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“I want to.” She frowned. “I don’t know how you’ve been living with so few things for so long.”
“I have perfected the art of not having much. And there wasn’t a whole lot I couldn’t leave behind, anyway. Moving between programs as often as I did, it’s better to travel light. Though, I did send a few things home. So, don’t be deceived. There is follow-up.”
“Good,” her mom said. “I would be a bit concerned if you came away from all of that with no souvenirs.”
“The souvenir was the education,” Ruby said. “Honestly. The museums. The historical sites. It wasn’t like anything... I can’t believe it’s over.”
“I’m a little surprised you didn’t end up settling there. In Italy or England. They were your favorites, weren’t they?”
“Yes,” she said slowly. “And I thought about it. But... I don’t know, there’s this opportunity here, and I got to know this town doing the work I did with the historical society. Doing the living history I did with the historical society...”
“Yes, I remember it well, since I sewed your dresses.”
“It just seemed like maybe it would be a waste to not try this. Plus, I miss you guys. I can’t imagine being away permanently.” She almost mentioned Mac. Almost mentioned Lydia’s loss. But the air of determinedall rightnessin the air was too firm and she didn’t want to disturb it.
“I can’t imagine it either,” her mom said, wrapping her arm around her and giving her a kiss on the head. “But I always knew that you were destined for big things, Ruby McKee.”
She didn’t say why, but Ruby knew it all the same. She’d been spared for some reason, after all. Everyone thought that. And so, she must be destined for some sort of greatness.
Ruby had never really felt all that great. Because as much as she valued the miracle that was her life, it was the other side of it that lingered. She’d been saved, it was true.
But first she’d been left to die.
She stood and went to the window, looked out over the familiar landscape, then squared her shoulders, as if to shake off the thought.
It didn’t do to dwell on the dark sides of the past, not when there was so much brightness all around.
Ruby wanted to bring brightness.
It was why she was here.
2
First Presbyterian Church of Pear Blossom
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
MARY—Lydia McKee
JOSEPH—Benjamin Smith
BABY JESUS—Hattie Mayfield
ANGEL OF THE LORD—Ruby McKee
THREE WISE MEN—Elizabeth Albright, Shannon Smith, Heath Mayfield
SHEPHERDS—Analise Johnson, Corbin Johnson, Aiden Mayfield
SHEEP—Jade Springer, Callie Springer, Sarah Marsh
OLD DONKEY—Dahlia McKee
DAHLIA
Ruby was home. Her mother had texted her a few minutes earlier, as if Dahlia had forgotten her younger sister would be here today. She shut her laptop off promptly at three, stretching at her small desk and looking around her office—which was essentially a closet.
She took the brass watering can off the windowsill and poured some water on her fiddle-leaf fig, which was beginning to look poorly, much to her chagrin.
