The Nutcracker by Drew Hunt
For Dave, because he loves the magic of Christmas.
“You look frazzled, dear,” Garth Morgan’s mom said when Garth and his son Adam came through the door of his parents’ home on Christmas Eve, heavily laden with gifts. “I told you not to leave it until the last day.” She set down her wooden spoon and took some of the bags.
Garth kissed her cheek and tried not to roll his eyes. His mother could spot an eye roll even when her back was turned. She’d embraced online shopping in a big way and had had all her gifts delivered, wrapped, and put away by mid-October. Garth, as usual, had left everything until the last minute.
“Did you remember to get me a Poinsettia for the bay window in the den?” she asked.
“Oh, s**t, I forgot. Sorry.” He glanced at his son, who was d
