Chapter 41

Riley POV

Are you ready? I call out from the hallway while I hold the Christmas tree in one hand and a huge sack in the other hand full of decorations. “Nina. Close your eyes.” I hear Julia tell her and, for some strange reason, it makes my heart fatter “Okay, ready or not, here I come!”

I walk into the lounge to find Nina with her hands over her eyes as she bounces on her feet for excitement, ready for her surprise, although I can’t imagine she’d ever guess that it would be this. “3... 2... 1!” Julia sings then Nina’s hands fly away from her eyes, and she looks straight at me. It takes a moment, but then she notices the box in my hand with a picture of a Christmas tree on it, and I swear I have never heard anyone screaming so loudly in my whole life.

She runs over to me bouncing on her feet. “Is that a Christmas tree, Riley?” It’s clear that she knows that it is, and I know that the smile that has taken over my face is as big as ever, but I don’t care. Seei