Fred accepted it. "As long as it’s a gift from you, I’d like it."

"Don’t you want to open it?" she asked with a smile.

"I'll open it after I get back to Lanford," he replied. He observed the presents in the cabinet again and saw one bearing Morris' name.

After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Are you giving Morris a present too?"

"Of course, he’s my friend!" Jacqueline said matter-of-factly.

Fred’s expression dimmed slightly. He knew that the people who received Christmas presents from her