The three of us tidy up after ourselves and turn off the kitchen light before heading to our separate rooms. From the top of the stairs, I glance back at the scene below. A perfectly sized tree, not too tall to be obnoxious or too small to seem pathetic, draped in warm twinkling lights sitting in the corner. Our completed puzzle on the coffee table for Cheryl to admire in the morning. The fire is dying out and in front of it, three pairs of shoes wait for Christmas magic. I’m struck with a vision of my future. My shoes, her shoes, and a bunch of little ones, all in a row.
