Well, on the one hand, she’ll feel alarmed. First, Kelley was married to Margaret for nineteen years, then he was married to Mitzi for twenty-one years.
Then, last Christmas, he was with Margaret.
And now, this Christmas, Mitzi?
On the other hand, Ava has never quite believed Mitzi gone for good. When she ran off with George the Santa Claus, it felt like just one more of Mitzi’s phases. Over the years, Mitzi has become consumed with yoga, Pilates, vitamin supplements and juice cleanses, African drumming and healing crystals. The new thing is always the answer to Mitzi’s prayers. But really, the answer to Mitzi’s prayers—as Ava or any of her siblings can tell you—is Kelley. Ava suspected that Mitzi would tire of George and come home. But is that what’s happened? Ava can’t quite tell.
At that very moment, Mitzi is up in Margaret’s room. But why?
Ava is intrigued, but she can’t take on any more drama.
She sits down at the piano and plays “Ding Dong Merrily on High.” Ava adores carols that evoke London streets during a new snowfall, the Yule log, brightly lit windows on a square of stately brick homes. Next, she plays “Here We Come A-wassailing,” and “Deck the Halls.”
She pauses. The Wiltons, and portly Mr. Bernard, who is on the sofa demolishing the bowl of mixed nuts, clap politely.
“How about ‘Jingle Bells’?” Mr. Bernard asks.
Ava smiles sweetly. “That’s the one song I never learned to play,” she says. “So I’ll end with ‘We Three Kings.’” It’s twenty past five; she needs to shower and get dressed. The family is leaving promptly at six. If one doesn’t get to the Festival of Trees in a timely fashion, there’s a long, cold line at the front door, no place to hang one’s coat, and an endless wait at the bar.
She plays “We Three Kings” and tries to sing, though it’s really better suited for a man’s voice.
Before she finishes, there’s a blast of cold air. Ava turns to see the front door to the inn open and someone step in. Ava lifts her hands off the keys. The door slams.
It’s George.
George, Ava thinks. So Mitzi didn’t come to Nantucket alone! So there is nothing romantic going on between Mitzi and Kelley then, right?
“Ava,” George says. “Where’s Mitzi?”
“Hey,” Mr. Bernard says, “I remember you. George, right? You’re the Santa Claus. My wife, Elaine, and I met you a few years ago when we were here at Christmas.”
George nods curtly, then turns his attention back to Ava. “Where’s Mitzi?”
Something must be wrong with George. Ava has never seen him be rude to anyone, and especially not to someone who recognizes him as Santa. George relishes nothing so much as his own celebrity. He must really want to find Mitzi—and then Ava wonders if he has news about Bart.
Ava nearly says, Mitzi’s upstairs in Mom’s room, I think. But since Ava saw Kelley go up as well, she holds her tongue.
“I’m not sure,” Ava says.
“I know she’s here,” George says, although his tone of voice conveys that he does not know if she’s here.
“Honestly, George, I’m not sure.”
“Would you check with your father, please?” George asks.
Ava ignores this request. “Have you tried calling her?”
“No,” George says. “I don’t need to call her because I know she’s here. I’d like to speak with her in person. Now, will you please check with your father?”
Mr. and Mrs. Wilton and Mr. Bernard are silent, but their attention is fixed on George and Ava, like it’s something they’re watching on the stage. Ava doesn’t want a scene, so she scoots her bench back and smiles at George.
“Sure thing,” she says. “I’ll be right back.”
But when Ava heads down the hallway toward the owner’s quarters, George is following right on her heels.
“George,” she says. “Please wait in the living room. I can’t invite you back here.”
“If you think I’m waiting out front, you’re nuts, missy,” George says. “I intend to find out what Mitzi is up to.”
Ava can’t believe this is happening. She turns around to face George. They are smack in the middle of the hallway, right in front of the door to the nursery, which is closed, meaning the baby is asleep. Ava hears the water running in Kevin and Isabelle’s room; one of them is showering. It’s time to get ready. Shelby will be there any minute to get her instructions for babysitting.
Ava huffs in frustration and marches down the hall—past the turnoff for Bart’s room where the light is on—to her father’s room. Ava knocks on the door.
No answer.
“He’s not answering,” Ava says.
George takes it upon himself to knock again; it’s a knock to wake the dead, and Ava winces.
“The baby’s sleeping,” she says.
At that second, she hears her father’s voice. Then Mitzi’s voice. Ava squeezes her eyes shut as though she’s about to witness a car crash.
George clears his throat, loudly.
Ava fires a warning shot. “Daddy?”
But when Kelley and Mitzi reach the bottom of the stairs and see George, they are both wholly unprepared. Mitzi gasps like George is the Grim Reaper. Mitzi is carrying a deep purple gown in one hand, and a pair of crystal stilettos in the other. All of a sudden, Ava understands what was going on upstairs, and how ill-timed George’s visit is.
“Mitzi, let’s go,” George says.
“My plans have changed,” she says. “I’m going to…”
“Your plans have changed?” George booms. His voice, raised to this decibel, is truly terrifying. For an instant, Ava wonders if he’s ever hit Mitzi.
Mitzi merely blinks at him. “Lower your voice, George. The baby is sleeping.”
He changes to an angry whisper. “What do you mean your plans have changed?”
“I’m going to the Festival of Trees party,” she says. She holds up the purple dress. “Margaret lent me this to wear. It was designed by John Galliano.”
“I don’t care if it was designed by John Wilkes Booth,” George says. “You’re coming back to the hotel with me.”
“George,” Kelley says, “we have one extra ticket to the party. We thought it would be good for Mitzi to get out and have some fun.”
“I know what’s good for Mitzi,” George says. “She belongs with me.”
“Where were you all day?” Mitzi asks. “Were you with Mary Rose?”
“I had lunch with Mary Rose, yes,” George says. “Then she went shopping and I went on a wild-goose chase looking for you.”
“You had dinner last night with Mary Rose and then lunch today with Mary Rose,” Mitzi says. “And she looks just like Patti. She and Patti could be identical twins separated at birth. What am I supposed to think?”
“Oh, come on,” George says. “Mary Rose is at least thirty pounds lighter than Patti.”
Ava winces. She can’t believe how badly George is blowing this.
Mitzi says, “Sorry, George. I’m going to the party with Kelley.”
“If you go to the party with Kelley…,” George says.
Here comes the ultimatum, Ava thinks.
“… I’ll pack your things up at the hotel and leave them for you at the front desk. And don’t bother coming back to Lenox.”
“Really?” Mitzi says.
“Yes, really,” George says.
“So you’re allowed to go on a date or two with good old Mary Rose, that’s not a problem. But I can’t enjoy one night of fun with my family.”
“Oh, so now they’re your family?” George says. “You haven’t referred to these people as your ‘family’ all year. You left them without thinking of anyone but yourself.”
George has a point, Mitzi thinks.
“I left them for you, George,” Mitzi says. “Because I had fallen in love with you.”
“Well, then,” George says, “if you’re in love with me, come with me now. Please, Mrs. Claus?”