Ruby was only half-listening. She silently bit back the fact that her brother prioritized the attack on Pearl Harbor over her annual Christmas shopping. Why had they had to bomb that American port during the busy month of December? Couldn't they have waited another month? she grumbled inwardly. She'd secretly hoped Noèl would escort her to the shops in the Fort. It gave her a sense of status, of being married. Frustrated, she fanned herself with one of Noèl's Dutch Burgher Union bulletins. There was nothing left to do but invite the timid Violet along. She pushed back her chair and glanced at her sister-in-law, who was refilling Aunt Rina's teacup.

"Violet, put on something nice, and I'll take you out to lunch later at Pado, uh... gosh, what's his name again?... that cozy restaurant on York Street."

That morning, Violet had planned to help her mother in the kitchen with the traditional English Christmas cake, but she knew her protests wouldn't have much effect on Ruby. She silently placed the teapot back on the tray.