“I’d love that, Andy. Tomorrow night is the Nantucket Music Community Center’s Holiday Chorus Concert. It’s always gorgeous.” Defensively, she added, “Many of the singers have sung in New York or Boston; some are professional but use Nantucket as a vacation home—”

“That sounds great, Christina. What time?”

“It’s four in the afternoon, which means I’ll close my shop early, but I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

“After that, I’ll take you out to dinner.”

“Or, after that, we can go to Mimi’s Christmas party, where you’ll get more than enough to eat and drink.”

“Great! Should I wear a tie?”

“If you have a Christmas-themed tie, yes, but I’d bet my bottom dollar you don’t possess such a thing.”

“You’re right. I don’t.”

“Good to know. Now I know what to tell Wink to get you for Christmas.”

“I look forward to that!”

They continued to talk, easily bantering, joking, or letting silence fall between them. Christina felt as if she’d known Andy for hundreds of years. She could almost believe in past lives.

As they talked about their childhood Christmases, Christina turned off all the lights except those on the Christmas tree. She stretched out on her sofa, covering her legs with a red, green, and white throw. In the corner, the tree glowed steadily, filling the air with gentle colors. This was perfection, her warm quiet house, the Christmas tree, and Andy’s voice as close to her as if they lay on pillows in a bed.

Chapter 12

The bright, mild day brought shoppers out in droves. Christina didn’t want to close for lunch, but she had to talk to the other Shedders about what had transpired the night before, so she put up a sign that said BACK IN TEN MINUTES, locked her door, and raced over to Mimi’s.

“I can’t stay long,” Christina said.

“Nor can we,” Mimi told her. “Isn’t it wonderful, all the business we’re getting!”

“Hurry up and tell us what happened,” Harriet said.

“Basically,” Christina told them, “he said he wants his ten percent or he wants us gone.”

“Did you tell him about the community?” Harriet asked.

“Of course I did. He doesn’t care about the community. He cares about money. He said that, and little Wink was in the room with us. And she tried to argue with him and he told her to get out of the house.”

“Oh, dear,” Mimi said. “Poor little girl.”

“Poor little girl, my aunt Mabel,” Harriet snapped. “She’ll grow up rich and be as haughty as the rest of them.”

“Delia isn’t haughty,” Jacob said. “She’s shy.”

“Jacob Greenwood!” Mimi clapped her hands and laughed. “Do you have somethin’ goin’ on with Delia Lombard!”