Everyone fusses over Laura when I wheel her across the threshold and into the living room, then scold her when she tries to move into her favorite armchair.

I wrap my arm around her lower back and help lift her into her seat, fluffing up the cushion Zoe bought behind her back.

Laura looks around the house, at the Christmas tree that wasn’t there before and the decorations we’ve put up. She beams. “The place looks great.”

“It’s great to have you home,” Zoe tells her. “We’ve missed you so much. Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?”

Laura lifts her hand. “No, honestly, I’m fine! I’m out of the hospital bed and in my own home. I’m on top of the world right now.”

“Don’t overdo it because you’re feeling good,” I warn her. “You’ve got to take it easy.”

Laura rolls her eyes playfully. “All right, Dr. Vermont.”

“Seriously, Laura; I don’t want you hurting yourself. The kids are thrilled you’re home, and that’s where we want you to stay!”

She opens her arms to invite me for a hug. I go over and lean forward so she can wrap her arms around me. She smells of the same perfume our mom used to wear; the wool of her knit cardigan is warm. I feel a tug of affection for my big sister. We’re closer now than we’ve ever been before.

“Thank you for all you’ve done, Tom.” She peers around my shoulder and looks meaningfully at Zoe. “You, too, Zoe. You two have done more than anyone could ever ask for. I love you both more than you know.”

Zoe smiles. “We wouldn’t do it for anyone who didn’t mean the world to us. Thank God you’re home and on the mend.”

Laura claps her hands together gleefully. “And in time for New Year’s!”

I raise an eyebrow. “What did I just say about taking it easy?”

“Screw that! I missed Thanksgiving and Christmas in my own home. I’m going to enjoy this New Year’s Eve. It’s a chance to say goodbye to hospital beds, and hello to more time with my kids and getting back to work.”

“You and work!” I grin. “You’re honestly worse than I am.”

Laura reaches out for my hand and squeezes it tightly. Her face is gleeful. She looks like she might burst with joy. “I can’t wait for tomorrow night. Let’s celebrate everything we have to look forward to.”

* * *

Even though New Year’s is going to be a quiet celebration between us in Laura’s house, she insists we dress up.

I put on the tailored dark gray suit I was wearing the day I left New York. Megan tells me I don’t look seasonal enough, and threads some loose tinsel around my shoulders. Jack finds that hilarious and puts a festive headband on me with two glittery pom-poms on springs.

They kill themselves laughing; Megan snapping photos. I wonder who’ll see them, whether the press will pick them up. For once, I don’t care. Time with my family is not a PR move. It’s just life, exactly how it should be, and I don’t care who sees me dressed up like a Christmas tree.

Zoe appears in the living room doorway, and I do a double take. She’s wearing a black dress with open shoulders and a low neck. She has on the necklace I bought for her, the pearl reflecting back the sparkling lights on the tree. Her killer legs are on show in black pantyhose and a pair of high heels. Her red hair is gleaming, brushed until it shines. She’s not wearing much makeup, only some eyeliner and shadow that makes her emerald eyes sultry.

She wheels in Laura, who she’s helped into a red lace-overlay dress, then comes over to me. She smells of sweet perfume.

“You look beautiful.”

Zoe twists the strand of tinsel on my shoulders around a finger and smiles, lifting her eyes to mine. “So do you.”

I take hold of her hand, and we stand together. Megan starts music playing through some speakers wirelessly connected to her phone, and switches on a mini disco-light on the coffee table, which sends circles of color dancing over the ceiling.

The adults crack open a bottle of wine. We all chat, laugh and enjoy each other’s company until it’s time to turn on the TV and watch the ball drop in Times Square.

I hold Zoe’s hands as the countdown begins, holding her gaze with mine. With the New Year only seconds away, I feel like we’re the only two people in the world.

I watch her lips count the seconds. “Ten…nine…”

“Eight…seven…six…”

“Five…four…three.”

“Two…”

“One.”

I catch Zoe in a kiss as the fireworks erupt on TV. I hear Laura and Megan cheering behind us and giggling when I sweep Zoe off her feet to kiss her, then put her back down.

Zoe’s face is flushed when we draw apart, but her smile is huge.

We all congratulate each other on the New Year, and then I ask if I can steal Zoe away for a moment.

I take her into the backyard. It’s a cold, crisp night. The ground is covered in a fine silver frost. The sky is bright and clear.

Zoe wraps her arms around herself against the cold. Her breath clouds in the air; her cheeks flush brighter, her eyes are sparkling.

She smiles. “What did you want to show me?”

“I wanted to give you something.”

I hand her an envelope and watch her open the unlimited airplane ticket I got her. She holds the ticket in her hand, looking a little confused.

I take her hands, catching her eyes and smiling brightly. “It’s unlimited, Zoe! You can see me anytime you like. I have one, too. There’s no reason we can’t see each other all the time.”

Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes, but she kisses me softly. “Thank you, Tom.”

“What’s wrong?”

Tears spring to her eyes, even though she still smiles. She offers a little shrug and shakes her head. “It’s getting real now. You’re leaving.”

I wrap my arms around her and pull her close against me. “We’ll see each other all the time.”

“I don’t think you realize how much I’m going to miss you.”

I do understand. Every time I think of waking up in my huge, empty penthouse without Zoe, it breaks my heart. No matter how limitless the plane ticket, I can’t change the fact that New York seems a very long distance away.