Healing Sophie

30

Sophie and the guys looked in awe at the place before them. The house was smaller than the one they had been in, but it was beautiful. It was darker and more modern. The living room and kitchen were a large, open-concept space with big windows, one of which had a window nook just like the other house. There were two sets of stairs in the space; one down to the giant, blank-canvas basement, the other up to the bedrooms.

"Wow," Sophie said. They all nodded in agreement.

"Well," Theo started. "First one up the stairs gets the smallest room." He booked it up the stairs and the others blinked before scrambling behind him. Sophie entered the upstairs space and looked through each room before settling on the one between Finn and Chase, across the hall from Theo, Victor, and a shared bathroom. She walked back in the hall and blinked at the last remaining door. She opened it and gaped. It was a giant bedroom with a walk-in closet and an en-suite bathroom with the biggest shower and tub.

"Wow," Chase said from beside her. The other three guys joined and stared at the room in awe.

"This would be the perfect room for all of us when we want to be together," she said, taking in the space.

"Perhaps a good little room as well for when you're feeling overwhelmed," Finn suggested.

"Or a play room," Theo said, wiggling his brows. Sophie blushed but considered the space.

Not a bad idea at all.

Sophie breathed deep on her way into work, letting the crisp air fill her lungs. It was a week from Christmas and after being stuck in a rut the past few weeks and trying to get moved in to their new house, her head was finally feeling clearer. Connor had been placed with a kind foster family nearby, so she was able to see him when she wanted. He was going to be coming over for Christmas Eve and Christmas, and she was very excited.

She stepped into the warm library and sighed in relief as it soothed her cold bones. Katherine and her had decorated the space beautifully with reds and greens. A small Christmas tree sat in the corner of the room and the light smell of cinnamon wafted warmly through the air like a hug. Sophie couldn't help the big smile that lit up her space. She absolutely loved this time of year.

"Look at that gorgeous smile," Katherine greeted with one of her own. "What's got you all happy today?"

"I just love Christmas."

"Well you know what you can get me for Christmas?" Sophie raised a brow. "Help me sort through all the new books."

Sophie rolled her eyes playfully. "Where are they?"

Katherine led her to an intimidatingly large stack of books and left her to her vices.

She got right to work, daydreaming as she went. She still had to go shopping for Christmas presents for the guys. She already had one huge gift she couldn't wait to give them, she just really hoped they would like it. They were having a little early Christmas together on Christmas Eve before Theo and Finn left to spend time with their families. Both had invited her to join, but she was excited to spend Christmas with Connor, Victor, and Chase.

After a few painstaking hours of sorting through dozens of copies of the same book, Sophie finally wrapped herself up in her jacket, grabbed her bag, and departed into the cold. As she walked to her car, something cold hit her cheek. She looked up in delight to see small snowflakes flurrying around her. Though the air was cold, her heart warmed. She loved snow. It felt so magical.