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"Carrie’s been great," Mackenzie continued "She taught h to look up at him "I like her so much, Dad"

The hint was there and it wasn’t subtle The probles for Carrie were sih he avoided contact with Carrie, there was no escaping her Mackenzie brought her na her virtues past him, one by one

Carrie had becohterher friends--although she spent plenty of tienerallyhis life miserable These days, if she wasn’t with Carrie, she was helping Maria with her cats, having tea with Madahts with Arnold

"I’ to miss the Christmas party," she said matter-of-factly "It’s in the colanced up to be certain he was listening "Everyone in the building’s invited Carrie’s going, so is Mada to be a blast" She sighed with heartfelt regret "But being with Mom is more important than a party She’s really busy, you know," Mackenzie said, not for the first time

"I’otten about the Christmas party He’d received the notice a day or so earlier, and would’ve tossed it if Mackenzie hadn’t gone into ecstasies when she saw it From her reaction, one would think it was an invitation to the Christmas ball to s to do than spend the evening with a group of friendly oddballs--and Carrie

Philip reached for his car keys and his gyone an hour," he pro to finish this" She looked up "Oh, I al out of the chair as if propelled upward by a loose spring She ran into her bedroom and returned a moment later with a s hierly "Open it now, okay?"

"Shouldn’t I wait until Christestured for him to tear open the envelope

Inside was a card in the shape of a silver bell

"Go ahead and read it," she urged, and would have done so herself if he hadn’t acted promptly The card was an invitation to lunch at the corner deli "I’reat dad We’ve had our differences this year and I want you to know that no matter what I say, I’ll always love you"

"I feel the sah," he murmured, touched by her words "I’ll be happy to pay for lunch"

"No way," she said "I’ve saved my allowance and did a few odd jobs for Mada as you don’t order thebreakfast," he said and kissed her on the cheek before he walked out the door He pushed the button for the elevator and caught hi a lotinto the apartes in Mackenzie sinceCarrie had been dramatic

The elevator arrived and he stepped inside, pushing the button for the lobby It stopped on the next floor and Carrie entered, carrying a laundry basket She hesitated when she saas the only other occupant

"I don’t bite," he assured her

"That’s what they all say," she teased back She reached across him and pushed the button for the baseishly Finally the elevator started to move, its descent slow andseveral feet

Carrie gasped and staggered against the wall