“Hm? I’m sorry… I was just thinking about…. about Christmas,” Bette said quickly, by way of an excuse.

“Well, yes,” Tina said, raising an eyebrow. “Angelica just asked what we were going to do this year. Did you have anything special in mind?”

“Oh. Um… no, not really.” Bette smiled at Angelica. “Do you know what you want to ask Santa for this year? I can take you to see –”

“Santa?” Angelica rolled her eyes. “Mother, please. I told you before, I’m not a child.” Angelica took a prim bite of chicken and a dainty sip of apple juice in a wine glass.

Bette exchanged glances with Tina, who shrugged one shoulder. “Don’t look at me. You were the one that wanted her to go to that school.” There was a glint of mischief in Tina’s eyes.

It was true that while Tina had advocated sending Angelica to an acclaimed public school, Bette had insisted on one of the better private schools in the city. Bette had considered it quite a coup when Angelica had been admitted to Harmon Penn, but she found Angelica’s assertions of maturity of late somewhat bewildering.

“Everyone at school is going somewhere or doing something during the holiday break,” Angelica was saying. “I’m like literally the only one in my class that doesn’t have plans.”

“Plans? Angelica, at your age you should be content to eat cookies and watch Christmas cartoons,” Tina said. “You don’t need plans. What’s wrong with being excited about getting some new toys?”

“Elisa’s family is going to Maui, Mom. Jessie’s family is going to Paris, and Caitlin is going to Aspen,” Angelica groused, naming her three best friends at school. “Why aren’t we going anywhere?”

“We could always visit L.A., I guess,” Tina conceded, looking at Bette for a reaction to the idea.

Bette shook her head. “Everyone is going to be busy, remember? Except Max.”

“Cross L.A. off the list, then,” Tina murmured. Bette smiled slightly, giving Tina a knowing look.

“L.A. is boring,” Angelica piped up. “I wanna go to Aspen. Caitlin says celebrities go there all the time!”