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for blocks before I saw the volunteer with the Salvation Army red kettle at the corner of Main Street and Elm. A spicy, sweet smell came from Gupta's New Delhi. I'd stop there after I bought Linda's gift for take-out.
    I crossed the street and walked into Goodman's.
    * * * *
    Around seven o'clock, Phil and I turned on our outdoor Christmas lights and left for Elizabeth's. I carried a couple of bottles of wine, while Phil lugged his guitar case and amp across the street. Hers was the last of the Christmas parties. We met up with Deirdre and Mike on our way. He was wrestling his double-bass through the snow.
    Tiny white lights draped the porch of Elizabeth's home and sparkled in her yew trees on both sides. I followed Deirdre into Elizabeth's warm home and smelled the fragrance of her lush Fraser fir tree. Mistletoe was hanging in the entrance. Phil pointed up at it. I smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Bruce Springsteen's raspy voice belting out, “Merry Christmas Baby” filled the living room.
    Elizabeth greeted us coming from the kitchen wearing a little, and I mean little, black dress with a voluptuous off-the-shoulder neckline. She carried a decorative metal tray of wine glasses. Also on the tray stood a tall vase filled with hand held masks. I gave Elizabeth a questioning look.
    “Kay, this year it's an Italian themed Christmas party. Take a mask if you'd like.” She laughed. I looked at the other guests in the living room. None had masks. “Would you like a glass of Prosecco?”
    “Italian,” Phil said, dropping his amp to free a hand. “ Va bene .”
    I looked at Phil. “Pardon?”
    “Sounds good,” Phil said as he grasped a glass.
    Elizabeth put the tray on the table near the entryway. “I'll take your coats. You boys can set up in the study.” John walked into the living room and she piled our coats onto his arms. He left, heading down the hall towards the bedrooms. Mike headed towards the study to get the equipment ready. “Everyone who's here so far is in the dining room. Choose a mask.” She almost said it as a command. I laughed.
    “I just remembered something,” Elizabeth said. “ Mi Scusi. ” She went back into the kitchen. 
    “You never know with Elizabeth,” Phil said to me in a low voice. “Man, it's warm in here.”
    “Elizabeth wears minimal clothing.”
    Phil loosened his tie and started unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt. “Phil, what are you doing?”
    “I'm taking off my shirt.”
    “Phil. Stop. Grin and bear it.”
    “That's what I plan to do.” He took off his tie and undid a few buttons on his shirt. “I need to find some ice.” Phil left on his quest, leaving his equipment stacked against the wall.
    “At least it will be an interesting evening,” I said to Deirdre, as we walked towards the dining room.
    Lots of people were in Elizabeth's large dining room. Some I recognized. Probably a number of them were from the college faculty. A fire roared in the fireplace. Candles and garland covered the mantle. Two stocking were on the fireplace with Elizabeth’s and John's names on them. Elizabeth's son must not be coming home for Christmas. I looked over the table filled with all kinds of sweets and mouth-watering appetizers. Chickpea balls, canapé squares with eggplant, ricotta and spinach fritters, roasted red pepper brushetta, shrimp in puff pastry. Elizabeth went all out. Baked brie, ricotta cheesecake with a dark chocolate sauce, marzipan, others I couldn't recognize. Ah, she was missing cutout cookies! I should have brought some along. I smiled. Elizabeth would have loved those among her buffet.
    “Quite a spread,” I said to Deirdre.
    “Elizabeth's been busy much of the week.”
    The band struck a warm-up note, and people started to move in that direction. The study was completely packed by the time I got there, so I leaned against the doorway to the dining room. People started to clap as a woman wearing a sequined, slinky evening gown took the