“I’m going to bed,” Leah said, as she opened the door, interrupting his thoughts.
“Oh. Ok, I’m coming.” He took one last draw on the cigarette and threw the butt into the yard. After taking one last drink of the cola, he poured the rest out. He slipped back into the house quietly, making sure the screen didn’t slam. He took a few bites from the popcorn. He found the pen on the table, and wrote on the note, just beneath “Josie and Lisa.”
Be good girls this year, help your momma,
thank you for the food,
love Santa
Colin unplugged the lights on the tree, and then walked into the bedroom. He undressed and slipped beneath the quilt. He leaned over and gave Leah a good-night kiss on the cheek.
“Good night honey.”
“Good night Colin.”
He laid there for a while, had almost fallen asleep
