I adjusted the silver ribbons on the black stair hands before stepping back slightly to assess my work. The mansion’s grand staircase shimmered with strands of warm twinkly lights, and a small tree stood proudly in the foyer waiting to be decorated.
"Too much, too soon?" I asked with a soft hum, peering at Khalid, who shuffled by the railings hanging garlands in an ugly beige Christmas sweater and denim.
He shot me a playful crease of his nose and a smirk. "No such thing. It’s December."
My lips quirked up faintly before I exhaled, my fingers lightly tracing the pine needles. The scent of wine and pecan pie wafted through the room with the gentle rhythm of the perky holiday playlist Khalid had insisted on.
Boxes of decorations were sprawled across the floor, and tangled vines of mini l
