I adjusted the silver ribbons on the black stair hands before stepping back slightly to assess my work. The mansion’s grand staircase shimmered with strands of warm twinkly lights, and a small tree stood proudly in the foyer waiting to be decorated.

"Too much, too soon?" I asked with a soft hum, peering at Khalid, who shuffled by the railings hanging garlands in an ugly beige Christmas sweater and denim.

He shot me a playful crease of his nose and a smirk. "No such thing. It’s ...