I’m already wearing a jacket. Why would I need his? To drape over my lap? So I can smell like him for the rest of the day? I don’t think so. I’m not that much of a glutton for punishment. I might love his choice of Tom Ford cologne, but I love my dignity much, much more.

We’ll ignore the fact that that’s an absolute lie.

Thankfully, the school principal enters from stage left and announces the beginning of the Christmas pageant. We sit through the kindergarteners’ adorable rendition of Frosty the Snowman before Chloe’s first grade class takes their turn on stage. Chloe’s enthusiasm puts the rest of the kids to shame. She has Christmas bows in her hair and Christmas tree sunglasses shielding her eyes. She’s wearing a string of green tinsel around her neck like a scarf. Is it socially acceptable to raid the closet of a six-year-old?

For the entire performance of Jingle Bells, I forget how cosmically bad the past week has been. Because I see the look of pure adoration when I glance over at Morgan and Vivian, and Asher is smiling the way he always does when he sees Chloe. It’s been so long since I’ve felt part of a family. I almost forgot what it’s like to belong.

When the show is over, I wait outside with Asher and Morgan while Vivian signs Chloe out of school for the rest of the day.

“Okay, what’s going on with you two?” Morgan asks, crossing her arms. She looks between me and Asher like she’s about to start an interrogation.

“Nothing,” Asher says.

“You’ve barely spoken a word to each other,” she says, looking at him. “What did you do?”

“Morgan, just let it go,” Asher sighs, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“I most certainly will not let it go. When have I ever let anything go?”

“Never.”

“So? What’s going on—”

“Olivia!” Chloe shrieks. “Uncle Asher!”

It doesn’t take her long to launch herself into Asher’s arms with a force that leaves him stumbling into a No Parking sign.

“Jesus,” he coughs. “You’re gonna break my back.”

“Because you’re old?” she asks. “Mommy says youth is wasted on you.”

“Mommy and her sage wisdom,” he scoffs.

“What’s that mean?”

“It means that Mommy is the smartest person ever,” Morgan says.

“Except you’re really bad at Jeopardy,” Chloe says, hugging her arms around Asher’s neck. “But you make a really good grilled cheese.”

“Thanks for keeping me humble, babe.”

“Humble? Isn’t that the girlfriend app you told Uncle Asher to use before he met Olivia?”

Asher’s eyes flare up and I’m pretty sure he’d be pinching the bridge of his nose if his hands weren’t full. Asher on a dating app? Exactly what I want for Christmas.