CHAPTER 18

The first delivery came at noon the following day. Boxes and boxes that had both Mrs. H and Robert in a frenzy. “Mr. Brand never celebrates the holidays, Mandy,” Mrs. H said as she opened yet another package with yuletide cheer. “I can’t imagine what has come over him.” Robert had been relatively silent as far as comments go, but he moved with a peppier step and had begun to whistle Christmas carols under his breath. The final delivery was a twelve-foot Douglas fir. Its scent...