kind as those she had met here. She had a job waiting for her, an apartment already. She had investigated schools, neighborhoods, extracurricular programs for Christopher.
She had everything figured out, and she wasn’t going to throw away months of planning simply because she had enjoyed this holiday break so very much.
With that thought firmly in mind, she drove through the picturesque streets toward Holiday House.
She reached the house just as a shiny blue pickup truck pulled through the gates heading out. José Navarro lifted a hand in greeting from the driver’s seat and his brother, Rodrigo, waved with wild enthusiasm.
She waved back, feeling heartened as she pulled up to the house.
When she carried the groceries into the kitchen, she found Christopher eating a grilled cheese sandwich while Lucy entertained him and Winnie with card tricks.
They all greeted her. Lucy jumped up. “Can I carry in groceries for you?”
She held up the multiple bags hanging on each arm. “This is everything. I take it as a personal challenge to carry all the bags in one trip.”
“Everybody needs a goal, I guess,” Lucy said. She smiled, but Abby thought she detected shadows in her friend’s expression. Maybe she was still just tired.
“Hey, Mom. Guess what?” Christopher beamed at her around a giant bite of sandwich.
“Finish what you’re eating, then you can tell me.”
He sighed but chewed several times and swallowed, then chased it down with a glass of water.
“Guess what?” he repeated. “My friend Rodrigo and his brother were just here. They’re going bowling. Can we go bowling sometime? Maybe we could take my friend Dakota.”
Everyone seemed to be Christopher’s friend, which she found one of the best things about her son. She smiled. “That does sound like fun. We’ll have to see if we can find time while we’re here. I’ll see if I can arrange it with Mariah.”
She had started putting away groceries when she noticed Winnie wincing a little and flexing her fingers.
“Are you hurting? Do you need a pain pill? I was worried yesterday was too much for you.”
“I am just fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Maybe you should try to rest for a while before tonight. It’s going to be another long evening for you, leading tour groups.”
“I will,” Winnie promised. “I need my strength.”
“That reminds me,” Abby said. “You are the talk of the town right now. While I was shopping, everyone had wonderful things to say about Christmas at Holiday House last night. I was even asked about a cancellation list.”
Winnie’s wrinkled features brightened. “Oh, that’s a good idea. We had two people cancel yesterday and ask to come a different night. I had to tell them every night was full. I’ll talk to the board members about figuring out a system to keep track of a waiting list.”
They talked about the logistics of it for a few more moments and details they still needed to iron out. Lucy was uncharacteristically quiet while they talked.
As Abby finished putting away the last of the groceries, she saw Winnie wince again.
“You know, I can wake you when dinner is ready. I’m making more of that chicken enchilada soup you liked.”
“That does sound good. All right. Only because you’re making me,” she said with a dour look as she rose and made her way down the hall to her room.
“Chris, it’s rest time for you, too.”
“I’m too old to take a nap. I’m five years old now.”
This was not a new argument between them but one her son had yet to win.
“I’ve told you that you don’t have to take a nap. You only have to play quietly in your room for a half hour. You can read a book or play with your toys. It’s up to you.”
She had been trying to keep some sort of routine while they were here in Colorado. She wanted to think it had been good for him. She knew it had been good for her.
“Only half an hour, right? Then I can come out again and play with Lucy?”
“Unless she has something else going on.”
“I’ve got no plans,” Lucy said. “I’m all yours.”
Her son gave a heavy sigh and trudged off to their room as if he were carrying Santa’s entire pack on his back.
After he left, Lucy cleared away the plates the three of them had been eating sandwiches from. “Don’t tell me to nap. I’ve been sleeping for the past fourteen hours.”
Though Lucy tried to make a joke, Abby could still see something was bothering her.
“Is everything okay?” she finally