“Now!” Susan clapped her hands together, her wrists dripping in diamond bracelets. “Let’s see what that food we ordered tastes like. You and Nick were too busy enjoying each other to offer the final opinion but we went with Nick’s favorite. Champagne, you two?”
“I’ll get it, Mother.”
“He likes to have your attention all to himself,” she said with a wink, making Abbey smile. She liked his attention too, and she liked it when it was just the two of them.
“Mama!” Max said, running over with Thomas.
“Walk, please,” she said gently.
“I want to show you what they have!” He grabbed her hand, pulling her away from Nick and Susan and nearly dragging her to the edge of the room by the two big Christmas trees. Along the large window, there was a small table covered in white linens. It was filled with licorice, giant swirled lollipops, gumdrops, hard candies of every kind and a giant chocolate fountain with marshmallows, pretzel sticks, and fruit arranged on skewers. In the center was the tin of cookies Abbey and Max had made yesterday.
Robin came up behind them. “I figured they need a party too,” she said. “I put this together at the last minute. I hope that was okay. We can get them all sugared up and then let them crash tonight while they wait for Santa. And I saved Santa two of your cookies.” She offered a conspiratorial smile.
Nick met them at the table. “What was that about Santa?” he asked.
“Mama and I made these for Santa and we saved him two of them,” Max said, pointing to the tin in the middle.
“Those look delicious,” Nick said. Then he made eye contact with Abbey as he continued talking to Max. “Santa would love to have anything you and your mother made, I’m nearly sure of it.” He squatted down between the two boys. “You two enjoy the treats. I’m going to take Abbey to the dance floor and spin her around some more.” When he smiled at Abbey, it was a big, genuine smile, and she could hardly help the flutters in her stomach. “Look,” he said pointing above them. “Mistletoe.” He leaned in and gave her a kiss. Then he grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor.
* * *
It was late. Abbey had taken her shoes off because the heels were starting to pinch her feet, and most of the guests had left already. The party had been amazing. There were so many people, but Nick had given almost all his attention to Abbey. Max and Thomas had gotten tired around eight, and Robin and Abbey had left the party long enough to tuck them into bed. Richard had helped Caroline get to her room when she’d decided to turn in for the night. Now, the quartet was packing up, but Abbey and Nick were still dancing, neither one of them letting go.
“I’m dying for more music!” Susan said, her arm slung around Carl, a glass of wine swinging from her fingers. “Nicholas, play us something on the piano.”
Abbey stood up on her toes to reach Nick’s ear. He’d straightened up to address his mother over Abbey’s head, so she really had to stretch to reach him. “Play your music,” she whispered.
He shook his head subtly.
“It’s the perfect time to show them. Everyone’s here.”
He looked down at her, that very rare vulnerability on his face.
“Do it,” she whispered with an encouraging nod.
“Play us something, Nick,” Robin said.
He cleared his throat and took in a slightly nervous sounding breath. “I have to get the music from my office,” he said.
“Come with me.” Abbey took his hand. “We’ll be right back,” she told everyone. Then, she led him to the stairs. “Wait right here.” She ran up to her room and tiptoed inside past Max who was sleeping. In the dark, she opened the closet door and slid her hand along the top shelf until her fingers hit the gift. On her toes, she stretched up to get it. Then, she ran across the room and let herself out. Nick was standing at the bottom of the steps. He looked so gorgeous in his tuxedo.
“What is that?” he said quietly as she came down the stairs.
“It’s your Christmas gift.” When she reached the bottom, she handed it to him.
He turned the box around in his hands to view the handmade paper. Then, he slipped the holly out from under the bow and untied the ribbon. Together, they sat down on the steps as he slid his finger under the paper to loosen it. The thick paper popped open and he set it aside, his eyes on the music book.
“I had it engraved,” she pointed out.
“Make your dreams and then follow them,” Nick read aloud and then opened the book and realized that she’d taken some of his music and filled it, the song “Dreams” on top.