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Julia waited patiently, knowing Alice’s penchant for studying things. It was entirely possible that they’d stand here for an hour.
At some point the red door opened. Myra stood there, dressed in a long black velvet skirt and a red knit sweater. Carrying a tray of cookies, she walked slowly toward them.
Julia felt Alice’s tension. “It’s okay, honey. Myra is nice.”
Alice slid behind Julia but didn’t let go of her hand.
“Do you like cookies?” Myra said when she was closer. “My Margery liked spritz best when she was your age.”
Julia turned slightly and looked down at Alice. “She has cookies.”
“Cookees?”
“I made them myself,” Myra said, winking up at Julia.
Cautiously, Alice peered around Julia’s body. In a lightning-quick move she grabbed a red wreath cookie and popped the whole thing in her mouth. By the third cookie she’d moved out from behind Julia and stood tucked along her side.
“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.
