Once Parrish had everything in the condo and the groceries put away—he’d still have to pick up some things at the supermarket, but at least he had real butter and his favorite creamer now—he set up his little Christmas tree on an end table in the living room. The gifts went under the tree, and he found room for his mugs in the cabinet where Ransom kept his cups. He wasn’t sure how Ransom would feel about the little bookcase, so Parrish stored it and its contents in the walk-in closet in the guest bedroom, along with the boxes of his clothes. At this point, what he’d originally packed in his suitcase would do, and since Ransom had a washer and drier in his unit, Parrish should be good for a week or so,
He called the Pitneys a little after one; he knew they’d be back from church and opened
