“That’s easy. Take her to Kidding Around on Broad Street and ask Erin to help you. Then take her to Murray’s Toggery, second floor. Wink needs some shoes with sparkles.”

“Okay, but all this is with the understanding that I get another date with you alone, without Wink.”

“I’ll sign a contract to that effect,” Christina said.

—

Clothes may not make the man, Christina thought the next evening, but clothes make the girl happy.

Christina, Andy, and Wink were strolling through the enormous redbrick Whaling Museum, gazing in wonder at the magnificently or humorously decorated evergreens. Well, Christina thought, Wink was spending as much time admiring her reflection in the glass cases as she was admiring the trees. Wink wore a black velvet dress with white tights and sparkling red Mary Janes. She wore a glittering silver headband Christina had given her. She was almost beside herself with happiness.

“Uncle Andy,” Wink said, “could we go eat? My eyes are full and my stomach’s empty.”

Christina and Andy laughed.

“Of course we can go now,” Andy said. “I’m hungry, too.”

They had spent at least an hour looking at the trees, and Christina had been on her feet all day, so she was delighted to head over to the Brotherhood for dinner. They were settled at a table near the fire. Christina and Andy ordered bistro steak frites and local beers. Wink ordered the fried fish dinner so she could get the curly fries.

Andy allowed Wink to have ice cream for dessert—it was a special kind of day.

“How is your Christmas tree decorated?” Christina asked Wink.

Wink shrugged. “We don’t have a Christmas tree.”

“You don’t have a Christmas tree?” Christina nearly fell off her chair.

“Granddad said he never gets one.”

“Okay, but you’re here now, Wink. And your mother will be back from the city pretty soon. And, Andy, where are you spending Christmas?”

Andy smiled. “I’m not sure. I was planning to go skiing in Colorado, but I think I might want to spend Christmas here, with my sister and my niece and…my father.”

“Oh, please please please!” Wink begged, her upper lip coated with a mustache of whipped cream.

“What do you think, Christina?”

“It’s not my place to say. Christmas is a family occasion,” Christina began, but she could feel Wink’s hopeful eyes fastened on her. “So I think of course you should spend Christmas here.”

“Yay!” Wink cried. “So what’s your Christmas tree like?”

“Um,” Christina hedged a moment. Finally she admitted, “I don’t have mine up yet. I’ve been so busy with work.”

“Oh, goody!” Wink said. “We can help you decorate your tree and you can help us decorate ours.”

“Okay,” Christina agreed. “But first, do you have any ornaments?”

Wink’s face fell. “At home, Mom always had the florist decorate our tree. I’m sure Granddad doesn’t have any.”