But it’s not so bad when she’s there with Hannah one Saturday afternoon and they make their way through the toy aisles, Hannah giggling at her while Caroline tries out all of the newest gadgets.

Usually, one of the only things she doesn’t do as an aunt is go to Christmas choral concerts, because just, no thanks.

But this year, she helps Abbie practice her songs and she’s pretty excited to show up to the elementary school concert and surprise them both.

Caroline makes her way toward the front of the seats in the auditorium, knowing that Hannah will want to sit up there to get a good view of Abbie when she has her solo in Let It Snow and be able to take an unobstructed video.

It’s a whole shared surprise when she approaches – Hannah is clearly surprised to see her and she’s surprised to see Michael’s parents sitting in the seats next to Hannah.

It’s a pleased surprise, she thinks, on Hannah’s face. Before she realizes who she’s sitting with, and her posture grows tense.

Caroline notes it and doesn’t lean in the way she wants to, instead nodding at the Daltons. “Hi, nice to see you again.”

The surprise has faded a bit into what she thinks is suspicion. She wouldn’t be shocked if they’d heard all sorts of slanderous comments about her from Michael, especially after her presence at Abbie’s birthday. But mostly, she thinks they should be less concerned with her appearance at things like birthday parties and choral concerts and less concerned with the fact that their son doesn’t make an appearance.

Still, as much as a part of her would love to make a veiled comment, she doesn’t. She knows Hannah hadn’t been planning on them coming, as she hadn’t mentioned it, and she doesn’t want to make it any more uncomfortable for her.

Marina sniffs, “Yes, well, we weren’t sure we’d be in town. But Abbie had been quite excited about it. What are you doing here?”

Hannah jumps in before she can answer for herself. “Caroline’s niece is in the sixth grade concert.”

She gets it, but… all right, it doesn’t feel great. Of course, Norah is in the sixth grade concert and she does plan on taking both Norah and Abbie out to the specialty hot chocolate shop down the street. But she’d come for Abbie, and Hannah knows it.

But, her stomach still sinks even as she gamely keeps a smile on her face. “Yeah. I just wanted to say hi before the show began.”

She’s sure she can track down her parents in the crowd. They prefer to sit somewhere in the back at these events, to make an easy escape – she definitely inherited that trait.