Jasmine Yale nibbles on the apple in her hand, cool and sweet.
A layer of white fog blankets the window, hazy and indistinct. Jasmine lifts her hand and draws a heart on the window.
She smiles at the heart, filled with affection: "Jasy loves Baby."
She looks outside, where snow blankets the world, turning it into a white, crystal-clear land, extraordinarily beautiful.
The children outside are still playing, laughter echoing in bursts.
Snowy days have no impact on their joy.
She sits quietly.
It's still early.
She hasn't texted Sylvan Cheney; he hasn't reached out either. But Kade Yuvan did call.
"Assistant Yuvan."
"Jasmine, happy Christmas Eve! Are you home alone or out on a date?"
"It's snowing outside, I didn't go out."
"Oh, right, you're pregnant, you shouldn't be running around. I'm different, I just built a snowman downstairs. I'll send you a picture later."
"You can build snowmen?"
"Of course I can! And it's really nice!"
