Ashley
I woke to the sound of tiny feet padding down the hallway, followed by an excited whisper that grew progressively louder.
"Mommy! Mommy! Wake up! It's Christmas!"
Harvey burst into my bedroom, his dark curls wild from sleep, eyes wide with the particular magic that only exists on Christmas morning.
I glanced at the bedside clock—6:18 AM—and smiled despite my exhaustion. Some traditions never changed. I was at Blue Paradise to celebrate Christmas.
"Is Santa here? Did he come?" He bounced on the edge of my bed, already tugging at my hand.
"Let's go see," I said, reaching for my robe. "But quietly, remember? We need to—"
The knocking sound, cutting me off mid-sentence. His face lit up even brighter.
"It's Daddy! He promised he'd be here when I wake up!"
My heart skipped as I
