No. It would only prey on her mind. If the Sheraton and Hepplewhite furniture had been sold, best find out as soon as possible.

Jamie woke up after half an hour’s nap, and from that point both boys remained wide awake to the end, following Michael’s every word, and laughing when the audience did, though I suspected they were laughing not because they understood the funny lines but out of delight, because so many people were laughing at Daddy’s jokes.

Michael took ten curtain calls. Afterward we took the boys backstage to see everyone congratulating Daddy in his dressing room. They were incredibly impressed.

And also starting to show signs of impending crash and burn, in spite of the preemptive extra napping earlier in the day.

“Rose Noire and I are going to take them home,” I told Michael. “Before they ruin everyone’s impression of them as little angels.”

Michael’s face fell.

“You mean you’re not coming to the cast party?” Dad asked. “Your mother and I will be there.”

“Your father will,” Mother said. “I am worn out and planning to go home to bed.”

“Besides,” I said. “With a cast of one, how big can it be?”

“Okay, it’s also the unofficial departmental Christmas party,” Michael said. “And all of my family are invited! And it doesn’t start till midnight, after we finish cleaning up the theater, so you could run the boys home and come back for it—if that’s okay with Rose Noire.”

She had no objection, so after making our good-byes to everyone, we led the boys out to the parking lot. We had to carry them the second half of the way.

“Let’s just put them in my car,” Rose Noire said. “I’m giving Rob a ride home—he can help me carry them in and you can head to the cast party a little sooner.”

By the time we strapped them into their car seats, both boys were fast asleep. So I applied my best good night kisses to their unconscious foreheads and waved as Rose Noire and Rob drove off.

“Does this mean you’re coming to the cast party after all?” I turned to see Robyn picking her way across one of the parking lot’s many patches of ice. “It sounds like fun.”

“I’ll be a bit late,” I said. “I have to pick up a few things at the grocery store. Don’t mention that to Mother if she changes her mind and decides to come,” I added.

“Because she would think planning for the rummage sale should trump mere groceries?” Robyn said, with a laugh.

“Something like that,” I said. “You have no idea.”