I Left My House Empty Three Days Before Christmas

No mystery there.

Mrs. Talbert had put my doormat straight and left a tin of cheddar biscuits on the porch with a note under the lid: WELCOME HOME, YOU MENACE.

Inside, the tree still glowed in the front window. The wrapped gifts that hadn’t been picked up sat underneath it in neat rows, patient as ever.

I set my suitcase down in the hallway and took off continue reading …