from his forehead. Then put his hand up in a calming gesture.
“Kay, all signs point to the same conclusion: this being an accidental death. The new coroner reported it as such. There's no need to treat this like it was an underhanded murder! Accept the fact that something terrible has happened to a good man, but it was an accident. Please try to enjoy your Christmas with your family.”
“So you're definitely ruled out criminal intent?”
He stood up and walked over to the door, opening it. “Would you like another cup of punch?” He smiled weakly.
I got up and walked to the door, not returning his smile. I heard Alvin and the Chipmunks coming from the other room. “Merry Christmas,” Kirk said as I left.
“Merry Christmas.” When I made it to the reception area, I saw some of the police officers dancing. I glanced over my shoulder as I opened the door to leave. Kirk was back over at the punch bowl. I shook my head.
* * * *
Will's car was parked out front when I pulled up. Thank goodness, he made it home. I opened up the garage door.
Will was in the kitchen. He had found the stash of cutout cookies. “Will...Merry Christmas!” I gave him a big hug. “I'm glad you're home. How was the drive?”
“Slid a few times. Lots of cars in the ditch. I see Dad frosted the snowmen.” He stuffed the rest of a cookie in his mouth.
I laughed. “Somethings you just don't grow out of.”
“When's Andy getting here?”
“Soon, I hope. So how does it feel to be a college graduate, home for the holidays, and then off to Madison to start your new job?”
“I'm glad to be out of school. The job's a little scary. What if I can't do it?”
“Will, you'll do great.” I kissed his forehead. “By the way, I bought a gift for Frances' mom.”
“About that...I had it wrong. They're not coming here for Christmas dinner. I'll be going over to Frances' Christmas night to exchange gifts. I'll give her mom the present then. What did you get?”
“A beautiful silk scarf.”
Will made a face.
“She'll love it, Will. I'd like to have it myself.”
“Where's Dad?”
“Downtown. Doing some shopping.”
“I still have some gifts I need to get.”
Like Father, like son. Will went upstairs. “You'll probably run into him,” I called up the stairs after him.
I took off my coat and hung it up. Before I put my apron back on, I looked at the gifts under the tree. Were there any for me from Phil? I found a flat box about the size of a large hardcover book. Was this the big surprise, or was Andrew bringing it? Phil might still be out buying it too, I supposed. This was probably something else.
* * * *
Andy and Rose made it through the snowstorm in time for everything. Phil and Will had returned a bit earlier and sneaked off to the basement storage room, where the wrapping paper was kept.
We sat down at the dining room table with our “Christmas Carol” feast and said grace. The table was beautiful with my mom's dishes and the glowing candles. Phil made a Christmas toast, ending with “God bless us, everyone” in a Tiny Tim falsetto. Everyone cheered as glass clinked against glass, followed by knives and forks against china. I smiled looking around the table; our little family was all together on this most important evening, having a great time. All was good in the world.
After dinner and a small emergency with lighting the plum pudding, we went into the living room. We had a tradition on Christmas Eve of playing Christmas songs on the instrument of one's choice. Andy played “Greensleeves” on his alto saxophone and then he and Rose played “Run, Run, Rudolph” on guitars. Next, Will played Feliz Navidad on his guitar and sang. We stood around the piano and sang as Phil played several Christmas carols. I did my best with “Silver Bells” on the piano, playing guitar chords with my left hand and “finger picking” with my right.
Phil poured champagne for everyone, and then we sat down and exchanged gifts.
“Kay, all signs point to the same conclusion: this being an accidental death. The new coroner reported it as such. There's no need to treat this like it was an underhanded murder! Accept the fact that something terrible has happened to a good man, but it was an accident. Please try to enjoy your Christmas with your family.”
“So you're definitely ruled out criminal intent?”
He stood up and walked over to the door, opening it. “Would you like another cup of punch?” He smiled weakly.
I got up and walked to the door, not returning his smile. I heard Alvin and the Chipmunks coming from the other room. “Merry Christmas,” Kirk said as I left.
“Merry Christmas.” When I made it to the reception area, I saw some of the police officers dancing. I glanced over my shoulder as I opened the door to leave. Kirk was back over at the punch bowl. I shook my head.
* * * *
Will's car was parked out front when I pulled up. Thank goodness, he made it home. I opened up the garage door.
Will was in the kitchen. He had found the stash of cutout cookies. “Will...Merry Christmas!” I gave him a big hug. “I'm glad you're home. How was the drive?”
“Slid a few times. Lots of cars in the ditch. I see Dad frosted the snowmen.” He stuffed the rest of a cookie in his mouth.
I laughed. “Somethings you just don't grow out of.”
“When's Andy getting here?”
“Soon, I hope. So how does it feel to be a college graduate, home for the holidays, and then off to Madison to start your new job?”
“I'm glad to be out of school. The job's a little scary. What if I can't do it?”
“Will, you'll do great.” I kissed his forehead. “By the way, I bought a gift for Frances' mom.”
“About that...I had it wrong. They're not coming here for Christmas dinner. I'll be going over to Frances' Christmas night to exchange gifts. I'll give her mom the present then. What did you get?”
“A beautiful silk scarf.”
Will made a face.
“She'll love it, Will. I'd like to have it myself.”
“Where's Dad?”
“Downtown. Doing some shopping.”
“I still have some gifts I need to get.”
Like Father, like son. Will went upstairs. “You'll probably run into him,” I called up the stairs after him.
I took off my coat and hung it up. Before I put my apron back on, I looked at the gifts under the tree. Were there any for me from Phil? I found a flat box about the size of a large hardcover book. Was this the big surprise, or was Andrew bringing it? Phil might still be out buying it too, I supposed. This was probably something else.
* * * *
Andy and Rose made it through the snowstorm in time for everything. Phil and Will had returned a bit earlier and sneaked off to the basement storage room, where the wrapping paper was kept.
We sat down at the dining room table with our “Christmas Carol” feast and said grace. The table was beautiful with my mom's dishes and the glowing candles. Phil made a Christmas toast, ending with “God bless us, everyone” in a Tiny Tim falsetto. Everyone cheered as glass clinked against glass, followed by knives and forks against china. I smiled looking around the table; our little family was all together on this most important evening, having a great time. All was good in the world.
After dinner and a small emergency with lighting the plum pudding, we went into the living room. We had a tradition on Christmas Eve of playing Christmas songs on the instrument of one's choice. Andy played “Greensleeves” on his alto saxophone and then he and Rose played “Run, Run, Rudolph” on guitars. Next, Will played Feliz Navidad on his guitar and sang. We stood around the piano and sang as Phil played several Christmas carols. I did my best with “Silver Bells” on the piano, playing guitar chords with my left hand and “finger picking” with my right.
Phil poured champagne for everyone, and then we sat down and exchanged gifts.
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