The restaurant's sign—Peg & Pam fried chicken house-flickered once, twice, then went dark as Peggy flipped the last switch. Christmas Eve, 11.30 PM, and she had just closed up after the dinner rush. The place had been packed-everyone wanting one last good meal before the holiday chaos of tomorrow.
She was exhausted with having to run all the errands and cooking all by herself and also with the fact that this was her first Christmas without Pamela.
"You did well tonight, Peggy," Manuel said, waiting by the door as she locked up. He was a regular-had been coming to Peg & Pam's restaurant three times a week for the past two years.
"Thanks," Peggy said, testing the lock twice to make sure it held. "And thank you for-for everything. For still coming. For not treating this place like
