Allen spoke up. “Louise means that Janice is an islander. Born here, grew up here, married and raised her children, and was widowed here. She’s a wonderful woman. Knows everyone in town. Helps with voter registration. Takes library books to shut-ins. A treasure.”

“I’m surprised she’s working for Mr. Bittlesman,” Louise said, and the joking tone had left her voice. “I didn’t know she needed money. I mean, she’s not wealthy, but I thought she was doing okay.”

“Maybe she was bored,” Christina suggested.

“But she has a zillion friends,” Louise countered.

“That’s not the same as having a job. Janice likes to keep busy.”

“You’d better watch what you do,” Louise warned Andy. “Janice keeps no secrets to herself, and you all would make great gossip.”

Christina bugged her eyes out at Louise. What had gotten into her friend?

Before she could say anything, Wink held up an angel iced in blue with glitter on her wings. “Mrs. Harris asked me to bring her a cookie. I made this for her.”

“That’s beautiful, honey,” Louise said. “Dora, want to make one for Daddy?”

The child’s sweetness changed the mood of the room. Allen asked Andy if he sailed, and the two men bonded about boats and winds and shifting sandbars and windsurfing. Christina and Louise supervised the girls while Christina ran a red ribbon through the cookies so they could hang on the tree. Chad sat in the corner, icing his cookie with great concentration, his tongue between his lips. Christina exchanged a look with Allen; they both smiled. Chad was happy.

By nine o’clock, the children were fading, even though they’d had plenty of sugar. Allen and Chad left, Louise and Dora left, and Andy helped Wink get into her coat. They all had paper bags full of decorated cookies in their hands, and even Christina’s teeth ached from eating too much sugar.

“I like your friends,” Andy said.

“Good! You’ll see them again at my Christmas tree decorating party tomorrow.”

Wink piped up. “Is Dora coming?”

“You bet. In fact, Dora’s mom wanted to know if you could sleep over at Dora’s house tomorrow night. It’s Saturday, so no school the next day.”

Wink’s eyes widened. She tugged her uncle’s hand. “Can I, Uncle Andy, can I?”

“May I,” Andy reminded her. “Of course, although I’m not sure when your mother’s coming home. She might want to spend the evening with you if she flies home on Saturday.”

“Oh, I can see her anytime,” Wink said heartlessly. “Please please please, Uncle Andy!”

“Okay,” Andy said. “Christina, I’ll get phone numbers tomorrow.”

Christina kissed Wink’s cheek. On a whim, she kissed Andy’s cheek, too. If Wink hadn’t been standing right there, Christina thought she would most certainly have kissed his mouth.

Chapter 7