“It’s a sangria,” her mother supplied. “Would you like a glass? I bought a couple of bottles for our Mexican theme dinner tomorrow, but I thought Nicole and I would try it early.”

“Actually, I think I’ll have real wine, if you don’t mind. Please say you have some in the kitchen. I do not want to have to go back out to the bar.”

“No, honey, I’m sorry. We moved it all to the bar.” She sighed. “I suppose we should go out and be social. William will be home any minute now.”

Abby actually groaned. “Do I have to?” she asked childishly.

“Come on,” Nic said. “We’ll sit together and hold hands and irritate Holly.”

Her mother laughed out loud at that, a hearty laugh that Abby wasn’t certain she’d heard before. She looked questioningly at Nic. What had she told her mother? But Nic only smiled at her as she stood, taking her glass of wine with her.

Aaron had added another log, as she’d asked, and the fire was blazing hotly again. Since Holly was on the loveseat, Nic took the sofa. She went over to the bar, looking over the wine bottles. Holly had opened a red blend, an Apothic Red that she’d had before. She also eyed a pinot noir. Instead, she picked up the blend that Holly had opened and filled a glass an inch from the top.

Her mother came up holding the bottle of sangria that she and Nic had been drinking from. “I quite like this. I think I may have to buy it more often. A nice afternoon sipping wine.”

“What is it?” Holly asked.

“Oh, it’s a sangria I got for tomorrow’s dinner. Something festive to go with our taco buffet.” Her mother smiled at Nic. “Nicole is not a fan of wine, but I think I’ve got her hooked on this one.”

Holly flicked her eyes dismissively. “Cheap and sweet. I’d hardly call that wine.”

Her mother surprised her by her retort. “For us unsophisticated types, it goes down just fine. Uppity, snooty ones may not think so.”

Abby matched Nic’s smile as she sat down beside her. “So, you’re unsophisticated, huh?”

“Hate to break it to you like this, babe, but yeah, I am.”

Abby leaned closer to kiss her. “I love you just the way you are.” Their eyes held and she wasn’t surprised to find herself leaning over to kiss her a second time. God, what a rush she got from that. And when Nic’s hand rested on her thigh, she felt nearly dizzy. Whatever was wrong with her?

“Have you all made your plans for skiing?” her mother asked to no one in particular.

Aaron pulled his nose out of his phone long enough to glance at Holly. “Have you decided yet?”