The pumpkin collapsed. Fully. Dramatically. Into her hands.
A slushy, sticky, entirely undignified mess splattered down the front of Vic’s jumper and onto the floor.
Silence.
A thick, suspended silence.
Alex put a hand over her mouth.
Erin did not laugh. Sheabsolutely did not laugh.Her lips just twitched uncontrollably.
Vic inhaled like she was preparing to deliver a monologue about betrayal.
Julia stepped forward, wiped a bit of pumpkin off Vic’s cheek, and said gently, “Darling. It’s fine.”
“It isnotfine,” Vic whispered. “I was trying to make Christmas perfect.”
Julia kissed her forehead. “It is perfect.”
Vic blinked at her. “How?”
Julia gestured around.
Kids sticky with icing.
Dogs wearing tinsel.
Erin and Alex side-by-side at the table.
Warm cookies cooling on the counter.
Snow falling softly outside.
Candlelight flickering despite the dodgy electrics.
Laughter waiting to happen.
And in that moment, even Erin saw it — the way the chaos knitted them all together like mismatched threads.
Julia cupped Vic’s cheek. “Because we’re all here.”
Vic’s eyes went shiny.
Erin swallowed thickly.
Alex’s hand brushed Erin’s.
Erin turned her palm up.
Alex’s fingers slid into hers.
Warm. Sure. Certain.
And for a moment, everything was exactly as it should be.
11
VIC
