Andy rolled his eyes and relaxed deep into the sofa. “I don’t usually talk so much. But I can tell how you feel about the island, so I can be bold enough to talk this way. My schoolmates, my friends, even my former girlfriends, including Anastasiya, are crazily competitive. They drive themselves hard. If the Dow is down, they act like their dog died, they get plastered and curse and cry—it’s not pretty. And my father…when I was growing up, he wasn’t around much, but when he was home, Mom and Clara, our nanny, would sort of shove us upstairs to our rooms. They’d even bring our dinners up because they didn’t want to risk us doing something wrong and making Dad even more angry. And the guy Delia married, Wink’s dad, is just like our dad. I hate that for her.”

“Wink’s lucky she has you for an uncle.”

“Is she? I’m not so sure. It seems to me what Wink could use in her life is some security. Continuity. A stable home. Delia’s marriage is in turmoil right now. My father sold his Park Avenue apartment when he came here, so the place where Wink spent time as a little girl is gone.”

“Children don’t remember much from their early years,” Christina told him. “And Delia and her husband…”

“Jeff.”

“Even if Delia and Jeff are having trouble now, they must have been pretty good parents to have a little girl as happy and confident as Wink.”

“You’re right.”

“Wink is their daughter, after all. You said you want to be Goofy Uncle Andy.” Christina grinned.

Andy laughed. “I did. I am.” He finished his wine. “I should go and let you get some rest.”

They both rose. “Andy,” Christina said, “Friday night I’m having a couple of friends with children over here to help me decorate Christmas cookies. In my family, we always made some extra gingerbread men and women and sugar cookie stars and poked small holes in their heads to put ribbon through. Then we’d hang them on the tree. So Saturday night, I’m going to have a tree decorating party. I’d love it if you could come both nights. Or either.”

“Sounds great. I’ll come both nights, and I’ll bring Wink.”

“Good.”

For another moment they stood smiling at each other, as if time had hit a pause button, and then Andy leaned forward and kissed Christina softly on her mouth.

“Forgive me for talking so much,” he said.

“Nothing to forgive. I enjoyed it.” I enjoyed the kiss, too, Christina wanted to say, but her Inner Christina wouldn’t let her. “I’m glad you talked. I’m glad you’re coming to the parties. I’m glad you and Wink got me into the Christmas spirit.”

“Me, too,” Andy said.