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“The fewer things I have to carry with me, the better,” Kelsey said as their server appeared with menus.

“Could you bring us two delicious fruity drinks fit for this paradise?” Isabella asked, looking over at Kelsey.

She nodded and the server disappeared to get their drinks, letting them peruse the menu.

“I have two boys,” Isabella said, leaning over the small table. “I’m never without snacks or maybe a dinosaur or two in my purse.”

Kelsey chuckled. “I remember those days.”

Isabella studied Kelsey again and tilted her head. “Do you have kids?”

Kelsey nodded. “Two daughters, but they are in their twenties now.”

“What!” Isabella exclaimed, surprised. “You must have been a teenager when you had them.”

Kelsey thought for a moment. “My oldest, Dana, is twenty-four and Emma is twenty-two. Your comment made me realize that I was Dana’s age when I had her.”

“Really? I thought we were the same age,” Isabella said.

“How old are your boys?”

“Wyatt, my oldest, is thirteen and Gus is ten,” Isabella said.

“Oh, you’re getting to the fun stuff then—teenagers,” Kelsey said, widening her eyes. “I think you’re a lot younger than I am.”

Isabella shook her head. “I’m forty. That’s not far behind forty-eight, but I swear, Kelsey, you don’t look it.”

Their server set two drinks down that were the color of the sunset. Each had a skewer with a piece of pineapple and a cherry.

“Oh, these look delicious,” Isabella said, holding up her glass. “To my first Christmas without my boys and no, I’m not taking it well.”

Kelsey clinked her glass to Isabella’s. “I get it. My girls didn’t want to have Christmas with me.”

They both sipped from their drinks and nodded in approval.

“What do you mean they didn’t want to have Christmas with you?”

Kelsey paused. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”

“Yes, it might make me feel better about my situation.”

“Okay, here goes. I’m from Denver. Dana is in nursing school and has been a patrol and rescue skier since she was a teenager. She stays on the mountain during the holidays, but usually makes it down for Christmas Day. Emma, my youngest, is in the last year of her political science degree and got the opportunity to go to California with her roommate whose mother happens to be a congresswoman. She’s in heaven right now. So…” Kelsey paused to take another sip of her drink.

“So?”

“The girls know I’ve always wanted to spend Christmas at the beach. Be careful what you tell your kids,” Kelsey said, leaning over the table. “They thought it would be a great idea for me to come on this beach getaway while they're doing their own thing for Christmas. I don’t think either of them realized I wanted to spend Christmas at the beach as a family.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll remember that. Be specific,” Isabella said, narrowing her eyes.

“Exactly.” Kelsey nodded. “Now, what about you? You said this was your first Christmas without your boys?”

Just then their server came back to take their orders.

“Would you want to order the seafood sampler and split it?” Isabella asked. “We can try everything that way.”

“That sounds good,” Kelsey replied.

“And bring us another round of these drinks, please,” Isabella said.