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Ricky did as Santa suggested, lowering his head and tightly closing his eyes. This was Saffron’s clue to step into the room. As silently as possible, she moved to stand at Santa’s side.

“You can open your eyes now, Ricky,” Santa said.

“I don’t believe yet,” Ricky said, his face tight as he struggled to believe it was possible to see his mother on Christmas. “I tried really hard, too.”

“Ricky.” Saffron said his name softly.

Ricky’s eyes flew open and then widened as he launched himself into his mother’s arms with such force Saffron stumbled a step back. Their arms appeared welded around each other.

Sage brushed the flow of tears from her eyes and noticed she wasn’t the only one who’d become teary-eyed. Maria sniffled and so did Rafaelle.

Still in his mother’s arms, Ricky twisted his head to look at Santa. “You are the real Santa.”

“Didn’t I tell you so?”

“Yes, but I thought you were Ethan.”

Santa stood and patted Ricky on the head. “If you’ll excuse me, my work here is done. I’ve had a busy night, and Mrs. Claus is waiting for me at the North Pole. Merry Christmas.”

The children and adults all returned the greeting, and Sage introduced her sister, although it was evident who she was.

As soon as Santa left the room, Ricky started talking. “Mom, you wouldn’t believe all that I did while you were away. I was in the Christmas program at church, and I memorized the entire poem ’Twas the Night Before Christmas for the party. Auntie Sage was almost late, but she came just in time. And guess what, Auntie Sage made a casserole and no one called the fire department.” A horrified look came over him, and Ricky’s hand shot to cover his mouth. “Oops, I wasn’t supposed to tell you that. I promised Auntie Sage that I wouldn’t.”

Sage was too happy to see her sister to complain. “It’s all right, Ricky,” she assured him.

Saffron did little to hide her amusement. “This I’ve got to hear.”

“If Auntie Sage says I can, I’ll tell you. We got to stay in a hotel room for two nights and the fireman said this was a first for him.”

“I think there are better things to discuss,” Sage suggested, avoiding the curious looks from her sister.

“Okay,” Ricky continued. “This is my new friend Michael and his sister, Lilly. I like Lilly. Do you think we could get married one day?”

Hands on her hips, Lilly pouted. “I’m not marrying you.”

Ethan appeared and placed his arm around Sage’s waist. “What’s going on here?” he asked.

“Ethan, this is my mom. Ethan likes Auntie Sage,” he announced, and then lowered his voice. “I saw them kissing. I pretended to be asleep, but I saw the whole thing.”

Ethan grinned. “Looks like we weren’t as covert as we assumed,” he said, and kissed the top of Sage’s head.

“What’s covert mean?” Ricky asked his mother.

“Secret,” she whispered.

Ethan’s mother moved into the area. “Dinner is ready. Saffron, we have a chair for you next to Ricky.”

“Thank you,” she said.

Ricky led his mother into the dining room and the entire family gathered around the table. It was a tight fit. Nevertheless, they all squeezed in together.

“Auntie Sage made the salad,” Ricky told his mother, as they passed the broccoli salad. “And she didn’t get any blood on the vegetables.”

Saffron met Sage’s eyes and arched her brows in question.

Sage held up her bandaged finger.

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