“Christmas? Already?” Lou looked at the calendar, even though he knew it would confirm his question. It was less than week until the big day.
He already had gifts for his family, none of whom—thankfully, as far as he was concerned—lived in the city. His parents had bought a home in Tucson. His brother and sister were both on the east coast. As much as he loved them all, he was just as glad he didn’t have to spend holidays with them. He’d sent them their presents a week ago. Ones from them had shown up over the last few days.
He knew Rory was an only child whose folks still lived in Kansas City. According to Rory, they cared about him, but had been happy to see the back of him when he left home at the age of twenty-one, after graduating from the KC Art Institute. “Liberal, they’re not,” w
