Christina reached out to hug Harriet, but the other woman froze, so Christina only patted Harriet’s arm. “So if Jacob doesn’t like you, that means fate wants you to wait until the right man comes along. A rich man, right?”

“I wish my mind would tell my heart that.” Harriet shook herself, and, as if coming out of a trance, she morphed into pleasantness. “Christina, this was a lovely party. Thank you for inviting me. I’ll see you tomorrow at lunch.”

“You’re welcome,” Christina said politely. She could tell that Harriet was regretting her moment of softness and her confession about Jacob.

She understood how Harriet felt. She had her own mixed feelings about Andy.

Mimi came out of the kitchen, rubbing lotion into her hands. “It’s all done, sweetheart. What a great party.”

“Oh, Mimi, you didn’t have to clean up.”

“I was happy to do it. You know me, I can’t sit still.” She pulled on her parka. “I know you’re sad that Andy didn’t make it. But he’ll be back.”

“I really liked him,” Christina confessed.

“You really like him,” Mimi said.

“He could have called. He could have texted.”

“That’s true.” Christina didn’t want to inflict her disappointment on her friend. “But hey, did you see how Delia latched onto Jacob?”

Mimi laughed. “I can’t wait to see how Harriet acts with Jacob the next time we’re all having lunch.”

“Harriet likes Jacob,” Christina said.

“Of course she does. That’s why she acts like a fourth grader around him. And Jacob has no idea. Men. Some things never change.”

Christina laughed with Mimi. She kissed Mimi’s cheek, walked her to the door, and waved goodbye as Mimi drove away.

“Mittens? You can come out now.” Christina used her most sweet, alluring voice. She needed someone—and her cat was more a someone than a something—to cuddle with while she thought about Andy. She curled up on the sofa and simply, for a while, looked at the Christmas tree, so extravagantly and eccentrically decorated by her friends, young and old. The warm scent of pine filled the room. The tree glowed, and Christina felt warmed by that glow. Accompanied by that glow, somehow.

She was fortunate. She knew that. It was ridiculous of her to feel so downhearted because of one man she scarcely knew. But she’d felt something special between them—a spark, a connection, and certainly desire.