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“I’m doing some research on the history of the town, for a series of articles. And I’m trying to get Ruby to play along and do the museum displays.”
“I’m playing along,” Ruby said. “I’m just deeply uncomfortable about the aspect that includes me.”
“What are you doing about Ruby?” Lydia asked.
“It’s a compendium of town history. I would be remiss to leave Ruby out of it.”
“Wow. First the nineties are retro, now Ruby is history. You’re not doing a lot for my self-esteem, Dahlia.”
“Well,” Dahlia said, “I think it’s interesting.”
“I think everything that can be said about Ruby and Caitlin has been said,” Marianne pointed out. “Didn’t theGazetterun exhaustive coverage of both things? They were the biggest stories Pear Blossom has ever had.”
“Well, yes,” Dahlia said. “I guess it’s just that... I don’t know. I’m curious about other angles or something. The full context of the history of the town. I’m trying to reinvigorate interest in the paper.”
“I hate to break it to you,” Marianne said. “But I think print circulation is on the downhill slide.”
“You used to love the school paper,” Dahlia said. “Used to want to write,” she pointed out.
“Yes,” Marianne answered. “But then I realized I was terrible at it. In any way. I like being around people too much.”
“Well, I don’t. I hate people,” Dahlia said, grinning. “So a life spent distancing them by filtering them through the lens of their stories, and sitting by myself writing, is perfect. Anyway. I want to include some stuff about the store.”
“Well, I like that,” Marianne said.
“Great.”
“Can’t you just write a story that says I’m miraculous?” Ruby asked.
“Sorry,” Dahlia said, grabbing a French fry and dipping it into Ruby’s ranch. “Nothing is that simple.”
Marianne looked over at Ava. Sadly. She had a feeling that Dahlia was right.
30
1995—Sentinel Bridge is officially reopened to foot traffic! A barbecue will be held at the site, with food provided generously by Ron Davis, of Pear Blossom Market.
RUBY
It was dark when she pulled up to Nathan’s. She knew what she was doing. She knew exactly what she was doing, and she couldn’t regret it. Couldn’t stop to second-guess herself, because then she might turn away.
She had come back to Pear Blossom because her heart had been calling her here. And more than anything, it was Nathan who had resonated with her since coming back home. She was linked to him, and she couldn’t explain it. But did it matter? There were a great many things in her life that she couldn’t explain. She couldn’t explain how she had come to be on a bridge on the night before Christmas Eve. When the weather had been just like this. The air cold and thin and snapping, sharp against her skin.
In these days of early twilight, when darkness was more common than sunshine.
She couldn’t explain that.
And so, in a way, it seemed right to be here. It seemed right to be experiencing this thing. This poison miracle that made the blood in her veins feel like it was electrified.
She got out of the car.
She was doing it again. Invading his space when he had made it clear that he didn’t want her to.
But he wasn’t used to this. The people in his life had given up on him. The people that were supposed to be his community had called him a monster. His own parents hadn’t believed in him. The police chief thought he was rotten from childhood.
Maybe someone had to be relentless. Maybe someone had to keep kicking at the door until it was knocked down.
She knocked.
