IVA
We arrived at the garden, Lev carrying Akari on his hip, and found the family already seated beneath the glass structure. The morning light filtered through the frosted panes above us, soft and pale, reflecting off the snow piled outside.
It was cold outside, but warm inside, with heated floors, wool throws draped over chairs, and steam rising gently from cups and plates.
"Good morning," I said cheerfully as we greeted everyone.
"Morning," came back in a chorus from my parents and Lala, who were already in the middle of a conversation while exuding that special ease that Christmas mornings always brought.
We took our seats just as the chef and his team brought out the rest of the breakfast, and the table looked plentiful, indulgent, and comforting.
Dad stood up and lifted his g
