Danny rapped his knuckles against Matt and Harriet's front door, a little worried despite himself, because a vague, poorly spelled text message from Matt at ten o'clock at night was cause for concern. Matt didn't misspell, even in a text message, unless he was sufficiently rattled. Of course, all it took to rattle Matt some days was a baseball bat and a big red clock, but Danny was fairly sure that was out of the question.

Harriet opened the door, looking a little surprised, and brightened when she saw it was him. "Danny, hi!"

"What's the emergency?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Matt said there was an emergency."

"Oh!" Realization seemed to hit Harriet, as she stepped out of the way and held open the door. "It's a Christmas tree emergency. Do you want to come in?"

Danny stepped inside and frowned. "A Christmas tree emergency?"

"There's hot cocoa if you want it," she said, starting toward the kitchen. Danny followed, because there didn't seem to be much else to do.

"It's sixty degrees outside and you're offering me hot cocoa?"

"It seemed appropriate. It's got peppermint in it."

"Sure, why not? What's the emergency about?"

"Oh, Matt forgot to get a Christmas tree. He thinks it's necessary."

Danny stopped in the doorway between kitchen and living room, leaning against the door frame. "He's out buying a Christmas tree."

"Yes."

"You've got to be kidding me. He's been going on all month about the Christmas spirit and peace and joy and... I don't know, puppies-"

"Puppies, Daniel?" Harriet looked back at him over her shoulder, an amused smile on her lips.

"I don't know where that came from. My point is, all that time and he forgot to buy a Christmas tree until Christmas Eve?"

"He's not home a lot. I don't think the thought occurred to him."

"Great. So why am I here?"

"I assume for help with decoration."

"Are you paying me for this?"

"We're bribing you."

"With hot chocolate?"

Harriet nodded. "And cookies."