New York, New York

Kira Williams laid her briefcase on the desk in her office and opened it. She removed the briefs for her upcoming trials, and a picture slipped onto the floor. A smile lit her lips as she set the briefs down, her eyes slowly moving toward the picture.

Kira hadn’t even realized the picture was still there.

The briefcase had been the first thing she had bought after making the decision to move to New York. In a sense, the purchase had been a promise. A promise of something better. Of something more. Growing up, she never had a family—something she had always wanted—but Xavier Tuttle was the one who had come close.

When she was leaving the Christmas Cove Children’s Home, headed to college, she had shoved a picture of the two of them into the top of the briefcase on impulse and snapped it shut. At the time, it had been the only thing in it. Nothing else mattered. Now, it was just a distant memory. He was just a memory.

Kira lifted the picture from the floor and ran her fingers over the face that stared up at her. Smooth mahogany skin, perfect white teeth, a grin that promised fun... and handsome, even at the age of ten. While they were growing up, he had been her best friend… until he was adopted. She sighed. His last name had probably been changed. After he left, they lost touch.

They had grown up together at the Christmas Cove Children’s Home, located in Christmas Cove, Washington, where Christmas lived three hundred sixty-five days a year. While she was growing up, the people of the town had been more than generous, loving, and caring. Each year, the North Pole Lodge—the most prestigious lodge in the town—gathered toys for the children of the Children’s Home. Then Santa himself brought the gifts to the home and passed them out on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve—not Christmas Day—had been the happiest of all the days of the year for Kira. On Christmas Eve, many prominent people in the town came to the Children’s Home with food and desserts of all kinds, along with gifts. On that one night of the year, Kira felt like a real princess.

Mrs. Chaisen--the owner of the Children’s Home, along with her husband--and Mrs. Davis would dress her in a fine, frilly dress and would fix her long, black hair into braids. But the best part, her most favorite part of the evening, had been getting to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. And it had always been the same thing—a family. 

Then she would spend the next few months waiting for her new parents to arrive and take her to live with them. But around March, she knew that her wish still hadn’t come true... again. But the next year, she would make the same wish and the wait would start all over again.

Xavier made the same wish every year, too. But when he was eleven years old, his wish came true when a nice couple came to the Home and adopted him. He had given her a hug and a chaste kiss—her first—and left.

Kira never saw him again. 

Now, she stood the picture beside her desk clock in her office, giving herself a moment to welcome the memories. Memories of her and Xavier sled riding together on the huge hill behind the Children’s Home. Memories of ice skating on a neighborhood lake nearby. Memories of playing in the snow with Xavier in the winter, and then swimming in the lake in the summer. The memories used to be like a knife to her chest, but not anymore. Now, they filled her heart with warmth.

And Xavier was in every memory.

When he left for his new home, somehow, Kira knew that she wouldn’t be adopted. So, one Christmas, she stopped wishing and started doing.

After that, she knew that education was the only thing that would save her. That would change her life. Kira started studying hard, devoting all her time and energy to her grades. 

Kira graduated high school at the top of her class and had received a full ride academic scholarship to Washington State University. She had also received grants, along with a scholarship for women of color. When she decided to go to law school, she paid for it with student loans and a generous scholarship from the Christmas Cove Children’s Home. 

Knowing she had to make big money quick to have the life she wanted, she had moved to New York, but it wasn’t easy. She had worked long hours and climbed her way to the top of her profession, working long hours for next to nothing until she proved herself in court.

But now, her student loans were paid off and she had a prominent Manhattan penthouse condo to show for her hard work. Yet, something was missing. Kira had spent so many hours working that she had never made any true friends. 

Yes, she had business associates and acquaintances and tennis buddies, but they weren’t true friends. If she lost everything tomorrow, she knew she couldn’t call them for help, not like she could Mrs. Chaisen and Mrs. Davis.

But even though Mrs. Davis had written to her and kept in touch over the years, Kira couldn’t bring herself to visit, except for going to Mr. and Mrs. Chaisen’s funerals. Even then, she went to the funeral and left as quickly as she could. Just the thought of spending more time there caused her heart to ache. Xavier wouldn’t be there, and he never would be again.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, bringing her from her thoughts. 

“Yes, Sasha?” Kira asked into the intercom, pressing a side button on the multi-line phone.

Sasha had been her secretary since she had taken the position with Ryder, Rhyder, and Collins Attorneys at Law, one of the most prestigious law firms in New York. 

“You have a visitor, Ms. Williams,” Sasha’s voice came over the intercom.

Kira sighed. “Is it my next client?”

“No. Mrs. Evelyn Davis said to tell you that she would only require a moment of your time.”

Kira’s heart leapt. “I’ll be right out.”

She would do anything for Mrs. Davis. She had always been kind to her and had been the closest thing to a mother that she had ever had.

A crease formed between her eyes as she bolted out her office and hurried down the hallway, fearing the worst. After all, Mrs. Davis wouldn’t have come all this way for a social visit. If she wanted to check in with her, she would have called. Kira always made sure that Mrs. Davis had a way to keep in touch.

Kira had to concentrate to keep herself from sprinting to the reception area, not caring that people stared at her for being in such a hurry.

“Is everything okay?” Silvia, one of her tennis buddies, asked, seeing Kira rush by. 

But Kira didn’t answer her. There was no time to waste.

Kira hurried down the hallway, hoping beyond all hope that it wasn’t anything serious. She stopped just outside the door leading to the waiting room, taking a moment to smooth her short gray suit skirt and fitted matching jacket. Then she let out a deep breath and pushed open the door.

A broad smile spread across Mrs. Davis’s face as soon she saw Kira. Despite the years, the woman still looked the same. Her face still kind, still filled with love and pride.

“Kira….” She stretched out her arms and Kira didn’t hesitate.

A rush a love and acceptance filled her heart as she closed the short distance between them. Without a word, she wrapped her in her arms and the sense of love and family poured over her, more than she would have expected. At that moment, Kira wondered why she had waited so long to go back to visit.

“Mrs. Davis.” Kira dabbed at her eyes when she pulled back, feeling like the teenage girl she had been when she left. “What brings you to New York? Is something wrong?”

“Can we talk… privately?” Mrs. Davis asked, her eyes filled with concern.

Kira nodded. “Yes, of course. Come on back.” Then she turned to Sasha. “Cancel all my appointments for the day, please.”

The blonde woman nodded as a smile spread across her face. “Yes, Mrs. Williams.” Sasha had been telling her for the longest time that she worked too much and had been begging Kira to take some time off. So, Kira knew she was as happy as a lark. 

“Just let me get my purse.” Kira placed her hand on Mrs. Davis’s back, ushering her to the door leading to the back offices. 

“I’m so sorry to pop in on you like this.” Mrs. Davis stopped short. “I hope it’s not an inconvenience--”

“Never. Seeing you is the highlight of my day. Probably my year.” Kira smiled as she held the door open for her and then walked beside her down the hallway headed toward her office. “It’s funny. I was just thinking of you.” And Xavier. And Christmas Cove. “I’m glad you came.” Then a crease formed between her eyes. “Is everything okay?” Kira regretted the stupid question as soon as she asked it. Of course, something was wrong, or else Ms. Davis wouldn’t have come all this way. From the look on her face, Kira knew it wasn’t just a social visit.