"Lind-say!" Connor was calling from upstairs.

"Down here, darling. In the great room." The baby gave a little flutter and she looked down and laughed. "Yes, you recognize his voice already, don’t you?" Then she tickled the soft black mound on her stomach and went back to reading her letter.

Connor came down the stairs and she glanced up, love and pride flowing over her as she saw him. He was wearing dark slacks and a white, short-sleeved, V-necked pullover trimmed with black bands at the neck and arms, and her heart did a little flutter, too, for he was grinning boyishly, and she smiled in response.

"Good to be home," he said, kissing her as he seated himself next to her on the love seat.

She decided to tease him a little and looked sideways at him. "Oh. You were gone?"

"Sometimes, my darling, that sense of humor of yours– "

"Yes, dear?"

He laughed and leaned over to kiss her again, then drew her head to his shoulder, and she snuggled closer. He kissed her on the forehead, then asked, "What are you reading, honey?"

"Oh. This is a letter from a boy named Tyler. Central headquarters forwarded it to me. He was a case Peter and I had not long before I found you again. He was a resident at a camp for mentally-challenged children. During our investigation, it came out that he wasn’t autistic, but had spent his life trying to control a psychokinetic twin he had absorbed before he was born. Then because of a new medication, the twin suddenly began developing, and all sorts of weird things started happening. Well, Tyler developed an attachment to me, and now at nineteen he’s just learned to write. So he sent me a letter. He’s coming along fine, now."

Connor shook his head. "Incredible. It never fails to amaze me, the things we’ve investigated."

"‘There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio. . . ." She offered it to him. "Would you like to read it?"

"Later. Talking about Peter, I just checked my e-mail, and–" he paused, and she looked at him, curious, "–and he and Megan are getting married Saturday! They want us to be their attendants. What do you say?"

Lindsay whooped excitedly, and Sooty jumped down, startled. "Oh, I’d love it!"

He laughed. "I thought you would. We can drive down early Friday morning, spend Sunday in the city, and drive back early Monday morning."

"I have to call Megan! There are a thousand things I need to ask her!"

She started to get up, but he gently touched her shoulder. "Later, honey, okay? It really has been a long day."

"Yes, dear," she said, and laid the mail aside.

§§§

By Thursday it was all arranged. Their part-time housekeeper, Mrs. Shultz, agreed to spend the weekend at the house, taking care of Sooty and "givin’ the house a right good cleanin." Connor had arranged for a substitute to take his Friday and Monday classes, and they were looking forward to their trip.

Just before they left Friday morning, Lindsay checked upstairs to see if they had forgotten anything, and smiled as she saw the newest red rose on the bed. She took it downstairs to put it in water, then joined her husband.

"Another rose?" he asked, and she nodded. "Good sign."

She wondered that he could almost read her mind. "How did you know?"

He smiled. "You always get that certain look about you."

"What sort of look?"

He thought a minute. "Like–you’ve just been given the greatest gift in the world–the gift of love."

Her eyes were soft and vibrant at the same time. "I have been."

He kissed her, then opened the door. "You ready?"

She nodded, and they began their journey.

§§§

It was late afternoon when they reached Peter’s apartment. Peter was overjoyed to see them, hugging Connor and then looking Lindsay up and down.

"Well, would you look at you! You look wonderful!" He kissed her on the cheek, then picked her up in a huge bear hug. When he put her down he held her at arms’ length and looked again, shaking his head. "I must say, being pregnant agrees with you." Then he realized they were still on the doorstep. "Oh, hey. I’m sorry." He laughed a little. "Come on in, you guys. Sit down. I bet you’re tired. Megan helped me fix up the den into a guest room. I’ll just put your bag in here. Megan will be here soon. She had to go see something about the wedding, and–"

"Peter!" Lindsay interrupted.

He turned around, surprised. "What?"

"Take a breath, will you? You’ll hyperventilate!"

They all laughed, and settled down in the living room.

"I’m sorry, guys. I’m just a little nervous."

Lindsay raised an eyebrow. "Only a little?"

He laughed again. "All right. A lot." Then he grew serious. "Not about marrying Megan; I love her like crazy. It’s just this blasted ceremony."

Connor laughed. "Piece of cake. I can’t even tell you most of what happened. All I could think of was that Lindsay was beside me, and she was marrying me." He picked up her hand and looked at her, and the world receded. "But I can tell you every detail about her. The light in her eyes, her smile, her voice–" and suddenly the usually reserved Connor Doyle reached over and kissed his wife, then looked at Peter, his cheeks slightly pink. "Sorry. I guess I got carried away."

Peter spread his hands. "Hey! I don’t blame you," and they finally all began to relax.

Just then Megan arrived, and there was a new round of greetings, then they paired off, as Lindsay went to help her with dinner while Connor and Peter talked.

Megan chattered away as Lindsay sat at the table slicing vegetables, telling her all about the wedding plans. "It’s at the Little Church Around the Corner," she said. "such a beautiful place."

Lindsay nodded. "I used to go to the gardens quite often."

"Jenny and Colleen are coming–"

"Oh! Good!"

"–and so is Peter’s father."

Lindsay gasped in delight. "Oh, good! I am so glad to hear that."

Megan smiled and nodded, then her mood abruptly changed. "Oh, Lindsay, I am so nervous! Not about marrying Peter; I’m mad about him." Lindsay suppressed a smile. "It’s just this ceremony!"

At that Lindsay laughed outright, and Megan turned to look at her, bewildered. "I’m sorry." She leaned back in the chair and smiled warmly. "Listen, Megan, just concentrate on Peter, and think of how much you love each other."

Megan answered her warm smile with a radiant one, nodding slowly.