Contents
Chapter 54
Overview
Laurel visits Floyd’s undecorated house, prompting a spontaneous Christmas tree outing with Poppy. While alone, Laurel enters Floyd’s study and finds old clippings about Ellie, predating their meeting, igniting deep suspicion. After a tender tree-decorating and Floyd’s public declaration of love, Laurel reciprocates but senses something dark and deceptive about him.
Summary
Laurel arrives at Floyd’s house days before Christmas and notices there are no decorations. She suggests a tree for Poppy, and Floyd enthusiastically takes Poppy to buy one, leaving Laurel alone in the house for the first time.
While searching for a fuse for faulty lights, Laurel overcomes her hesitation and enters Floyd’s study. She discovers a stack of newspaper clippings about Ellie’s case from months before she met Floyd. The discovery contradicts Floyd’s coy claim that he only googled Laurel after their first date, planting serious doubt about his motives.
Floyd and Poppy return with a large tree. As Laurel and Poppy decorate, Poppy admits she longs for a bigger, noisier family and looks forward to Christmas Eve at Bonny’s. The scene is warm and domestic, with music and lights setting an intimate atmosphere.
Floyd is moved to tears by the finished tree and declares his love for Laurel in front of Poppy. Pressured by the moment, Laurel says she loves them both, and they share a group embrace. Despite the tenderness, Laurel recalls Blue’s warning and the study clippings, concluding that something is off—Floyd is not who he says he is.
Who Appears
- LaurelProtagonist; enters Floyd’s study, finds Ellie clippings, decorates the tree, and outwardly reciprocates love while inwardly growing suspicious.
- FloydOverjoyed to create Christmas for Poppy; declares love to Laurel; secretly kept pre-meeting clippings about Ellie, heightening mystery.
- PoppyEager for Christmas and a bigger family; helps choose and decorate the tree; welcomes Laurel’s affection.