Time seemed to freeze. The noise of the party faded into the background. Only Eudora noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere, and she watched Lori wide-eyed while she cradled Victoria in her fancy red-velvet dress. Lori’s perpetually smiling face became very serious as her eyes scanned the party-goers, trying to find the source of that sweet, spicy aroma. Lori lifted her nose and breathed deeply. It smelled like Christmas… all the smells of Christmas rolled together. The crisp scent of balsam, cinnamon, mint and pumpkin spice. Lori felt herself tremble with excitement and fear.
Lori began to move across the room. Eudora’s eyes jumped ahead of Lori’s path, and she felt as though someone had poured ice down the back of her dress.
Across the room, standing with his back turne
