Kira woke the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at the North Pole Lodge, having hopped on a plane and flown back with Evelyn. Luckily, she was able to catch the same flight. Kira had some vacation time coming, so she notified the office that she had an important case and to reschedule all her clients.

After hearing that it was a high-profile case, the partners of the firm were more than willing to give her time off. They were so delighted that they didn’t even care that she had agreed to take the case pro bono. In fact, they had offered her a company card to cover her expenses, but she had refused, not wanting to take advantage. Kira had enough saved that money was no longer an issue for her. It had taken her a while, but she felt that she had finally arrived. 

But somehow, she still felt empty.

Kira quickly took a shower but opted for jeans and a blouse with a beige sweater. Even though she was going over the particulars of the case with Mrs. Davis before the trial Monday, she couldn’t go to the Children’s Home decked out in her New York lawyer attire. She slipped on her long, plaid winter coat and hurried out the door.

Downstairs, she walked out through the great room where the trademark North Pole Lodge Christmas tree set. Kira smiled as she passed. Even though it wasn’t even Thanksgiving yet, people were still coming by and dropping off gifts for the Children’s Home.

Kira stopped for a moment to take in the tree. When she was a child, these had been the only gifts she received all year… and she was lucky to get them. Now watching the tree, she made a mental note to go shopping and fill the tree. She never wanted a child to go without a gift on Christmas.

“Everything to your satisfaction?” a male voice said from behind her.

When she turned around, it was Liam White, the general manager of the lodge. He was tall and brunette. Very nice looking and muscled, even by New York standards. But he was completely oblivious to his good looks. Xavier had ruined her for all men.

“Just fine, Mr. White.” Kira slid her hands into her pockets. “The room you set up for me is more like an apartment than a hotel room.”

“Well, I’m glad that you found everything to your satisfaction.” He took her hand into his own. “If you need anything while you’re here, please let me know and I’ll take care of it personally.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and released it.

“Thank you, Mr. White, but I assure you: Everything is wonderful. You’ve already done more than enough.” As a teenager, she remembered Mr. White coming to the Children’s Home with Santa Clause, but then he wasn’t the manager. He had worked his way up from front desk clerk since she had been away. “Congratulations on the promotion, by the way. You earned it.”

Mr. White shook her hand. “Thank you.” He started to walk away but turned back and grinned. “And Kira?”

“Yes?” She raised her eyebrows, waiting.

“Welcome home.”

A thrill ran through her, pleased that he remembered her from years ago. Years ago, the North Pole Lodge had also given her a generous scholarship, which they continued every year for the four years that she was going to college for her Bachelor’s degree. Now, she was sure that Mr. White was behind it. 

“Mr. White?”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Thank you… for everything.”

He nodded and then turned to help another guest, a young woman with red hair.

As Kira headed out the door, cool air and snow flurries swirled around her. She rushed to her rental car, a Mustang, started the engine, and turned the heat on full blast. Cold air rushed from the vents, making her even colder. A chill ran through her. Even though it was cold in New York, Christmas Cove gave a new meaning to the word.

Kira slid the car into reverse, leaving the heater turned up, knowing it would warm soon enough. 

She passed by the town square and smiled. The same tree lot set in the center of the square, along with the gazebo at one end, and the giant, living Christmas tree at the other. When she saw Santa’s Workshop, a toy store, she felt like the child she was when she had left and almost stepped in. As a child, she had always wanted to go in there, but never could. Now, as an adult, it seemed like wish fulfillment. Maybe she would go in later and shop for the children at the Children’s Home, as she had planned earlier. 

Kira drove to the other side of the town square. It felt like deja vous when she headed down the familiar road that would lead her to the Children’s Home. It seemed so strange to be on this side of the Home. A part of her still felt like the scared little girl living at the Children’s Home, hoping for a family of her own one day.

A thrill ran through her when the huge, yellow house came into view, resting on a pristine blanket of white snow, sprawled out across ten acres. She remembered going over the hill to the lake at the bottom. She and Xavier would go sled riding down the hill and across the frozen pond in the winter, and then would go swimming in the pond in the summer when no one was looking. She laughed, knowing that if Mrs. Chaisen or Mrs. Davis had found out, they would have had their hides.

Kira pulled down the long drive leading to the huge yellow house and pulled to a stop beside the other cars. It was the day before Thanksgiving and Kira was sure there were other women who came over to help prepare the food and decorations.

Smiling, she turned off the car, knowing that Evelyn had brought her over for more than just a talk. Kira locked it up, and headed toward the house, suddenly excited to be back home. Some of the best memories she had growing up were of helping the women in the kitchen prepare meals. And Thanksgiving was the biggest feasting holiday of all. Well, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Kira often wondered how Mr. and Mrs. Chaisen could afford the Children’s Home, as well as taking care of the children and seeing to their needs. She thought that since Mr. and Mrs. Chaisen never had children of their own, they had forty children at a time through the Home. In fact, they probably had the most children of anyone in Christmas Cove.

Kira remembered when new arrivals came. There were times when the phone would ring, and it would be the hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Chaisen would leave alone, but came home carrying a baby, or holding the hand of a small child. They really were a wonderful couple. And it was their final wish that the house and the land be designated as the official Christmas Cove Children’s Home for the life of the town. As she skipped up the stairs and onto the front porch, Kira vowed to honor their wishes… no matter the cost.

Kira knocked on the door and waited.

“Coming!” Mrs. Davis’s voice resonated through the door, along with footsteps growing louder as they drew near. Then the door flew open and Mrs. Davis was standing in the doorway with a small child on her hip. “Kira! What are you doing knocking? This is your home! Come on in!” She shoved the child into her arms and then closed the door behind her. “You’re just in time.”

“For what?” Kira looked down, and the small blonde girl shoved her thumb into her mouth, her eyes wide, and laid her head on Kira’s chest.

“To make the pies, of course!” Mrs. Davis led the way into the kitchen where a host of women and children were preparing goodies and food for the next day. 

Kira laughed. “It’s been years—”

“But it was your favorite thing!” Mrs. Davis grinned. “I remember that you used to love to help Mrs. Chaisen make pie crusts from scratch.”

“That was a long time ago.” Kira sat on a wooden chair at the huge table and set the girl on her lap. “And who do we have here?” The girl looked up at her with wide eyes, her thumb securely in her mouth. Kira smiled, knowing that she probably couldn’t pry that thumb out of her mouth with a crowbar.