"And it's six o'clock."
"Don't hold dinner. Want to finish this."
"Kate." Susan rose and snatched Kate's glasses away. "Josh is home from college. The family's waiting for you to trim the tree."
"Oh." Blinking, Kate struggled to bring her mind back from formulas. Her aunt was watching her owlishly, her dark blond hair curled smoothly around her pretty face. "I'm sorry. I forgot. If I don't ace this exam—"
"The world as we know it will come to an end. I know."
Kate grinned and rolled her shoulders to loosen them. "I guess I could spare a couple of hours. Just this once."
"We're honored." Susan set the glasses on the desk. "Put something on your feet, Kate."
"Okay. Be right down."
"I can't believe I'm going to say this to one of my children, but…" Susan started toward the door. "If you open one of those books again, you're grounded."
"Yes, ma'am." Kate crossed to her dresser and chose a pair of socks from an orderly pile. Beneath the carefully folded socks was her secret stash of Weight-On, which had done pitifully little to put more pounds onto her bones. After tugging the socks on, she downed a couple of aspirin to kick back the headache that was just beginning to stir.
"It's about time." Margo met her at the top of the stairs. "Josh and Mr. T are already stringing the lights."
"That could take hours. You know how they love to argue whether they should go clockwise or counterclockwise." Tilting her head, she gave Margo a long study. "What the hell are you all dolled up for?"
"I'm simply being festive." Margo smoothed the skirt of her holly-red dress, pleased that the scoop neckline hinted at cleavage. She'd slipped on heels, determined that Josh should notice her legs and remember she was a woman now. "Unlike you, I don't choose to trim the tree wearing rags."
"At least I'll be comfortable." Kate sniffed. "You've been into Aunt Susie's perfume."
"I have not." Lifting her chin, Margo fluffed at her hair. "She offered me a spritz."
"Hey," Laura called from the bottom of the staircase, "are you two going to stand up there arguing all night?"
"We're not arguing. We were complimenting each other on our attire." Snickering, Kate started down.
"Dad and Josh are nearly finished with their debate over the lights." Laura shot a look across the spacious foyer toward the family parlor. "They're smoking cigars."
"Josh smoking a cigar?" Kate snorted at the image.
"He's a Harvard man now." Laura affected an exaggerated New England accent. "You've got shadows under your eyes."
"You've got stars in yours," Kate countered. "And you're all dressed up too." Annoyed, Kate pulled at her sweatshirt. "What's the deal?"
"Peter's dropping by later." Laura turned to the foyer mirror to check the line of her ivory wool dress. Busy dreaming, she didn't notice the winces that Margo and Kate exchanged. "Just for an hour or so. I can't wait till winter break. One more midterm, and then freedom." Flushed with anticipation, she beamed at her friends. "It's going to be the best winter vacation ever. I have a feeling Peter's going to ask me to marry him."
"What?" Kate yelped before Laura could shush her.
"Quiet." She hurried back across the blue-and-white-tiled floor toward Kate and Margo. "I don't want Mom and Dad to hear. Not yet."
"Laura, you can't seriously be thinking of marrying Peter Ridgeway. You barely know him, and you're only seventeen." A million reasons against the idea whirled through Margo's mind.
"I'll be eighteen in a few weeks. It's just a feeling, anyway. Promise me you won't say anything."
"Of course not." Kate reached the bottom of the curving staircase. "You won't do anything crazy, will you?"
"Have I ever?" A wistful smile played around Laura's mouth as she patted Kate's hand. "Let's go in."
"What does she see in him?" Kate mumbled to Margo. "He's old."
"He's twenty-seven," Margo corrected, worried. "He's gorgeous and treats her like a princess. He has…" She searched for the word. "Polish."