As he had promised, they went for the tree at the new nursery in Danville instead of Ladyvale Farm. The trees were more expensive than at the farm, but Dad paid for the Scotch pine without a murmur. And keeping with tradition, he suggested Jerram and Rose go into the Christmas Shop for a new ornament while he and Mom looked at the wreaths. They were all trying hard to play their parts and not doing too badly.

“You want me to pick?” Jerram asked, and Rose realized she’d been staring at the ornaments tied to a sprayed silver display tree.

“Lots of angels this year,” she said. “None of them look like Nancy.”

“Come on, Rose. I’m sorry for the way I acted yesterday.”

“You’re only saying that because you’re afraid I’ll put a hex on you.”

“Just forget what Mrs. Emerson said.”

“You really do think I should try to get in touch with Nancy, don’t you?”

He was silent a moment. “Yes and no.”

“What does that mean?”

“Ambivalence, that’s what. Yes, I think you should use whatever power you have. No, I don’t think you need to put yourself through hell because it won’t matter, this new girl will be dead when they find her.” He said this bitterly and turned away, flicking at the ornaments roughly.

A salesclerk came over. “Can I help you two kids with something?”

Jerram gave him a look. “We two kids want one of your angels.”

“Right you are! Take your pick.”

Jerram looked at Rose, and she said, “Any one will do,” losing what little enthusiasm she’d had.

He peered closely into the squinched angel faces. “This one’s got too much lipstick on. This one looks drunk. Here’s one with the face of innocence.”

The clerk laughed nervously and took the angel away to be rung up and bagged.

“I have to explain,” Jerram said while they waited to pay. “I’ve been a turd.”

Rose choked down a laugh when she saw he was deadly serious about something.

“Okay. I’ll listen.”

He held the door as they left the shop. “Not now.”

“Well, that was nice,” Mom said as they got into the car.

“A little Christmas spirit does wonders,” Dad said, turning the key in the ignition. He backed the car carefully out of the parking slot while Mom kept her hand out the window, clutching at the tree on top just to make sure. Down at the end of the parking lot, a man in a suit was hoisting a tree onto the top of a blue car.

“Oh, hey,” Rose said, sitting forward to get a better look.

“What is it, Rose?” Mom asked worriedly. “Is the tree okay?”

“Yes, sure. Is that guy a friend of yours, Dad?”

“What guy?” Dad asked, his attention on maneuvering the car.

“In that blue car over there.”