Kohler and I muscled the huge cardboard box that contained our almost real looking fake Christmas Tree up the stairs to our apartment.

My name is Rylly Barr. Kohler Barr is my nearly six-foot-tall nephew. I became his guardian after his mother died and his father went back to Afghanistan.

“Aunt Rylly, I promise you, this tree won’t smell as good as a real tree. It won’t look as good as one either.”

I had to force myself not to roll my eyes. I had heard this argument at least a thousand times since before Thanksgiving. But a live pine tree cost well over a hundred dollars and I didn’t feel like I could afford that much money for a tree that would shed its needles all over my apartment and have to be destroyed right after New Year’s Day.

Yes, I know that the six figure reward I got from returning the stolen artifacts that were in my husband’s possession when he died had swelled my bank account but the resort I was trying to build was draining it faster than I liked.

I smiled. “I know. We’ve had this discussion a dozen times. You will survive with a fake tree. Next year maybe you can get a job and buy your own tree.”

I tried to hide my smile when he groaned. He ran or tried to run his hands through his hair. He has the same springy hair, dark brown eyes, and wide smile that I have.

With two of us working, the tree was finished in record time. He helped me set up the ceramic Nativity I made when I was in college. It was a little too big for the apartment but I loved it.

It was the day after Thanksgiving and I was enjoying a break from my alternate job as a sub at Kohler’s school.

I owned the Southern Comfort Culinary School and Restaurant and I was way behind on everything concerning my primary business. I didn’t realize when I agreed to help out at Kohler’s school, after the murder of one of the teachers, that it would take much more time than just teaching classes.

After we had decorated my office, our bedrooms and even my bathroom, Kohler dug through a box looking for Christmas videos. “I hate White Christmas.” He mock scowled. Then he pulled the DVD out of the box and stuffed it into a drawer by my side of the sectional.

I grinned as I sat down at the computer. “I promise. I won’t make you watch it with me. I can watch it when you’re at Scott’s.”

He pretended to wipe the sweat from his bow. “I’m so grateful for that.”

I threw a pillow at him. “Keep it up and you can cook tonight.”

“Hey. Great! We can have leftovers. If there aren’t enough in our fridge, I can make a food run to the restaurant. I’m sure Lynn has plenty of things left from yesterday.”

I shook my head at him. “I’ve got to get these orders in. If I don’t, Lynn won’t have the supplies she needs to feed your insatiable appetite.”

He bowed low, waving his arm in a circle. “Oh, great and beloved aunt, I will leave you to your orders and spreadsheets. I will go make some peanut brittle for our study group.”

I chuckled as he bowed himself out the door. It only took a minute for the computer to boot up. I had just finished entering my purchase orders when I heard Kohler groan.

“What’s wrong?” I called, wondering if he’d flubbed his peanut brittle. “Need help with your peanut brittle?”

“My peanut brittle turned out just fine.” He walked into my office, a grumpy look marring his pleasant face. “I just got an email from my dad. His unit is going undercover. I thought when he was transferred to Germany that I’d see him more often. That ain’t happening.”

I smiled. “I’m sorry. I suspect it may have something to do with Russia and the Ukraine. I’ve heard some rumors that our people are training the Ukrainian soldiers.”

Kohler nodded. “Mr. Walters said that some of our forces are helping out with the wounded. I wish our world leaders could just get along. We don’t need more people getting killed and messing up Christmas.”

“I agree totally.” Almost before I could finish talking, he was gone.

My phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Rylly, this is Geraldine Smith. I don’t know if you’ve seen the news--”

Kohler burst into the room. “Aunt Rylly, Scott just called. He said to turn on the TV. You need to come look now.”