Christmas Day dawned soft and golden over Paradise Atoll, the lagoon mirroring the pale sky like a promise of warmth.
In the modest family villa, the plastic tree in the corner sagged under its load of paper snowflakes and macaroni reindeer, battery powered fairy lights still flickering lazily from the night before.
Waves lapped gently against the stilts below, and the faint strum of ukuleles carried "Jingle Bells" with a tropical rhythm from the distant beach.
Liam shook Eliot awake before the sun crested fully, his small hands tugging the blanket. "Papa, Santa came. I heard him!"
Eliot blinked against the light filtering through the mosquito net, a sleepy smile breaking across his face. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Already, champ? Let's see what he left."
Liam scrambled to the foot
