Epilogue – Six Months Later

Their lives returned to normal. Robbie and Laura were closer than ever. The clean slate she thought she'd been given years ago wasn't as clean but it was infinitely better. As promised, she'd taken him to Lily's grave and he'd held her as she finally put the last of her history to rest.

Their home was filled with pictures from both of their pasts as well as plenty of their current life together. Somehow in letting Malcolm go and sharing her history she had ensured their future. A future that included a new grandchild soon to be born.

Jean finally told Richard what she needed and they had found their way back to one another. Each time she was swept away by her passion for him she said a silent prayer to Malcolm Tucker. She never told anyone how tempted she had been by him. There were some secrets best kept. But it was the temptation which had made her realize how much she truly loved her husband.

Even James had found his happily ever after. And it all started with saying yes to a simple question.

All of this was why Laura wasn't nervous when she received a beautifully wrapped package at work one day. She held it in her hands and smiled, knowing who it was from if not what was contained within. She tucked it into her bag and decided to find Jean to see if she might want to get a drink.

Standing in the doorway she was surprised to see a similarly wrapped box on the edge of Jean's desk. A single knock drew Jean's attention and she was waved in while Jean finished a phone call. Pointing at the box, she raised an eyebrow. Jean smiled and motioned for Laura to have a seat.

After her call ended she took off her glasses and smiled at Laura, "Are you curious about the gift because it's a gift or because of who it's from?"

Laura shrugged, "A bit of both I guess."

"I don't know why I never told you but the night Malcolm showed up in your office, I went to his hotel. I found him in the bar, drinking alone. I joined him, ordering a ridiculously expensive bottle of whisky which I put on his tab." Jean pulled a bottle from the box.

Laura laughed, "He would have liked that. He loved fine whisky."

Jean smiled wistfully, "Something we have in common."

Laura raised an eyebrow, "Is there something I need to know?"

Jean shook her head, "No, not really." A dismissive shrug and then she smiled, "An attraction." Jean looked at Laura, "Nothing happened. If anything, I owe him a debt of gratitude. He encouraged me to talk to Richard."

Laura sat back in her chair, surprised, "How, when?"

"The night after he came to see you. He showed up here at the station. He said I owed him dinner. So I took him to dinner, a chip stand."

Laura laughed causing Jean to look at her curiously, "The first time Malcolm and I ever had sex our date had been to a chip stand."

Jean laughed, "And here I thought I was just being insulting when I picked it."

"What?"

Jean shrugged, "He told me I owed him dinner since he bought the whisky. Said I could pick a place commensurate with the value of the company."

"And you picked a chip stand?" Jean nodded, "That is priceless."

"It's not like I knew."

"Of course not, but it's still funny." They stared at one another for a moment, "What happened?"

Jean opened the bottle then poured two glasses. She rounded the corner of her desk and handed one to Laura. They touched the glasses together then each took a sip. Jean savored the taste while Laura grimaced at the burn, "Nothing, there was a moment where if he'd pushed, I don't know what I would have done."

"He didn't push, did he?"

Shaking her head Jean took another sip, draining her glass. "No, he told me to go home and ask for what I want from Richard."

Laura leaned forward pouring the remainder of her whisky into Jean's glass, "I never really cared for it." She stood to leave, pausing to squeeze Jean's shoulder, "He did the right thing sending you back to Richard."

"Yes, it was an honorable thing to do." Jean looked up at Laura, "What did he send you?"

Laura touched her bag, "I don't know, I haven't opened it yet."

"Do you want company?"

Laura shook her head, "No, I think this is something I should do alone." She made it to the door and stopped, "Actually, I would like company."

"Come on in friend, can I get you something else to drink?"

Laura laughed, pushing the door closed behind her. She took her seat again and pulled the package from her bag.

Jean watched her carefully, "Does he get a special on wrapping?"

"It's one of those strange things about Malcolm. He doesn't give many gifts but he insists they be beautifully wrapped. I always hated opening them."

Nodding toward the package in Laura's lap, "Get over it. Go on."

Laura slid the bow off box then carefully opened the paper. She placed the wrapping on the floor then paused before opening the box. With a single deep breath she lifted the lid of the box. Tissue paper covered whatever was in the box. She unfolded the paper to find a book. She instantly recognized the picture on the cover, it was where they had married. A single tear fell down her cheek as she read the title, "Riding Out the Storm."

Jean saw the tear and leaned forward to touch Laura's arm, "Are you OK?"

Nodding she wiped away the tear, "I'm fine."

"What's in the box?" She removed the book from the box, holding it for Jean to see. "That's why he never did the show."

Laura shook her head, "What do you mean? What show?"

"He was signed to do some Sunday morning political show. Then it just went away." She nodded her head to the book, "I guess that's what he did instead."

Laura opened the book and was surprised by Malcolm's picture on the inner cover of the book cover. He seemed much more relaxed than she'd seen him in a long time. Her finger traced his picture.

Jean stood to look over Laura's shoulder, "It's a nice picture. He looks different, younger."

"Easy, you're married."

"Why do you think he sent you a copy of his book?"

She smiled looking at the title page, "It's a message of sorts." Sensing Jean's question she looked away, "It means he's doing well."

Jean reached over Laura's shoulder and flipped the pages. "Why is he dedicating his book to Lady Margaret Hall?"

Looking down to the page, "What?"

Jean pointed to the page, "It's right there."

To LMH for teaching me the value of finding the calm. I think I finally got it right.

She stood in the storm,

and when the wind

did not blow her way,

she adjusted her sails

A bright smile crossed her face as she read the dedication. Wherever he was, he had finally found peace, "It's not Lady Margaret Hall. It's for me, Laura Margaret Hobson."