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.“What about the night before Christmas Eve? You know, Emily, if we’re going to live so close to each other, we probably need to spend a little time together socially.”“Yes, I suppose you have a point.” I’d hoped to avoid this.Thanksgiving had given me a reprieve, for the Merritts had gone to Delaware to spend the holiday with Aaron’s side of the family, coming back on Friday so Aaron would make my class reunion.“Why don’t I bring Beverline and the kids down for a quick visit, maybe an hour? I think it’ll do the kids good to see you at home, in your own environment.They need to understand that you have a life outside of coming by our place.”I noticed he didn’t say anything about his mother-in-law.That told me he felt his kids would warm up to me, but he had no such hopes for Beverline.“All right,” I said with more enthusiasm than I felt.“Y’all come over.”I answered the door to see two smiling faces and three unsmiling ones.I joined the former camp, pasting a big smile on my face that wasn’t entirely false.As with every year, the holiday spirit had enveloped me like a warm blanket.One couldn’t help but get the spirit, what with the airwaves full of the familiar holiday tunes and the streets and apartment windows all lit up with colorful decorations.The streets of Euliss actually looked pretty.“Welcome, everyone!”Billy greeted me with his usual enthusiasm.“Merry Christmas, Miss Emily!”“Hello, Billy! Merry Christmas to you!” I gave him an affectionate hug, then gestured to Mom, standing a few feet behind me.“Billy, do you remember my mother, Mrs.Yancy?”“Yes.Hi,” he said to her, punctuating his words with a friendly wave.“Merry Christmas!”“Merry Christmas, Billy.You know, I think Santa Claus left something for you here.”He made an all-knowing face.“Santa Claus? Come on, Miz Yancy.”“Billy,” Aaron admonished.“Oh, that’s all right,” Mom said.“Emmie never believed in Santa Claus, either.It’s because her sister and brother are so much older than she is.” She turned to Billy.“You come with me.”“Everyone, take off your coats,” I urged.Although it was a bit on the warm side for late December, Beverline had worn a full-length mink and matching hat, no doubt to accentuate her membership in the Other Half.“What a lovely little tree,” she remarked in a condescending tone as she handed me the dark fur.“Thank you, Mrs.Wilson.My goodness, you must have melted in this.”“I was actually quite comfortable.I often get chilled in the winter.” Her tone had an unmistakable tinge of indignation, which told me I’d hit my mark by pointing out that it wasn’t cold enough for mink.I moved on to Arden and Kirsten, figuring Mom could hold her own with Beverline.“Hello, girls.I haven’t seen you in ages.I, uh, missed you when my mother and I were over a few weeks ago.”“Yes,” Arden said.She was clearly The Voice out of the two of them.Her younger sister just nodded.“We were up in our room that day…watching a really good movie on TV.”“I see.Well, go and sit down.I’ll just put these coats away.” I went into the bedroom and put the coats on Mom’s bed.When I returned I heard laughter coming from the kitchen.Apparently Aaron was helping Mom bring out the refreshments she’d prepared.Beverline was telling Billy to take his gift home with him and open it Christmas morning with the rest of his presents.Arden and Kirsten were standing awkwardly.“Please, sit down,” I said.The girls sat together on the sofa.Billy sat on one of the floor pillows.I wondered if Aaron had told him ahead of time to sit there, because there wouldn’t be enough room for everyone to sit on the furniture.Beverline chose the single chair that matched the loveseat and sofa.Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mom and Aaron coming toward us, Mom carrying a tray of pinwheel sandwiches and an ice bucket, and Aaron holding a tray with two small glass pitchers, one of eggnog and the other of Sprite, plus highball glasses.Then two things happened.“Can we watch TV?” young Billy inquired as Beverline paused mid-descent.When her right hand swung behind her, I gasped.Was she going to do what I thought she was going to do?Then Beverline brushed the cushion of the chair with her palm before sitting down.I was rendered speechless, something that rarely happens.But the cat didn’t get Mom’s tongue.She bent to place the tray down on the coffee table, then stood straight up and faced Beverline.“I may not have a housekeeper, Mrs.Wilson, but I keep a clean house.There’s no need for you to brush away imaginary dust.”“Beverline? Did you do that?” Aaron sounded astounded.She shrugged guiltily.“It’s a reflex action.I do it every-place.I didn’t mean to imply your apartment isn’t clean, Mrs.Yancy.”Mom gave a tight little smile that told me she didn’t believe that for a second.She then focused on Arden and Kirsten.“Girls, help yourselves to eggnog, or soda if you prefer.”“What are these?” Kirsten asked, pointing to the sandwiches.“Dear, you’ve had those before,” Beverline said quickly.“They’re sandwiches, made on that Middle Eastern bread, then rolled into wheels and sliced.”“Oh, yes.” Kirsten took a sandwich and a napkin.I quickly turned on the television for Billy, thinking it might provide a welcome distraction.I handed him the remote control.Aaron poured Beverline an eggnog and sprinkled it with nutmeg.I wished it was strychnine instead.“Where’s the HBO?” Billy asked as he flipped from channel to channel.“I’m sorry, dear, I don’t have HBO,” Mom replied.“All you have is news stations,” he complained as he passed through a series of channels.“Billy, you know better than that,” Aaron admonished.“If you flip around some more you’ll find the Cartoon Network,” I offered.I glanced over at Mom, who had taken a seat on the loveseat next to Aaron.Her eyes had narrowed into slits so small I was amazed she could see anything through them.I sat in the only vacant seat left, the opening on the sofa between Arden and Kirsten.The eggnog I’d poured for myself just before they arrived still sat on a coaster on the coffee table.“Are you all ready for the holidays, girls?” I asked pleasantly.“Yes,” Arden and Kirsten responded simultaneously.In a legal setting, this would be considered a question asked and answered.And the answer was delivered with as much personality as someone on the witness stand.I tried again.“Are you looking forward to spending your holiday out of town?”“Yes
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