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  They talked and laughed until late in the night and finally Tori announced it was time for her and Mason to get going. They said their goodbyes and made the short trip to Tori’s apartment. Tori was so happy because it seemed like Mason had a genuinely good time with her family. “I hope that wasn’t too much for you, Mason,” Tori said as she pulled out of Kathy’s driveway.

  Mason laughed, “It was great! I had a great time tonight, but I am a little anxious to get you alone again.”

  “That sounds good to me.”

  Tori pulled into the parking lot and sitting in front of her apartment was the black limo. Mason and Tori looked at each other as they got out of the car and began to walk toward the limo.

  “I wonder what Thomas--,” Tori began when the door to the limo sprang open and Willa and Earl climbed out of the limo.

  Mason ran to his granny and hugged her. “Merry Christmas,” Mason said.

  “Merry Christmas, Mason,” she said as Mason released her. She immediately grabbed Tori into a big, warm hug. “Merry Christmas, sweetie.”

  Mason and Earl shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. They were standing outside and snow began to gently fall.

  Tori asked everyone to come in and get out of the cold and they all accepted her invitation. She went over to ask Alex, but he said he had to get back to Thomas and Pearl’s home.

  Once inside the warmth of Tori’s apartment, Tori and Mason took Willa and Earl’s coats. Tori put on a pot of coffee while Mason got everyone settled. Tori came back with a warm cup of coffee for everyone and passed them around. She also set out a tray of sugar cookies.

  She took one look at Willa’s rosy cheeks and her now brown hair she had apparently dyed and noticed that her relationship with Earl had made her look twenty years younger. She understood because she had felt seventeen again ever since Mason came to her.

  “So what brings you too to Earth so soon?” Mason asked Willa.

  “I just wanted to be with my grandson and soon to be granddaughter at Christmas. Do you have a problem with that Mason?”

  “Of course not Granny. I am so glad you came, but why do I get the feeling that you aren’t telling the whole truth?”

  Earl started to say something but Willa quickly shushed him.

  “Let’s just enjoy the night and I will tell you tomorrow. Thomas has invited us all to Christmas dinner at his home. That was so kind of him, don’t you think? And he had that nice man drive us here. He and Pearl look so happy together and so do you and Tori.” She turned to look at Tori, “I see my ring on your finger girl and it suits you. So when are you two getting hitched?”

  “We haven’t set a date yet,” Tori replied.

  “Well sooner better than later. I want some grandbabies. I ain’t getting’ no younger you know.”

  Mason stepped in, “You’re going to live forever Granny. We have time.”

  “Oh, I was just teasing Tori.”

  Suddenly the room was filled with the sound of a car advertisement. Earl had gotten a hold of the remote control and turned on the television. Both Earl and Willa almost jumped off the couch. Earl spoke, “that is amazing!”

  “I’ll be damned,” Willa said.

  Mason laughed, “Just wait till she shows you the microwave.”

  They talked well into the early hours of the morning. Mason told them about what he had seen so far and showed them almost every electronic device in Tori’s apartment, Earl and Willa greeting each new device as a wonderful discovery.

  Tori insisted that Willa and Earl take the bedroom and she and Mason would sleep on the couch. Willa and Earl graciously accepted and Tori changed the sheets and got some pillows and blankets for her and Mason.

  As they snuggled up close on the couch wrapped up in warm blankets, Mason kissed her and she felt more loved than she ever had in her life. “I love you Victoria,” he whispered into her ear.

  “I love you too, Mason.” Tori drifted off to sleep without a care in the world wrapped in the arms of her fiancé. Her world was beautiful at this moment and she wished it could stay this way forever.

  Copyright © 2011 by Kimberly E. Warner

  All rights reserved.

  All the characters and situations contained within this book are entirely fictional and originated from the imagination of the author. Any similarities to any person living or dead are entirely coincidental.

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