Page 59 of Christmas Promises

She hadn’t been in Max’s apartment above his store before and was amazed to find it decorated with such care. In hindsight, she shouldn’t have been surprised. It reflected Max’s character very well, in that it felt lived-in and layered with stories from his travels. Oversize armchairs with soft throws and a plush beige sofa surrounded a hand-hewn wooden coffee table stacked with books on travel and photography. Beneath it, a handwoven rug from Turkey added an intricate burst of pattern and color. Exposed wooden beams stretched across the vaulted ceiling. On the mantel of a stone fireplace, fresh pine garlands intertwined with eucalyptus and soft linen ribbons. Had he done that himself or was there a woman in his life?

“Max, your home’s beautiful,” Laney said.

“It’s a bit of a mishmash, influenced by my travels. Forgive me, as I describe them all.” Max laughed. “I’m just kidding.”

“No, I want to know,” Laney said.

“Okay, just a few.” Max pointed out a carved wooden elephant from India, a smooth obsidian stone from Iceland, and a small, weathered compass from Germany. Above the fireplace hung a large framed photograph of a snow-dusted mountain range, which Max explained was taken during a hike in Switzerland. On another wall hung a vibrant tapestry from Peru. Built-in wooden shelves displayed vases from Greece, a small painted bowl from Japan, and a set of antique keys Max had found in a Parisian flea market. Nestled among these treasures were subtle holiday accents: a small Nativity scene from Italy, a string of twinkling fairy lights draped over the shelves, and a wreath of dried lavender and juniper tied with a simple ribbon.

“You’ve been everywhere,” Laney murmured.

“Not everywhere, but a lot of places,” Max said.

“Do you miss traveling?”

“A little. But I like being home with my family. It was time to settle down.”

The Christmas tree stood in the corner by the window, its soft, glowing fairy lights illuminating ornaments she suspected Max had brought home from his travels—hand-painted glass baubles, miniature ceramic bells, and tiny woven animals. Sprigs of dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks tucked into the branches added a fragrant, natural touch, while a delicate paper star from Sweden topped the tree.

“Max, you’re nothing if not surprising,” Laney said.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Don’t be flirting with my girl,” Nolan said, arriving with mugs of hot cider.

“It’s hard not to,” Max said. “I mean, look at her sweater.”

Laney smiled, posing as if on the red carpet. “Do you like it?”

“You are officially invited next year,” Max said. “If you’d shown up in something cashmere paired with a pearl necklace, you would have been struck from the invite list.”

“God forbid,” Laney said.

It had been such fun to pick out sweaters for the occasion. Nolan’s sweater was a solid navy blue with a single enormous snowflake on the front and two fluffy snowmen perched on each shoulder. Laney had chosen a hideous lime-green knit monstrosity featuring a grinning reindeer with a red sequined nose that actually lit up when you pressed it.

Max asked Nolan if he’d help with something in the kitchen, and they wandered off together. Laney spotted Aunt Edna standing near an impressive table of treats, holding a massive charcuterie board featuring a stunning selection of Vermont cheeses: sharp aged cheddar, creamy Brie, maple-smoked Gouda, and a tangy blue cheese. Next to it were piles of artisanal crackers, rustic sourdough bread, and various deli meats.

A slow cooker of spiced apple cider sat in the middle, its warm cinnamon scent filling the room. Beside it was a platter of meatballs glazed with Hayes maple syrup. She knew because someone had labeled it such. A heaping dish of roasted root vegetables with rosemary and thyme looked absolutely delectable. Another table held a spread of sweet treats: maple sugar cookies, homemade fudge, peppermint bark, and Santa hat cookies.

Laney rushed over to hug her aunt, admiring her sweater as she did so. “Aunt Edna, you look amazing.” Edna had gone all out. Her sweater was an electric blue number adorned with fluffy white pompoms, meant to look like snowballs, and a battery-powered village scene across the chest, complete with tiny LED-lit houses and a miniature train that circled when she turned it on. To top it off, she wore a headband with wiggling snowflakes.

“How’s it going with Drew?” Laney asked. “Is he coming tonight?” She’d been so wrapped up in her own romance that she’d neglected hounding Aunt Edna for details. The woman was maddeningly discreet.

“It’s going well. Kind of like you and Nolan—the bond we had when we were young never faded. But he’s with his children for most of the holiday. He’s coming to be with me for New Year’s Eve. He said he wants to kiss me like they do in the movies.”

“How romantic,” Laney said. “Maybe it’s good I’ll be moving out once Nolan and I marry?”

Edna giggled and waved her hand dismissively. “We’ll see about that.”

“Hi, Aunt Laney.” She looked over to see Jack running toward her, then throwing his arms around her legs. “Do you like my sweater? This is the first year I was invited and it’s totally awesome, right?”

Laney laughed as she took in his sweater, a roaring green dinosaur in a Santa hat with “Merry Rexmas!” emblazoned across the front.

“You are awesome,” Laney said.

Sophie and Lily approached hand in hand, lighting up when they saw Laney’s sweater.

“You look pretty,” Lily said to Laney.

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