"How's the shoulder?" Emma asks.
"Getting there."
Connor snorts. "You're religious about hockey. I've never seen anyone so obsessed."
"It's my job."
"It's your life," Connor corrects. "When's the last time you relaxed?"
I don't answer because I don't remember.
Jim asks about the Bruins, and we talk hockey. Safe territory. Lucy gets up to refill water glasses, and I watch her move. I have to look away when I catch myself staring.
After dinner, Emma declares it's time for Maisie's bath. Connor volunteers to help. Lucy starts clearing plates.
"Let me help."
"You're a guest," Jim says.
"I'm family," I counter, and Jim's expression softens.
Lucy doesn't argue. Hands me a stack of plates and leads the way to the kitchen. Big country kitchen, white cabinets, butcher block counters. She fills the sink with soapy water while I scrape plates into the trash.
"You don't have to help," she says, not looking at me.
"It's fine."
We work in silence. She washes; I dry. The dishwasher runs with the first load.
"I'm sorry about earlier," she says. "The falling thing. That was embarrassing."
"You apologizing for gravity?"
Her mouth tips up. "I guess that would be stupid."
"Pretty stupid."
She hands me a plate. Our fingers brush. She pulls back quickly, but I feel that touch everywhere. My pulse kicks up.
"I'm glad you're here," she says, and her voice softens in a way that makes my chest tighten. "Connor's been worried about you."
"Connor worries too much."
"It's what big brothers do."
She's scrubbing a pot now. A strand of hair falls into her face, and she blows it away. I have the strangest urge to reach over and tuck it behind her ear. To let my fingers trail down her jaw. To see if her skin is as soft as it looks.
I don't.
"The tree looks good," I say instead.
"You think? I wasn't sure about the angel. She's kind of crooked."
"She's perfect."
Lucy glances at me. For a second, our eyes meet. Hold. I see something there I didn't expect. Heat and want and surprise, like she can't believe she's feeling it either.
Then she looks away. The moment breaks.
