Barbara was undaunted. “Sometimes, we dream of something and we work and sweat and pray to get it and, when we do, we find out that it wasn’t what we really wanted after all. What is it that you really want, Ms. Kendall?”

Shay blushed. Damn the woman and her uncanny perception! “I’m almost embarrassed to admit to it, in this day and age, but I’d like to be married and have babies. I’d like to have the luxury of being weak sometimes, instead of always having to be strong. I’d like to be there when my son comes home from school and I’d like to watch soap operas and vacuum rugs.” Shay caught herself. Barbara would be horrified. Any modern woman would be horrified. “Aren’t you sorry you asked?”

Barbara chuckled. “I was married for a long, long time, Ms. Kendall, and those were some of the things I liked best about it.”

“You’re not shocked?”

“Of course I’m not. You’re a young woman and it’s natural for you to want a man and a home and babies.”

Shay was gazing toward the window. There wasn’t any snow and she wanted snow. She wanted to be alone in the mountains with Mitch again. “I’m not at all like my mother,” she mused in a faraway voice threaded through with a strand of pure joy. “I’m myself and I can make my own choices.”

Barbara must have slipped out. When Shay looked back, she was gone.

Shay propped her chin in her hands, running over her dreams, checking each one for soundness, finding them strong. All she had to do was find the courage to act on them.

Mitch wanted a marriage proposal, did he? Well, she’d give him one he’d never forget. She reached for the telephone book and leafed through the yellow pages until she found the listings she wanted. There was no way she could put her plan into action until after Christmas, what with the business and Ivy’s wedding and the general uproar of the holiday itself, but it wouldn’t hurt to make a few calls.

Kelly cast one questioning look up at her mother. Reba nodded, her eyes suspiciously bright, and the child scampered through the crowd of Christmas travelers and into Mitch’s arms.

He lifted her, held her close. There was no time to tell Reba that he was grateful; he and Kelly had to catch a northbound plane within minutes. He nodded and Reba nodded back. A second later, she had disappeared into the crowd.

“Look, Daddy,” Kelly chimed over the standard airport hubbub, pointing to a pin on her coat. “Mommy bought me this. Santa and his nose lights up when you pull the string!”

Mitch chuckled hoarsely. “Your mommy is a pretty special lady. Shall we go catch our plane?”

Kelly nodded. “Mommy already checked my suitcase and I’ve got my ticket right here.”

Minutes later they were settled in their seats on the crowded airplane and Mitch ventured, “I know this is the first Christmas you’ve ever been away from your mother.…”