Bill senior stood back to admire his packing job. Even though his large sedan had a huge trunk, he prided himself on getting the bags stowed perfectly.

“It’s just like walking,” Lucy reassured him.

“At our age, even walking is risky,” he complained. “One slip and you’re out of commission with a broken hip.”

“Excuses, excuses,” Edna chided, advancing with a shopping bag of Christmas loot. “You’re just lazy.” She turned to Bill, taking the bag he was carrying for her. “He just wants to stay home and play with the VCR.”

“We’ll send you lots of videos, I promise, but we’d love to have you stay longer.”

“I’m hoping I can pry him loose Presidents’ Day weekend. I’ll threaten him with the coat sales.” Edna laughed and gave Lucy and Bill each a peck on the cheek.

They stood arm in arm, watching the salt stained car disappear down the driveway. Feeling suddenly weary, Lucy leaned against Bill for a moment, luxuriating in the knowledge that he was there to support her.

“Tough night?” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her.

“Not too bad. What’s up here?”

“Not much. The usual day-after-Christmas mess.”

Entering the house through the back door, Lucy was relieved to see that her mother had the kitchen firmly in hand. She had just started the dishwasher and was wiping the counters.

“Did you have breakfast? There’s some stollen,” she told Lucy.

“I cooked a huge breakfast for Eddie, but I forgot to eat any myself. I’d love some stollen, and a big glass of milk. Don’t bother, I’ll get it.”

“No, go on in and sit down. I’ll fix it for you.”

Lucy stepped carefully over the Christmas presents that were scattered across the floor and collapsed on the couch, propping her feet on the coffee table. Toby was too engrossed in his video game to do more than say, “Hi, Mom,” but the girls shrieked and jumped up as soon as they saw her. They perched on either side of her and showed her their favorite new Barbie outfits. Lucy sipped her milk and chewed her cake, watching Bill as he cleaned out the fireplace. For once she didn’t feel compelled to clean up the Christmas mess; she’d do that later. For now she was positively enjoying the disorderly house, her children, her mother, and, most of all, her husband.