“You see, you live in Buckhead. Anything can be bought and delivered in Buckhead. I selected the tree, and they delivered it, strung the lights, and added some new ornaments I picked out. I added the rest that you had in storage. But damn, those pesky Buckhead elves know how to charge.” We both laughed. Christmas really did bring out the lighter side in me. Griffin continued to stare at the tree.

“There’s a package back here. Did the elves leave this here too?”

“No. That’s from me.”

“Bae. No. You’ve done way too much.”

“Open it and I’ll tell you about it, and then you can tell me what your favorite things are. I’m liable to get a complex if the only thing you like is the Christmas tree.” He walked back over to the sofa and opened the gift. It was a perfect companion painting to the one of Portofino I had given him so many years ago. It was one of those things I bought without asking the price. I had it reframed to go on the wall with its mate.

He studied the picture and the frame and then looked up at me and said the exact same thing he had said when I gave him the painting so many years before. “Bae.” I leaned over and kissed him and whispered, “Do you like it? That is why Portofino is mounted so high. So its companion can go underneath.”

“I love it. But I think I will take this one to my office.”

I stared at him. “Well, think again, Buster. I bought this one to complement your other painting. Not to be separated.” I got up and made him follow me into his bedroom.

“Now, go over to the side of the bed where you sleep.”

“Okay. But I’m just a little afraid of you right now.”

“I’m good with that. But just look.” I hung the painting on the hook underneath Portofino. I had experimented with the paintings each way this afternoon before deciding which should be on top.

“See how well they go together, mounted on top of each other? This hardly cost anything. And yet it anchors this wall so well. Besides, from where you sleep, they will be the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night, so you can think of Italy each and every morning and night and go to bed happy.”

For a moment, Griffin didn’t say anything. Perhaps I had truly scared him. But then a smile spread across his face and he nodded. “I don’t know what to say. They do look good together. They look good alone, but they make a striking pair. You’re right.”

“Well, that’s good for starters. And I like it when you’re just a little bit scared of me.”