GALLERY ID: DaeDae31| IG: LOCSIMMER
And between the laughter, the smell of coffee still lingering, and the soft rumble of Pong’s tail against the floor, the empty chairs didn’t feel quite so empty anymore. #AZestLegacy
And between the laughter, the smell of coffee still lingering, and the soft rumble of Pong’s tail against the floor, the empty chairs didn’t feel quite so empty anymore. #AZestLegacy
Chelsey smiled. “Only if I get to do the decorating next time.”
Johnny looked around at the glittering disaster, still clinging to every surface. #AZestLegacy
Chelsey smiled. “Only if I get to do the decorating next time.”
Johnny looked around at the glittering disaster, still clinging to every surface. #AZestLegacy
Memphis sat at the table, eating cereal, with his hair sticking up. “Next year, can we go somewhere warm? Like... Sulani warm?” Johnny grinned. #AZestLegacy
Memphis sat at the table, eating cereal, with his hair sticking up. “Next year, can we go somewhere warm? Like... Sulani warm?” Johnny grinned. #AZestLegacy
Pong padded over and rested his head on Johnny’s leg. Johnny sighed, scratching behind his ears. #AZestLegacy
Pong padded over and rested his head on Johnny’s leg. Johnny sighed, scratching behind his ears. #AZestLegacy
The storm had passed. Sunshine gleamed across the snowy yard as the bay sparkled in the distance.
Johnny stood by the window pouring his coffee. “You know,” he said, “it’s too quiet without everyone home. Almost peaceful. I hate it.” #AZestLegacy
The storm had passed. Sunshine gleamed across the snowy yard as the bay sparkled in the distance.
Johnny stood by the window pouring his coffee. “You know,” he said, “it’s too quiet without everyone home. Almost peaceful. I hate it.” #AZestLegacy
“That’s a fire hazard,” Memphis replied, earning another round of laughter. #AZestLegacy
“That’s a fire hazard,” Memphis replied, earning another round of laughter. #AZestLegacy
He grinned. “Hey, next year, maybe we’ll actually need a bigger table.”
“Or fewer lights,” Memphis laughed, glancing at the still-glittering chaos of the room. #AZestLegacy
He grinned. “Hey, next year, maybe we’ll actually need a bigger table.”
“Or fewer lights,” Memphis laughed, glancing at the still-glittering chaos of the room. #AZestLegacy
“Happy New Year, babe,” he murmured.
“Happy New Year, hunny,” she said, planting a kiss on his lips. #AZestLegacy
“Happy New Year, babe,” he murmured.
“Happy New Year, hunny,” she said, planting a kiss on his lips. #AZestLegacy
Memphis looked at his drink. “And to Pheonix and Keri—may their snowstorm end before spring.”
Pong barked once, tail wagging, as if agreeing. #AZestLegacy
Memphis looked at his drink. “And to Pheonix and Keri—may their snowstorm end before spring.”
Pong barked once, tail wagging, as if agreeing. #AZestLegacy
The clock ticked toward midnight. Johnny has poured some champagne into some glasses, and Memphis was allowed a drink for tonight. “To the Zest family—those near, those far, and those snowed or blizzarded out of existence.” #AZestLegacy
The clock ticked toward midnight. Johnny has poured some champagne into some glasses, and Memphis was allowed a drink for tonight. “To the Zest family—those near, those far, and those snowed or blizzarded out of existence.” #AZestLegacy
Everyone laughed, even over the crackling line.
When Chelsey hung up, the laughter faded into a softer quiet. The kind of stillness that comes from missing voices that usually fill the room. #AZestLegacy
Everyone laughed, even over the crackling line.
When Chelsey hung up, the laughter faded into a softer quiet. The kind of stillness that comes from missing voices that usually fill the room. #AZestLegacy
Johnny leaned closer, voice warm. “Stay safe, kiddo. We’ll toast to you from afar.” “Make it two toasts,” Memphis added. #AZestLegacy
Johnny leaned closer, voice warm. “Stay safe, kiddo. We’ll toast to you from afar.” “Make it two toasts,” Memphis added. #AZestLegacy
Her face fell a little. “Snowed in?... Chestnut Ridge... huh?”
Johnny raised a brow as Chelsey mouthed they’re stuck. Through the speaker, Pheonix’s voice came, muffled by static: #AZestLegacy
Her face fell a little. “Snowed in?... Chestnut Ridge... huh?”
Johnny raised a brow as Chelsey mouthed they’re stuck. Through the speaker, Pheonix’s voice came, muffled by static: #AZestLegacy
“Yeah,” Memphis said, deadpan. “Annnd, it’s currently untangled, unlike your decorations.” Chelsey bit back a laugh as her cellphone rang. #AZestLegacy
“Yeah,” Memphis said, deadpan. “Annnd, it’s currently untangled, unlike your decorations.” Chelsey bit back a laugh as her cellphone rang. #AZestLegacy
From the floor, fourteen-year-old Memphis grinned as he tried to keep their husky, Pong, from eating a strand of garland. “Creative chaos? Mom, he’s losing a fight with a decorating box.” #AZestLegacy
From the floor, fourteen-year-old Memphis grinned as he tried to keep their husky, Pong, from eating a strand of garland. “Creative chaos? Mom, he’s losing a fight with a decorating box.” #AZestLegacy
Snow fell in lazy spirals outside the wide bay windows, frosting the edges of the glass. Inside, the Adams-Zest home it glowed with string lights, along with the faint scent of cinnamon cider in the air. #AZestLegacy
Snow fell in lazy spirals outside the wide bay windows, frosting the edges of the glass. Inside, the Adams-Zest home it glowed with string lights, along with the faint scent of cinnamon cider in the air. #AZestLegacy
While Johnny is finishing up his final comedy show before New Year’s, Chelsey took Pong on a short walk.
While Johnny is finishing up his final comedy show before New Year’s, Chelsey took Pong on a short walk.
Max chuckled, shaking his head. “You two are impossible.”
Jamie smiled, trying not to laugh. “And yet, somehow, perfectly yours.” #AZestLegacy
Max chuckled, shaking his head. “You two are impossible.”
Jamie smiled, trying not to laugh. “And yet, somehow, perfectly yours.” #AZestLegacy
Aster glanced up from his phone. “So it’s just us this year. Guess that means I’m the favorite kid now.” #AZestLegacy
Aster glanced up from his phone. “So it’s just us this year. Guess that means I’m the favorite kid now.” #AZestLegacy