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She looked around the apartment. The stockings, the lights, the scattered ribbon they hadn’t bothered to pick up yet.

Noah reached over without looking and laced his fingers through hers. Claire smiled.

For the first time, Claire wasn’t just being welcomed into someone else’s traditions.

She and Noah were creating their own.

CHAPTER 35

Home

The weeks passed the way they always seemed to now. Claire arrived at the Carters’ for Christmas with the required cookies, and then several more containers just in case.

“I made cookies,” she had announced as Noah carried the containers into the kitchen.

Maggie stared at the stack. “How many?”

“That depends on whether you count by recipe or individual cookie.”

“Individual.”

“Then I don’t know.”

Emily lifted the lid from one container. “She’s a Carter.”

Claire paused.

Emily had already reached for a cookie and did not seem to notice what she had said.

Claire did.

“We need judges,” Ainsley announced.

“For what?” Noah asked.

“The cookie contest.”

Claire looked at Maggie. “There’s a contest?”

“There is now,” Maggie said.

Will appeared beside the counter. “I volunteer as a judge.”

“You ate three before we started,” Maggie said.

“I was gathering evidence.”

Noah laughed. “Claire, you made so many cookies that a contest is being held to determine which of your cookies beats the rest of your cookies.”

She was proud of that.

Later that day, she and Noah stood in the kitchen doing dishes.

“Your sister called me a Carter,” Claire said.

Noah handed her a dish to dry. “You are.”

“We’re not married.”