“Have they set a date yet?” she asked in a clipped tone. “I mean, it’s been two years. What are they waiting on?”

“Well, he did hint that they might have some news. I can only hope that means they’re finally getting married.” Her mother cleared her throat. “I know you don’t want to talk about that. So…when do you plan to come up?”

She could opt for the day after. The later she got there, the less time she’d have to be around them. Or she could go the day before and get settled in and establish her territory before the happy couple arrived. She leaned her head back and slowly shook her head.

“I don’t know yet, Mom. I’ll let you know.”

“But, honey, it’s only six weeks away. I have meals to plan. Your father is going to take a few days off from the ski lodge, or so he says. I wanted him to take the whole ten days off—I mean, he is retired, after all—but he insists they need him there. I swear, he’s working more than ever. Do try to come on that Thursday, honey. We’ll do our annual Christmas lights tour on Christmas Eve. Of course, we’ll do our fancy Christmas Day dinner, like always. And you’ll need to let your father know what days you want to ski. He’ll get lift tickets in advance for you.”

Whatever days Aaron and Holly weren’t skiing, that’s when she’d go. But she would save that request for later.

“I better get back to work, Mom.”

“That’s it? But we haven’t decided anything yet.”

“I will be there on or before the twenty-third. How’s that?”

“Before? Oh, that would be wonderful. I’ll tell your father.”

She smiled at her mother’s exuberance. “Love you, Mom. Talk soon.”

She rested her head in her hands, wondering what in the world she was going to do. It had been nearly unbearable last year. That is, until the morning she’d found herself in bed with Holly, her ex of two years now. That had pushed her stress level to new heights, and she’d fled Red River four days early, blaming some crisis at work that demanded her attention. She’d not seen nor spoken to her brother nor Holly since then.

And now Christmas was rolling around again. Oh joy.

Chapter Two