The doorbell echoed through the house, pulling Abby from her peaceful thoughts. She gently untangled herself from Remo's embrace, glancing at him to see if he noticed. He stirred slightly but didn't wake. Abby smiled softly, a warmth filling her chest. For the first time in a long time, their life was starting to feel steady, peaceful, and it was a feeling she wanted to hold onto.
The doorbell rang again, a little more insistently this time. Abby frowned and made her way to the door, wondering who could possibly be visiting on Christmas Eve. When she opened it, she blinked in surprise.
Standing there, in the cold, was Olivia, her former bodyguard. A cheerful smile stretched across her face, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold, and standing beside her was a little boy. His big brown eyes looked up at Abby curiously, his small hands clutching a tray of baked cookies wrapped in festive ribbon.