“So did I.” Sandra’s tone indicated her disappointment. “When they owned this house, we always spent our Christmas up here with them, from the time Aaron and Abigail were babies. They’ve never known anything else. Since my parents moved to Arizona, it’s them who make the trip up here now.” Sandra let out a heavy sigh. “A cruise apparently sounded better to them and now this storm,” she said with a wave toward the windows. “When I spoke to them this morning, they were going to wait and see how bad it was.” Sandra turned to look at her. “That means they won’t come. The storm is a convenient excuse. To hear my mother talk, they are absolutely exhausted from their trip.”

“They just got back?”

“They flew in yesterday afternoon. And I can’t say I blame them. If I’d just spent nine days on a ship, the last thing I’d want to do is travel.” Another heavy sigh. “I miss them. We don’t get to see them nearly enough and they’re getting older.” She waved her hand again. “Sorry, Nicole. I didn’t mean to go on so.”

Nic smiled but said nothing. Her gaze was still on the snow. Yes, it was definitely getting thicker. She could almost feel her anticipation.

“I was wondering where you’d slipped off to.” Abby walked behind her and rested her hands on her shoulders. “It’s started?”

“Flurries,” Sandra supplied. “You want to sit with us?”

“Let me make a cup of tea first. Just watching the snow makes me cold.” Abby tapped Nic’s shoulder. “You want some?”

“Sure. Thanks.”

“Be right back.”

The quiet was broken a short time later when Aaron and Holly came in. Nic tuned out the conversation going on around her as her gaze was fixed on the snow. When Abby handed her a cup of hot tea, she smiled her thanks. It was laced with honey, and as she took a sip, she realized it was the very first time she’d had hot tea. She quite liked it.

When the others erupted in laughter, she still paid them no mind. She didn’t want to miss a second of the snowstorm. She absently acknowledged that Abby and Holly appeared to be getting along better. That was good. Maybe Abby would agree to be in their wedding after all. That thought brought a bit of sadness to her. She wouldn’t be around to see it.

Chapter Thirty-six

Nic was sound asleep, and Abby took that opportunity to snuggle even closer to her. In sleep, Nic’s arm tightened for a moment, then relaxed again. Abby closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh. Never in a million years would she have thought she’d enjoy sex this much. Maybe Nic was right—sex was better without all the emotional attachments that come with dating.