The Kane family had always believed the backyard rink lights were magic.

Strung by Rowan the winter after the mistletoe bet, they had glowed for every milestone: first skates, championships, weddings, crises survived.

They never failed.

Not once in forty years.

Until the night they did.

It was a crisp November evening in Evergreen Hollow, the first real snow of the season dusting the ground. The family had gathered for a quiet weekend—no big occasion, just ...