home’s ambience. The home was gaily lit, and the powerful fragrance of cinnamon, peppermint and clove filled the foyer. Christmas trees lined the entryway walls like a forest, and the stair railing was wrapped in fresh garland twinkling with gold Christmas lights. In a small, open room off the foyer, a string quartet accompanied by a pianist on an electric piano played Pachelbel’s Canon in D. I listened to them for a moment, then panned the rest of the room for the bar. I desperately needed a drink.
I spotted Timothy standing near a buffet table. I started to make my way to him but was stopped by Peter, who was wearing his signature black silk tee beneath an all-silver suit, iridescent as fish scales. Brandi was holding on to his arm. She was even more stunning than usual, wearing a sheer, low-cut gown, tight at the waist with a slit in front exposing her long, slender legs. Both of them were carrying stemmed glasses half-full of white wine. From Peter’s inebriated glow I could tell he’d started drinking long before my arrival.
“Hey, J.J.J,” Peter said. “Where’s your date?”
“She’s not here,” I said.
“We can see that,” Peter said.
“She couldn’t make it.”
Brandi cocked her head. “Aww, that’s sad.”
I ignored her molesting eyes. “How’s the party?”
“Good booze,” Peter said, eyeing two women as they walked past us. “See you.”
Brandi smiled at me as he pulled her away. “Ciao.”
A butler walked up to me. “May I take your coat, sir?”
“Sure.” I took it off and handed it to him. He ascended the circular staircase with my coat draped over his arm. Timothy had disappeared, but I saw Kim standing next to the buffet table in the dining room.
The long, rectangular table was crowded with the most decadent spread I had ever seen: shrimp and crab bowls, sushi, pâté de foie gras, little cream pastries, hand-dipped chocolates, meringues, cherry-topped macaroons and at least six different tarts. In the center of the table was an ice sculpture of our agency’s initials, set between two thick red candles.
“Hi, Kim,” I said.
She looked relieved to see me. “Joseph. When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
“Where’s April?”
“She couldn’t make it,” I said, trying to hide the emotion in my voice. “Something came up.”
“She’s missing out,” Kim said. “Grab a plate. The food’s fantastic.”
Even though I wasn’t hungry, I took a plate and began filling it with food.
“Are you okay?” Kim asked.
“My father holds a Christmas party this same night,” I said. “This is the first time in sixteen years I won’t be attending.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said.
Just then a man I didn’t know walked up to her and she turned to talk to him. I drifted to another room with a Strass crystal chandelier and ivory carpets and a grand piano. Sade and Chloe were seated near the doorway, drinking and laughing. Kate was standing next to her boyfriend, who was playing a Billy Joel song on the piano.
“J.J.!” Chloe said. “Come visit us.” She sounded a little tipsy.
“Hey, J.J.,” Kate said.
“Hi, Kate.”
“This is my boyfriend, Clark.” He nodded a little, in time with the music.
“Look,” Sade said, holding a sprig of parsley from the buffet table. “Mistletoe.”
“What are you drinking?” I asked.
“Eggnog.”
“Very strong eggnog,” Chloe said.
“Aren’t you going to kiss me?” Sade said.
“Sure.” I gave her a quick peck.
“Where’s your girlfriend?” Kate asked.
“She bailed on me,” I said.
She looked at me sympathetically. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
“I’ll be your girlfriend tonight,” Chloe said.
“Chloe,” Sade said sharply. “Stop it. You’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk,” she said. “And you’re the one who got a kiss.”
“I think it’s time for me to go,” I said.
Kate nodded in agreement, shaking her head at Chloe.
“Oh, don’t go,” Chloe said.
I kissed her on the cheek. “Sorry.” I said to Clark, “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“Merry Christmas,” I said to everyone, then walked out of the room. I left my plate of untouched food on a small end table. I found the taxi driver’s card in my pocket and called. The taxi was only ten minutes out, so I started looking around for the coat man. When I couldn’t find him, I walked upstairs to retrieve my coat myself.
The coats were laid out on the carpeted floor of a massive bedroom at the top of the stairway, with a dozen or so furs layered on top of each other across the bed. There were at least a hundred coats and finding mine wasn’t as simple as I thought it would be.
As I foraged through a pile of coats,