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“Is it like completely dark all winter?” I asked.

“Fairbanks gets a little sunshine. It’s not like the Arctic Circle where they get a couple of months with no sun at all.”

“You and Lincoln should plan a trip up there,” Kendall said.

My cheeks got hot, and I was relieved for the darkness. “Maybe,” I said, keeping my tone casual.

“Lincoln knows his way around up there. He was a hotshot firefighter up there for years. Tell him you want to go for a drive and just drive up. The whole drive is beautiful,” Adele said.

In short order, we arrived at Casey’s house, which she shared with Leo and his daughter Dora. We encountered Leo walking out holding Dora’s hand as we clambered out of the car. “Hey,” he called over.

Dora stopped. She was wearing a hot pink coat and purple snow pants which glowed under the lights from the porch. “You’re not going to get lost,” I pointed out with a smile.

Dora grinned. “That’s what I told Dad.”

Adele chuckled and high-fived her hot pink mitten. “Where are you two off to?” Kendall asked.

“I am going for a night at Grammy’s and Grampy’s,” Dora replied.

“And you, Leo?” Adele asked.

“After I drop Dora off, I’m meeting some of the guys at Wildlands,” Leo said.

“Stay out of trouble now,” Elsa teased.

“Always,” Leo replied with a brow waggle. With a wave, he and Dora departed and we walked in to discover a group already gathered.

“Casey, it’s festive in here,” I said, glancing around and taking in the holiday lights strung around the windows.

“Oh wait, this is your first Alaskan Christmas!” She was hanging up my jacket as she glanced over.

“Yes.”

She squealed. “I always forget, we both came from coastal North Carolina. I love a snowy Christmas because I never had one before. Look at my tree!” She slipped her hand through my elbow and tugged me into a sunroom at the back, with windows overlooking the backyard where a beautiful evergreen tree adorned with lights stood surrounded by snow.

“Oh, it’s beautiful,” I breathed.

“I love it. Every night I just like to sit here and look at it,” Casey enthused.

Another voice reached us. “Oh hey, Stella,” Casey said as she turned toward her. “I’m so glad you made it tonight!”

“I’m the slacker,” Stella said dryly, catching my eye.

“What do you mean you’re the slacker?”

She shrugged. “I work too much.”

“Well, work less,” Casey replied.

“I’m busy. I’ve discovered since I moved here that there’s a reason the law firm opened an expansion office here.”

“You mean it’s not just for doing legal work for the Cannon family since they reopened their location here?” Phoebe teased as she sat down.

“Okay, what’s the scoop on the Cannon family?” I said. “I know they own Fireweed Winery and the renewable energy operation here, but⁠—”

Phoebe glanced my way with a grin. “It’s Fireweed Industries, a freaking international corporation. They do all kinds of things. They’re as big as it gets in Alaska, and the Blackthorns do all their legal work for them.”

“Wait, are you married to one of them?” I asked. “Because your last name is Cannon.”