Hannah’s eyes are wide and apologetic on hers. Caroline gives her what she hopes is a reassuring smile even through the slight sting.

Later, on the phone that night, it’s the first thing Hannah says when Caroline picks up. “I’m sorry.” She heaves a sigh, and Caroline can imagine the stormy look in her eyes. “I didn’t know they were coming or that you were coming and… this is all a part of what I was talking about, in the first place.”

The turmoil she’s clearly feeling makes Caroline’s stomach twist with guilt and worry and – no. She isn’t going down that road.

“It’s okay.” It’s the truth, it really is, under the immediate reaction she’d had. “I was,” she clears her throat, “You know, it didn’t feel great. But I understand.”

It’s a situation she’s never been in. Not only has she never dated someone who wasn’t already out, but she’s never had to navigate ex in-laws, either. It’s all entirely new.

“Abbie loved that you were there. And I did, too,” she confesses. “I didn’t think you’d want to come. That’s why I didn’t invite you. You know, you said you didn’t like Christmas and so…”

“I don’t. Usually. There’s something about the holidays that feels a little different this year.”

“Oh, yeah? I wonder what it is.” The distress is completely gone as Hannah teases her and it sets her at ease.

“Mm, I wonder.”

***

Abbie is frowning as they drink hot chocolate a few days later, after she’s done her homework. “Mom says we can’t have a real tree in our apartment, cuz it’s too small.” She heaves a big sigh for her small body. “We can’t even fit all our ornaments on the one we have.” She pokes at one of the marshmallows floating at the top of her mug, before she turns questioning eyes to Caroline. “Can I help decorate your tree, when you put it up? I’m really good at it, I promise. And I bet mom will give you some of our leftover ornaments!”

Her voice really perked up as she’d continued speaking, the excitement in it taking away from the sad look that had previously been in those big blue eyes.

And Caroline looks around her condo.

It’s stylized just to her liking, always has been. She guesses that’s one of the only perks of being a single woman who has always lived alone. She’s really never had the urge to get a tree, let alone a real one with the pine needles that fall off and needs to be maintained. She has zero decorations for Christmas stowed away in her storage closet.