We’re watching a scene where the dumb, scantily-clad blond creeps around a shed. The high-pitched violins signal that it’s time to pull up the blanket again. Just as the maniac with the chainsaw bursts onto the screen, the doorbell rings.

Mom and I shriek as popcorn flies everywhere.

“Jesus Christmas,” Mom gasps. “Who’s ringing our bell in the middle of a snow storm?”

“Don’t open it! What if it’s a man with a chainsaw?”

Mom rolls her eyes as she stands and unlocks the door. She peeks through the crack before swinging it wide open.

Jaxon.

It might as well be the guy with the chainsaw. My heart’s hacked up all the same.

Still in his work suit with a black North Face over it, his hands are red from the cold. Flakes of snow sprinkle his dark hair, with a few caught in his eyelashes. He looks like he’s freezing, as if he’s been outside longer than his walk from the car to my porch.

“Are you guys all right in here?” he asks, stomping the snow off his boots. “I heard screaming.”

Mom laughs. “We’re watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The doorbell scared us.”

Jaxon’s eyes meet mine, and there’s so much emotion behind them that I’m unable to move. Why is he here?

Mom clears her throat. “Well, I’m going to take a nice, long, bubble bath.” She backs away and slinks up the stairs.

“Can I come in?” Jaxon asks.

“Sure.” I look around at all the popcorn everywhere. I don’t know what to say, what to do, what to think. My hands are shaking so I begin brushing the popcorn pieces off the cushion next to me.

Jaxon chuckles as he walks over and sits. “Scared you guys pretty good, huh?”

“Look, if you’re here to fire me, just get it over with. I can take it.” I sit up straight and brace myself.

His eyebrows collapse. “Why would I come to your house to fire you?”

“Why else would you be here?”

Jaxon reaches out for me, caressing my cheek with the back of his hand. “God, I’ve missed you.”

My breath hitches. “So you’re not going to fire me?”

“No. Becca told me everything.”

“Everything?”

“She told me the truth about the ring. What you tried to do for my family. I came here straight from my parents’ house.”

“Your parents? Oh, no. Jaxon, what happened?”

He shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “After what we’ve put you through, you’re still worried about me and my family.”

I shrug. “It’s a genetic flaw.”

He laughs and puts his hands around my waist, sliding me across the couch and onto his lap. “You are anything but flawed, Ms. Donahue.”