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“We’re home,” I said

“Home,” she repeated and smiled lazily

We walked inside and I heard her breath catch as her hand flew to her mouth Brett had really outdone himself

“Aiden!” Desiree exclaimed “What is all this?”

“Umm, well I don’t knohat you call it in New York, but down here it’s called a Christmas tree”

She smacked me on the arm and turned to take in the room and the surprise I’d had Brett help me pull off In the relatively short ti in a tree, decorate it, and string lights along thetime, but the joyous look on Deisree’s face told me it would be worth any price

“Thank you for this,” she said, wrapping her arms around my neck

As she rose onto her tiptoes to givesound came from her pocket

“People aren’t wasting any tio

“Hello?” she asked into the receiver I could hear the apprehensiveness in her voice and hated it I wondered how long it would take before she wasn’t afraid when her phone rang

I listened long enough to see that she was talking to soe clothes I had no intention of continuing to wear real clothes for the rest of the day If I had et Desiree to join me

Desiree said goodbye and thanked the person she was talking to before hanging up and turning towardas she stared at her phone for aroo with tears, but her lips were curled into a deep, effervescent smile