Chapter 134
Miranda noticed that Edith, the editor, seemed unconcerned about her mother, instead pressuring and manipulating her.
"Can I read those books?" Miranda asked eagerly.
"Sure, I'll send them to you when we get home. Just make sure you're ready to read them all!" Mindy replied.
"I definitely will!" Miranda promised.
When they arrived home, Lionel was hanging Christmas decorations. "Dad, that looks a bit crooked," Miranda observed from where she stood. "Move it a little to the left," she suggested.
Mindy, getting out of the car, added, "I think it's too high. You should lower it a bit."
Lionel lowered the decorations, but Mindy then said, "Now it's too low. It needs to be higher."
"I think it's good like this," Miranda said.
Lionel finished and climbed down the ladder. Looking at the decorations from both sides, he asked, "Doesn't it seem a little off?"
Mindy spotted the problem. "Did you mix up the door and window decorations?"
Lionel coughed and admitted, "It looks like I did." He'd put the wrong decorations on the door and window. Mindy joked, "Looks like even your brain took a holiday break!"
Lionel sighed, while Miranda laughed.
On Christmas Eve, Mindy baked Miranda's favorite cookies—chocolate peppermint, crispy on the outside and soft inside—serving them with cold milk.
Lionel prepared a large Christmas dinner: roast turkey, honey-glazed ham, braised beef, and fluffy Christmas pudding—a feast symbolizing abundance and good fortune.
At 6:00 p.m., the family sat down to their Christmas Eve meal.
After dinner, Miranda began cleaning up, but Mindy told her to relax. "Don't worry about it. Go watch TV. Your dad and I can handle it."
Lionel, peeking from the kitchen, added, "If you're bored, go play in the yard."
Despite their encouragement, Miranda helped clear dishes, wash and slice fruit, and arrange snacks.
Chapter 134
By 8:00 p.m., after the cleanup, the family settled down. Christmas carols drifted in from outside.
Miranda opened the window to watch the twinkling Christmas lights. Resting her chin on her hand, she enjoyed the peaceful, festive atmosphere.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a Christmas Eve greeting from Winter. Miranda smiled and replied with a long message of holiday wishes. Almost immediately, Winter video-called.
Winter appeared on the screen, looking different. Her long hair was styled, and she wore a pearl hairpin, appearing much more refined and ladylike—a departure from her usual rebellious style. Miranda guessed Winter only adopted this look around her family.
Winter noticed Miranda's background, looking surprised. "I thought you'd be in Elgerson for Christmas Eve, like usual. I was planning to invite you out after dinner, but it looks like you're home?"
For the past six years, Miranda had spent Christmas Eve in Elgerson City with Hansel. Evelyn, who disliked Miranda, had always been cold and never invited her to celebrate. Miranda had initially been hurt but eventually accepted Evelyn's distance.