20
Even though Lyle had always avoided Christmas celebrations, he’d seen enough to know the Rockwell family had their own twist on the holiday. Maybe all families did—but he especially liked theirs.
He enjoyed every second of events like the hot-chocolate-and-charades marathon on Christmas Eve. He even took a turn himself, clumsily trying to act out the plot of Wonder Woman with nothing but gestures.
At midnight, when it was officially Christmas day, everyone ran outside in the snow and yelled “Merry Christmas” while making noise with whatever congas or pots or noisemakers they could put their hands on. Kai helped Max, leaning on his cane, while Nicole pushed Birdie’s wheelchair down the packed snow path. The girl laughed with delight as she shook a tambourine.
Then Isabelle handed out
