The aroma of cinnamon and pine needles hung heavy in the air as Ethan stepped out of the car, the crisp December air stinging his cheeks. Sarah squeezed his hand, her own fingers cold but her smile warm and reassuring. This was it. Meeting her family. He'd spent weeks anticipating this moment, a mixture of excitement and apprehension churning within him. He’d pictured it a thousand times: the warm embrace of a loving family, the easy banter, the welcoming smiles. He hoped he wasn't in for a rude awakening. Her family home was a charming Victorian, bathed in the warm glow of Christmas lights, a stark contrast to the stark, modern lines of his own family home. It felt…lived-in, comfortable, filled with a warmth that radiated outward. Sarah’s hand tightened in his as they approached the

