Chapter 129

“To all of us,” Trees called once he’d sat, holding his beer up in a toast. “It’s not always a merry season when you don’t have your family and you find yourself alone.”

Zy squeezed Tessa’s hand under the table, and she tried not to think about the fact that this was her first holiday without Daddy, without any hope of ever spending another Christmas in her childhood home, or even without any plans.

Across the table, Madison sniffed back tears that were a lot like her own. Tessa didn’t know who or what Madison had lost, but her heart went out to the woman.

“So…a Christmas wish,” Trees continued. “May you never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is best forgotten.”

Zy and Trees exchanged a weighty glance, and Tessa saw a wealth of meaning there. They’d known each other a long time and been through more than a few trials. Maybe she’d ask Zy about them someday.

But now was for celebrating. And they had a lovely dinner, full of laughter and t