Aiyana touched one of the trees with the leaves made of tiny mirrors Tia had admired at the gift shop yesterday. Seth had swung by to purchase a set of three on his way to his mother’s so that he could surprise her with a gift for Christmas. “They’re gorgeous,” she said. “So artsy and different.”

“I like the way the light makes them shimmer.”

“Reminds me of standing in a forest of aspens and seeing the leaves quake in the wind,” she agreed. “They look expensive. How much were they?”

“Three hundred bucks.”

“That’s a nice gift.”

He shrugged. “Not that much.”

“Maybe not for you,” she said with a laugh. “Anyway, I have some pretty paper. Want me to wrap them up?”

“The package will look a lot better if you wrap it than if I do,” he said.

“I’ll add a big bow and put it under the tree. I can’t believe she’s coming to Christmas tomorrow.”

His younger brothers—the twins, Ryan and Taylor, who both worked for the same tech firm in Denver, and Liam and Bentley, who were in college at San Diego State—had arrived late last night. Eager to see them, Seth had come over early, before he had to speak at the assembly on campus. But no one, except Cal, who had just left for his cattle ranch, and Aiyana, was up yet.

“You wouldn’t believe how much better Tia is doing,” he told Aiyana as she put the trees back in their box.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that.”

“We went shopping yesterday and everything.” He gestured at his purchase. “That’s how I found these.”

“Did anyone recognize her?”

“Nope. She was disguised, of course, and just kept her face averted when we were near others.”

“That should give her some confidence.”

“I think so.”

She set the trees aside for the moment and reclaimed the coffee she’d been drinking when he arrived. “So what did the police say when they contacted you about the Iveys?”

“They said they’d let it go. Officer Crocker was just angry they’d caused him to make a fool of himself. But I said it was Christmas and mentioned that they’ve had a rough go of it, and he relented.”

“Do they know they’re in the clear?”

“They do. I texted Lois before I drove over here. She thanked me and invited me to dinner next week.”

“What did you say back?”

“That I wouldn’t be coming.”

Ryan shuffled into the room wearing nothing but a pair of sweat bottoms. “Thought I heard voices down here,” he said. “How you doin’, man?”

Seth gave his brother a hug. “’Bout time you got up.”

Ryan scratched his head, which did little to relieve his bedhead. “We were up late.”

“Gaming?”

“Of course. Taylor and I had to show the younger bros how it’s done.”