Christmas morning was brighter than we’d expected. The glare of the sun off the snow was almost too glittery to look at. Even before I went downstairs, I heard the laughter of children. When I got down to the living room, the kids were sitting on the floor, inspecting the toys and games Santa had left here for them.
“Miss Alison,” Jeffery called to me from the dining room. He stood and offered a hug. “Merry Christmas.” Then he turned to the other woman sitting at the table, enjoying a cup of coffee. “Alison, this is my wife, Susan. Suz, this is Rachel’s half-sister, Alison.”
“Merry Christmas. Pleased to meet you, Susan,” I said, holding out my hand.
“You, too, Alison. Jeff’s been telling me how you and Rachel found each other after forty years. That’s phenomenal.”
“Yes. I was completel
