Caleb laughed so hard he had to sit down.
"We were never rich."
"Ronan brought two trees."
"That's not a measure of wealth."
"It should be."
Christmas morning began before sunrise.
Nora lasted until 5:41.
Caleb considered this a personal attack.
She opened presents in pajamas while both Christmas trees glowed.
The little crooked spruce still leaned.
Nora refused to let Caleb straighten it.
"It grew that way."
"It was cut down."
"It still has dignity."
Caleb looked at her.
"You've been talking to Ronan."
After Nora opened her gifts, she retrieved Caleb's package.
It was wrapped in printer paper covered with hand-drawn stars.
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a small wooden plaque.
School-project quality.
Uneven paint.
Too much glue.
At the center, Nora had drawn an airplane.
Beneath it she had written:
MY DAD FIXES PLANES
BUT MOSTLY HE FIXES PEOPLE'S BAD DAYS
Caleb stared.
Nora suddenly looked nervous.
"Do you like it?"
He nodded.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
He pulled her into his arms.
"I love it."
Her face disappeared against his shoulder.
"You're crying again."
"It's Christmas."
"So?"
"Different rules."
She accepted that.
At eleven, they drove to Northstar.
Not to work.
Ronan had somehow organized a Christmas lunch in Hangar Three.
Technically, it violated several things Caleb suspected facilities management would have preferred to know about in advance.
Tables had been set up near the back, safely separated from work areas.
Families filled the space.
Children stared at aircraft.
Someone had brought enormous trays of food.
Luis's wife made tamales.
Maya brought dumplings.
Ronan brought a turkey that was slightly overcooked and defended it aggressively.
Thirty-seven employees were there.
So were several others who had remained at work during the walkout but had supported the investigation afterward.
When Caleb entered with Nora, applause began.
He immediately stopped.
"No."
That made it louder.
Caleb covered his face.
Nora loved every second.
Ronan handed her a paper crown somebody had made from a maintenance inventory card.
"Princess of Hangar Three."
Caleb said, "Absolutely not."
Nora put it on.
"Too late."
Lunch stretched for hours.
Children ran between tables.
Adults told stories.
For once, nobody talked about departure schedules.
Near the end, Ronan stood and tapped a spoon against a mug.
Caleb groaned.
"If this is a speech, I'm leaving."
"It is."
"Then goodbye."
Ronan pointed.
"Sit."
Nora pulled Caleb's sleeve.
"Sit."
Betrayed by everyone, Caleb sat.
Ronan looked around.
"Most of you know I'm not good at speeches."
Maya said, "Correct."
"Thank you."
Laughter.
Ronan looked at Caleb.
"Nine years ago, this guy showed up looking about twelve."
"I was twenty-nine."
"Twelve."
"He had new boots."
Caleb said, "They were work boots."
"They had factory shine."
More laughter.
Ronan continued.
"He asked too many questions."
"He checked things twice."
"Then three times."
"He annoyed everybody."
"Still does."