Five of Us at Christmas, But They Only Ordered Four Cookies novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: Christmas Eve

Mom's porch light was on at four in the afternoon, and the wreath on the door was the one I had made in fourth grade.

Emmett turned off the engine and looked at it.

"You can still stay in the car," I said.

"I'm not staying in the car."

"They'll be awful to you."

"Then I'll be fed and awful-ed," he said. "Get out, Hannah."

I had the printed chat folded in the inside pocket of my gray coat.

Three copies, because Zelda had texted at noon: bring extra, I only have one.

The snow was coming sideways off Lake Superior, and the whole street smelled like woodsmoke and pine.

Every year since I was born, I had walked up this path with a pie.

This year I walked up it with a man and a folded piece of paper.

The door opened before I knocked.

"There she is!"

It was Lacey, in a red sweater, with her braid pinned up and flour on her cheek.

She threw her arms around me.

She smelled like vanilla and the soup she always made.

"I'm so glad you came," she said into my hair. "I was so scared you wouldn't."

I stood very still inside the hug.

Over her shoulder I could see my mother's front hall, the coats on the hooks, the old brass lamp, and Chad's gray quarter-zip draped over the banister.

"Hi, Lacey," I said.

She let go, held me at arm's length, and her eyes went wet.

"And you must be Emmett."

"I am," Emmett said.

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