“Please tell me you got that on video,” Sophia gasped between laughs.

Juniper’s eyes widened in fresh horror as Lillian triumphantly waved her device, the red recording light still blinking its promise of eternal embarrassment.

“I hate everyone in this room,” Juniper declared, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.

“Group hug!” Jacob announced, launching himself at his cousin like a tinsel-covered missile.

“Absolutely n… ” but Juniper’s protest vanished into a tangle of family arms, Sophia diving into the pile with theatrical enthusiasm, as the ceiling fan wobbled its final approval of the performance.

In the warm aftermath of their musical ambush, Juniper couldn’t quite hide her smile. Some traditions, even the mortifying ones, were worth coming home to.