She stared out the car window at the lights on the houses that they drove past. Red and blue and white light bounced off the snow and skipped across its surface before being swallowed by the darkness. Reindeer, snowmen, angels, and plastic Santa's stared back at her from front yards, picture windows, and rooftops, each a silent sentinel of the holiday season. So many signs proclaiming "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men" lined the streets that she could almost hear it as a chant.
She turned to look at the man beside her. She studied his profile outlined by the light from the dashboard. She traced with her eyes the features of his face . . . his forehead, his nose, the strong line of his jaw. He sat relaxed in the seat . . . one arm draped casually on the armrest of the door, the other h
