“Did you know that Nick plays piano?” Abbey asked. He wrote beautiful music. People needed to hear it.
“Yes. He’s very gifted.”
“And he writes his own music.”
Robin stopped and looked directly at Abbey. “You know that?”
“He played me some.”
Her eyes got big, causing Abbey to notice her long, thick lashes. She was very beautiful. Outside of this situation, Abbey would feel intimidated near someone like her, but Robin was so kind and talkative that she almost didn’t notice how gorgeous she was. “He played for you?”
“Yes.”
“He hasn’t even played his music for me. As far as I know, he hasn’t played it for anyone. Except you, apparently. He guards it like some big secret, not letting any of us in on it.”
“Why would he do that?”
“You tell me.”
They made their way downstairs and headed into the living room where Caroline was dozing in a side chair. Abbey took in with pride the two dark wood side tables with coordinating lamps, the throw pillows for the sofas, and the whole host of indoor plants from the nursery. Thomas and Max were on the floor next to the spot where the bare Christmas tree was, playing with a small train set.
James was drinking a beer, the bottle resting in his lap. He had football on the big-screen, the volume low. He stood up when they reached him as a polite gesture. “I spoke with Caroline for a few minutes, but she fell asleep,” he whispered.
“Did you know that Nick played his music for Abbey?” Robin said to James.
He turned to look at Abbey, his eyes as wide as his wife’s had been. “Really?”
“Yes. I must get to the bottom of this.”
“Wait,” Abbey said, nearly breathless. “I don’t know if he wanted me to tell you.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m his sister and he tells me everything.” She bent down, her long hair nearly touching the floor, and smiled at Thomas and Max. “That looks fun,” she said. The boys both smiled at her, holding train cars in both hands.
“It is,” Thomas said, smiling. He handed her a train car. “This will be yours.”
“Thank you,” she said, standing up and putting it in her pocket.
“James, do you need another beer? I’m going to get a glass of wine.”
“No thank you, dear. I’m fine.”
“Abbey?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to impose.”
“You aren’t imposing at all! We can talk decorating.”
“Well, just the one glass then.”
“Excellent!” Robin clapped her hands together quietly, her diamond rings swinging around her thin fingers. “Come with me. You can choose your wine.”
Abbey followed her through the house as they made small talk about her choice in décor.
In the kitchen, Robin opened one of the cabinet-like doors, revealing a huge wine cooler—stacks of wine went from floor to ceiling inside the cabinet. The whole thing was at least eight feet tall! “Reds are on the left, whites on the right,” she said.
Abbey didn’t know about wine. She didn’t know what was good and what wasn’t. Did Robin expect her to say the name of a wine? She had no idea…
Her confusion must have been evident because Robin stepped in and said, “I really love this white wine.” She pulled the bottle from its holder. “It’s my favorite. It’s a little sweet, more on the dessert wine side, but very nice and crisp. Have you ever had it?” She turned the bottle around so that Abbey could read the label. She’d never even heard of it.
Abbey shook her head.
“Want to try some?”
“Yes. It sounds great, thank you.”
As Robin poured the wine, Thomas came into the kitchen. “Mommy, may I have something to drink too? Daddy said to come ask you.” He climbed up on one of the swiveling high-seat chairs that lined the bar in the center of the kitchen. His tiny feet dangled as he swung them back and forth.
“Sure. What would you like? Uncle Nick probably has everything.”
“Hot chocolate, please.”
“Mmm, hot chocolate sounds nice and Christmassy! Would Max like some?”
“He said he wanted to keep playing with my trains.”
Robin nodded and pulled a mug from the cabinet.
“How old are you, Thomas?” Abbey asked, taking her wine and sitting down beside him at the bar.
“Six.”
“I thought you looked like you could be six. Max is six too.”
“Did you know that Max will be staying here with us until Christmas? You two will be able to play every day,” Robin said. She looked over at Abbey. “Nick told me that you’d be living here to be on call for my grandmother. What a wonderful surprise to find out that your son will be here as well. Thomas was very worried about leaving his friends until after Christmas.”