Tess woke up at 2 a.m. to find Max lying in the bed next to her on top of the covers, his feet up by her head, his head down at her feet. He hadn’t turned the light off either. He had his pajamas on, too. He did that sometimes, lay down at night to talk to her, when he was feeling a little anxious. But obviously he’d fallen asleep, too. Tess switched the light off. And quietly squeezed his big toe which he didn’t seem to notice. Tess turned over and went back to sleep. They hadn’t said anything to each other but they both wished their parents’ plane hadn’t been delayed. And also hoped that when their parents did arrive, they’d be holding hands or something.

~ CHAPTER SIX ~

max confesses

It was quite late when Tess woke up. The clock said ‘ten.’ She was alone in the bedroom. She tiptoed into the living room and Max must have woken up and moved in the middle of the night. He was asleep on the cot, face-down, under the covers, with just his forehead touching the pillow. Tess always admired the way Max could sleep. His head hit the pillow and boom, fast asleep. Although she had to admit that she’d done the same thing last night, as well.

There was an envelope that had been pushed under the door. It was on hotel stationery. Tess opened it.

Dear Tess and Max,

I’ve gone out $shopping$. I’ve made arrangements for you to sign your name for breakfast in the dining room. Don’t start with dessert, please, although the chocolate croissants are lovely. There are games in the library and a game room in the basement! And I’ve enclosed some pounds for you to use if you would rather wander up the street. But don’t go more than a block or two. I’ll be back soon and we’ll go for an adventure. The address of the hotel is on the back of this envelope if you wander too far and need a taxi to get home.

Merry Merry Merry

Aunt Evie

Aunt Evie had carefully copied the address of the hotel on the back of the envelope by hand underneath the imprinted part that said SANBORN HOUSE.

“Where do you think she’s gone?” asked Max.

“Taking ‘Merry Merry Merry’ as a clue,” said Tess, “I suspect holiday shopping. You know what Aunt Evie’s like.”

“She’ll take any occasion to shop?!” said Max which came out slightly meaner than he’d meant it, but still.

“Well, no, she told me she wants all of us to have something to unwrap on Christmas morning. I wouldn’t be surprised if she came back with a tree to decorate, too.”

“Hmm,” said Max, who frankly thought he was too old to be decorating trees.