“Uncle Andy and I picked out the flowers!” Wink said.

“You did a great job,” Christina told her.

As they ate, Janice and Christina reminisced about past Christmases, when not so many people lived on the island, and there were no fast ferries.

“And,” Janice said, “if you can imagine, no catalogs except Sears! The only way we could order something was to go out the airport road and stop at their office. We ordered there, and we had to go pick up our merchandise there, too. They never delivered.”

“When I was a little girl, Robinson’s Five and Ten was the place I shopped,” Christina said. “They had everything that was small in size—needles, sunglasses, puzzles, dog collars, wrapping paper, swim flippers, picture frames, candles, and Fruit of the Loom underwear!”

“That store smelled heavenly,” Janice added.

“I think it was the wooden floors. I miss those wooden floors.”

“My favorite Christmas,” Oscar said, “was when I was ten. Long before your time, little missy,” he added, smiling at Wink. “I asked my parents for either a bike or a watch. Oh, they had money; they simply didn’t believe in spending it. When I came down Christmas morning, there under the tree were a bike and a watch!”

“My favorite Christmas was when I got a Sparkle Plenty doll, like the girl in the Dick Tracy comics,” Janice said. “She had braids coming out of the top of her head, and I could pull them to make them grow. Unfortunately, my brother pulled them too hard one day, and she ended up with two holes in her head. My mother knitted her a pretty pink hat with a flower on it.”

“My favorite Christmas is now!” Wink said.

“I’ll toast to that!” Andy said, holding out his wineglass.

Everyone at the table clinked glasses, even Wink, who had to kneel on her chair and lean forward enough to clink. Wink loved clinking glasses.

“Dessert is ice cream and Christmas cookies,” Janice told them. “Tomorrow we’ll have a special dessert, a baked Alaska.” Turning to Wink, she said, “You can help me make it. And you can carry it in, if you promise to be careful. We’re going to set it on fire.”

Wink’s eyes went round with wonder. “Oh, I’ll be very careful!”

“Christina.”

Oscar’s voice still made Christina nervous. Weakly, she answered, “Yes?”

“We would like you to join us for Christmas dinner tomorrow.”

“Oh, please please please!” Wink cried. “We really want you to come.”

Christina hesitated. “I’m not sure…”

Delia spoke up. “Please join us, Christina.” She sounded sincere.

“Yes, Christina,” Andy said. “Please join us.”

Christina took a deep breath. “I’d love to.”

—

After dinner, everyone except Oscar carried plates and bowls into the kitchen. To Christina’s surprise, Delia helped Janice load the dishwasher. Delia didn’t look or act like someone who ever knew where the dishwasher was.