"Margaret, is this Christmas eve?"

Margaret was cooking some bacon and eggs for me. I hadn't answered her question but I didn't need to. On good days I always wanted bacon and eggs

"Yes".

"So Justine won't be home until late tonight? She is going to the Christmas Concert at Church?"

Margaret turned from the stove and shook her head.

"No, Lawrence, she isn't. I have another client that needs extra help tonight so I can't work late. Justine has already told Jeremy that she won't be there."

I stood up and walked over to the stove.

"But Jeremy is singing tonight, isn't he? I thought he was singing a solo tonight. Hark the Herald Angels sing - wasn't that it?"

Margaret couldn't help but smile.

"You're pretty sharp today for a guy that usually claims that he has no memory! Yes, Jeremy is singing a solo - We Three Kings".

I paced back and forth across the kitchen a few times before I went back to the table and sat down. Margaret had put out a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, orange slices, and toast with strawberry jam.

I savoured a few bites of breakfast before I spoke again. It seemed to me that maybe this was the opportunity I had been waiting for.

"Margaret, Justine needs to go to the concert. It isn't fair to miss it. I'm having a very good day. I can stay here by myself this evening."

Margaret didn't look convinced.

"Justine will never agree to that. You know how she is. Harold will be taking Jeremy to the concert and Harold's mother and father will be there too from what I understand."

"That's even worse! Half the Robinson clan in the audience but not Jeremy's own mother? Justine needs to go. And what's more, she needs to stay over at Harold's tonight. He has that basement suite set up for her visits. It's too far to drive there and back for the concert. What's the weather going to be like?"

Margaret's jawline tightened and she had an exasperated look on her face.

"What is this? 20 questions?"

I looked up at her sheepishly, like a schoolboy that has interrupted the teacher one time too many.

"In fact the weather is supposed to be dreadful. A big snowstorm coming in from the Northwest late this evening. That's another reason that Justine decided not to go."

Margaret's voice was firm but I detected a slight crack in her resolve.

"But if Justine went straight from work she wouldn't be back-tracking. She could get to the concert before the storm hit and its only a short drive to Harold's. She could ride with the Robinson's so she wouldn't even have to drive at all after the concert."

Margaret sighed.

"In some ways I like you better when you're having a bad day. At least then I get some say in what goes on around here."

I clapped my hands. I was getting under Margaret's skin. Much as I appreciated her kindness it was great to feel well enough to troll her. I could feel a tightness in my lower lip from my Cheshire cat smile. I don't feel that often anymore.