THOMAS FEELS HAPPY HIS FAMILY HAS ACCEPTED CHRISTA

Hearing him saying thanks to the Sergeant as the door opens, 'He sounds pleased about something.' Returning to the van Christa wanted to ask if it had problems at the ranch but she stayed quiet.

Quietly leaning on the door, Thomas looks at her but she looks tired, 'Thinking if to tell her about the fingerprint?'

Deciding not to hide anything from her Thomas said, "Honey, I wanted to say thanks for being there for me."

"As you said we are husband and wife, and as I told you friend when she visited. My family doesn't believe in divorce."

Thomas looks at her, wondering, 'Why did she ask me to annul the marriage then? Was she testing me to see if I was serious about this marriage?' When she said, "Very soon we will have to go shopping to get the baby things."

"I know, but could you wait until after Christmas?"

"There is no hurry, it still has time, but I will have to go and join the clinic and I have an appointment for my hand Friday."

When he didn't reply Christa look at him, he seems lost in his thought. "There is no need to worry if you are busy, I could ask dad to take me?"

"Christa tell me, what did Jenny tell you?"

"I am afraid she didn't say much all she keep saying is, you had to sign some very important documents. From our discussion, I believe she had high hopes for your relationship though."

"Christa listens to me, she and I were just friends nothing more and so was the other ladies."

"Oh, I am not angry, the marriage was sudden, and we all have things to deal with."

"Honey whenever my lady's friend visit or say something that put doubt in your mind, will you come to me first. Because there are lots of women who had high hopes of marrying me."

Hearing her laugh Thomas looks at her. "I am aware of it, from the moment I saw you with that young lady at the airport I knew."

"And you are not jealous?"

"Look friends trust each other, and what happened to bring us together was just a mishap. So we have to make the best out of a bad situation."

Thomas pulls aside and stops the van suddenly. Turning to her, "You might think it a mishap, but believe me when I say it is not. And remember what I am saying? I love you very much"

"I hear you."

The drive home was quiet, glimpsing at her a few times, Thomas ponder on the words she said, 'Yet twice she said she loves me in her dreams.'

Parking up in the garage next to dad van, Thomas went to open the front door. He did not expect anyone to be up, but as he enter through the door mom came out of the study.

"Thomas, you had me so worried, have you any word of Christa?" When Christa steps through the door she jumps hearing Mom screamed out.

I never expected Mom to react in such a joyful way, as she ran towards Christa and embrace her.

"You better not scare me like that again, do you hear me?" Thomas saw Christa nod as the two of them hug each other. Hearing how many times mom said she was sorry.

'It was so wonderful, it was like a dream come true, wanting his parents to love her as he did.'

When the entire family came out of the living room. Dad was the first to embrace her, then the others join in.

Each whispering how sorry they were for the way they had treated her. When the footstep caught his attention, Thomas turn.

Seeing Jerome, who was hesitant that he stood at a distance. Christa notices the tears and went towards him.

Opening her arms unable to believe his eyes as Jerome respond to her and took a few steps toward her.

Then they embrace each other, Thomas knew that change had taken place in Jerome's life.

The number of times he whispered he was sorry just as a mom. Then the others came out of the living room.

Christa had never really met the children as each family introduces themselves. Hearing how sweetly she spoke to all of them, he felt so happy and proud of her.

The house was empty after eleven that Monday night.

Christa had rested the entire day so she was rejuvenated and full of vigor. That week Mrs. Marva never let Christa out of her sight, cooking everything to make sure she was constantly eating.

By the next Monday, being the last week in November, Christa's brother visited her. She was looking much stronger and her face was blossoming once again.

December came and the days were long and prodigious, but it remains very momentum. Especially what had transpired between the family and the coming together.

The week ahead I had no time during the day to spend with her. The case with Jenny had come and I didn't tell Christa. Returning home on the fifth of December seeing her with the newspaper.

"Honey, you are up late?" She said nothing but she had a tray set on the center table waiting for me.

Was she afraid I will not return home, Seeing she went to the washroom then she took her bath? and went to bed.

I don't think she is angry but as I sit with the tray I glimpse the papers. She had folded it in such a way that I could see the headline and be aware that she knows what was going on.

Looking at her on the bed, she must be breathing fire because these days she becomes irritable so quickly, yet she said not a word.

Well, the truth is out and she knows now. Jenny was fine one hundred thousand for poisonings my cows and the loss of the young's.

Despite her anger, she spend the nights in my arms and Thomas knew though matter how tired he was, that was all she needed from him.