Jeremy felt the day was going well. Everyone settled on the couch to watch football while the food digested. Violet's blush after his expression of gratitude felt like a victory. She liked him; maybe as much as he liked her. All he needed was a little romance to seal the deal.

Michael Gray proved surprisingly pleasant company. Jeremy had assumed Aaron's only friends were his Hale Investments colleagues. Even that was a stretch; Aaron had been visibly annoyed by Michael's presence.

Jeremy was adept at reading Aaron's varying levels of coldness and indifference. Most people couldn't tell, as Aaron acted similarly around everyone, but he clearly disliked Michael. So why invite him to Thanksgiving dinner? Was it Keeley's idea?

Speaking of Keeley, she was nothing like Jeremy expected. He'd envisioned someone clinical and detached, like other scientists he'd met. Instead, she was warm, bubbly, and smiled frequently. Aaron was right; it was the same smile as his daughter's. Every time Keeley smiled, Aaron visibly softened. He must love her deeply.

When they moved to the couch and began watching TV, Aaron put his arm around his wife and pulled her onto his lap. No one reacted, but Jeremy was flabbergasted. It must be commonplace for the Hale children to show no surprise at this.

How far the mighty had fallen! He couldn't believe his icy boss was so physically affectionate with his wife in public. It was bizarre.

Michael didn't seem fazed either. He must know the Hales well, which was odd considering Aaron's irritation. If Jeremy didn't know better, he'd think Michael was a relative they couldn't get rid of. But Aaron had no other family; an only child, his parents had died years ago. Jeremy, already working at Hale Investments then, remembered the gossip—Aaron hadn't even attended the funeral. He didn't see the point himself; why pretend to mourn people he didn't like?

Their shared parental issues fostered a kinship between Jeremy and Aaron. They were so similar, despite Aaron's wealth and Jeremy's impoverished upbringing. Jeremy had long admired Aaron, sensing a shared core. At work, they certainly were alike. But seeing Aaron with his family was like observing a zoo animal in its natural habitat instead of a cage—a stark contrast.

Jeremy had always considered work his natural habitat, family incidental. But today proved the opposite. They had similar personalities, so what had changed Aaron?

Jeremy couldn't imagine himself as a devoted family man, even with children. He'd strive to be better than his parents, providing for their physical needs—good schools, a nice home, avoiding clothes that would invite ridicule. Career advancement was crucial.

If forced to choose between career and family, he'd choose his career. That was the main difference between him and Aaron. He suspected Aaron would leave his empire in a second if his wife wanted it. Unthinkable!

Was Keeley Hale truly that influential? Her husband and children clearly loved her, but Jeremy couldn't pinpoint what was so special besides her smile.

Should he emulate Aaron? He wasn't touchy-feely, but if Violet expected such displays of affection, he should try. Sitting beside her, he put his arm around her shoulders. She seemed surprised but pleased, scooting closer. She'd wanted it. Interesting.

It wasn't unpleasant, especially seeing her smile. He could do this more often.

The game was the Detroit Lions versus the Las Vegas Raiders. Everyone cheered for the Lions, the same city as Kaleb's baseball team. Kaleb and Nathan jumped and yelled at the Lions' touchdown, but the others were less enthusiastic. Aaron focused on his wife; Michael on the fans' reactions; Oliver was on his phone, rolling his eyes at his brothers. Violet seemed tired.

"Are you alright?" Jeremy whispered.

She offered a polite smile. "Yes, I'm fine. A little worn down from rehearsals."

The Nutcracker opened the next day, running Thursday to Sunday until the day before Christmas Eve to allow dancers holiday time with their families (Christmas Eve was a Friday). If it had been a Saturday or Sunday, a matinee would have been offered earlier. Violet said the company had done this before. Dancing the lead role, she'd been rehearsing intensely.

Jeremy always noticed her tiredness after work, but today's was different. He couldn't define it, but it concerned him. He wished he could cheer her up. Her state was surprisingly distressing.

(The final paragraph is promotional material and has been removed.)