“Because I’m a terrible gift giver. I never have a clue as to what to get them. They certainly don’t need anything.” She shrugged. “I guess I never really learned. And the excuse of a gift card is that they can get whatever they want. The stockings, though, that’s usually fun. My mother seems to find cute little knickknacks or something for each of us. Sometimes there’ll be jewelry—earrings or a necklace or something like that.”

“What about Aaron? Did you used to exchange gifts? Before Holly, that is?”

“Alcohol. He would get me a couple of bottles of wine, and I’d get him a bottle of bourbon or something. But really, we’re just not that close. He didn’t move back to the Dallas area until three years ago. And, of course, the last two, he’s been with Holly. Since I’ve been in high school, the only time we see each other is at Christmas.”

“So as much as I consider my family life dysfunctional, you—”

“God, yes. Totally dysfunctional. Although maybe that’s not the right word. Unconventional. My mother and I are still very close. When they lived in Dallas, I had dinner with them at least once a week, sometimes more. It was an adjustment when they moved. We talk on the phone all the time now. My dad? Well, he’s—”

“Preoccupied?”

Abby nodded. “He’s one of those people who will never retire. He has to have a purpose, a job. There’s no idle time with him. He’ll have everything organized. Tomorrow we’ll take their Suburban to tour the lights in town. He’ll have the route planned out precisely. He’ll know exactly how long it’ll take. And my mother, just to mess with him, will suggest a side street or suggest we stop somewhere. It drives him crazy,” she said with a laugh.

They paused at the edge of the driveway, both looking down the forest road, which was covered in snow. The only evidence that there was a road was the break in the trees.

“I have a confession to make,” Nic said, her breath frosting around her.

Abby nodded. “Okay.”

“Last night, before bed, I was…I was feeling out of place. Lonely. Like I was thinking, what the hell am I doing here.” She turned to glance at her. “And wishing I hadn’t agreed to this.”

“I’m sorry, Nic. It’s because of the way Holly treated you, right?”