It’s only in that moment that she remembers: last year’s holiday party, right before she’d left W&G. And Michael had been caught with his pants down – literally – with his secretary about halfway through the evening. Shit.

She clears her throat, wondering what exactly she should say about it, even as the divorce attorney in her wondered – what kind of crap settlement had Hannah gotten that left her working here?

“Sorry, I…” Totally forgot what must have been a super humiliating, terrible experience for you?

Hannah waves her hand as she shakes her head. “It’s – well. It is what it is.” She blows out a sigh, and the little hairs that have escaped her ponytail to settle around her visor move with it. “How are you doing? You went to another firm, right?”

Whew. “Yeah. McGregor and Associates. After…”

Normally, Caroline is not a tongue-tied person, nor is she someone who doesn’t finish her sentences. But what she wants to say is after your son of a bitch husband and/or ex-husband bad mouthed me for years and stole my promotion and, well, she and Hannah don’t exactly have that kind of rapport.

She lets out a relieved breath when her phone rings, even though it’s most definitely her mother calling to yell about her tardiness. Saved by the bell.

Perfect timing too, as Hannah swiftly caps both drinks. Both cups, she now notices and wants to roll her eyes at, have fake cartoon Christmas lights on them. Of course. Why wouldn’t they? Can’t drink coffee out of the normal cup during the holidays.

She holds up her phone, as both excuse and apology. “My mom. I should…”

Hannah doesn’t slide her drinks over just yet but she nods. “Yeah, of course! Take it. I’ll just – label the drinks real quick.”

Her mom is already talking when she answers and Caroline grimaces. Oh yeah, it is going to be a fun dinner. She cradles the phone under her ear as she reaches to take a drink in each hand.

Merry Christmas, she mouths at Hannah before she waves with a drink in her grip – which looks awkward. But it’s too late to stop herself.

It makes Hannah quirk her a smile, a nervous looking one though, she thinks, before she offers a little one back.

Weird. So weird.

***

“I’m here! Sorry, sorry.” She pants as she runs into the dining room, grateful for the perpetually slightly-too-warm temperature of her parents’ house in Mission Hill warding off the chill from outside.

All eyes are on her – two parents, three brothers, two sisters-in-law, four nieces, and two nephews, all seated at two tables stuffed into the small dining room – as she places the chai latte next to her mom and swiftly bends down to kiss her cheek. “Sorry, ma.”

“Auntie Caroline’s finally here! We can eat!” Her youngest nephew, Connor, shouts and she shoots him a playful shhh.