Back at home, she plugged in the lights of the Christmas tree and fed Mittens her canned “pâté” and changed out of her work clothes into her cozy robe. She had promised to call Andy to tell him how the meeting went, but she wanted to catch her emotional breath first. In November, she’d made several containers of lasagna and frozen them for these busy December nights. She popped one into the microwave and poured herself a glass of red wine. Curling up on the sofa, she enjoyed her easy meal while she watched a charming British mystery made from Ann Cleeves’s books. Christina knew that while she relaxed, the back of her mind was dashing around, all neurons and synapses quietly working on the Oscar problem.

When the program ended, she carried her plate and glass into the kitchen and washed up. Doing dishes calmed her somehow, it was like meditating while getting something accomplished. Never mind Oscar, she thought. She was ready to call Andy, but she had to be sensible and acknowledge to herself that while the electricity between them was powerful, she couldn’t count on a long-term relationship.

Then, as if she and Andy were invisibly in sync, her phone buzzed, and it was him.

“Finally!” he announced. “I’ve finished my business meetings. Now tell me how your meeting went with Oscar.”

“It didn’t go well, I’m afraid. In fact, it turned into a dramatic three-ring circus.” She told him about her conversation with Oscar, who would not give an inch on the rent raise, and how innocent Wink had blurted out that Oscar didn’t need money, he needed friends. How Oscar had yelled at Wink, telling her to get out of his house, when Christina was certain the older man meant she should leave the room, and how Wink disappeared, and everyone was worried, and then Wink popped up in Christina’s car, and finally the drama was over when Wink returned to her grandfather’s house.

“So,” Andy said jokingly, “not a successful meeting.”

“No.”

“I’m sorry, Christina. Delia and I are used to Oscar’s temper. Hell, everyone who works with him knows he can blow at any moment. But I’m surprised and angry that he yelled at Wink.”

“Wink is fine,” Christina assured him. “We talked about it in the car. I told her that Oscar was mad at me, not her. She was smiling when I took her to the house, and Janice met her at the door and offered her hot chocolate.” Christina paused. “Delia’s not very happy with me.”

“My family.” Andy sighed. “We’re really not as awful as we seem. Look, I’ll be back on the island tomorrow. Let me take you somewhere fun, somewhere festive.”