Nina had awakened with a clear head and driven off into the heavy holiday traffic, leaving Andrew to carry the tree inside and ride up to Dana’s apartment with the table via the freight elevator. Andrew stood the tree upright in the living room and told Dana, who was holding Wills, to step back in order to render her opinion. “So what do you think?” he asked. “Did Nina pick a winning tree?” Dana nodded. “We’ve never had a tree that was this perfect from every angle. I think Brett will love it.” “Then let’s get it in the stand,” he said. “But I’m warning you—I can put a window display together far easier than I can get a Christmas tree to remain straight in a stand. Darn things have given me trouble ever since I was a kid.” Five minutes later, Andrew and Dana laughed heartily as the tree tilted left and right each time Andrew tightened the wing nuts of the stand.
