A general chorus of affirmatives followed, and Suzanne took on the role of glass filling as classy Christmas carols played and people flitted about, either socializing or helping in the kitchen to get the meal served.

Winona held out her glass for seconds. “Being hostess is thirsty work,” she said with a grin.

Suzanne smiled. “You love it.”

“I do.” Winona laughed, and it was so damn happy, it made Suzanne want to cry, which was all kinds of screwed up. Winona’s eyes narrowed suddenly. “Are you okay?”

“Not really.”

She moved closer. “What happened?” she asked, her voice dropping.

“I went and fell in love with Joshua Grady.”

“Ah.” Winona patted her shoulder. “Yeah.”

Suzanne frowned. “What do you mean, yeah?”

“Babe, I write love stories for a living. I have good antennae for these things.”

What? “A heads-up might have been nice.”

Winona patted her on the shoulder again. “What are you going to do?”

Suzanne glanced over at the fire, where Grady was standing along with Drew, Arlo, and Burl. They seemed to be doing all the talking, but he looked comfortable in their company. “I have no idea.”

“Poor baby.” The pat became a gentle squeeze. “Let’s talk—tomorrow, okay? It’s too hard now.”

“Yeah.” Suzanne nodded. “Thanks.”

“Here.” Winona reached for a wrapped present from a small pile sitting farther along the bench. “This is for you.”

Suzanne smiled as she took the small boxlike gift, excited to see what gimmicky present Winona had bought her this year. Tearing off the paper, she opened the box to find a snow globe. Not one of those elegant, classy ones sitting on a wooden stand that played music. No, it was a tacky plastic dome-shaped one found in abundance in tourist shops all over the world. Inside were three miniature Greek statues, women with long flowing robes barely covering their ample bosoms and laurel wreaths in their hair.

The white plastic bordering on the outside proclaimed them to be Calliope, Clio, and Erato. Three of the nine Greek muses. Suzanne laughed, shaking it to watch the snow fall before clutching it to her chest and hugging her friend. It was cheesy and awful and perfect.

So perfect.

“I love it, thank you.” Pulling out of the embrace, she quickly grabbed her gift she’d left on the table when she’d entered the room. “Your turn,” she said, handing it over.

Winona gave an excited little shimmy as she, too, tore open the packaging to reveal the bag of dicks. “Oh my god,” she said before dissolving into a fit of the giggles.

Suzanne laughed, too. “You like?”

“I love.” Winona grinned. “I’m going to put one on every plate. Can’t wait to see the look on Officer Uptight’s face.”

Suzanne laughed. “Maybe we should keep it PG. You know, for the five-year-old?”