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“Nope,” he proclaimed proudly. “I like seeing your face get all red.”

The breakfast casserole didn’t turn out half bad. Sage was proud of herself. This cooking business wasn’t nearly as difficult as she’d first assumed.

It didn’t surprise her that Ricky yawned after eating. “Are you sleepy?” she asked.

“Can I work on the puzzle I got from Santa?” he asked.

“Sure thing,” They’d started it earlier, but then had gotten busy and hadn’t finished it. Ricky enjoyed finding the pieces and setting them in place.

Ricky cleared the table, and Sage put their dirty plates in the dishwasher. Once there was available space, Ricky returned to the card table, where they’d set up the puzzle, and started sorting through the remaining pieces.

“When I was a kid your age the entire family put together a puzzle on Christmas,” Sage told him. She had fond memories of the four of them working together. It was a challenge to complete the entire puzzle before the end of the day, which they somehow managed to do without fail.

Ricky’s yawning increased and Sage suggested he turn on the television. He agreed and within five minutes was sound asleep. Sage spread an afghan over him and resisted the urge to return to bed herself.

Ricky slept for two full hours, and Sage used the time to make the broccoli salad. He woke when she sliced her finger while cutting the broccoli. It wasn’t a bad cut, thankfully. She must have cried out, because Ricky woke and came into the kitchen to find her standing by the sink, running cold water over the cut.

“I’ll get you a Band-Aid,” he insisted, noticing the blood.

Sage wrapped her finger in a tissue while Ricky hurried to find the first-aid kit.

Once the bleeding had mostly stopped, Sage let him put on the bandage. “Does it hurt bad?” he asked, looking concerned.

“Not too bad.”

“I’ll kiss your finger if you want. That’s what Mom always did when I hurt myself.”

“Did it help?”

He thought about it for a moment. “Not really, but it made me feel better inside.”

“Got it.” She held out her finger and Ricky kissed it. His eyes found hers and they shared a smile. “It feels better already. Inside and out.”

After putting the first-aid kit back in place, Ricky asked, “Is it time to go to Ethan’s house yet?”

“Soon,” Sage said, checking the time.

Ethan had suggested early afternoon. He’d wanted to collect them, but in retrospect, Sage decided it was best if she and Ricky arrived on their own. He asked her to phone before they left so that he could meet her at the door when she arrived.

Ethan had been outraged when he learned Troy had gone behind her back to sabotage her chances for the promotion. When Sage first understood what was happening, she’d been furious herself. Funny thing was, that anger had quickly dissipated by the time she’d arrived at Ricky’s party.

The promotion that had meant the world to her had lost part of its significance. What had seemed vitally important only a few weeks ago no longer did. She couldn’t explain it, couldn’t understand exactly what had changed, only that it had. A possibility was the time she’d spent with Ricky, and if she was willing to admit it, Ethan, too. Her priorities had shifted. Things were different. Her world had widened, and her focus broadened.

As promised, Ethan stood by the front door when Sage arrived at the Cornwell residence.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, as he held open the screen door.

“Merry Christmas,” Sage echoed.

Ethan leaned down and kissed her before taking the salad bowl from her hands. His smile was bright. “Best Christmas ever.”

“For me, too,” she agreed, wishing the kiss had lasted longer. Their brief exchange had left her hungering for more of his kisses.

Shouts of welcome came from the living room, where Ethan’s siblings had gathered around the television. From her viewpoint, Sage noticed they were all involved in watching a football game. She didn’t recognize the jerseys to know which teams were playing, but then she wasn’t a big sports fan.

Ethan led her into the kitchen, where his mother was busy rolling dough for the dinner rolls. “Welcome, Sage,” she said, and then, noticing Ricky, she added, “And you, too, young man.”

Ricky looked up at Sage. “Am I a young man?”