On Christmas Eve morning, Keeley blasted Christmas carols while finishing her baking and wrapping presents for Aaron and her dad. Everyone else had received their gifts earlier.

She realized she'd procrastinated; the subways would be crowded, making deliveries difficult for anyone but her neighbors. Ryan and her colleagues lived across town. Giving out Christmas cookies after Christmas would be silly.

She knew one person with a car who might help. She texted Aaron: "Are you busy?"

As expected, he replied immediately: "I'm at work; the office is open until 2 PM today. What's up?"

She texted back: "I need to deliver some cookie plates, but it'll take all day by subway. It's fine if you're not free. I'll figure it out."

He replied: "No need. Can you wait until 2:30? I can help then."

Waiting wasn't a problem, but she felt bad bothering him. "Are you sure?" she texted.

"Of course," he replied. "I'd be happy to be your delivery boy."

Keeley snickered. This practically guaranteed she'd like her gift, but she'd find out later. "Alright, see you at 2:30," she texted.

It was only noon. She put on a cheesy Christmas movie, curled up on the couch with Molly, and enjoyed the quiet of her unusually empty apartment until Aaron texted that he'd arrived.

She changed into her Christmas Eve outfit, gathered her supplies, and locked the door. Aaron was waiting. She loaded the cookies into his car and got in.

His jaw dropped. She'd never gotten that reaction from him before!

"What on earth are you wearing?" he asked.

She looked down at her ugly Christmas sweater—green with embroidered snowflakes and tinsel-wrapped miniature bulbs, making her look like a human Christmas tree.

"I'm a Christmas tree," she said.

"I can see that," he replied, "But…isn't it uncomfortable?"

His bafflement made her want to laugh. "A little, but I'm not wearing it all day. I'll take a few pictures, then I'll be done."

"Why are you wearing it in the first place?"

"You've never heard of ugly Christmas sweaters? Never mind. I made this for a contest at school last year. This is only my second time wearing it; it's not really washable."

Aaron blinked repeatedly, then fell silent. Keeley fought back laughter. He dropped the subject and asked for the nearest address—Ryan's.

She didn't want them to meet, so she said she'd be quick and told him to wait in the car. Instead of chatting, she left the cookies on Ryan's welcome mat and did a doorbell ditch to avoid boring Aaron.

She did the same at Dr. Kim's and Erica's apartments. They'd reach Brooklyn before 4 PM; her dad wouldn't mind.

"Thanks for helping me out; you're a lifesaver," she said.

"Anytime," he replied. "But I still get cookies, right?"

She chuckled. "Most are for us. Anything leftover will go to my dad."

"Are you spending the night at his place?" he asked.

"Yeah, I left extra food for Molly."

He nodded and drove in silence. Was he still judging her sweater?

Arriving at her dad's, Keeley nearly had a heart attack—she hadn't told her dad Aaron was coming! How stupid!

"What is it?" Aaron asked, noticing her reaction.

"My dad might be surprised to see you," she said.

"You didn't tell him?"

"I forgot! I was tired and my brain was full of genetics facts," she admitted lamely.

"Well, this should be interesting," he replied dryly.

He helped her carry things inside. She unlocked the door, announcing, "Dad, I'm home! And I brought a friend to join the festivities."

"The more the merrier," her dad, Robert, said. He stopped, utterly surprised. "Aaron?"

"Hello, sir," Aaron said respectfully. "It's been a while."

This was awkward. Keeley could kick herself. Her dad liked Aaron, but this surprise…she'd face many questions later.

"It certainly has. Glad to have you!" her dad said.

Keeley set down the cookies and presents. The awkwardness intensified. Having Aaron in her family home as an adult felt strange. In her previous life, he'd visited in high school but rarely came with her to see her father after they married. His presence here felt wrong.

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