Chapter 11
"Will you come over for real hot chocolate tonight?" Emma asked with sudden enthusiasm. "We still have one package left in the kitchen cabinet."
Victoria looked toward Daniel, who was smiling with a genuine, relaxed warmth she had never seen on his tired face before.
"I think your daddy and I have had enough corporate emergencies for one Christmas Eve," Victoria replied with a soft, affectionate laugh.
"I would be honored to share that hot chocolate with both of you," Victoria accepted graciously, rising to her feet with renewed purpose and joy.
By late afternoon, the legal documents had been signed, the state investigators had concluded their initial interviews, and the offices were quiet again.
The sun finally broke through the heavy gray winter clouds, casting long beams of brilliant golden light across the fresh blanket of snow.
Northstar’s driver brought the sedan around front once more, ready to return Daniel and his precious daughter back to their modest suburban home.
As they drove through the quiet neighborhood streets, the holiday decorations on every front lawn seemed to glow with a warmer, brighter light.
The old cracks in Daniel’s front walkway were hidden beneath a clean layer of sparkling winter frost, looking pristine under the afternoon sky.
Inside the small living room, the little tree still leaned slightly to the left, but the tired yellow lights felt wonderfully welcoming and safe.
Daniel helped Emma take off her coat and worn purple slippers, watching her run immediately toward the tree to check on Santa’s lone cookie.
"He hasn't eaten it yet, Daddy!" Emma announced with delight, inspecting the small sugar cookie resting untouched on the floral porcelain saucer.
"That's because Santa waits until the little girls are sound asleep in their beds on Christmas night," Daniel reminded her with a wink.
Victoria arrived an hour later, no longer dressed in her formal executive attire, but wearing a warm woolen sweater, denim jeans, and sturdy winter boots.
Chapter 7
Her driver unloaded several large wrapped boxes from the vehicle's trunk, carrying them up the porch steps with a broad, cheerful grin.
"What are those?" Emma gasped, running toward the open front door with wide, sparkling eyes full of uncontained childish wonder.
"Santa sent an early courier to the office because he heard a certain artist needed proper tools," Victoria said, winking gently at Daniel.
Inside the largest package lay the exact wooden art case Emma had gazed at through the department store window only days earlier.