“Want some help?” I ask.
“I’d love a hand.” The man laughs. “Looks like Santa needed a little more time to give me what I needed for Christmas.”
I take his shovel and get started.
“Do you have another shovel?” Abby asks him.
He gets one from the garage. “While you do this, I’ll make some hot chocolate for when you’re finished.”
With both of us shoveling, it doesn’t take long since nothing has iced over and the snow is powdery. As soon as we set our shovels inside the garage, the man hands us each a cup of hot chocolate.
“Thanks,” he says, smiling. “You two have made my day.”
“Merry Christmas.” As we leave the freshly shoveled driveway, Abby practically skips, and I love seeing her so lighthearted after what she went through last night and this morning with her family. “This has been the best Christmas.”
“Even with my loud family, over-the-top charades, and this scavenger hunt?” I regret the words as soon as I say them. I shouldn’t have asked that, knowing what her Christmases are like with her family.
She nods emphatically. “Because of those things. Your family is wonderful. They’ve made me feel so welcome. And this?” Shewaves our list in the air. “This is fun. I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed this much on Christmas.”
My heart swells with affection. “I’m glad. You deserve all the happiness, Abby.”
She holds my hand. “So do you, John.”
We’re interrupted by my phone buzzing. It’s a text.
Lizzy:Better hurry up, slowpokes. We’re on our last item.
“We better get moving,” I say. “All we have left is the Christmas ornament reflection photo.”
“Where are we going to find a big enough ornament?” Abby asks.
An idea strikes me. “I know just the place.”
I lead her to the town square, where a massive Christmas tree stands. Hanging from its lowest branches are huge, shiny ornaments, each one at least a foot in diameter.
“Perfect,” Abby breathes.
We position ourselves in front of one of the silver orbs, our reflections distorted but visible. I hold my phone up to take the picture but pause.
“What?” Abby asks.
I smile at her. “Nothing. I’m glad you’re here with me.”
Her expression softens. “Me too.”
As Abby stands on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek, I take a photo. The reflection shot could be clearer, but it’ll work. We find the final item, a receipt, on the ground. Yes, luck is on our side today.
We hurry to my grandparents’ house, careful not to fall in the snow. Seeing my family’s holiday traditions through Abby’s eyes makes me realize how much I’ve taken them for granted over the years. I open the door for her to go first.
Abby pants. “Did we make it?”
Grandpa checks his watch. “Just in time! Show me what you found.”
We present our photos and items, explaining each one. When we get to the ornament reflection photo, there’s a collective “aww” from the family. I hold Abby’s hand.
“Well,” Grandpa says, looking around at the other teams. “We have our winners!”
The room erupts with cheers, and Grandma presents us her recipe book. “Congratulations, dears. Although I think you’ve already won the best prize of all.”
