“I was planning to surprise you with a small, plain turkey at my dinner,” she said. “Will you still want to eat turkey tomorrow?”

“I can always eat turkey,” I said.

“I could eat a whole turkey, Gamma,” Josh said.

“Me, too,” Jamie added.

“I brought tomato aspic,” Mother said handing me the bowl. “I know it’s always been one of your favorites.”

As I nudged dishes aside to find a place for the aspic, Mother stood for a few moments, surveying the apartment. Back when Michael and I had been living there, she had disapproved of it so strongly that she’d showered us with paint and fabric samples and so many decorating books that we’d taken to using stacks of them for our end table and coffee table. I never had managed to convince her that no amount of decorating would make the place any bigger. She reached out toward one of the boys’ posters—one that was particularly crooked—and I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling her to leave it alone; I liked it that way.

But she only smoothed down the tape to make sure it was securely fastened and nodded with approval before sitting down at what had been Rob’s place. Rob raced back in with another folding chair and found a place to put it where he could set his plate atop the duck cage.

“My, this is nice.” Mother surveyed the table with an equally approving eye. “Perhaps I should go retro next year. A very traditional holiday dinner.”

I saw Michael’s mother frown slightly, and her face took on a familiar competitive look. Dare I hope that next year would see a duel over who could serve not only the most elaborate but the most traditional dinner?

“Merry Christmas, everyone!” Mother said.

She lifted her wineglass—well, it had been Rob’s wineglass, but it was hers now. We all followed suit, even the boys, who were drinking cranberry juice in their stemmed glasses.

“Merry Christmas to all,” Josh exclaimed.

“And to all a good night,” Jamie finished.

ALSO BY DONNA ANDREWS

The Hen of the Baskervilles Some Like It Hawk

The Real Macaw

Stork Raving Mad

Swan for the Money

Six Geese A-Slaying

Cockatiels at Seven

The Penguin Who Knew Too Much No Nest for the Wicket

Owls Well That Ends Well

We’ll Always Have Parrots Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos Murder with Puffins

Murder with Peacocks

About the Author

DONNA ANDREWS has won the Agatha, Anthony, and Barry Awards, an RT Book Reviews Award for best first novel, and three Lefty and two Toby Bromberg Awards for funniest mystery. She is a member of MWA, Sisters in Crime, and the Private Investigators and Security Association. Andrews lives in Reston, Virginia. Visit her online at www.donnaandrews.com.