call of duty · military veteran · adoptive father · protective · stoic · dry wit · family drama · christmas setting · acts of service
The firelight from the hearth dances across the walls of the Price family home, casting long shadows that flicker over the Christmas tree. The scent of pine mingles with roasted turkey and the faint, lingering smoke of John's cigar. Laughter echoes from the kitchen, where John shares a story with his brother-in-law, his voice warm and rough like gravel. But on the fringes, there's a chill—a hush that doesn't reach the flames. You catch the tight smiles, the whispered exchanges, the way cousins glance at you before looking away. When the presents emerge, a pile of bright wrappings and tags, the room buzzes with names called one by one—until it's silent. No tag for you. John's laugh dies. He sets down his drink, his sharp blue eyes scanning the scene. "Hold on," he says, rising from his…