December 6, Friday

THE LATE afternoon sun cast long shadows across the yard as Kelly and I made our rounds, spreading feed for the chickens and fresh hay for Satan. The air held the crisp promise of winter, though no snow had fallen—I knew enough about southern climates to know snow was a rarity.

"Butterscotch is laying better," Kelly observed, reaching beneath the cranky hen without getting pecked – a skill I still hadn't mastered. "Must be all those kitchen scraps you've been giving her."

"More like she's finally accepted me." I tossed another handful of feed, watching the chickens peck and scratch. "Though the rooster still has his doubts."

"He has trust issues." Kelly gathered eggs into her basket. "Like someone else I know."

I smiled, thinking of how far I'd come from that first terrifying morning when the rooster had invaded the house. "I'm getting better."

"You are." Kelly's voice caught slightly. When I turned to look at her, tears were streaming down her face.

"Kelly? What's wrong?"

She dropped her basket and threw her arms around me, hugging me so tight I could barely breathe. "I keep thinking about you almost being buried alive," she sobbed. "If something had happened to you..."

I hugged her back, startled by her outburst but touched by her concern. "Hey, I'm okay. Really."

"I know." She pulled back, wiping her eyes. "It's just... you're the first real friend I've had since moving here. Everyone else just sees Uncle Pete's weird niece who talks to chickens."

"First of all, talking to chickens is a valuable life skill." I squeezed her shoulders. "And second, you're stuck with me for a while yet."

"But eventually you'll go back to New York." She sniffled. "Back to your real life."

Satan bleated insistently, tired of being ignored. We both laughed as he headbutted my leg, demanding attention.

"Tell you what," I said, scratching between his horns. "Before I go anywhere, you have to teach me how to make one of those incredible gingerbread houses you told me about. The ones with the stained-glass windows?"

Kelly's face lit up. "Really?"

"Absolutely. But you know my baking skills are pretty much limited to slice-and-bake cookies."

"That's okay." She was already planning, her earlier tears forgotten. "We'll start with the basics. The secret is in the royal icing – it has to be just the right consistency. And I have these amazing new cookie cutters..."

I smiled as she rattled off ingredients and techniques, her enthusiasm infectious.

As we finished our chores, I realized Kelly was right – eventually I would have to leave Irving. Go back to my real life in New York. Deal with Curtis and my career and all the complications I'd left behind.

But maybe some of the magic I'd found here could go with me. The confidence I'd rediscovered. The friendships I'd made. The love that had taken me by surprise.

"Oh!" Kelly exclaimed. "We'll need to get candy for decorating. And those little silver dragées."

"Whatever you say." I linked my arm through hers. "I'm in your capable hands."

Some of the magic I'd found here was in a friend willing to teach me how to build something beautiful.