Christina froze. Did he get her name wrong because he wanted to insult her? Or was he at the age where he simply had trouble remembering names? Would it be rude of her to correct him?

Wink saved the moment. “Oh, Grandfather, her name is Christina!” she told him, giggling.

“That’s what I said!” Oscar Bittlesman retorted. He glared at Christina, as if she’d done something wrong.

“Yes,” Christina replied. “I was born here, which makes me a native. I went off to Wheaton for college, and returned here when I got my degree.”

“So you’ve never traveled.”

“Actually, I have traveled. I’ve been to Europe with friends in college and to several states to visit friends.” Oscar Bittlesman seemed intent on putting Christina in her place, whatever that place was. She wanted to derail this conversation. “I’m sure you have been everywhere,” she said, gazing at the older man with intense admiration. And she did admire him. She knew he had accomplished a great deal in his life.

“Yes, actually, I have. I’ve been to Europe, of course, and Japan, China, India.”

“Oh, dear, Christina,” Delia cut in. “Now you’ve got him started. We’ll be here all night.”

Her father ignored her. “Australia and New Zealand, Iceland, and even Greenland.”

“Have you been to Antarctica?” Christina’s question sounded like a challenge, as if there was at least one place on the globe Oscar Bittlesman hadn’t set foot.

Oscar smiled. Clearly he was enjoying this verbal jousting.

“Yes, actually, I have. I went on a National Geographic tour.”

“And he saw penguins!” Wink interrupted enthusiastically. “Grandfather showed me pictures. Did you know there is a species of penguin called the macaroni penguin?”

Christina laughed. “I didn’t know that. Why on earth would the bird be called that?”

Wink turned to Oscar. “You tell her, Grandfather. You know all the big words.”

Oscar chuckled.

Oscar chuckled! Christina nearly fainted.

“The macaroni penguin is distinctive for the jaunty yellow crest it sports on top of its head. It got the name in the eighteenth century when the word ‘macaroni’ meant a flashy, flamboyant man.”

“Like Elton John!” Wink said.

Christina burst out laughing at the thought of a penguin, Elton John–style. “How do you even know who Elton John is?”

“Oh, Mommy listens to him while she’s exercising.”

Delia cleared her throat. “All right, little missy. It’s time for bed.”

Wink pouted for a few seconds. Then she said, “Grandfather, may I please be excused from the table?”

“Of course,” Oscar said. “Come give me a good-night kiss.”

Wink jumped up, kissed her grandfather’s cheek, and raced over to Christina.

“Thank you for coming!”

Christina hugged the little girl. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“It’s time for me to retire, as well,” Oscar said, standing up.

Christina rose from the table. “Good night, Oscar, and thank you for inviting me.”