Hope Newton felt a little awkward. Most of the gifts—except for the ones wrapped in paper—were prepared by Iris for her. Knowing Iris’s meticulous style, she had surely done her homework, learned everyone’s preferences and picked out presents accordingly.

Hope thought this to herself but didn’t say it aloud. Instead, she smiled and said, “I hope you like it.”

Next, she handed a long, slender box to Quinn. When it opened, it revealed a beautifully carved hairpin inlaid with jade.

Quinn’s eyes lit up. “I get one too?”

“Of course! Everyone gets something.”

Then Hope handed Mr. Luca a jade-handled brush, and he immediately cradled it in his hands like...