They mentioned only briefly the events of the past few weeksthe suicide of Arthur K. Halliwell, for instance, and the indictment of the three prominent citizens who had helped Peter fake his execution.
They exchanged gifts, and Marcy got pleasantly potted on the rhubarb wine she was drinking (Kate had picked her up because they lived in the same neighborhood) and Doris sang some medieval Christmas carols, Jill not having exaggerated how well Doris sang and played the guitar.
And after it was all over, after the guests were gone, after Mitch had helped with the dishes and Jill helped Mitch get the cherry cobbler stain out of his best white shirt… after that, they went to bed and held each other fast, feeling a dizzying assortment of thingslove and lust and friendship and admiration among them.
And then Jill said, 'Just a minute.'
And went out and put on her very favorite record, her
Perry Como Christmas Album record, the one she'd loved since she was six years old.
And with Christmas music filling the entire house, they made long and wonderful love.