page6 (1/2)

I shake my head, run a hand over my jaw “No They’ve all passed I’m all that’s left of the Lancasters”

She reaches out, placing a hand on my arm “I’m so sorry, Whitaker That’s horrible”

“What about you? You’re here, alone, on Christmas Eve Where is your family?”

She pulls her hand back, and I regret asking the question because I’dme

“There’s nothing left of them, either…” Her words trail off and I see sorrow in her eyes It breaks my heart because it’s Christ up ruined her plans I feel stuck — I don’t want to intrude on what she has created for herself in my cabin, but still, this place is mine

“I can pack s,” she says “I can…”

“I’onna press you for answers, for an explanation,” I say “No one would be staying in a stranger’s home unless they felt they were between a rock and a hard place You can stay here, we can figure this all out later But it’s Christmas, and I have a dinner to cook”

“Why are you being kind toas she presses them to her heart

I step toward her, wanting her to believe I am no threat to her safety In fact, I’m the opposite of a threat “No one wants to be alone on Christmas”

“Yet you came to the woods by yourself, to a cabin that’s been e to be alone,” she says, twisting her lips, searching my eyes for the truth

“I needed out of the city Away from the people I know there I needed to breathe Fresh air and a ne I don’t mind your company, just everyone else’s”

“But you don’t even know“I could be the epito to avoid”

I look at Cozy in her borroeater She’s set the scene for thefor books by the fire and so a woman who ia of a holiday that randmother so dearly loved, is someone special”