December had always been the Kane family’s favorite month, but this year it carried an extra layer of meaning. Lily, now a senior at Denver, was coming home for her last college winter break. Everett was thirteen and in the full swing of travel hockey season. Clara was eight, all legs and opinions, and had just earned her first “player of the game” puck in her girls’ league.

The house smelled like pine and cinnamon from the moment Holly started decorating in late November. She ...