The last stragglers left the restaurant at 12:30. Nor and Billy sat at the bar with Dennis as he finished cleaning up. Nor held up a glass. “I’ve heard it’s bad luck to toast with water, but I’m going to take a chance. Here’s to Billy and the new contract.”

“Your dad would be so proud,” Dennis said.

“You bet he would.” Nor looked up. “Here’s to you, Bill, wherever you are up there. Your kid’s done good.”

I definitely have to meet him, Sterling told himself. He saw the suspicious touch of moisture in the eyes of all three. Billy was just about the age Marissa is now when he lost his dad. It must have been awfully tough on him and Nor.

“Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it all goes through,” Billy told them. “I don’t want to get too excited yet. That’ll wait until I have the offer in writing.”

“You will,” Nor assured him. “But you’re still singing with me here at Christmastime next year.”

“I know, Mom, and for free,” Billy laughed.

“You’ll have to hire a bouncer for crowd control,” Dennis declared. He folded a towel. “Okay, that’s it. Nor, you look awfully tired. Let me drive you home.”

“Listen, if I lived fifteen minutes away, the way I feel now, I’d take you up on it. But for the three minutes it’ll take me to get there, I’d rather have the car at the door in the morning. You can carry those reservations books out for me. I’m going to keep at them for a while.”

She kissed Billy lightly on the cheek. “See you tomorrow.”

“Okay. I’m heading upstairs. Don’t try to go over those books tonight, Mom. Leave it for the morning.”

They looked at each other. “I know,” Billy said. “By then it may be too late.”

So that’s where Billy lives, Sterling thought. He must have an apartment up there. It would be interesting to see what Nor’s home is like. She said it’s only a three-minute drive away. That can’t be too far for me to walk back. Once again he found himself hurrying across the parking lot, this time following Nor and Dennis.

The temperature has really dropped in these few hours, he thought. He looked up. Clouds were forming and beginning to obscure the moon and stars. He sniffed. There was a hint of snow in the air. I was one of those people who preferred winter to summer, he thought. Annie thought I was crazy. If there was anything she loved, it was a day at the seashore. I remember her family had a place in Spring Lake.

Nor’s car was a handsome Mercedes sedan. I used to drive one of these, Sterling thought, and in a lot of ways this one doesn’t look that much different from the one I had. As Dennis laid the reservations books on the floor in the back and held the driver’s door open for Nor, Sterling got in the front seat. I never liked to ride in the back of the car, he thought. My legs always felt cramped.

Nor locked the door and fastened her seat belt. Everybody does that these days, Sterling mused. I wonder if there’s a law about it.

He readjusted his homburg, smiling as he remembered that next year Marissa would poke fun at it.

As they pulled out of the driveway, he jumped when Nor muttered aloud, “Mama Heddy-Anna. God help us!”

Sterling felt a little guilty. Nor thinks she’s alone, and she’s one of those people who talks to herself. I used to do that too, and I’d have died if I learned that someone was eavesdropping on me.

But it’s okay because I’m here to help them, he comforted himself. Fortunately she turned on the radio and listened to the news the rest of the way.

Nor’s house was at the end of a cul-de-sac, situated on a generous piece of property. The minute he saw it he sensed that it was the perfect home for her. It looked to him like a renovated farmhouse. The exterior was white clapboard with black shutters. The porch light was on, casting a warm glow around the front door.

“Thank God to be home,” Nor sighed.

I know what you mean, Sterling said aloud, then rolled his eyes. Thank God she can’t hear me. I might have given her a heart attack.

I’m not going to stay long, he promised himself as Nor fished through her purse for her house key, got out of the car, and gathered the reservations books in her arms.

Sterling walked to the front door, admiring the attractive shrubbery that was lightly coated with snow.

As soon as Nor opened the door, shut off the alarm, and switched on the light, he realized that she also had great taste. The ground floor was a single, very large room with white walls and wooden floors. A raised-hearth fireplace defined the living room area. At a right angle to it stood a floor to-ceiling-Christmas tree, decorated with strings of candle-shaped bulbs. The bottom three tiers clearly bore Marissa’s touch. Handmade paper ornaments, a quantity of tinsel, and a dozen candy canes demonstrated her idea of how a Christmas tree should look.

Overstuffed couches, Persian area rugs, fine antique furnishings, and first-class paintings filled the rest of the room. The effect was that of vivid serenity-if there is such a thing, Sterling thought.

“Cup of cocoa,” Nor murmured as she kicked off her shoes. She walked to the kitchen area, dropped the reservations books on the table, and opened the refrigerator. Hating to rush, Sterling scurried from painting to painting. These are valuable, he thought. I wish I had a chance to really study them. An English hunting scene particularly intrigued him.

As the attorney for a number of family trusts when he was alive, he’d developed an eye for good art. They used to tell me I could have been an appraiser, he remembered.

A staircase to the second floor beckoned him. One quick look and then I’m off, he promised himself.

Nor’s bedroom was the largest. Framed pictures were on the bureau, the dressing table, and the night tables. These were all personal and many of them were of a much younger Nor with Billy’s father. There were at least a half-dozen of Billy with his parents, starting from the time he was an infant. He seemed to be about six years old in the last one that showed the three of them together.

Sterling poked his head into the first of the other two bedrooms. It was small but cozy, with the uncluttered look of a guest room.

The third door was closed. The small porcelain tile on it said MARISSA’S PLACE. As he opened the door, Sterling felt a lump in his throat. This child is about to lose out on so much in this upcoming year, he thought.

The room was enchanting. White wicker furniture. Blue-and-white wallpaper. White eyelet bedspread and curtains. Shelves of books on one wall. A desk with a bulletin board against another.

He heard Nor’s footsteps on the stairs. It was time to go. Remembering the door had been closed, he quietly pulled it shut, then watched as Nor went into her room. A moment later, with the collar of his chesterfield turned up, his homburg pulled down as far as he could get it, Sterling walked briskly down the road.

I’ve got several hours to kill, he thought. Billy’s probably asleep. Maybe I’ll just drop by and look in on Marissa. But where exactly does she live? I never was too good at directions.

Until now there’d been plenty of activity to keep him occupied, but with everyone going to bed, he felt a little lonely as he trudged through the quiet streets.

Should I try to contact the Heavenly Council? he wondered. Or will they decide I can’t do the job? And if so, what then?

Suddenly something caught his eye.

What’s that?

A piece of paper was fluttering from the sky. It stopped falling when it was directly in front of him. Sterling plucked it out of the air, unfolded it, and walked to the next street lamp to read it.

It was a map of the village. Marissa’s home and Nor’s Place were clearly indicated. A dotted line started at a point marked “you are here” and gave specific directions-“four blocks east… turn left one block, then right”-showing him the way to Marissa’s house. A second dotted line illustrated the way from there back to the restaurant.