The morning of Christmas dawned bright and golden the kind of morning that made even the most ordinary houses look enchanted. Outside, the streets shimmered with frost; children’s laughter filled the air, and the faint sound of church bells echoed from a distance.
Inside the Harper household, warmth and chaos ruled.
The scent of cinnamon and butter drifted through the small kitchen. Jenah was by the stove, flipping pancakes, while Leah was decorating the table with red napkins and pinecones she’d arranged the night before. Maya sat on the counter, her feet swinging, humming a Christmas carol while nibbling on a slice of bread.
“Maya, you’re supposed to wait,” Leah teased, tugging at her sister’s messy ponytail.
“I’m helping! Taste-testing is part of Christmas breakfast,” Maya said prou
