She pushed up off the floor and set about readying the store for tomorrow. The work took her mind off her pathetic whining, and even cheered her, because she’d made a healthy bit of money during the day.

She hummed a Christmas tune as she gathered her things. Just then her phone pinged and she saw that she had a text from Wink. Christina took a moment to wonder how many other nine-year-old children had their own phones, and then she read the text.

Mom’s back! She got here today! She’s taking me out to get my hair cut and we’re both going to get mani-pedis! XOXO

Christina felt like a child who’d been picked last for the volleyball team.

I told you! the smug little voice in her head said.

“Shut up,” Christina said—no one else was in the shop.

Hi, Wink. That’s great! Have fun! Bring her to the tree decorating party tonight. XOXO

Mom says we might have other plans.

I hate your mother, Christina thought sulkily.

But what she hated, really, she knew, was the sudden absence of Wink in her life. The party would be fun, but not quite as much fun if Wink wasn’t there.

—

Christina walked along the wharf and her spirits lifted. Mimi was waiting for her at the Stop & Shop parking lot. Her SUV was stuffed with boxes of decorations and bags of food and wine.

“Mimi,” Christina asked as she settled in the passenger seat, “how many Christmas sweaters do you possess?”

Mimi laughed heartily. “You don’t want to know. At least ten, maybe twelve. You see, every year I get just a tad larger and last year’s sweater doesn’t fit, so I have to buy a new one.”

“Why not give the old ones to the Seconds Shop?”

“Because I keep planning to lose weight,” Mimi said. “But not tonight!” She laughed uproariously.

They drove to Christina’s house and lugged in the boxes and bags. Last night Christina had strung the lights on the tree and brought down several boxes of ornaments from the attic. The gingerbread house she’d made years ago was, amazingly, intact, complete with peppermints, licorice sticks, M&M’s, gumdrops, and snow made from confectioner’s sugar and the secret ingredient that made the roof stay on the house: Elmer’s Glue, which looked just like snow. The gingerbread house was really adorable. She put it in the middle of the dining room table.