father Christmas! He talked to me! He told me to look by the French doors in your room, Mumma!"

"You better go look then!" Elsie happily answered as she pushed herself up from the sofa to join the children who were following in Livy's wake as she ran towards the master bedroom.

Slipping quickly from his wellies and coat, Charles found the sitting room empty except for the four kittens who were tangled in bits of ribbon and batting at torn paper as their terrier babysitter kept watch over them and the strange creature in the crate which sat only a few feet from his vantage point under the tree while all the adults crowded around the doorway of his and Elsie's bedroom. His hand giving Bill's shoulder a squeeze, he handed back the keys to the farmer's cottage and shared a knowing smile which soon morphed into amused cringes as Livy Carson strummed the strings of her new lookahlaylee.

Richard was having his heart listened to by Livy while Pete attended to Isobel's; each child enjoying the instruments from the play doctor's kits with which the real doctor had gifted each of them.

"Well, Dr. Livy, what do you think? Give it to me straight. I can take it."

The little girl took a deep breath as she removed the ear pieces of the plastic stethoscope. "You need medicines, but no jabs."

Richard and Isobel exchanged grins as Pete announced, "No jabs, Auntie Izzy."

"Oh, thank goodness. So you thing I'm alright, Dr. Pete?"

"Mmm-hmm…you alright."

Richard looked back at his mini physician and asked, "So what sort of medicine do I need, Dr. Livy?"

A mischievous look filled the child's face as she looked back and forth between the two adults. "Your medicine is a kiss."

"From you?"

Livy shook her head, giggling as she pointed at Isobel. "Not me! A kiss from Auntie Izzy!"

Seated on the floor where she, Beryl, and Phyllis were watching Mary Ann and Poppy carefully dress, feed, burp, and cuddle their babies, Elsie turned her attention to the couple on the sofa being tended to by her other two children.

"Kisses from Auntie Izzy happen to be my favorite kind of medicine, Dr. Livy."

Smiling, Livy looked over at Isobel. "You have to give Doc a kiss, Auntie Izzy, or he will be very sick."

Ignoring Elsie's gaze, Isobel gave a playful sigh. "Well, I suppose we can't have a sick Doc." Leaning over she gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

Richard gave a fake cough. "I don't think that was enough medicine."

Livy chided Isobel as she loudly announced, "You have to kiss his lips!" which drew the attention of the entire room to the grinning couple on the sofa.

Thinking he might never get a better set up, Richard gently placed Livy on the seat next to him before taking a deep breath and shifting to the edge of the sofa, his hand reaching into the front of his jacket only to have his actions halted as a panicked Isobel suddenly leaned over and kissed him on the mouth, her hand cupping his cheek when she eventually pulled her lips away.

"Yay! Now you are all better, Doc!" Livy announced.

"Isobel, I want…"

She interrupted him, her hand still on his cheek as she quietly murmured, "Not right now please, love. Not yet."

"But you don't-"

"Not right now." She gave him another quick kiss before looking at him with pleading eyes. "We'll talk about it later."

Forcing themselves to look away, Elsie, Phyllis, and Beryl all exchanged worried looks before returning their attention to Poppy, Mary Ann, and their dolls.

Wee Daddy tucked up in his shell in his crate and the kittens curled up on their pallet in the bottom of the cupboard with Barley, the noise and excitement that had filled the house all morning was now absent as children and adults alike had tummies full of Beryl's wonderful turkey dinner. The cook and farmer having retreated to his cottage for their own nap, Dr. Clarkson was also gone, having been called to the hospital to tend to a ruptured appendix, as well as two cooking related burns, and an impatient baby wanting to spend his first Christmas in his mother's arms.

"So everyone is happy with what Father Christmas brought?"

All three Carson children nodded at their Daddy, sleepy smiles on their little faces as their parents tucked them into the large bed in the master bedroom.

"What did Father Christmas say to you on the telephone, Livy Loo?" Elsie asked as she gave Charles' hand a playful pat.

"He said when he was over our house, he bumped into a cloud and it made my lookahlaylee fall out of the sack in the back of his sled, but he thought it had probably landed by the French doors and to check there and there it was!"

"How nice for Father Christmas to call and let you know." Elsie noted as she gave Charles' hand another pat.

"He said to tell everyone Happy Christmas." Livy's face lit up as something suddenly occurred to her. "Father Christmas sounds kind of like Daddy when he is being a cowboy."

"Goodness. That's a coincidence." It took all of Elsie's concentration not to laugh as she glanced over at her blushing husband. "It was so sweet of him to call you, baby. I am sure he was very tired after delivering presents to all the little children all over the world." Giving her husband a wink, she made a promise of sorts as she added, "I bet his wife is giving him lots of kisses and cuddles to show him how wonderful she thinks he is."

Poppy reached over and patted Elsie's knee as she asked, "Is Mary Ann going to take a nap with us?"

"She is," Elsie promised. "Uncle JoMo and Auntie Phyllis and Auntie Isobel just want to talk to her for a minute."

"Why?" Poppy's little face was filled with concern.

Leaning over and kissing her forehead, Elsie squeezed her eldest child's hand. "I think Mary Ann should tell you. It's not a bad thing at all, I promise."

"I wish Mary Ann could live with us, Mumma. I don't want her to go back to the children's home."

Elsie's eyes began to well as she looked down at her daughter's curled lip.

"Couldn't she come to live with us, Mumma?" Livy asked, supporting her sister. "We have an extra kitten for her."

A tearful chuckle escaped Elsie's lips. "You're right, Liv. We do have an extra kitten."

"There's a little more to it than that, sweetheart," Charles gently offered, "but I think there is a chance Mary Ann could be around more often if things work out. You just have to say your prayers and hope for the best."

"Okay, Daddy." Poppy agreed, albeit with a sigh.

Kisses given to all the children, Elsie and Charles were moving from the bed when Phyllis and Joe appeared in the doorway, a beaming Mary Ann holding each of their hands.

"Penelope Joan, Uncle JoMo and Auntie Phylly want me to live with them! All the time!"

Poppy burst into tears and moved to her knees, her little arms open to hug Mary Ann who was being led towards her.

Feeling the four year old shake and hearing her whimpers as they embraced, Mary Ann's voice was worried as she asked, "Are you crying, Penelope Joan? Don't you want me to live with them?"

"I do! I'm so happy, Mary Ann! Tears are how my happy comes out!"

All four adults wiping their own happy from their cheeks watched the children snuggle in the bed, bright smiles on all three girls' faces as a tired Pete gently snored in the middle of the emotional scene.

"It won't be right now," Mary Ann explained, "but Miss Isobel is going to see if they will let me stay with her while Aunt Phylly and Uncle JoMo talk to the people at the home to tell them they want me."

"That's right. First thing Monday morning I'm driving to London," JoMo promised.

"I'll go with you," Charles quickly offered. "We'll get Murray if need be."

"Mary Ann you can come to my house and play all the time!" Poppy gushed as she held her friend's hand.

"And if it is alright with Auntie Phylly and Uncle JoMo, maybe you can come to see me at their house."

"Of course. You can come and have a sleep over, all three of you," Phyllis quickly answered. "And we are going to move into a bigger house so Mary Ann will have her own room and a garden and that way it will be our house. Mine, JoMo's, and Mary Ann's."

Poppy burst into a new flood of tears as she climbed down from the bed and rushed over to Phyllis, her little arms wrapping around the grown up's legs. "Thank you for wanting Mary Ann to live with you."

"Oh, Poppy." Phyllis pulled the little one up onto her hip.

Joe leaned over and kissed Poppy's head. "Thank you for being such a sweet girl. We wouldn't have gotten to meet Mary Ann if you hadn't been so kind and become her friend."

Making her way to the bed, Phyllis tucked the little girl back in next to Mary Ann, leaning down to gently kiss each of them, as well as Livy, on the cheek.

"Mumma, will you sing us to sleep," Livy asked as she shifted in the bed and rested her cheek against her brother's head.

"Of course." Elsie sat down on the edge of the bed. "What song do you want?"

"The blessings song," Livy yawned, "from 'White Christmas."

Joe and Phyllis reunited in the doorway, their hands clasped as Charles moved behind his wife, his hands gently resting on her shoulders as she began to softly sing:

If you're worried and you can't sleep,

Just count your blessings instead of sheep,

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings.

When my bankroll is getting small,

I think of when I had none at all,

And I fall asleep counting my blessings,

She began to sing the next line, but her voice faltered slightly a she heard Phyllis and Joe both take hitched breaths and Charles gave her shoulders a squeeze as he kissed the top of her head.

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads,

And one by one I count them,

As they slumber in their beds,

If you're worried and you can't sleep,

Just count your blessings instead of sheep,

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings.

They had called and wished Livy and Purley, Ellen Littlewood, Edgar Linton, and all of the Crawley's a "Happy Christmas," had played babies, taken bouncy horsey rides, performed and received more pretend doctors exams and prescribed and shared many kisses, as well all endured a ukulele concert by Livy before sharing a dinner of turkey sandwiches, two cakes, a pie, milk, and three bottles of wine before the children were bathed and the girls put to sleep in the nursery as Isobel held a sleeping Pete in her arms on the sofa. Knowing another fun, but busy day was ahead of them, Elsie and Charles saw Phyllis, Joe, Beryl, and Bill to the door.

"So you'll all be back around noon?" Charles asked as he helped Beryl into her coat.

"I'll have a big pot of chicken with dumplings and there are plenty of sweets left," the little woman answered, "and then we've got the venison roast for tomorrow's dinner."

"I'll have the potatoes, carrots, and onions chopped and ready when you get here," Elsie promised as she leaned over and gave her friend a peck on the cheek. "Thank you for the wonderful lunch and breakfast and everything today."

The others joined with their thanks as kisses and hugs were shared.

"Andy and Daisy are still coming?" Phyllis asked as Joe opened the door.

"Oh, yes, and Nathaniel. He wants to stop by and check on Livy. I invited him to stay for games and lunch." Elsie offered.

The two couples had just stepped outside when Beryl turned back, a small frown on her face. "I think Andy might pop the question to Daisy tomorrow if he didn't already do it today."

"Really? You think he's considering it?" Elsie's teeth chattered as she stepped out onto the porch.

"Get back in here," Charles scolded. "You're going to freeze to death."

She reached back and pulled on his arm until he stepped out behind her, smiling sweetly as she challenged, "You could keep me warm."

Smiling, he wrapped his large body around her small frame.

Elsie turned her attention back to Beryl, "Why are you frowning?"

"She thinks Daisy is going to say yes." Bill answered which earned him a scowl from the ginger haired woman.

"But we all love Andy," Elsie countered.

Beryl sighed, "We do. He's a lovely boy, but she's doing so well with her studies. Joe's been helping her."

Joe nodded, "She is a very bright girl and she's talking about taking a business course."

"Carolyn and I always thought Archie would take over the tea room one day, but that obviously isn't going to happen and our niece is married and just had her first baby, but she and her husband have no interest in taking it over from Carolyn and me anyway, but we're not getting any younger. We've discussed it and since we need someone, we'd really like that someone to be Daisy. She could do it. The cooking, she's got that and she could learn to do the books if she takes this business course. I want her to be happy and if Andy makes her happy, that's a good thing, but I just don't want her to give up on getting an education just so he can put a ring on her finger and a baby in her belly in the next few months."

Charles and Elsie were surprised, but touched by Beryl's emotional display.

"What do you want us to do?"

"I don't know, chicken. Just encourage her to stick with her studies, I suppose."

Charles managed to lighten the mood by offering, "Well, if Andy looks like he's getting serious, we'll just lock him in the add-on with Livy and her lookahlaylee. That should curb any designs he has on making babies for a while."

Leaning over the back of the sofa and kissing Pete's head, Elsie then whispered into her Isobel's ear, "I can put Pete in our room if you want to go over to Richard's or if you want him to stay upstairs with you."

Isobel shook her head, glancing over her shoulder to make sure the man in question was still behind her on the phone with the hospital checking on the progress of the appendectomy patient, as well as the newborn. "We need to talk. Serious talk and I am too exhausted for that. I've got Pete."

"Alright." Elsie kissed Isobel's head before heading around the sofa to sit next to her friend. "Thank you for doing what you are doing for Mary Ann. I know it means the world to Joe and Phyllis."

"She doesn't need to go back to that place. It's too loud and it makes her anxious. I know they'll let me keep her if I play the nurse card. I just hope things go smoothly with the adoption."

Elsie glanced over at her friend, their shared knowledge of Phyllis' past coming to light as they looked at one another.

"She's worried what happened when she was a teenager could hurt their chances of becoming her guardians."

Elsie nodded. "It crossed my mind, but it was so long ago. She was barely sixteen."

"Let's just cross our fingers they don't delve that far back into her history."

Richard appeared at the side of the sofa. "I'm sorry I was in and out today."

"Please don't apologize." Elsie cringed only slightly as she rose from the sofa. "We were just happy to have you whenever we could."

"How are the ribs after the long day?"

"Much better," she promised. "Toes, too. I think I'll be back to normal by the middle of the week."

"I am very glad to hear it." Patting her hand, he then moved in front of Isobel, resting his weight on the arm of the sofa as he leaned over to kiss Pete's cheek before moving to look at her. "I should have never agreed to be on call this weekend. Some teenagers drove too fast over an icy patch and there are two broken legs and an arm waiting to be set."

Isobel lifted her face towards his, "Well, better broken arms and legs than necks, I suppose, but I still wish you didn't have to go in. I think you better have another dose of medicine before you go."

He gave her a lingering kiss and then a long, searching look when he pulled back his head. "Why did you stop me today?"

Isobel took a deep breath before answering, "Because we need to talk and because I love you and because Mary Ann deserves to have us as doting adults in her life, but not parents."

Feeling she was intruding on a private conversation, Elsie had just turned towards the kitchen when Richard, his eyes filled with hurt, called out, "You told her? I said those things to you in confidence!"

Isobel quickly grabbed his arm. "Shhhh….Don't shout and no, she didn't. She wouldn't have betrayed your confidence. I overheard you telling her in the kitchen yesterday and I know about the ring, too, because I accidentally came upon it when I was looking for a handkerchief months and months ago."

Richard turned towards an uncomfortable Elsie, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."

"It's alright. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."

Waiting until their friend had left the room, Richard sighed as he lowered himself next to Isobel. "If marriage is out of the question or if you simply don't want to be with me, please just say so."

"It's not out of the question and I love being with you, Richard. I just told you I loved you. Didn't you hear me?"

He nodded, "I did, but I want a life with you, not just a few nights once or twice a month. I've tried to be patient…"

"I promise I am not trying to put you off, but it's late and I have a sleeping baby in my arms. I do want to talk about this, about us, but we're both tired and you still have hours to go before you will get to rest. Go do what you need to do, but know that I do love you. Very much."

He stared at his lap for a moment before moving to his feet, his head turned away as he muttered, "I love you, too."

"We'll figure it out."

He stopped at the corner of the sofa, his face still filled with doubt as he shook his head. "I hope we can. I really, really hope we can, Iz."

"We'll find a way. I promise."

There was a gentleness in her eyes that kept a tiny ember of hope burning within him and he managed a small smile. "Happy Christmas, Isobel Crawley."

"Happy Christmas, Richard."

"Sleeping in or near our house right now are four children, four kittens, three goats, a dog, and a tortoise…"

"And a partridge in a pear tree," Elsie sang which drew a chuckle from her large, warm husband around whom she was currently wrapped in the dark sanctuary of their bedroom.

"When I moved to Halifax five years ago, I felt like I was the loneliest man in the universe."

She gave his chest a kiss. "And then chum and I turned everything on its head and now you live in a veritable zoo."

"You made life worth living, Elsie May Hughes."

"The name's Carson, thank you. I have a lovely ring on my left hand to prove it and I also share it with three small people and their wonderful father, all of whom, I am fairly sure, are the reason the sun rises and sets."

"Very well then, Elsie May Hughes Carson, speaking of rings." Charles pulled away from her to turn on the bedside lamp. "We were so wrapped up in everything else, I didn't get to give you your gifts."

Elsie pushed herself up into bed and switched on her own lamp. "Nor I you."

"I have two. Well two small ones and then something else that is intangible."

Elsie laughed, "I have two. One is heavy and the other is tangible, but not here."

"Do you wish to give or receive first?" Charles asked, his eyes dancing in anticipation.

"Risque!"

"It's Christmas, you naughty girl. Behave."

"Oh, very well. I'll give, but I'm afraid you have to get your own present. It's over here under my side of the bed."

A curious grin crossed his face as he moved to her side and he gave a little groan as he moved to his knees and reached under the bed, his hands bumping into a fairly large box which was, indeed, quite heavy. "What in the world?"

"Just open it."

Removing the paper, he used a pair of nail scissors Elsie had in her bedside table to cut through the paper tape that sealed the box. Opening the flaps did little to ease his curiosity as he peered down at a large black case and a stack of books. "What is it?"

"Be careful, the thing on the left is really heavy."

Pulling out the case, he opened the latch and pulled off the lid to reveal a brand new IBM electric typewriter. "You bought me a typewriter?"

"You don't type. I bought your assistant a typewriter. A very nice one, in fact. She's the tangible but not here part of your present. Her name is Jane and she works at the local primary, so she has the summer off and was looking for a bit of extra work, and she's a war widow and has a twelve year old son whom Bill has agreed to let help him work on the farm while she's here with you during the day. You also have a new dictionary and thesaurus, and a large ream of paper and steno pads, pencils, biros, typewriter tape, correction tape, a Dictaphone, and I've ordered two desks that are going to be installed in the studio to afford you the same privacy and quiet to work in that you have always given me. Oh, and three first class, round trip train tickets to France for you, Joe, and Robert to visit for a few days so you can refresh your memory and make notes. I know it's a lot of money, but my contract for the little farm book was a fair chunk of change, as you well know, and I look at this as an investment in our future."

Over ten seconds of silence passed during which he simply stared down into the box. His lack of response made her head swim and stomach churn with worry and covering her eyes with her hands she shook her head as she whispered, "Shit. You hate it. I screwed up. Shit. Shit. Shit. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, honey. I'm so sorry. As usual I'm being far too pushy and I'm meddling…"

Rising to his knees, he took her face in his hands, tears streaming down his own. "You believe in me this much? You arranged for someone to dictate and type…you really think I can write this book, don't you?"

Gazing right back into his eyes she instantly answered, "Of course I do. I believe you can do anything, sweetheart."

He gave her a long, deep kiss before moving to pull her against him.

"You don't have to, Charles. I can find other work for this Jane and I can return the typewriter and cancel the desks and we can exchange the train tickets…"

He pulled back and vehemently shook his head. "Since you brought it up that night, I have thought about it so often. I already have the first chapter written in my mind and the rest of it outlined. I just needed a push."

"Oh, honey, I'm so happy! That's wonderful!"

He gave his head another shake. "You're the one who is wonderful. Thank you for this, for all of this, and most of all for believing in me."

"How could I not believe in Father Christmas?"

He laughed as she wiped the tears from his cheeks. "I was so afraid she would recognize my voice."

"I don't know how you came up with that so quick."

"It was the look on your face. I hated you were so upset."

"You are definitely my hero and when Livy is a grown up, she's going to realize how precious her Daddy was to pretend he was Father Christmas so her little four year old self could then go on to drive him crazy with her lookahlaylee."

He laughed, "She can make quite a racket."

She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss before gently pulling on his arm. "Here, get up off your knees, honey. You're not going to be able to walk tomorrow."

Replacing the lid over the typewriter, he swallowed a groan as he moved back to his feet, stopping briefly to fetch something from the back of his bureau drawer before climbing back in bed with her.

"Well, my gifts are going to pale in comparison after all that," he said with a sigh as he presented her with two small boxes, one wrapped in gold foil, the other in silver.

"You shouldn't have done this, Charles. Last year's pearls were supposed to be for this Christmas, too."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh stop it with the pearls already. They were worth the cost just so I can kiss your neck whenever you have me fasten them."

"If I were in better physical condition, you would so be out or your pants right now."

"Why, Mrs. Carson, you make me blush. Open your presents. The silver one first."

Removing the paper, she opened the small black velvet box to reveal a familiar sight, only slightly altered with a new garnet stone. "You had bird's birthstone added to my mother's ring. Oh, honey, I love it."

"I had no idea how I was going to have it done without telling you but then you mentioned you thought one of the pearls was coming loose. It was perfect. They fixed that, too, by the way."

She slipped the ring back onto her hand before gently cupping his cheek and giving him a kiss. "Now I can look down and see my whole heart whenever I want."

He smiled as he handed her the other box. "This is also a rework of sorts so I am making up for spending so much on the pearls last year."

She gave him a curious look before removing the gold foil to reveal another felt box. "Good. It better be paste and glass."

"Not exactly."

Elsie opened the box to reveal a delicate ivory cameo, the subject a woman set against a dusky rose background, roses themselves carved into the lower right portion of the oval, their intricate elegance matched by the beautiful face of the woman who also wore a lovely strand of pearls, all set into an ornate gold setting. "Oh, sweetheart," Elsie sighed, "this is the loveliest thing I have ever seen." She continued to stare at it. "It's familiar. Not the woman, but the color and the style…"

"It's my mother. Violet had it done, had two made actually. One of mother and one of Lily. She gave them each a brooch with their likenesses from their wedding photos to mark their twenty-five years of service."

She jerked her head up in recognition. "I absolutely recognize her from the wedding photo now that you've said that. And Lily! Her brooch, of course. I commented on it when she wore it that night we returned from the trip to Tipton Hall on our honeymoon when everyone surprised us at the Sand Castle, but she never said it was of her."

"After they get settled in, ask her to pull out their photo albums. Their wedding photo is unbelievable. She is stunning. This was her idea, as a matter of fact. She said I ought to have mother's brooch made into a ring for you so she can look over you and the children, and me, too, I suppose, not just when we are in the nursery, but always."

"I won't let it get covered in paint, but I'll wear it as much as I can if Lily thinks I should." Elsie continued to look at the ring, her voice thick as she noted, "Goodness you're mother was beautiful."

"She was. My favorite thing about the cameo is how the artist captured her smile. He managed to show not only her physical beauty, but her gentleness and her kindness."

"He did," she agreed.

"So you like it?"

"I love it. Love you."

"Good. I love you, too."

She gave him another kiss before asking, "So my intangible gift?"

"Well, it's really more of a question, but I think the concept will make you happy."

"I am on pins and needles."

"I haven't mentioned it to them yet, but I want to build two more houses on our property. One for Joe and Phyllis and the other we can rent out until Andy and Daisy get married and then they can live in it. He wants to take over the farm when Bill can no longer manage it on his own. They will all pay us a rent, but we can make sure it is something they can all easily afford, I mean we have the money to do it because the investments are doing well from Lawrence's money, and this way we can make sure the house for Phyllis and Joe is built to accommodate Mary Ann. I already talked to Mr. Adams about starting in the spring, and don't worry, he is going to only use men he has worked with multiple times. No temporary crew. I just like the idea of having our own little village of sorts out here. It will make it easier to take care of everyone and easier to have people who can sit with Lily when Purley or you need a break…what do you think?"

She reached over and patted his chest, her voice low and soft as she simply said, "Take off your pajamas."

"Elsie?" He stared in disbelief as he watched her pull her nightgown over her head and slip off her knickers. "What are you doing?"

"Take off your pajamas, Charles."

"We can't, sweetheart. Dr. Clarkson said to wait and you're not…"

A tear fell onto her cheek as she looked up at him. "The night after Alice attacked me in the nursery at Grantham House you asked me to take off my gown because you wanted to feel my skin against yours. I need you like you needed me then. We can't make love, but I need to love you. I need to hold you. I need you to know…"

"Alright, sweetheart," he nodded in understanding and quickly removed all of his clothes and then the boxes and paper from their bed before switching off his bedside lamp and she followed suit so they were once again shrouded in darkness as the wrapped their arms around one another.

"I think my heart is going to burst from my chest I love you so much," she whispered as she placed gentle kisses over his chest.

"So you are okay with building the houses?"

"More than. Just the thought alone of how happy Poppy is going to be to have Mary Ann nearby is overwhelming. I am never going to stop being amazed at how sweet and lovely you are."

He let his hands drift over the soft skin of her back and then the backs of her arms as he kissed down her cheek to her neck and along her collar bone. "I just want to make you happy. You deserve so much happiness, Elsie."

"Don't stop," she whispered as his lips brushed over the top of her right breast.

"We can't…"

"There is so much we can do besides trying to make a baby, honey." She reached down and gently stroked between his legs with one hand as she lifted her breast so that her nipple brushed his lips. "Please love me and let me love you."

Sated and drowsy after almost an hour of enjoying the pleasures of one another's body, they were back in their pajamas, but once again wrapped around one another as the clock struck midnight. He surprised her by lifting her hand and kissing her finger just above the cameo. "The first time I watched you hold the girls in your arms right after they were born, the smile on your face reminded me of hers here. So much love and joy, just…infinite joy at finally being able to hold our babies in your arms."

Elsie blinked tears away as she wrapped her arms more tightly around him and repeated the phrase, "Infinite joy."

"Which is why we have this holiday, I suppose. Because a baby was born to a mother hundreds and hundreds of years ago. I imagine Mary looked at her baby with as much love and joy as you look at Pop and Livy, and Pete, and how you will look at the new baby."

She nestled her head against his chest, her speech beginning to slur in want of sleep as she promised, "I'm just going to give you my mother's ring when the new baby is born so you aren't waiting for another pearl to come loose."

He chuckled softly and ran his warm hand over the soft flannel covering her back. "Thank goodness."

A few moments of quiet filled the room before Elsie whispered, "Peridot. Our baby would have been born in August. It's birthstone would have been peridot."

So toy-toy and the lookahlaylee are now safely in their little owner's possession. Nothing earth-shattering in this one, but some set up for events to come. Thank you for your patience. I can't seem to catch a break physically lately and work has been rough. Was a gift to escape into Halifax with these babies for a bit.

I do thank you for your kindness and continued support. So fortifying to know there are such kind, warm, and sweet people like you in the world-

Jen