Abby nodded. “Your favorite color. It matches your eyes.” She took it from her. “Now, seriously, we’ve got to find gifts for each other. What do you want?”

“Well, I’ve had my eye on this really nice food processor. I just haven’t pulled the trigger on it yet.”

Abby smiled as she shook her head. “How about we stick to something a little more romantic than kitchen gadgets. It is our first Christmas together. We should get something special.”

“How about an ornament with the year on it?”

Abby shook her head again. “Not romantic and besides, I don’t have a tree up.”

“You don’t? So you didn’t take after your mother?”

“I have a few Christmas decorations, I just didn’t put them out this year. I don’t do a tree, though. I’m always up here for the holidays. Ten or eleven days of this is all I need. By the time I leave, I’ve had my fill.”

“The whole town looks decorated. I bet it’ll be pretty tonight.”

“Oh, it’s beautiful. Like a real Christmas village. There’s a couple of neighborhoods in the foothills north of town that go all out. That’s where we’ll tour the lights. All of the pubs in town are open, but they’re usually jampacked. That’s why we go home and have our own party and sing carols.” She shrugged. “At least, I guess that’s still the plan. What with my father being so distant…” She sighed. “You think I should talk to him?”

“What? Find out what’s going on?”

“Yeah. I mean, maybe he doesn’t realize that he’s fallen into this trap again. Maybe he has no clue that he’s abandoned Mom.”

“Well, not that I know them or anything, but judging by their actions, their demeanors, I’d say they’re not exactly in a happy marriage.”

She groaned. “Oh, I know. I was thinking back to last night at dinner. He had that faraway look in his eyes, like he wanted to be anywhere but there.” She laughed lightly. “Of course, so did I.”

“Would he talk to you about something like that?”

“I don’t know. I’ve always been closer to Mom, but Dad and I have always been able to talk.”

Nic stopped at a display of snow globes. She picked one up and shook it, watching with almost rapt attention as the snow settled around a gingerbread house that had Red River stenciled across the front. When the snow had all fallen, she shook it once more, then put it back down, still staring as the snow swirled around. Abby watched as Nic’s eyes remained glued to the globe. She looked up, almost embarrassed, then walked on.