It couldn’t be. Could it? It was. How?

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe.

The wineglass slipped from her fingers, smashing into pieces. Wine spreading fast toward the rug.

Henry

The shattering of Claudine’s wineglass brought Dave, the bodyguard, hurrying to Zara’s side.

“It’s okay,” she said to him, quickly grabbing Pip so she didn’t walk in the glass. Then, to the rest of the group: “It’s not a party until someone spills a drink!”

Zara might have been unphased by the gaff, but Claudine clearly was not. Henry saw the frozen, helpless look on her face. He knew she was mortified by the statue. It was ugly, cheap-looking. Not the sort of gift Claudine tolerated in the Secret Santa. An embarrassment. Someone was intentionally trying to embarrass her, to undermine the game, to make a mockery of it in front of Zara. Henry’s first guess was Steve. Maybe he wasn’t responsible for the fishing package after all. Or perhaps it was whichever one of them had tipped Steve off about the party. Or maybe it was Zara, not fully comprehending the rules of the game. Whoever it was, though, Henry had to admit that Claudine’s reaction was a little excessive. She just stood there. Immobile. Speechless. The bartender, towels in hand, rushed over to pick up the glass and sop up the pooling wine. Two of the waiters then rolled up the damaged rug and carried it away. Claudine hadn’t moved an inch since dropping the glass, her hand slightly curled as if she still held it. After finishing the cleanup, the bartender slipped a fresh glass of wine into her hand. It took no longer than thirty seconds for everything to look as if nothing had happened. Claudine finally moved, turning to look at Henry, her eyes wide and unblinking. He couldn’t remember ever seeing her so distraught. At least not since—

“What an interesting gift,” Kevin said, hoping to end the awkward silence.

“Yes, what an interesting gift,” Jerry said.

“Jules, who brought it?” Claudine choked out.

Jules looked at her with confusion, wondering if it was some kind of test.

“I … um … I didn’t think we were supposed to say who brought the gifts,” she said. “Honestly, I tried to forget who brought what as soon as I set them on the table.”

“Yeah,” John said, “also it’s against the rules to out someone.”

“I make the rules,” Claudine said, “and I want to know who brought this.”

No one said anything. Henry glanced at Zara, who, like everyone, seemed stunned and uncomfortable by the sternness of Claudine’s voice. Claudine noticed it too and quickly tried to lighten her tone.

“I just think it’s so unique,” she said. “I’d love to know more of its provenance so people might make an informed choice about stealing it.”

More awkward silence.