On Christmas Morning, Wanda wakes at dawn, and by the time the family gathers around the table, she has prepared a morning feast: stacks of flapjacks dripping with syrup, fried eggs, and generous portions of salt pork sizzling hot from the pan.
Franklin and Louis attack their breakfasts with the enthusiasm only growing teenage boys can manage, while Willa enthusiastically smears egg across her cheeks before most of it reaches her mouth.
After breakfast come the stockings, and the twins each find a small cloth pouch tucked inside theirs. Both contain a modest handful of coins carefully saved by their parents, but both boys react as though they have inherited a railroad fortune.
The rest of the day passes peacefully; snow blanketing the ground while the family remains warm inside, enjoying the rare luxury of a day free from work.
As afternoon fades toward evening, however, a knock sounds at the front door.
When Melody answers, she finds Toby Bruenig, hand raised to knock again and snow dusting his shoulders. His expression is unusually serious.
"Melody," he says softly, and she puts on her coat and steps outside with him onto the porch, their breath visible in the sharp winter air. For a moment Toby seems to struggle to find the words, then he reaches for her hand, and Melody’s heart immediately begins racing.
"I ended the engagement. It isn't right to keep pretending when my thoughts are elsewhere." Melody stares at him.
"Toby…" she begins, as the last rays of the setting sun paint the snow gold around them.
"I care for you, Melody. More than I ought to have allowed myself to." The words hang between them for only a moment, then Toby leans forward and kisses her. They linger there in the snow, with Christmas sunset glowing across the fields and the smoke from the Tinker chimney rising into the cold evening sky, before Toby bids her good evening and wishes her a lovely Christmas.
By the time Melody finally returns inside, her cheeks are red enough that Wanda raises an eyebrow from the dining table, where the family has gathered to enjoy Christmas dinner.
"Cold out?" Wanda asks innocently, and Melody nearly trips over her own feet. Wanda smiles into her lamb chop and leaves the matter there.













