I let my purse fall onto the rug and dropped to both knees right next to the cushions.

“Mommy,” she breathed.

Her coat hung over the back of the sofa, its zipper still jammed halfway down the teeth.

I drew her in close, smelling the damp cold that still clung to her ponytail and the sweetness of hot cocoa on her breath.

“Are you warm yet?” I asked.

She gave one nod, twisting the hem of her jacket sleeve between her thumb and forefinger.

“My toes stayed cold for a long time.”