“Oh, shut up,” Holly said in exasperation. “I’m not that bad!”

When silence greeted her defensive statement, she burst into laughter. “Okay, so maybe I was.”

“Everything is wonderful, baby,” Adam said with a smile. “You did an amazing job. This will be a Christmas we’ll never forget for many reasons.”

Holly smiled back at him, her cheeks flushed with pleasure.

“It’s awesome, Mom,” Seth assured her.

One by one, her children and her husbands, Max, and Lauren all chimed in with their compliments until Holly beamed from ear to ear, and really, even if it had been horrible, who would have wanted to wipe away that kind of smile?

It had been a year of many milestones and events, changes and renewals, scares and rejoicings. The next year promised to be even sweeter.

But no matter what else would be recounted from this point forward, this would always be remembered as the year Holly Colter finally managed to conquer the kitchen.