Snow Garden

She was filled with Christmas dread—

Why did Hedy’s new home have to be on Holly Street—where everyone “made a big deal of Christmas”—and right next door to irresponsible maniac extraordinaire, Ty Marek?

“If there’s anything wrong with this house—I know what it is,” Hedy told Ty after he’d introduced himself by shattering her prettiest window and best mirror with a baseball gone wild. “It’s next door to you!”

Yet without him the house seemed unnaturally quiet. Infuriating as he was, Ty radiated vitality—and something elusive that reminded her of happier times when Christmass had filled her with cheer.