Brenna awoke to a damp pillow and a mild headache. Puzzled, she lay there for a minute until she remembered her dream and then groaned. “Victoria! I thought we had an understanding,” she said aloud. Apparently, she was the only one who thought things should be settled by now. At least it hadn’t been a nightmare. Maybe Ruth was right. Maybe she should talk to Helena about it. But surely that would just distress her. She pulled on Zoe’s ear. “Wake up, sleepyhead, company’s coming. Well, Molly’s coming anyway. I guess she’s more family than company, but I want to bake some cookies first.” Zoe resignedly followed her down the steep stairs. Why did people get up so early sometimes?
Brenna saw with relief that the day held a promise of sunshine, the fog already burning off. Pulling a brush through her hair, she went to open the door for the animals and jumped at the sight of Molly, standing on the back steps, her hand poised to knock.
Brenna laughed. “I’ve got to get you a key. You nearly scared the living daylights out of me!”
Molly dropped her bags in the kitchen. “How do you think I felt? I almost knocked on your face.” She stretched and looked around, then gave Brenna a hug. “It is so good to be here. I always feel better when I hit the beach highway and know I’m almost here. It’s like a mini-vacation.”
“I’ll have you moving up here, just watch and see.”
“Nooo...I’m not ready to get out of the fast lane yet. We had twenty eight-week twins last night.”
Brenna put up her hands. “That doesn’t even excite me anymore. I’m just relieved to be living a semi-normal life.”
“I love you anyway, even if you are becoming a hick.” Molly ducked as Brenna whipped a towel in her direction.
After carrying her bags upstairs, they went to Brenna’s room and she showed Molly the christening gown. “Wow, this is beautiful,” Molly said, touching the gown reverently. “That must have been something, to actually find these things you’ve been dreaming about.”
“Spooky's what it was. Although, for some reason, I was also a little relieved. Maybe because it meant I wasn’t crazy.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” Molly frowned.
“Come on, goofy,” Brenna said, pushing her toward the door. “I was just going to make some cookies when you got here.”
Molly darted for the stairs. “Oh, goody, what kind?”
That evening, they stretched out in front of the fire after a full afternoon of baking, sampling their results and trying to run off the extra calories on the beach. In between the baking and sampling, Brenna had shared the latest 'Adam' update. He still hadn't called. Molly had decided that if he hadn't called before it was time for her to leave, Brenna would make a casual call to ask if he wanted to go running with them. Brenna had rolled her eyes, not bothering to argue. They had rented a new movie for this evening and made popcorn. Zoe flopped across Brenna’s legs as she sat on the carpet and laughed until she cried at the antics on the tv. Molly fell over laughing, greatly offending Madeline who streaked for the hearth and looked back at her as if she’d lost her wits, before washing her paw as if nothing had happened.
As the credits rolled, Brenna wiped her eyes and pushing Zoe off her, got to her feet. “That was great, I haven’t laughed like that in ages. Want some wine?” She delivered Molly’s wine to her, then sat down in her rocker with her own glass. They sat for awhile discussing changes at the hospital and the events occurring at Brenna’s house. Finally, they left their dishes on the kitchen counter and turned in for the night, happy and tired.