Twelve

Christmas Eve day, Haven worked in the kitchen in the early morning getting breakfast ready for people before they checked out at eleven. One of the other kitchen staff members helped her, which was good because there was a mad rush for breakfast orders. While she appreciated the help, Haven would have preferred to work alone or with Sarah but Sarah was working the front desk and checking up on the rooms that were now vacant.

By the time everyone was checked out, beds were stripped and remade, rooms were cleaned, the dining room was set to rights, and the rest of the staff was dismissed for the next few days, it was almost four in the afternoon.

Haven heaved a sigh, watching from the foyer window as the last of the cars drove away.

"Oh... my... stars, that was a crazy day," Sarah sighed as she snapped the check in book shut and stuffed it in the cabinet.

Haven nodded.

"Alright, you wanna take a break for a while?"

Haven shook her head. She'd been looking forward all day to bake with Sarah and getting the last minute decorations up.

"Okay, follow me," Sarah said as she waved Haven toward the kitchen.

Haven, grinning, stopped for Clementine sitting on the ground and trotted after Sarah.

"You flip through this book…" Sarah murmured, pulling a huge, deeply worn baking book from one of the kitchen shelves and handing it to Haven, "and pick out a few different recipes that look good to you, I'll go up in the attic and grab the rest of the stuff."

"Okay." Haven carefully opened the book, glancing over the various recipes. Most of them she fingered through she had made since being at the inn but there were several desserts she had yet to try.

"Alright, what'd you find?" Sarah asked as she swung back into the kitchen. "Ooh, sugar cookies are a classic!"

Haven chewed her lip. "I can pick other one's if it's to boring, I just know I like them."

"No, no, no, it's fine; I love sugar cookies. Let's get started in here and while everything is baking and/or setting, we can start on the tree."

Haven nodded, following Sarah's lead. Fastening Clementine in her blanket-carrier, she rolled up her sleeves and set to work. Within minutes, the entire kitchen was filled with the delicious scent of cloves, cinnamon and sugar. Seeing Sarah sneak pinches of dough, Haven did the same, grinning mischievously when Sarah caught her.

After they had assembled several different kinds of desserts, most of which would be brought to the children's shelter later tomorrow afternoon, they moved to the private living room.

"I don't usually go all out with the decorations until Christmas Eve," Sarah said, grunting lightly as she laid a big box down on the ground.

"Why?" Haven asked.

Sarah shrugged. Laughing, she brushed a silky curl out of her face. "Old habits, I guess. That's how we used to do it when I was growing up. Only we didn't set anything up until Christmas Eve. What with the inn and having guests, I thought I had to do something festive so this was my compromise."

Haven nodded, unstrapping Clementine and letting her lay down on the soft, freshly cleaned carpet. Sarah then pointed Haven towards a small box of delicate ornaments. Together they worked on the tree before hanging a few additional garlands around the fireplace.

Clementine, propping herself up on her elbows as, alternated between watching Haven and Sarah and fingering with a little plastic toy she managed to get her hands on.

Haven carefully picked up ornament after ornament, hanging them meticulously on the tree so it looked as aesthetically pleasing as possible. A few times she paused to check her work and make sure everything was facing the right way. Once Clementine managed to inch her way to a pile of garland, poking herself in the face on the needles and letting out a shriek.

"Oh no, don't touch those, baby girl." Haven hurried to her, sweeping her up and making sure she wasn't hurt.

Clementine's lower lip thrust out as she let out another sad little sob.

Haven kissed her cheek. "Sarah I think I finished with the tree. I didn't use all the ornaments, but I was trying to stick to a color scheme."

Sarah, arranging a nativity scene on the fireplace, paused to glance over her shoulder. She smiled. "I like the color scheme."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Haven grinned, surveying her work again. "Can I turn the light on?"

"Yeah, and then dim these," Sarah added, waving to the sconces on the wall.

With a giddy grin, Haven flipped the switch on the cord to the tree and dimmed the light switch on the wall. The room glowed, the glass ornaments glittering in the pale light. It was so beautiful! So unbelievably, wonderfully, perfectly beautiful.

"Wow that looks amazing!" Sarah grinned. "Are your presents wrapped?"

Haven nodded.

"You wanna go grab them and set them under the tree?"

"Oh sure!" Haven started toward the stairs but hesitated. She couldn't carry all her gifts and Clementine at the same time.

"You wanna leave her here?"

"No. But I can't carry everything," Haven murmured. "Yeah, can I leave her with you?"

"Of course," Sarah said as she took Clementine.

Haven managed a shaky smile. She still hesitated a beat before forcing herself upstairs. The sooner she finished the sooner she could hold Clementine again. Shoving her door open, Haven dove under her bed for her neatly wrapped gifts. Most of the things she got were for Clementine, but she got several things for Sarah as well.

As she trotted into the living room, Haven stopped. Sarah had almost twice as many!

"What's wrong?"

"You have a lot more than me."

"Well grownups are supposed to have more than teenagers."

"Oh, really?"

"Of course."

Haven breathed a sigh of relief, taking a step forward and setting her gifts under the tree. She arranged them so they looked nice and then turned toward Sarah.

"Here, you wanna take her?"

Haven nodded, smiling as she took Clementine back. Clementine flashed her toothless grin, pumping her hands up and down.

"Alright, the cookies are probably cooled by now do you want to frost them, or leave them plain?"

Haven grinned. "Frost them."

Sarah nodded her approval. She ducked into the kitchen and brought out a container of left over frosting along with a few butter knives. "We can frost them as we eat them; and use as much or as little as you want."

Haven nodded. She delicately decorated a cookie and bit into it. Still warm, it practically melted in her mouth.

Picking up another cookie and sinking down in the floor beside the fire, Haven set Clementine down on the carpet and gave her the plastic toy again while she continued to frost the cookies.

"Can she have some?" Haven asked.

"Mm, I wouldn't. But maybe day after tomorrow we can go to the store and start introducing her to solid foods."

Haven's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah, how old it she now? Four months?"

Haven nodded.

"Yeah, let's try it."

"Okay!" Haven grinned around a yawn.

Sarah stood up and flicked the lights off. The gentle fairy lights on the tree illuminated the room in a soft glow and Haven sighed happily, admiring the stunning room. The soft glow struck the red ornaments, reflecting on the walls in smooth, gold-red reflections. It was beautiful. Everything she had ever imagined it would be and more.

After Haven had put Clementine down to sleep and changed into her pajamas, Haven snuggled under the blankets and smiled happily to herself. Outside the window she could see the faint red and green lights.

It took her forever to fall asleep. She was so excited and couldn't wait to give Clementine and Sarah all her gifts and have a real Christmas morning. Damien always left for Christmas and New Years—she never knew where he went—so she'd always been on her own.

Haven drifted off and didn't wake again until she smelled something delicious coming from downstairs.

With a giddy grin, she leapt from her bed and hurriedly pulled her hoodie over her head and shook her fingers through her hair. She paused to glance at herself in the mirror of the bathroom, pausing for a moment. She looked so different than when she first came here. Her face had filled out just a little bit, the circles under her eyes were gone, there was some color in her cheeks, and her hair even looked fuller. There was even some wave to it she hadn't noticed before. Smiling at herself, excitement bubbling in her stomach, she turned and reached for Clementine.

"Merry Christmas, little monkey," she whispered, holding Clementine against her chest and savoring the moment.

Clementine quietly grunted, stretching her arms as she yawned.

As Haven made her way downstairs, the sweet aroma grew stronger as she approached the living room. A small table had been set up by the fireplace, decked out with several dishes of delicious breakfast foods. What Haven assumed to be a Christmas movie was on the large TV, softly playing in the background. The entire room was warmly lit, the lights on the tree twinkling gently. If it was possible, the rest bows against the green wreaths seamed so much more vibrant than they did last night.

Heavens eyes widened. She hadn't thought it possible for her to be even more surprised. She was clearly wrong. The room was truly stunning.

Sarah walked in a moment later, still in her pajamas. "Morning, Sunshine," she said cheerfully, grinning as she greeted Haven with a hug. Her hair hung down her shoulders and she tucked a strand of it behind her ear.

"Morning. How did you do all this?" Haven asked softly, looking back at the table. She couldn't get over how completely, and utterly amazing everything looked.

"I had to make sure your first Christmas was done exactly right, didn't I?" Sarah added, smiling. "I recreated my old family Christmas mornings to the best of my ability; thought we'd start from there and establish some traditions of our own."

Haven fingered with a strand of her hair, coiling it around her finger as she took everything in her again.

"Okay, so load up a plate with some breakfast and come have a seat by the tree," Sarah ordered, nodding towards the table.

Haven did as she was told. She spread out Clementine's blanket on the ground and laid her down. Following Sarah's example, she filled her place and then took a seat on the carpet by the massive tree.

"What are those?" Haven asked, nodding to a kind of pastry wrapped meat.

"Pigs in a blanket. Basically sausages wrapped in pancakes."

Haven nodded, adding a couple of them to her plate.

"Get syrup to go with it."

Haven frowned skeptically.

"Trust me."

Grinning, Haven did as she was told before taking a seat on the ground. Clementine pushed herself towards the Christmas tree, reaching for one of the low hanging ornaments and pulling at it.

They ate their delicious breakfast, Haven going back for second helping of the cinnamon rolls, while watching the movie and lightly talking when something came up. Sarah finally turned to the tree and pulled out a few of the gifts.

"Here, this first one is technically for Clementine."

Haven didn't even try and fight the grin that spread on her face. She took the first one, feeling her fingers starting to shake. Tearing the pretty paper, grinned impossibly bigger at seeing small little jumpers wrapped neatly in the box. They were adorable! Obviously much better made and of higher quality than anything Haven would have ever chosen for Clementine (simply because she couldn't afford them).

"They're… perfect—I love them!" Haven whispered, looking up at Sarah. She stood up on her knees and gave Sarah a tight hug.

Sarah smiled, obviously pleased with Haven's reaction. "I'm glad you like them. Most of these are for you, but there are a few in there for little miss."

Haven bit her lip in excitement. "Okay wait you have to open one of mine though. Sorry, I only got you two things."

"Two things is more than enough," Sarah said with a hand wave. She took the packages Haven handed her, tearing into one. She grinned, pulling out a large knit blanket. "Oh Haven it's beautiful!"

"They had it in other colors so we can exchange if it you want something—"

"No, no, no, I love it in grey. It's neutral so it'll go with any color scheme I happen to have." Sarah stretched forward and gave Haven a hug.

The next package Sarah handed her was a little smaller. Inside, it contained three knit headbands. Much larger, obviously meant for Haven. Each one matched each of the jumpers in color. Haven could tell they were homemade, which made them that much more special.

Another large package contained several sets of clothes. For Haven! The girl's eye widened as she pulled out several blouses, some pants and jeans, and a knit hat. All articles of clothing she would have never, ever bought for herself.

Her eyes filled with tears and she stood up to hug Sarah again.

"If you don't like them, we can go back and exchange them for something you do like."

Haven shook her head. "No, they're perfect."

A third and fourth package also had clothes for she. A few with matching outfits for Clementine!

As she opened the last gift, a delicate, rose-gold necklace fell into her lap. Holding it up, Haven saw the delicately carved letters in the solid, horizontal bar.

Clementine

"It's… beautiful," Haven murmured. "Sarah this is all so… much. More than I ever thought I would have, or see."

Sarah smiled.

Haven gently unclasped it and fastened it around her neck, smiling. "I—I won't ever take it off. I'm… sorry I didn't get you more things. It doesn't seem fair."

Sarah reached over and squeezed her hand. "Believe me; I have had enough gifts right now than I ever thought I would."

"Thank you. So much," Haven repeated, giving Sarah another hug. "I love you," she added, the words coming out before she had the chance to stop herself.

Sarah held her tightly. "I love you to, sweet girl."

Clementine started whining, getting hungry. She looked over at Haven, reaching her arm out.

Sarah laughed. She reached onto the table, where she had several bottles already prepared and handed one to Haven.

"Thanks."

Almost instantly, Clementine grew quiet; gently whimpering and faintly groaning every few seconds. Her fist slowly released from around Haven's hair and instead gripped one of her fingers.

"Yeah, that's better, huh?" Haven murmured, smiling.

Clementine grunted again. As soon as she was finished, Haven couldn't resist putting her in one of the jumpers. It was a little roomy, but she'd grow in to it. The dark, midnight blue fabric made the little one's porcelain skin stand out even more.

Haven kissed her forehead.

End of Book One