“Are you ready for this?” he asked, chuckling as Cass watched his entire family stream out of the vans. “This is your first Rodriguez Christmas,” Miguel said. “And as you’ve learned from our baking competitions, we don’t do anything halfway.”

Cass kissed Miguel again. “I can’t think of anything I want more than to have your entire family here with us this Christmas.”

Just then the Rodriguez family piled onto the front porch, exchanging hugs and kisses while everyone juggled gifts and tinfoil-wrapped food dishes.

“This is the loveliest town, Cass,” Miguel’s sister, Jacintha, said. “And our rooms at the inn are beautiful! Plus, all this snow. What a treat.”

“We put the snow order in just for you,” Cass said, winking at Miguel’s twin nieces.

Miguel reached out and rang the doorbell and the first bars of “Let It Snow” reverberated inside. Moments later, Charlie flung open the door. She was wearing a red apron, and there was flour on her nose.

“Hello, everyone! Welcome to Starlight Peak! And, Cass, you don’t have to ring the doorbell. Just walk right in. My house is your house.” Charlie kissed her sister on the cheek, then paused for a second, giving her a sly look. “Or was your house.”

It was a joke Charlie had used more than once during the past six months, since she and Jake had bought the house from Brett and moved in the late spring.

“Ha-ha, always the funny one.” Cass swatted her sister’s arm. Then she leaned in and whispered in Charlie’s ear, “Everything ready?”

“We’re all set,” Charlie whispered back. The twins exchanged a knowing smile before Charlie ushered the whole crew inside the warm house.

Cass put down her basket of gifts on a bench and pulled off her boots, then looked around at the mudroom she had once been told was perfect for her. It was now filled with dog leashes and hiking boots; Charlie’s stylish jackets were nestled next to Jake’s thick flannels. There were skis and snowshoes, and a bucket of tennis balls for Bonnie. She smiled. This place really was perfect for her sister and Jake.

Charlie led Cass, Miguel, and his parents into the kitchen while the rest of the Rodriguez clan made themselves at home, inside and out, where a snowman building competition had begun. At the stove Jake was stirring gravy in an apron that matched Charlie’s. Helen Goodwin stood beside Jake, calling out directions.

“Mom always likes to make the traditional Woodburn holiday gravy herself,” Cass murmured to Miguel. “No one—and I mean no one—better touch that wooden spoon.” Then to her sister she whispered, “She must really like Jake.”

Just then Helen turned and seeing them, her face lit up. “Miguel! Essie! Javier!”

“I think it’s a tie, Cass,” Charlie whispered back, gesturing her head toward Miguel. “She’s pretty crazy about that one, too.” Helen crossed the room, pulling Miguel in for a long hug first before doing the same with his parents.

“Um, hello, Mom? I’m right here,” Cass said. Helen kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Yes, but I just saw you this morning.” She laughed and turned back to Essie and Javier. “That’s a lot of driving, you all must be exhausted.”