“What’s this?” Ivy asked, stepping aside to let her in.
“I brought something for Ellie,” Celeste replied, her voice softer than usual. “I didn’t want to come empty-handed.”
Ivy blinked in surprise and nodded, feeling her heart soften just a little.Maybe there’s more to this woman than the Ice Queen façade.
Ellie, oblivious to the tension, squealed with delight as she ran over to them. “A present? For me?”
“Open it,” Celeste said, offering a rare smile that lit up her features in a way that left Ivy momentarily speechless.
Ellie tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a beautiful set of miniature Christmas village figurines—tiny houses, trees, and little people that looked like they belonged in a winter wonderland. Ellie’s eyes widened in wonder.
“Oh, it’s so pretty!” she exclaimed, turning to Ivy. “Mommy, look! Can we set it up?”
Ivy’s throat tightened as she looked from Ellie’s shining eyes to Celeste’s soft expression. “Of course we can, sweetheart,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
As they gathered around the coffee table to arrange the miniature village, Ellie chattered excitedly, her joy filling the room. Celeste, normally composed, seemed to relax in the warm glow of the fireplace, her fingers gently adjusting the tiny figures with a level of care Ivy hadn’t expected she was capable of.
After a while, as they sat back to admire their work, Ellie looked up at Celeste with wide, curious eyes. “What do you want for Christmas?”
The question hung in the air, the crackling fire the only sound as Celeste froze, her gaze flickering to Ivy before settling back on Ellie. For a moment, Ivy saw something shift in Celeste’s expression—a vulnerability that hadn’t been there before.
“I’m not sure,” Celeste said quietly. “I haven’t thought about it in a long time.”
Ellie tilted her head, her brow furrowing in confusion. “But everyone wants something for Christmas.”
Celeste’s lips pressed into a thin line, and Ivy could feel the tension creeping back into the room. She reached out, resting a hand on Ellie’s shoulder.
“Maybe Celeste doesn’t need anything this year,” Ivy said gently, giving Celeste a small, reassuring smile.
Celeste met Ivy’s gaze, her eyes softening for a moment before she nodded. “Maybe.”
And as the fire crackled and the snow fell gently outside, Ivy couldn’t help but wonder what Celestereallywanted—and why a part of her was starting to care so much about finding out.
As the warmth of the fire flickered and the delicate glow of the Christmas lights cast a soft halo around the room, Ellie’s excitement finally began to wane. The little girl, full of energy just moments before, now yawned as she cuddled up on the couch, her eyelids fluttering with the telltale signs of sleep.
Ivy glanced at the clock and smiled to herself. It had been a long day for Ellie, filled with the thrill of decorating, the surprise gift from Celeste, and the magic of the holiday season. Kneeling beside her daughter, Ivy gently brushed a strand of hair from Ellie’s face, her voice soft as she spoke.
“Time for bed, sweetheart,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss Ellie’s forehead. The little girl blinked up at her with drowsy eyes, the last remnants of energy fading fast.
“Will Celeste still be here tomorrow?” Ellie asked sleepily, her voice muffled as she nestled further into the cushions.
Ivy’s heart gave a small, unexpected flutter at the question, and she hesitated for a moment before answering. “Maybe, Ellie. We’ll see.”
Ellie nodded, already half asleep, and within moments, she drifted off, her small form sinking deeper into the plush couch. Ivy stood and carefully scooped up her daughter, carrying her to her bedroom. She could feel Celeste’s gaze on her as she moved, the intensity of it prickling along her skin.
Once Ellie was settled under the blankets, Ivy quietly closed the door behind her, pausing for a moment in the hallway to collect her thoughts. The house felt still—too still—and theweight of the evening’s unspoken emotions pressed against her chest. When she finally returned to the living room, she found Celeste standing by the window, staring out at the softly falling snow.
Ivy’s breath caught at the sight of her. In the warm glow of the room, Celeste’s sharp features were softened, and there was something vulnerable, almost wistful, about the way she gazed out into the night.
“She’s asleep,” Ivy said softly, stepping into the room. Her voice seemed to break the quiet spell, and Celeste turned to face her, her expression unreadable.
“She’s a sweet kid,” Celeste murmured, her voice quieter than Ivy had ever heard it. There was a note something—something unguarded, almost—beneath her words, and it tugged at Ivy in ways she wasn’t sure she was ready to admit.
“She likes you,” Ivy said, folding her arms across her chest as she moved closer, her pulse quickening despite herself. “I think…I think you surprised you. Surprised both of us, really.”
Celeste’s lips curved into a faint smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m not used to this,” she admitted after a moment, her voice barely audible. “The quiet. The warmth. It’s…different.”
Ivy stepped closer, drawn by something she couldn’t quite name. There was a fragility in Celeste’s words, a hint of the loneliness that Ivy had only begun to glimpse behind the woman’s icy exterior. She stood just a few feet away now, close enough to feel the heat from the fireplace mingling with the chill that still clung to Celeste’s coat.
