Mistress Of Hypnosis Holidazed -

For the first time in seventeen years, the Joule family had a wonderful, peaceful, genuinely happy Christmas Eve. They played charades without cheating. They complimented each other鈥檚 gifts. Mark only had one more scotch, and he sipped it thoughtfully, telling Chloe how much he appreciated her.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a little relaxation technique,鈥� Cora said, her voice dropping into a lower, richer register. 鈥淎 gift, really. For the holidays. Close your eyes, everyone.鈥� Mistress Of Hypnosis Holidazed

Chloe saw it and gasped. 鈥淢ark?鈥�

Mark, who had been staring at the ceiling fan with a blissful, empty smile, obediently took a bite. 鈥淲ow,鈥� he breathed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like鈥� a yam from a dream.鈥� For the first time in seventeen years, the

Cora didn鈥檛 flinch. She pulled a small, antique silver pendulum from a pocket inside her cloak. It wasn鈥檛 showy, just a simple teardrop on a fine chain. It caught the candlelight and threw tiny, dancing stars onto the tablecloth. Mark only had one more scotch, and he

Mark snorted. 鈥淥h, for God鈥檚 sake, Cora鈥斺��

The chain swung. Back and forth. Tick. Tock. Like a gentle, hypnotic grandfather clock marking a time that didn鈥檛 exist.