"Hey, watch where you''re going! Ever heard of looking before you walk?"


    The deep voice behind her was sharp, a little gruff. It was the kind of voice that couldmand a room, warm and maic, but definitely not one of Calliope''s brothers, and not Ss, either.


    To Mavis, though, it was heartbreakingly familiar. The sound of it almost made her eyes sting with tears.


    Not far away, Calliope and Portia exchanged a knowing nce, both ncing in Mavis''s direction.


    Behind Mavis stood a tall figure, broad-shouldered and radiating an unmistakable tough-guy energy. He looked down at her, frown creasing his brow, clearly annoyed she''d nearly taken a tumble.


    "What are you doing here?" Mavis turned, staring up at Uriah.


    He never took her home for dinner anymore, but now here he was, out of nowhere. Was he here for her?


    No, probably not. If he showed up, he must be looking for Ss.


    The thought flickered across her face, quickly reced by disappointment.


    Just as Mavis was about to find her voice, Uriah stepped forward and suddenly handed her a big red envelope. "Merry Christmas."


    She froze, staring at the envelope in her hands.


    "What? Not going to take your holiday card from me?" Uriah teased, his eyes crinkling just a bit. "It''s tradition, you know. Grown-ups give the kids a little something for the holidays."


    The word "grown-up" made Mavis''s heart sink. She liked Uriah-liked him so much it almost hurt. He might be her master, but she didn''t want him to see her as some kid. She wanted him to see her as someone he could love. But no matter how hard she tried, nothing ever changed.


    Her disappointment was written all over her face.


    Uriah, oblivious, spotted Quentin about to light the fireworks,


    instinctively pulled Mavis back


    here Calliope


    several steps, over to where Calliope and the others were standing.


    The first firework whooshed into the night sky and exploded with a dazzling BANG! Everyone looked up, faces bathed in bursts of color.


    "Wow, that''s gorgeous!" Portia gasped, whipping out her phone to record the moment.


    Calliope, standing beside Ss, did the same, aiming her camera at the sky.


    The fireworks just kepting, a riot of colors, each one more beautiful than thest-but gone in a sh.


    Mavis couldn''t help but look up, whispering, "They''re really beautiful."


    "Do you like them?" Uriah asked quietly, watching her.


    The fireworks painted Mavis''s face in shifting hues, making her look almost luminous.


    He''d always thought she was


    beautiful. He knew she liked him, he


    wasn''t clueless, but he''d always believed it was wrong. He was her


    masten the one who''d watched her


    grow up. What kind of man would


    cross that line? It wasn''t right. People would talk, and maybe they''d be right.


    Uriah looked at Mavis for a long, heavy moment.


    But she didn''t notice. She was still staring at the sky, lost in the light and color.


    After a couple of regr fireworks


    one, a kind


    couldn''t buy at the storet


    Quentin pulled out a big homemade firework, the couldn''t buy at the store


    but


    promised to be spectacr.


    Everyone gathered around, anticipation in the air.


    Portia, ever the cautious one, whispered, "Wait, are you sure this thing''s safe?


    Should we back up a bit more?"