The day before Christmas Eve arrived beneath a blanket of fresh snow that had fallen throughout the night. By the time everyone began making their way towards the family cabin, the surrounding forest had been transformed into a peaceful winter landscape. Every branch was coated in white, the rooftops were hidden beneath thick layers of snow and the winding roads leading to the cabin had already been cleared, though the journey still required very careful driving.
Despite everything the Aldrith family had endured over the previous months, there was determination among them to enjoy the holiday together. The investigation into the Rhodes family could wait until the new year and the same went for Theon's confession. For now, they wanted warmth, laughter and a few precious days without allowing the stress of what was to come to overshadow Christmas.
