irritably.
“Right,” Cora agreed. “You didn’t wanna admit you’d already mastered the program backwards and forwards, and probably knew as much about it as the people who created it.”
A burst of giggling erupted from the crèche. Cora and Sherry looked, saw that the second Joseph, presumably Lance, was kneeling behind his girlfriend, Dorrie,
and
Dorrie’s friend Maxine, supporting both Virgin Marys.
“Suppose the three of them will wind up posing together?” Cora mused.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. Come on. I gotta turn in my costume.”
“So what you gonna tell Chief Harper?” Cora asked Sherry as they walked back to town hall.
“I’ll call him tomorrow, give him copies of the puzzle grids. I just won’t mention when I printed ’em out.”
“Which was slightly before he asked you?”
“Hell, I printed the first one out before the second one even arrived.” Sherry shook her head. “I feel bad about misleading him.”
Cora shrugged.
“What difference could it possibly make?”
9
“WE’RE LATE,” SHERRY SAID IRRITABLY. “THIS IS AARON’S parents. I don’t want to be late.”
Cora Felton eased the Toyota around a curve in the road. “We’re not late. We’re right on time.”
“It’s a quarter to seven.”
“So?”
“The invitation was for six o’clock.”
“Of course,” Cora said. “You know who’s there at six o’clock? The hosts, setting up. Assuming they’re even dressed.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Silly? Sherry, I’ve thrown enough parties in my day. Believe me, I know. With Frank, all we did was throw parties. Which was good. It gave me someone to talk to besides Frank.”
“Aunt Cora—”
“Trust me, if the invitation says six o’clock, you don’t get there at six.”
“We’ll be lucky if we get there at all. Can’t you go any faster?”
“Not if you want me to stay on the road. It’s snowing, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Do you think I’m overdressed?” Sherry asked. “I’m afraid I’m overdressed.”
Under her winter coat, Sherry was wearing a blue evening dress with a scoop neck, a ruby pendant on a chain. Her glossy brown hair, fresh from the beauty parlor, featured highlights and loose curls.
“You look good.”
“Is the brooch too much?”
“Not at all. If you want it to be too much, you attach it to the front of the dress so it gapes when you lean forward.”
“Aunt Cora.”
“I believe that is the official definition of ‘too much.’ I only did that when I had to get married again.”
“Aunt Cora. This means a lot to me. Will you behave?”
“Don’t I always?”
Sherry refrained from comment.
“There’s one.” Cora pointed to a house hung with colored lights and a plastic Santa and sleigh. There were not many such houses in Bakerhaven. The approved holiday decorations in Bakerhaven consisted of the understated single candle and wreath in the window. Colored lights were frowned on in Bakerhaven. Illuminated Santas simply were not done.
“Does that mean they’ll be ostracized?” Sherry asked.
“Oh, absolutely. Christmas tree lights belong on Christmas trees, or hadn’t you heard?”
“Oh,
now
you’re an expert on Christmas trees?”
“Just because I don’t trim them doesn’t mean I haven’t seen one.” Cora fishtailed around a corner. Off to the left children were sledding on a hill. “Oh, look! Sledders.”
“Watch the road.”
“Aren’t they precious. Do you suppose one of them will grow up to be Citizen Kane?”
Sherry took a breath. “Cora, I know you like to fancy yourself irrepressible. But this is Aaron’s
parents.
I need to make a good impression.”
“So I shouldn’t get pie-eyed and start showing everyone your baby pictures? Never fear.” Cora turned onto Maple Street, headed out of town. “Will you recognize the house?”
“In this snow I’m not sure. But it will be the one with all the cars parked around it.”
“If anyone’s there yet.”
“Cora,
“Right,” Cora agreed. “You didn’t wanna admit you’d already mastered the program backwards and forwards, and probably knew as much about it as the people who created it.”
A burst of giggling erupted from the crèche. Cora and Sherry looked, saw that the second Joseph, presumably Lance, was kneeling behind his girlfriend, Dorrie,
and
Dorrie’s friend Maxine, supporting both Virgin Marys.
“Suppose the three of them will wind up posing together?” Cora mused.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. Come on. I gotta turn in my costume.”
“So what you gonna tell Chief Harper?” Cora asked Sherry as they walked back to town hall.
“I’ll call him tomorrow, give him copies of the puzzle grids. I just won’t mention when I printed ’em out.”
“Which was slightly before he asked you?”
“Hell, I printed the first one out before the second one even arrived.” Sherry shook her head. “I feel bad about misleading him.”
Cora shrugged.
“What difference could it possibly make?”
9
“WE’RE LATE,” SHERRY SAID IRRITABLY. “THIS IS AARON’S parents. I don’t want to be late.”
Cora Felton eased the Toyota around a curve in the road. “We’re not late. We’re right on time.”
“It’s a quarter to seven.”
“So?”
“The invitation was for six o’clock.”
“Of course,” Cora said. “You know who’s there at six o’clock? The hosts, setting up. Assuming they’re even dressed.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Silly? Sherry, I’ve thrown enough parties in my day. Believe me, I know. With Frank, all we did was throw parties. Which was good. It gave me someone to talk to besides Frank.”
“Aunt Cora—”
“Trust me, if the invitation says six o’clock, you don’t get there at six.”
“We’ll be lucky if we get there at all. Can’t you go any faster?”
“Not if you want me to stay on the road. It’s snowing, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Do you think I’m overdressed?” Sherry asked. “I’m afraid I’m overdressed.”
Under her winter coat, Sherry was wearing a blue evening dress with a scoop neck, a ruby pendant on a chain. Her glossy brown hair, fresh from the beauty parlor, featured highlights and loose curls.
“You look good.”
“Is the brooch too much?”
“Not at all. If you want it to be too much, you attach it to the front of the dress so it gapes when you lean forward.”
“Aunt Cora.”
“I believe that is the official definition of ‘too much.’ I only did that when I had to get married again.”
“Aunt Cora. This means a lot to me. Will you behave?”
“Don’t I always?”
Sherry refrained from comment.
“There’s one.” Cora pointed to a house hung with colored lights and a plastic Santa and sleigh. There were not many such houses in Bakerhaven. The approved holiday decorations in Bakerhaven consisted of the understated single candle and wreath in the window. Colored lights were frowned on in Bakerhaven. Illuminated Santas simply were not done.
“Does that mean they’ll be ostracized?” Sherry asked.
“Oh, absolutely. Christmas tree lights belong on Christmas trees, or hadn’t you heard?”
“Oh,
now
you’re an expert on Christmas trees?”
“Just because I don’t trim them doesn’t mean I haven’t seen one.” Cora fishtailed around a corner. Off to the left children were sledding on a hill. “Oh, look! Sledders.”
“Watch the road.”
“Aren’t they precious. Do you suppose one of them will grow up to be Citizen Kane?”
Sherry took a breath. “Cora, I know you like to fancy yourself irrepressible. But this is Aaron’s
parents.
I need to make a good impression.”
“So I shouldn’t get pie-eyed and start showing everyone your baby pictures? Never fear.” Cora turned onto Maple Street, headed out of town. “Will you recognize the house?”
“In this snow I’m not sure. But it will be the one with all the cars parked around it.”
“If anyone’s there yet.”
“Cora,
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