“I brought you this, too,” Myra said, offering Alice a bright red plastic purse. “It was Margery’s favorite. But when I saw it, I thought of you.”
Alice’s eyes widened, her mouth rounded. “Red,” she whispered, taking the purse in her hands, holding it to her cheek.
“How did you know she loved anything red?” Julia asked.
Myra shrugged. “I didn’t.”
“Well. Tell Earl Merry Christmas from me.”
“He’s not home yet from the men’s choir practice, but I’ll pass it along. And to you, too.”
Holding hands, Julia and Alice walked down to Main Street and turned left. The streets were full of parked cars but empty of people on this ultimate family night. The parking lot behind city hall only had three cars in it.
Julia led Alice up the steps. “We’re going to get Ellie and then we’ll walk downtown. I’ll show you the pretty lights.”
Alice was so busy petting her purse she barely nodded.
Julia opened the door.
Inside the police station, Cal and his three daughters, and Peanut and Benji and their teenage son and daughter, and Ellie were dancing to an earsplitting rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock.” Mel and his family were setting food out on the table.
Alice shrieked and started to howl.
Ellie ran for the stereo and shut it off. Silence descended. Everyone stared at one another. Cal was the first to move. He herded his girls into a group; they moved toward Julia. Alice glommed onto her side, trying to disappear. The whimpering started again; the thumb popped into her mouth.
Close, but not too close. Cal dropped down on one knee. “Hey, Alice. We’re the Wallace family. You remember us, I bet? I’m Cal, and these are my girls. Amanda, Emily, and Sarah.”
Alice was trembling. She tightened her hold on Julia’s hand.
Peanut bustled her family forward. Her husband, Benji, was a big, burly-looking man with twinkling eyes and a ready smile. Not once during the party did he let go of his wife’s hand. Their teenagers were clearly trying to appear “cool,” but every now and then they grinned like little kids.
Introductions were made quietly. Benji knelt down slowly in front of Alice and wished her a very Merry Christmas, then he herded his children over to the tree.
Peanut stayed behind. “I can’t go over there,” she said to Julia. “Eggnog. Some people can drink a glass of it. I’d like an IV.” She laughed.
At the sound, Alice looked up and smiled.
“You’ve really worked a miracle with her,” Peanut said, showing Alice her long red fingernails. Each one sported a sparkly wreath.
“Thanks,” Julia said.
“Well, I better get over to my family. But before I go …” She leaned close to Julia, whispered, “I have a bit of gossip.”
Julia laughed. “I’m hardly the one to tell.”
“Oh, you’re the only one. My sources—which are FBI good—tell me that a certain doctor in town took a date to the movies. That’s like Paris Hilton moving into a double wide. Some things don’t happen. But this one did.”
“It was just a movie.”
“Was it?” Peanut gave her a wink, a pat on the arm, and she left.
For the next fifteen minutes everyone went about celebrating Christmas, but it was as if the mute button had been pushed. The laughter was quiet, the talking even more so. In the background the Vince Garibaldi trio Christmas CD came on. It was the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Mom’s favorite. At some point Earl and Myra showed up with more food.
Alice was mesmerized by the opening of presents. She finally came out from behind Julia so she could see better. She didn’t talk to anyone except Ellie, but she seemed content to watch it all. She dared to play alongside Sarah, who was a few years older. Not together, but side by side; Alice watched Sarah’s every move and imitated it. By the time everyone started to leave, Alice could dress and undress Disco Barbie without help. After the party broke up, Ellie, Julia, and Alice walked downtown. Alice couldn’t stop pointing at the various lights and decorations. She kept tugging on Julia’s hand and dragging her forward. It was going better than Julia had anticipated, actually.
Julia walked beside Ellie. Alice pointed at every light, every decoration.
“She reminds me of you,” Julia said to her sister. “You always had such enthusiasm for the holidays.”
“You, too.”
“I was quieter, though. In everything.”
“So I’m a bigmouth?”
Julia smiled. “Yes. And I’m ladylike.”
They walked on.
“So,” Julia finally said, trying to sound casual. “I hear the gossip mill is in high gear on Max and me.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to bring it up. What’s the story with you two?”
“I don’t know,” Julia answered truthfully. “There’s … something between us.”
Ellie turned to her. “I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Yeah,” Julia said quietly. “I’ve had the same thought myself.”
In front of the Catholic church, Alice came to a stop. She pointed at the brightly lit manger scene set up on the yard. “Prittee.”