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 “What was that all about?”
    “ Just an issue that cropped up about the work I’m having done at the farm.  The contractor had a few questions about structural stuff.”
    “ Christopher, that couldn’t wait ‘til Monday?”  
    “ No.  They were doing some work there today.  Tomorrow’s Sunday so they’re off, but he wanted an answer tonight so that they could get on it first thing on Monday.  I’m sorry it interrupted our family time, Yvie.”
    She relaxed and entwined her fingers through his.  “It’s okay.  It’s not like it happens that often.”
    After the movie, they were graced with a mini performance by Lacey of her part in the Christmas play.  Everyone cheered when she was done.
    “ You’ll be great, munchkin,” Christopher predicted.   “I can’t wait to see it.”
    “ Grandma and Pop Pop said they’d be coming up for my play.”
    “ They did?” Christopher replied.  “That’s great, Lace.”
    “ I’ll be there, too, kiddo,” Adelaide chimed in.  
    “ I wish Grandma and Grandpa Morgan could be here.”
    “ I know, but they’re on a cruise.  They’ll be coming down right after Christmas, just like they always do.”
    “ Okay.  Mom, can we go out to dinner after the play?”
    “ Sure,” she turned to Christopher.  “You want to take a guess at where she’s going to suggest?”
    “ Hmm…let me see…Kanki?”
    Lacey shook her head.  “Nope.”
    “ No?” Yvette said in genuine surprise.  “That’s your favorite.”
    “ I want to try something new this time,” Lacey informed them.  “I want to go to Maggiano’s.”
    “ Honey, it’ll be too late to go there after your play,” Christopher reasoned.  “It’s in Durham, and by the time we get in and order, it’ll be past your bedtime.”
    Lacey stood there deep in thought.  She smiled a few moments later.  “Okay, we’ll save Maggiano’s for the weekend.  How about Macaroni Grill?”
    Yvette nodded.  “Now that we can do.”
    ***
    By the day the play rolled around, Yvette had had a long week.  Monday started off with a mishap.  Robin had rammed his push and go truck into Adelaide’s booted foot.  It didn’t hurt her, but she’d swerved to keep the mishap from occurring and had pinched something in her neck.  After an Urgent Care visit, Adelaide was directed to take an anti-inflammatory, and to ice it off and on.  Tuesday, Yvette had a training session across town.  It had gone well, but when she came home, it was to find her house in an uproar, because Lacey couldn’t find her script to practice her lines.  After an hour of searching, it was Christopher who had found it in a laundry basket of dirty clothes.  
    Wednesday was an appointment with their realtor to look at more houses.  She and Christopher had returned home late that night tired, and disappointed at not finding a house that was good enough to be their dream house.  Yvette was adamant that whatever they found, it would need to last their family well into the future.  As far as she was concerned, that was past her kids leaving the nest and going to college, so if it wasn’t their dream home, it had better be a very close second.   Thursday arrived; the day of Lacey’s performance.
    “ Lacey, you have to eat breakfast,” Yvette pressed.
    “ Mom, I’m too nervous to eat.”
    “ At least drink a smoothie.  Give me a minute, and I’ll make your favorite; chocolate-peanut butter.”
    “ I can’t.  My ride will be here any minute.”
    Christopher eyed his daughter.  “Lacey, there’s plenty of time to have something for breakfast.”
    “ Okay, Dad,” she readily agreed.
    Yvette turned a baffled eye to her husband.  He blew his hand off and dusted his shirt at the victory.  She laughed silently, and mouthed a ‘Thank you’ to him.
    Christopher blew her a kiss.
    Minutes later, father and daughter had gone.  Her nanny had taken Robin to a play date, and Adelaide had not come downstairs yet and was