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“You really don’t have to work so hard to butter the said “They’re easy”

Jereed Did he sound like a suck-up? He was !” as John and Valerie protested

The SUV door open and one leg out, Meg’s s Honestly” She touched Jeremy’s arm “Sorry”

“It’s okay,” he said “It really does look like a postcard to me”

“Thank you,” Valerie said emphatically “That’s a wonderful compliment”

They all cli and wished he could dial down the redness A thin layer of snow crunched under his new heavy boots, the area in front of the garage cleared

Max ca Meg’s just being a brat”

Valerie pointed to a red barn on the right “That’s the sugar house over there We’ve got a little storefront inside it Those big doors on the front swing open”

Jere to Valerie as John opened the back of the vehicle Jereround, but Max snatched it up and said, “Better to carry it so the wheels don’t get all snowy and then puddle on the floor inside”

“Oh, sorry! I can do it”

“It’s cool I got it” Max winked

And shit, that wink made Jeremy’s knees weak He supposed it was normal to be so affected since it had only been a couple of days since they’d—

Nope, don’t think about e did on Tuesday It’s in the past That was then, this is now

Noith Max’s fa wood sweet and fresh in the air Fresh garlands with red berries adorned the porch railings along with lights, a fresh wreath with tartan ribbons on the yellow door The porch creaked as the family stamped their boots and Valerie said, “Kick the brick!”

“Moh now that you don’t have to reroused as she kicked the brick wall of the house beside the door, knocking off any re snow from the treads of her boots