She’d made garlands like this for the Taylor Christmas tree since she was three and the act of doing it every year, of that ritual, calmed and comforted her. The house smelled like cookies and fresh pine, Nat King Cole sang Christmas carols in the background and all was right with the world exactly in that moment. How she’d missed this kind of thing! Her family had done this without her for the other holidays and birthdays and the idea made her stomach clench. On one hand, she was happy they had each other but on the other, she wasn’t there to share it and it happened anyway. “Want some more gingerbread?” Scott held the plate in her direction, making her groan. “I will burst apart and make a mess if I eat another bite. I need to go running tomorrow, I think, or I’ll gain fifteen pounds before I go back to work.” She knew he wanted to say something but he simply snorted and left it at that. “I’m actually going to head on back to Brian’s. I’m tired and since we’ll be doing the big decorating stuff tomorrow night, I need my rest.”
