Nic leaned forward, looking around to where Abby had pointed. While the roads were clear, snow was piled along the sidewalks where it had been plowed.

“My parents’ place is just outside of town. We’ll turn left and cross the river.”

“So it’s out in the forest?”

“Yes, but it’s not like it’s on a huge plot of land or anything. Less than two acres, but it’s still private, lots of trees. Most of the homes around them are seasonal, meaning no one lives there full-time.”

“It’s like second homes then?”

“Yes. One of their neighbors is from Louisiana. A retired couple. They come up each May and stay through Thanksgiving. The neighbor on the other side is from Houston. It’s going to become their retirement home someday, but right now, they only come for a few weeks each summer and occasionally, they’ll come up for Christmas. There are others that come for the summer that my mother has made friends with.” She turned to the left, and she felt her heartbeat increase. “Here we go,” she said.

“Is this the river?”

Abby laughed. “This is it. All of ten or fifteen feet wide,” she said as they crossed the bridge.

“It’s beautiful. Crystal clear.”

“Yes, it is.”

“So, this isn’t the same Red River that separates Texas and Oklahoma?”

“No. This little river flows south. It actually splits into two forks, then eventually ends in the Wheeler Peak Wilderness.”

The pavement ended and they continued on the dirt road—a road covered with slushy snow—a little ways before turning to the right. Tall pine trees lined the road, and she slowed as she approached her parents’ entrance. The metal gate was opened and inviting. She drove through and they got their first glimpse of the two-story house.

“Wow,” Nic murmured. “It’s beautiful.”

Abby smiled at her, noting that Nic was taking it all in—the cutout reindeer pulling a wooden sleigh, the big cedar tree at the corner that was decorated with edible treats for the birds, the oversized Santa that would glow red come nighttime, and the real snowman with a red scarf that her father had most likely made earlier that morning. Nic may have professed that she wasn’t all that into Christmas, but her eyes were wide with wonder.

“Okay, so now I’m nervous. I’m going to be like a kid because all of this is just…wow.”

Abby laughed. “The few conversations I had with you, I never thought this would be your reaction.”

“I know. I thought I would be indifferent to it, just like I am to the holiday itself.”

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with being excited. This is all new for you. You don’t have to try to temper your enthusiasm, Nic. This trip isn’t all about me, you know.”