Chapter One

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Sunni Jackson stood at her kitchen window, holding a warm cup of coffee between her hands. Outside, snow was falling gently, covering her quiet neighborhood in a soft blanket. She was grateful to work from home as a freelance writer—there was no way she’d want to commute in this icy mess. Every house on the block was decked out in Christmas lights, giving the whole street a festive glow. Normally, this time of year was her favorite, but this Christmas felt off. Losing Peter, her husband, last year had changed everything. The holiday magic wasn’t quite the same.

She turned, placing her mug on the counter, and noticed the pile of unopened mail staring back at her. She had been putting off sorting through it, knowing it was mostly junk, bills, or a little of both. With a sigh, she picked it up and started flipping through. There were a few bills, of course, but also some Christmas cards from her mom and her sister’s family. "At least someone’s in the Christmas spirit," she thought, opening the cards, and placing them on the kitchen island. Before she could get too caught up, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

She opened the door to find a small package wrapped in green paper with a red bow sitting on her doorstep. Her heart did a little flip. She looked around, but no one was there. Just the quiet snowfall.

Curious, she picked up the package, checking for a name or address. Nothing. Only a tag that read, “May your days be merry and bright.” A small smile tugged at her lips. Who would send her something so sweet?

Settling into her comfy armchair, Sunni carefully unwrapped the package. Inside was a beautiful vintage glass ornament, delicately designed with intricate patterns. It sparkled in the soft glow of the living room lights. She pulled out a small card tucked into the box that read, “Hang this on your tree, and remember that joy is found in the simplest moments.” No signature, no clue who sent it, but the message warmed her heart.

“What do you think, Cookie?” Sunni asked, glancing at her corgi, who was lounging a few feet away. Cookie perked up, trotting over to nudge Sunni’s leg before attempting to climb into her lap. Sunni absentmindedly scratched behind her ears, turning the ornament over in her hands again. It was stunning, like nothing she’d ever seen before. Someone had put real thought into this. But who?

Her eyes drifted over to the corner where her Christmas tree still sat in its box. She’d been meaning to put it up for days, but work had kept her busy. Now, with this ornament in hand, she suddenly felt the urge to bring the tree to life.

“Alright, Cookie,” she said with a grin, “I guess we’re putting up the tree.”

She set the ornament aside and dragged the tree out of its box. Cookie barked, circling around her as she fluffed the branches and set up the tree. Soon, the familiar scent of pine filled the room, mingling with the last traces of coffee. In no time, the tree stood proudly in the corner, twinkling with the lights Sunni had carefully strung across it.

With a sense of excitement, she placed the new ornament front and center, where it could catch the most light. It shimmered beautifully, reflecting little rainbows onto the nearby walls. Sunni stood back, admiring her work, but her thoughts kept circling back to the mysterious gift.

Could it be from someone nearby? Her mind wandered to Shawn, the quiet guy across the street. He lived with his daughter, Emily, and while they’d exchanged a few neighborly conversations, they weren’t exactly close. Still, he was kind, always offering to help out when she needed it. Shawn kept to himself mostly, still grieving the loss of his wife. Sunni admired his quiet strength, but could he have been the one to send this?

“No way,” she muttered to herself with a little laugh. Shawn didn’t seem like the type to send anonymous gifts. He was more down-to-earth, not the mysterious, romantic gesture kind. Still, the thought stayed with her as she stepped back to admire the tree again. The ornament caught the light just right, sending a warm glow through the room. Whoever had sent it had thought of her at a time when she really needed it. It was such a small gesture, but it made her feel seen—like someone understood.

Sunni grabbed her laptop and curled up on the couch, Cookie snuggling beside her. She couldn’t help but wonder if the gift was just a one-time thing or if there was more to come. Either way, her heart felt a little lighter as she smiled to herself, thinking about what tomorrow might bring.