MARION

“Done! We can go now,” Demetria said, smiling as she walked out of the kitchen.

In her hands were boxes of Le Citron — Cédric Grolet’s masterpiece — her own perfectly executed version. A taste of specialty, she said. She’d made them to send as Christmas gifts for my family, close friends, and a few relatives who had already arrived in Los Angeles.

Christmas at the Whitfield mansion was always full of joy and chaos… but this year felt different. This year, I got to ...