It had snowed several inches during the night. Outside the kitchen window, the woods looked fresh. Archer started the coffee. After the essential first cup, they walked with the dogs through the woods, making the first tracks in the new snow. Hadley sniffed about, jumping and rolling. Alice was more cautious but seemed to love the fluffy white coolness, every few minutes stopping to bite the little snowballs that gathered on the hair of her paws. Back in the house, Connor built a fire while Archer made two cups of hot chocolate and set them on the coffee table. She flopped down on the floor cross-legged and reached for her cup. Connor went into the bedroom and came out with a little cubical baby blue box. Tiffany’s. He handed it to Archer. “Merry Christmas, Arch. In memory of Holly Golightly.” “Oh, Connor, thank you.” “Hey, don’t thank me yet. You haven’t opened it—you may hate it.” “I doubt that,” she said as she pulled the fat red bow. Gently, Archer opened the box and lifted the cotton covering.
