In the Arms of the Enemy’s Brother
With each gift, we laughed, smiled, and shared quick kisses, wrapping paper piling up on the floor like confetti.
The afternoon slipped by in a haze of Christmas activities. We baked cookies in the kitchen, flour dusting the counters as we rolled dough and cut out shapes. The oven warmed the house, the scent of ginger and cinnamon wafting everywhere. Serena iced them with green and red frosting, her tongue poking out in concentration, while I sneaked bites of the warm ones, burning my fingers but not caring.