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“No one knows for sure. The climate might have changed, or the water table dropped, and they decided it was time to move on.”
While I agreed inwardly that those sounded like good reasons for seeking a new place to call home, it still seemed a little odd that an entire tribe had disappeared with no one seeming to know where they’d gone. “They just…died out?”
“Maybe, or possibly they were assimilated into another tribe after they’d moved away from this area. Things like that were a lot more fluid back then than they are now.”
I nodded, and we made our way over to one of the refreshment tables so we could get some cider and cookies. While I’d heated up some leftover soup for myself, since I’d known Calvin and I wouldn’t have time to go out to dinner before heading to the festival, my body still felt as though it needed that cookie after running around after customers all day.
A rustle off to one side made me glance in that direction. Yes, there was Josie, but she had the high school’s choir director with her, and right behind them was a gaggle of students, all dressed in the frontier-style costumes I’d helped procure for this performance. I had to admit the kids in the choir looked very cute in their bib-front shirts for the boys and long prairie-looking dresses for the girls, and I allowed myself a stir of pride at seeing them present so well. It would have looked sort of out of place for them to be wearing their choir robes out here, as Miriam Jacobsen would have preferred. Since no jackets or sweaters were in evidence, I guessed the kids were wearing thermals under the costumes to keep them warm in the chill night air.
Anyway, Miriam was out of our hair for the immediate future, and so neither Josie nor I needed to worry about her interference. As she glanced in our direction, Josie sent Calvin and me a distracted smile, but I could tell right away that I didn’t need to worry about her getting on my case about baby Jesus this evening.
As more people began to assemble, obviously noticing that the choir was about to sing, she gave a little speech welcoming everyone to the festival and inviting them to have more refreshments. Afterward, she gave the floor to Louise, the choir director, who looked resigned at having Josie as the mistress of ceremonies. Still, she summoned a smile and welcomed everyone again, and then said the choir would be performing a medley of Christmas songs.
The group wasn’t very big — I counted ten students altogether — but their voices were sweet, and it was obvious that Louise had trained them well. As they segued from “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” into “O Holy Night,” Calvin leaned over and murmured in my ear,
“This might be a good time to wander around, when most people are listening to the choir.”
That sounded like a great idea to me. Although I was happy to hear the choir doing so well, I didn’t need to listen to the whole concert. And it would probably be better to take a look around the ruins without having to trip over tourists every fifth step.
Calvin and I slipped quietly away. The place wasn’t entirely deserted, of course, but we definitely had more freedom to wander as we wished. Part of the ruins had been set up as a small marketplace, with local vendors, including some silversmiths from the San Ramon tribe, selling their wares. In fact, the fun pavilions showcasing the sellers’ various wares reminded me of the couple of times I’d gone to the Renaissance Faire back in Southern California, only much smaller in scope and without the costumes.
And then my stomach sank, because I recognized the couple who’d been talking to one of the vendors, only to turn and start walking in our direction.
“You didn’t tell me your parents were coming tonight,” I said in a whisper to Calvin that, to my credit, only sounded partly accusing.
His expression didn’t exactly change, but I could tell from the way his shoulders stiffened slightly that this was an unwelcome surprise for him, too. “They didn’t say anything to me,” he replied, also in an undertone. “Then again, we’re not talking all that much these days.”
Even though I knew I’d done nothing to merit feeling that way, a spasm of guilt went through me nonetheless. It was pretty clear to me that Calvin and his family had always been close, and yet I’d created a barrier between them.
No,I reminded myself,you didn’t do any of that. It’s not your fault his parents have decided to be so close-minded about your relationship.
That inner admonition sounded very sensible. Still….
My racing thoughts had to come skidding to a halt right then, because by that point, Raymond and Delia were right in front of us. Calvin’s fingers tightened on mine, but I noticed how he didn’t let go.
“Hello, Calvin, Selena,” Delia said, as if encountering us here was no big deal.
“Hi, Mom,” Calvin replied, while I murmured a hello as well. It might have been cowardly of me, but in that particular moment, I was more than happy to let him take the lead in the conversation. He went on, “I didn’t know you were coming to the festival.”
“Oh, Peter Brightwolf is selling his jewelry here for the first time, so we thought we’d come and lend him some moral support,” Raymond said. His gaze flickered toward me for just a moment, resting for a second or two on the way Calvin’s and my hands were intertwined, but then he returned his attention to his son. “I also didn’t know that you were interested in attending. It’s not something you’ve done in years past.”
“Not for a while, at least,” Calvin returned, his tone still measured, but not terribly friendly, either.
“I wanted to come,” I piped up, figuring I’d left him twisting in the wind for long enough. “The festival sounded so beautiful, and since it’s my first holiday season in Globe, I really wanted to participate in it as much as I could.”
Was that the faintest hint of a smile around Delia’s mouth? In most cases, I would have said a mouth like hers — wide and not too full-lipped, with just the faintest lines at the corners — would have looked friendly, just like Calvin’s. That first time I’d met her, however, she’d been anything but cordial.
Now, though, she was also looking at the way Calvin and I held hands, although I didn’t see the same disapproval in her dark eyes that I’d detected in her husband’s.
Was there a chance she might be softening a bit toward me?
No, that sounded way too much like wishful thinking.
“It is very beautiful,” she agreed. “I’m glad you two had a chance to get out and enjoy yourselves. I would imagine you’ve been working some long hours at your store, Selena, because of all the holiday shoppers.”
My skeptical brain had to wonder why she was acting so nice. And all right, it wasn’t as though she’d come up and given me a big hug, but still, she did seem much friendlier than she’d been the night of the disastrous dinner party at her home.
“Oh, not really,” I replied, essaying a small smile and hoping that even such a small gesture wouldn’t seem like too much. “That is, it’s been really busy, but I promised myself I wouldn’t extend my hours just because of the holidays. I don’t want to contribute to that sort of consumerism any more than I already have.”
