“Left side… a little higher.”

Hope Newton tilted her head, squinting one eye, then the other, carefully directing Easton as he tried to hang the spring couplets.

Easton had never done anything like this before, yet he didn’t show an ounce of impatience. In fact, he seemed genuinely amused.

He stood on the ladder, following Hope’s instructions, carefully placing the couplets.

“Wait… I think there are two Door couplets somewhere, but I don’t remember which bag I put them in.”

Hope stomped into the room in her fuzzy slippers, rifling through the bundles of New Year supplies until she finally found them.

Penelope Farrell craned her neck, eyes wide with...