Nothing like the complications of uprooting your lives during the busiest time of year, and, as Bradley had said, “tacking on the additional duties of the annual Christmas pageant.” On this Monday afternoon Cynthia Knight had the last of many errands to run before she was scheduled to return to her disheveled home, where large moving boxes were beginning to resemble makeshift furniture. Not that those were her concern today; only thirty minutes remained before company in the diametric forms of Didi Duncan and Janey Sullivan was expected at her home. While it would be rude to allow them to arrive first, especially since Bradley was still at work—his final week—she had to figure time was still on her side. She was only two miles from home. So she pulled into the parking lot at Nora’s store, A Doll’s Attic, and after gathering a sleepy Jake in her arms, she made her way up the stairs and into the musty consignment shop. “Hang in there, slugger. Mommy’s almost done.” He didn’t stir, good toddler that he was, on his best behavior.
