Catherine Nicolai

They were old, jazzy versions, sung by crooners and sirens, and she set it on the player and flipped the switch to start it turning. she laid the needle carefully into the groove and listened to the piano and horns and jingle bells as she looked at the cover art.

By the afternoon, the tables and mantles were done up, the wreath was on the front door, and the guest rooms had been made ready with fresh sheets and towels. and small tabletop ceramic trees that lit up with a switch and made the rooms glow with soft colors. She shared a plate of sandwiches with Chef in the kitchen, and they talked through the menus.

By the afternoon, the tables and mantles were done up, the wreath was on the front door, and the guest rooms had been made ready with fresh sheets and towels. and small tabletop ceramic trees that lit up with a switch and made the rooms glow with soft colors. She shared a plate of sandwiches with Chef in the kitchen, and they talked through the menus.

By the afternoon, the tables and mantles were done up, the wreath was on the front door, and the guest rooms had been made ready with fresh sheets and towels. and small tabletop ceramic trees that lit up with a switch and made the rooms glow with soft colors. She shared a plate of sandwiches with Chef in the kitchen, and they talked through the menus.

The next day, guests would begin to arrive, and they were booked full for the holiday. What's left? Chef asked. The innkeeper took a long drink of her tea and said, Just the tree. In years past, they'd had it in different spots. Sometimes in the front hall, to greet guests as they arrived.

The next day, guests would begin to arrive, and they were booked full for the holiday. What's left? Chef asked. The innkeeper took a long drink of her tea and said, Just the tree. In years past, they'd had it in different spots. Sometimes in the front hall, to greet guests as they arrived.

The next day, guests would begin to arrive, and they were booked full for the holiday. What's left? Chef asked. The innkeeper took a long drink of her tea and said, Just the tree. In years past, they'd had it in different spots. Sometimes in the front hall, to greet guests as they arrived.

and sometimes on the back porch where they served champagne and looked out at the houses across the lake lit up with holiday lights. But this year they were doing something different. They'd been working for months to restore the ballroom on the second floor. There had been a leak in the ceiling that had damaged the plaster, and there had been many missing tiles in the parquet floor.

and sometimes on the back porch where they served champagne and looked out at the houses across the lake lit up with holiday lights. But this year they were doing something different. They'd been working for months to restore the ballroom on the second floor. There had been a leak in the ceiling that had damaged the plaster, and there had been many missing tiles in the parquet floor.

and sometimes on the back porch where they served champagne and looked out at the houses across the lake lit up with holiday lights. But this year they were doing something different. They'd been working for months to restore the ballroom on the second floor. There had been a leak in the ceiling that had damaged the plaster, and there had been many missing tiles in the parquet floor.

The light fixtures had needed rewiring, and the whole space needed fresh paint, new curtains, and furnishings. Now it was ready. the ceiling patched and painted, glowing filament bulbs in the sconces, and a charming, if slightly mismatched, collection of settees and side tables clustered in groups. The innkeeper thought it would make the perfect spot for the Christmas tree.

The light fixtures had needed rewiring, and the whole space needed fresh paint, new curtains, and furnishings. Now it was ready. the ceiling patched and painted, glowing filament bulbs in the sconces, and a charming, if slightly mismatched, collection of settees and side tables clustered in groups. The innkeeper thought it would make the perfect spot for the Christmas tree.

The light fixtures had needed rewiring, and the whole space needed fresh paint, new curtains, and furnishings. Now it was ready. the ceiling patched and painted, glowing filament bulbs in the sconces, and a charming, if slightly mismatched, collection of settees and side tables clustered in groups. The innkeeper thought it would make the perfect spot for the Christmas tree.

for guests to gather to share gifts and wishes for peace on earth. And then, when the year ended, to clink champagne glasses and have a midnight kiss. She climbed the stairs to check the space and found the freshly polished floors glowing. and the candles on the windowsills ready to be lit. She had the boxes of ornaments and many, many strings of light ready for the tree.

for guests to gather to share gifts and wishes for peace on earth. And then, when the year ended, to clink champagne glasses and have a midnight kiss. She climbed the stairs to check the space and found the freshly polished floors glowing. and the candles on the windowsills ready to be lit. She had the boxes of ornaments and many, many strings of light ready for the tree.

for guests to gather to share gifts and wishes for peace on earth. And then, when the year ended, to clink champagne glasses and have a midnight kiss. She climbed the stairs to check the space and found the freshly polished floors glowing. and the candles on the windowsills ready to be lit. She had the boxes of ornaments and many, many strings of light ready for the tree.

From one window she could see the lake, frozen for a dozen feet at the shore, and with dark, rippling water further out. there were still ducks, a dozen or more with dark green and gray feathers and one white farm duck among them. And she smiled and said in a whisper that fogged the glass, found family. It's how she felt too, here with the house, with Chef and the guests who'd be arriving soon.

From one window she could see the lake, frozen for a dozen feet at the shore, and with dark, rippling water further out. there were still ducks, a dozen or more with dark green and gray feathers and one white farm duck among them. And she smiled and said in a whisper that fogged the glass, found family. It's how she felt too, here with the house, with Chef and the guests who'd be arriving soon.

From one window she could see the lake, frozen for a dozen feet at the shore, and with dark, rippling water further out. there were still ducks, a dozen or more with dark green and gray feathers and one white farm duck among them. And she smiled and said in a whisper that fogged the glass, found family. It's how she felt too, here with the house, with Chef and the guests who'd be arriving soon.

She crossed the room and looked out another window and saw a big truck with a tall Norway spruce in its bed, trundling down the drive, beeping its horn. The Tree Farm with just a week till Christmas, there hadn't been many customers coming down the long gravel two-track to the farm today.