Sam closed her eyes and willed the blush not to come to her face, before she answered. “Uh…I…” she looked up into mirth-filled eyes as her own grew wider in shocked surprise. “No.”

“Hmm…okay,” Brooke teased as she looked over to the clock on the mantel. “Actually, Darlin’, I’d love to open this but we need to go for a drive right now to get to your present.” Brooke took the gift offered to her and placed it back under the tree. “It really needs to be a prompt pickup.”

“What?” Furrowed brows added to the puzzled look on Sam’s face.

“I, uh…can’t tell you what it is. You’ll have to wait.”

After casting a concerned gaze to Brooke, Sam finally shrugged. “Okay, but do I need a coat?”

“Yeah, I got them waiting for us in the kitchen.”

“Hmm…then I guess we’ll be a while?” Sam muttered as Brooke left to get the coats. Sam looked over to C.C. for help. “Do you know anything about this?”

The roommate grinned like a Cheshire cat and declared, “I’m not saying.”

“It figures. I guess sisters always win out over best friends.” The blonde teased C.C. as she accepted her coat from Brooke and started to put it on. Then they made their way toward the door.

“Come on, Julie…wanna go?” Brooke held out her hands to the child in offering.

“Yeah, me go…me go.” The tyke turned to her brothers, “Kevin, David…me go.”

The dark-haired woman looked over to Sam. “Do you mind if they go?”

“Do I mind?” Sam pointed to her chest. “Nope, not at all.” She turned to Julie and smiled, holding out her hand. “Come on, Punkin. Let’s get you a coat.”

“God, Brooke,” Randi called over to her sister above the din of excited children. “Why didn’t you meet Sam earlier? We could have kept our sanity longer.”

“You know, Brooke, I’m beginning to like that truck of yours more and more.” Brain paused for a second as his wife nudged him. “We get more time without the kids, Honey.”

“Yeah? Well, just remember, one of these days you just might have to return the favor.” Brooke warned with an arched eyebrow.

“I hope we do, Brooke.” Brian teased his sister-in-law, “I hope we do.”

“Brooke,” the stern sounding name came rolling off Mable’s lips in between kisses that she dispensed to each child as they passed her. “You drive safely. You remember, that my grandchildren are with you.” Mable shook her finger at the woman.

“I will, Mom.” After she nodded to her caring mother, “We’ll be back.” She waved to her family, and then followed Sam and Julie out the door, making sure the boys were with her.

When they were several feet away from the vehicle, Julie pulled on Sam’s hand to get her attention.

“What’s up, Julie?”

“Sam…” the child came to a stop and leaned up against Sam, pressing her ear to the blonde’s abdomen. Listening intently for a moment, Julie turned her head and whispered loudly, “Are you awake in there yet?”

The young woman looked up to gaze over at Brooke, then back down to her stomach and the toddler who had her ear against it.

Julie cupped her small hand into the belly and spoke even louder. “It’s Julie. You coming out to pway wif me?”

Letting her fingers touch the child’s hat, Sam answered her. “I’m afraid not yet, Julie.” She looked down to see the disappointment, then amended her words. “But who knows, maybe she’ll surprise us all.”

“You ready, Sweetheart?” Brooke stepped up to Sam and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Ready and waiting.” The blonde leaned into Brooke and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks for making me feel like I have a family.”

The blonde turned in her seat to peer into the rear seat of the truck. There, three very sleepy children nodded off as the drive progressed. Even the sound of the lively Christmas carols on the sound system couldn’t override the effects of the lulling drive. Sam settled back into her seat, then stole a glance at the driver.

“Brooke, are you sure you know where you’re going? We’ve been in this truck for over an hour now.”

“I’m positive, Baby.” Brooke hummed along with the Irish sounding song that started playing on the radio as she continued down the suburban street.

Sam eyed her lover suspiciously at first, then shrugged as she turned to look out her side window. As they came to a stop, the young woman’s gaze fell on a very familiar house. “God, that looks like…” Sam sat up and took notice of where they were, letting her eyes roam about the street before casting a sideward gaze at the driver. “If I didn’t know better…” she looked out the windshield to the road in front of them. “I’d say that my parent’s house is just down the street a little bit.”

The driver tried to contain her smile by forcing her mouth to sing along with the chorus of the song. “It’s Christmas in Killarney, with all of the folks at home.” Brooke whistled with the spirited music as she pulled up in front of Sam’s parents’ house and stopped.

Looking out her window, Sam’s vision filled with the neatly styled house that she’d grown up in. “What…what are we doing here?” Her eyes quickly focused on Brooke.

“You’re going to spend the day with your family, Darlin’.” Brooke watched for Sam’s reaction.

“What?” Sam’s eyes grew bigger. “You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m not.” Brooke smiled as she watched the man closing in on Sam’s side of the car. “Merry Christmas.”

The young woman looked into Brooke’s face and, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Sam turned toward the sound of her name.

“Samantha…” the deeper voice called out with a hesitant smile as her father came briskly down the walk.

“How did you…” Sam looked over to the driver as she started to speak, only to be stopped by the look in Brooke’s eyes.

“Merry Christmas, Sam.” Brooke said softly, then motioned toward the approaching man.

Before Sam could utter a word, her father was upon them, opening the door and reaching in to welcome his daughter. “Merry Christmas, Baby.”

The blonde hurriedly unfastened her seatbelt and got out of the car, only to be engulfed in her father’s arms. “Merry Christmas, Daddy. God, it’s good to feel your hug.”

The man pulled back to look at his daughter. “My Goodness, look at my baby. You’re… you’re all grown up. You’re beautiful, Sweetie.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

Suddenly, Sam’s body tensed up and she pulled back, wondering what great revelation had taken place. Slowly, she got the nerve to ask, “Does mom…I mean…she’s not dead…is she?”

Samuel shook his head and chuckled at his daughter’s question. “No, Darling, she’s in the house preparing dinner with Sarah.”

“And she’s letting me come here,” Sam looked at her father first, then to the house, “…into her house?”

Nervously, Samuel looked into the truck to see Brooke and then noticed the children sleeping in the back seat. “Yes, Sam…she is.” He wrapped his arm around his daughter and started walking toward the house.

Curious now, Sam looked over to her father, then motioned back to the truck. “And I assume that you’ve met Brooke?” She closed her eyes and wished she hadn’t said it in quite that way. “I mean…Brooke arranged this, didn’t she?”

“Of course.” He nodded, “We both did. Your roommate must be some friend for Brooke here to pull this off.” He cast an eye back to the truck and waved as he stepped up onto the landing outside the door of the house. “That was a very nice thought.”

“C.C.,” Sam wondered what it was that she didn’t know. “Well, yeah, she is.” The blonde looked back to the truck to catch Brooke’s attempt at mouthing several words. Straining to see, Sam thought that she made out a silent, “I’ll tell you later.” Not sure of what to expect next, Sam decided to just accept what had been granted to her. She nodded, mouthing back the words, “Thank you,” then waved as Brooke flashed her a smile, and pulled away in the truck. She watched it until it was out of her view then turned to see her father waiting at the door.

“Come on in, Samantha, I think your sister has been waiting to see you.”

Sam reached out and placed a gentle hand on her father’s arm. “Can you just give me a minute, Daddy?” She looked over to him. “I just want to savor this moment.” Seeing his nod, Sam turned back to look out the door. After a few seconds, she turned and hugged the man standing next to her. “It’s going to be a Merry Christmas, Dad. I’m sure of it now.”

Sam savored the sights and sounds of what she’d remembered as Christmas growing up in the modest home for the first 17 years of her life. She wandered around the gaily-decorated living room, letting memories invade her mind like cannon fodder on a battlefield. She closed her eyes. Sensing the memories that would only cause pain, she dug deeper for the sweeter memories of an earlier childhood. There, in the adolescent years of her preteens, she struck a happy medium where both children and adults were happy in their lives.

She turned to let her eyes settle once more on her father as he put her coat on a hanger, then moved into the doorway, calling out to her younger sister.

“Sarah.”

“Yes, Dad?” The soft-spoken voice answered.

“Sarah, someone’s made a special trip to see us. Would you care to welcome them?” Samuel winked at his eldest daughter and brought a finger to his lips.

The sound of someone coming down the narrow hallway announced the girl’s arrival, as did the sound of a squealed out greeting at the sight of her older sister. “SAM!” She ran over to the smiling woman and threw her arms around her.

Stepping back as she caught onto her sister’s hurtling body, Sam absorbed the blow. “Hey Sis. Whoa, take it easy there, killer.” Sam smiled and hugged her sister tightly. “It’s so good to see you on Christmas.”

“You, too.” Sarah put her face next to Sam’s ear and whispered, “Where’s Brooke?”

“My gosh, you’ve grown.” Sam covered her surprise at her sister’s question. “Later, Sarah, we’ll talk later,” she whispered back.

“You know,” Samuel stood back and watched his daughters reunite. “She reminds me a lot of you when you were that age.” Her turned his face from side to side as he studied the pair. “Don’t you think, Sam?”

The college student felt the heat of a blush coming to Sam’s face. “What…all excited and filled with the love of the season?” Sam looked back over to her father, but the answer came from the doorway behind her.

“No.” The sharp reply came from the small woman standing in the hall. Her face turned harder looking than a moment ago as all eyes turned to stare at her. “She still believes that our way of life is the right one.” Venomous eyes came to rest upon Sam, waiting for a reply. But there was none. “Sarah,” she snapped, “go change your clothes.”

Samuel stepped forward, trying to calm his wife. “Elaine, come say hello to your daughter.”

“How can I say hello to someone I believe is dead, Samuel?” Elaine turned her gaze back to her young daughter. “Sarah, move it.”

“Elaine, please, it’s Christmas.” The man’s eyes pleaded with his wife as his youngest daughter headed up the stairs.

“Yes, it is.” She turned a doubtful eye to Sam. “So,” she smirked, “has the prodigal daughter come home vowing to change her ways, or is this just a little keepsake for the memory?”

“Elaine,” his voice became gruff. “Stop it right now. You know damn well that you agreed to Sam coming home today.”

Sam could feel her hands flexing at her sides as she looked over to her father. “I…I didn’t ask for this. It was a gift…a very thoughtful gift.” Her voice trailed off.

“It’s okay, Sweetheart.” Samuel put his arm around his daughter’s shoulders and gave her a hug as he looked over to his wife. “She’s right. She didn’t ask for this.”

“Well, let’s not go on pretending, shall we? I agreed to this, but only on my terms.” Elaine but her hand on her hip, trying to exert her authority. “Are you ready to listen to them?” She watched, as Sam looked over to her father, then nodded. “You’re only here for a short time. During that time, you’ll not be left alone with Sarah. Do you understand that?”

“Elaine, please…” Samuel protested again.

“So, if you can’t talk about something in front of me, I suggest you not talk at all. Are you willing to accept those terms?”

Sam stood there for a moment, half in shock and half ready to be rebellious. “Yeah, I guess I can accept those terms better than you could my life.”

“Well, enjoy your time,” Elaine shot cold eyes at her daughter. “I can see that it won’t be happening again during my lifetime.”