CHAPTER 32

Starlight finished cleaning up the cups of cocoa, empty bowls of popcorn, half-eaten cookies, and candy cane wrappers. Meghan busied herself straightening the pillows and putting the television cabinet back to rights.

And Elijah was asleep in the recliner in front of the fire. He’d dosed off halfway through the movie and had been snoring softly ever since. Every time Starlight brushed past him, she hesitated.

“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Meghan asked.

Tomorrow… California… Going away…

She hoped, with time and distance, she could finally let go of Elijah. She couldn’t exactly start over if she was holding on to the past.

“Not quite.”

“What time is your flight?” Meghan asked again.

“Seven thirty,” Starlight answered.

“On Christmas Day?” Meghan frowned. “You could have waited.”

“I didn’t know how depressing this year would be,” Starlight admitted, sitting at the kitchen table.

“Not as bad as you thought it would be?” Meghan suggested.