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“So you’ll stay?” she more cheerfully asked “I mean, they’re not until later First, we have breakfast Then we trim the family tree—this is just our official showoff tree” She indicated the enormous spruce in the foyer

With a fractured laugh, Nikki total her, “The showoff tree is gorgeous But I bet the family one is even prettier”

“It has tons of ornaments that Nana says have been with the Castillos for decades” She e to say, since the beginning of time Then she added, “And there are so Christift to open Just one”

Mads pulled her hand from behind her back and thrust it toward Nikki She held a s, a white satin bow and a cutout unicorn head dangling from the ribbon

“I want you to open this one tonight,” Mads told her

Nikki felt the sting at the backs of her eyes again

“I also o with all of ours”

Nikki blinked back the tears

Mads continued on, as though she really weren’t shredding Nikki from the inside out

“You see, Uncle Daht a woman home That must make you really special And Nana and I both think that when you ift”

“Oh, my God,” Nikki whispered And the fat drops crested her eyes and tumbled down her suddenly flushed cheeks

“Mads” Damen’s loarm timbre came from behind his niece

Nikki’s gaze snapped up to meet his and he mouthed sorry

She gave a slight shake of her head

Mads asked, “Did I say so?”