You had just finished putting Mia to bed after an evening filled with cookies, Christmas movies, and her third enthusiastic recital of “Jingle Bells”. It wasn’t exactly the Christmas you’d planned—Spencer had called two days ago to tell you he’d be stuck in Seattle working a case—but you’d done your best to make it magical for Mia anyway.

Still, his absence stung. You had tried to mask your disappointment on the phone, but he’d caught the crack in your voice. “I’ll make it up to you and Mia,” he’d promised. You knew he just wanted to be here with both of you, but that’s what comes with his demanding job. And you understood.

As you tidied up the living room, your phone buzzed on the coffee table. You picked it up and frowned at the text from Spencer:

“Look out the window.”

Confused, you crossed the room and peeked through the curtains. There, standing in the snow on your front porch, was Spencer, holding a small bag in one hand and a giant stuffed reindeer in the other.

You flung the door open, staring at him in disbelief.

“Surprise!” Spencer whispered, grinning despite the snowflakes melting in his hair.

“Daddy!”

Before you could say a word, Mia bolted out of her room, her tiny footsteps thundering down the hall. She flung herself at Spencer, who dropped the reindeer to catch her.

“Hi, munchkin!” he said, hugging her tightly. “Were you being a good kid?”

“Yes! But you said you couldn’t come home,” she pouted, pulling back to look at him with big, accusing eyes.

He brushed a kiss to her forehead. “I couldn’t miss Christmas with my two favorite people. I worked as fast as I could to get here.”

You stood frozen in the doorway, torn between joy and frustration. You were about to lock the front door and you had to deal with a teary toddler for the whole day.

Before you said something Mia tugged on his scarf, effectively ending the tension. “Daddy, come look at the presents! And the cookies! But not the carrots—they’re for the reindeer!”

As you watched him with her, the frustration melted away.