The Christmas tree in the corner lit up the room. On each branch was a tiny white candle balanced perfectly in an equally tiny holder. It had taken Molly almost two hours to light each and every candle. There were glass red and green bulbs covering the tree. On the very top was an angel dressed in silver and gold. Molly had made the tree skirt. She had used red cloth and embroidered tiny elves on it. Underneath the tree were at least thirty packages.

"Are all these for us?" Rose said, her eyes as wide as saucers.

"Its looks it. But I am willing to bet the majority are for you two girls from those two adorable men who hold you two dear," Molly said, grinning.

"But how could they?" Eliza asked in astonishment.

"Before they left, they bought your Christmas presents. They asked me to make sure you received them," Molly said unable to contain the secret.

"That sounds like Allan, always planning ahead," Rose replied happily.

"He probably made Brandon do the same. I know my brother -- he has never done anything ahead of time in his life," Eliza said, laughing.

"No, he hasn't!" Rose agreed, smiling.

"Well girls, let's open the gifts," Molly suggested.

"No. No. Not till our guests arrive," Rose insisted.

"Rose is right. We should wait," Eliza agreed.

"Suit yourselves. If it were me, I would be tearing into them," Molly answered.

The three women went about getting ready for their company when their first guest arrived.

Eliza answered the door, and much to her great delight, it was Willow. Over the past few months, Willow and Eliza had become very close. When Rose was at work making moving pictures, Eliza had become lonely and wondered downstairs to meet her landlord. The two women had become wonderful friends.

"Merry Christmas! Come on in," Eliza said gaily, kissing her friend on the cheek

Mary Pickford arrived a short time later, her arms filled with gifts. "You didn't have to do that," Rose said, holding her dear friend close.

It was a magnificent evening. They sang Christmas carols, drank eggnog till they were a little tipsy, and exchanged gifts. Mary had bought each one of them a gigantic box of chocolate. "Goodness!" Rose exclaimed, popping a piece in her mouth. "I will be as big as a house if I eat all this chocolate."

"When you're as big as me, then you can talk about being as big as a house," Eliza replied, laughing.

Willow had made shortbread cookies in the shape of Christmas wreaths, cranberry bread, and pecan pie for dessert; the five women ate till they thought they would burst.

When the women had exchanged all their gifts, Eliza and Rose decided it was time to open the gifts from Allan and Brandon.

Eliza rolled her eyes when she realized all her gifts were for the new baby. "Oh Allan is such a romantic," she joked.

"Don't give up on him yet, darling," Molly said suspiciously, handing Eliza one more gift.

Slowly Eliza opened the tiny package. Inside was a gold locket. Upon opening it, she read the inscription out loud:

"That's beautiful," Rose whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.

Suddenly, without warning, a loud banging came at the door, startling the women. "Hello, is anybody home?" yelled a shrill voice, once again banging on the door.

"Hold your horses!" Molly answered, throwing open the door.

Much to everyone's horror, two uniformed men stood with grim looks on their faces.

The color drained from Rose's face, and she quickly reached for Eliza's hand.