Abby hesitated. How in the world should she answer that? If she said yes, then she’d have to explain away their breakup, which would be coming very soon. If she said no, then that made it look like she and Nic were only in a sexual relationship. Of course, she wouldn’t have to tell them that she and Nic broke up. She could drag it out for months. They would never know.

“I like her a lot.” That much was true. “But it’s only been a few months, Mom. We’re still getting to know each other.”

“Well, I like her for you. You seem much more comfortable around her than you did with Holly. Night and day difference.”

“Really? I guess I don’t remember much about that first Christmas with Holly other than her saying she and Aaron had slept together and she was breaking up with me. That tends to be my focal point with her.”

“Well, you tell me I need to let it go…you need to let it go as well. You’ve both moved on and that’s two years in the past. Nothing but wasted energy, Abigail.”

Before she could reply, Nic walked in looking quite refreshed. Her eyes seemed brighter, her smile genuine.

“Good morning, Sandra.”

“Merry Christmas, Nicole. Come have some coffee. We were just having a little girl talk.”

“Sorry I missed that.”

Abby smiled at her. “I took a peek at your stocking. It looks to be bulging. Apparently, Santa found you after all.”

As soon as she said the words, she wanted to take them back. Would Nic appreciate such teasing on this day? But she smiled easily as she sipped from her cup.

“I can’t wait. As you know, I’ve never had a stocking before.”

“Then it’ll be fun.”

“Yes, it will,” her mother agreed. “Then afterward, we’ll have a very light breakfast. I have the Christmas roast all ready to go into the oven. While that bakes, we’ll go outside and do our snowman competition. Nicole, that’ll be a first for you too, won’t it?”

“Yes, it will.” Nic looked her way. “You failed to tell me about that.”

“I’ll help you. They’re fun to build. The secret is to get old, crusty snow, not any fresh powder.” Then she laughed. “I suck at building snowmen, though. Maybe you should take advice from someone else.”

Aaron and Holly came in, both heading to the coffee pot. Her father stuck his head in too.

“It’s time to open presents. I just put another log on the fire, and I’ve got Christmas music on. It’s perfect.”

Abby got up and went to stand by Nic, taking her hand. “Come on. It’ll be fun,” she whispered.

Nic met her gaze and nodded. “I think it’ll be the best Christmas ever.”

Chapter Thirty-two