Samson had brought me a fresh tree which Em and I decorated. We’d never had a tree as kids. Our crazy aunt, who was our guardian, preferred celebrating Jack Daniels instead. No tree required. So while I hung glittery purse and shoe ornaments, Emilia strung popcorn into garlands and tied red berries from her holly bush to the branches. She’s such a Wiccan. And for once, I was glad my sister was a goody-two-shoes. There was something to be said for balance being restored. All the presents for Adam were wrapped and under the tree, and I’d hung an assortment of stockings on my newly repaired book case since I didn’t have a fireplace. Delilah and Liddy had gone to town making fudge and decorating cookies, and several plates of the delectable treats were hidden in a high cabinet out of reach of the calico. She was still hanging around despite my best attempts to get rid of her. Once I even got her to Liddy’s house only to find her on my doorstep in Adam’s arms that afternoon. Apparently she’d been sitting on the landing waiting for him when he returned to my apartment from work.
