Janice was at the stove, stirring a rich stew of chicken and vegetables. She glanced over her shoulder. “Merry Christmas, Christina.”

“Oh, Janice,” Christina said, startled into action. “You shouldn’t be cooking. Let me help.”

Janice smiled a beautiful smile. “No worries, Christina. Oscar wants me to make his traditional Christmas Eve dinner. I like doing it.” She winked at Christina.

“Sit down,” Delia said. “I’ll pour you a glass of wine. And here—” Delia shoved a platter toward Christina. “I made some munchies.”

“Take my chair, Christina,” Wink said. “I’ll sit on Daddy’s lap.”

As if her legs had gone limp, Christina almost fell into the chair.

Andy returned from the hall. “We’ve set the dining room table, too. Wait till you see it.”

“We’ll eat in about ten minutes,” Janice said.

“Here,” Delia said, handing Christina a glass of wine.

“Thank you,” Christina said, surprised her voice would work. She took a sip of the red wine. Its warmth curled down inside her and her frozen body stirred to life.

“Thank you all,” she said, glancing at every person in the room. “I’m so surprised! I can hardly believe this is real.”

Wink chirped, “That’s because you think you’re the only one who can be generous. That’s what Grandfather says.”

Christina frowned in surprise. Actually, her IC muttered, he’s not completely wrong.

Oscar cleared his throat. He looked at Christina. “Never say anything in front of this child that you don’t want repeated.”

“I think we can dress the salad now,” Janice said.

“No, don’t get up,” Delia told Christina. “I know perfectly well how to toss a salad with olive oil and vinegar.”

Andy took the chair next to Christina. “You’re so quiet. Tired?”

“In a state of shock,” Christina said.

“How was business?” Oscar asked.

“Crazy,” Christina told him.

“Do you have problems with shoplifters?” Oscar asked.

“Not today, usually, because Christmas Eve is mostly adults. The shoplifters in my shop tend to be children, who snatch a marble or a sticker book, something they can easily palm and slide into a pocket.” Christina didn’t glance Wink’s way as she spoke. She took a big hit of wine. She thought she might be hallucinating, all these people in her house and Oscar actually smiling.

—

The dining room table was set with her grandmother’s snow-white linen tablecloth and her parents’ good china, sterling silver, and cloth napkins. In the middle of the table was a long, low arrangement of white lilies, red carnations, and holly. Andy escorted his father to the head of the table and seated Christina at what her parents always called “the other head of the table.” Janice brought the tureen of chicken stew to the table and Delia carried in the salad. Janice went off and returned with warm homemade rolls.

“What a feast!” Christina said. “Thank you, Janice.”