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Ben took her hand and kissed her palm. “We also held the snowman-making contest in the field behind Mosby House.”
She nodded. Main Street ran through the center of town, from the church at the lower end of the street to Mosby House which sat on a high hill at the other end. “Then what?”
Lily laughed as she stared into her mug. “After drinking spiced cider at the tavern, the carolers would walk up and down Main Street, singing to people lined up to see the parade. Meanwhile, the parade floats would organize behind the church. Food stands offered roasted chestnuts and cinnamon rolls. Once the carolers reached the top of the hill, they’d turn on the lights of the tree in front of Mosby House.”
“That’s when the parade started,” Nana Ruthie said. “The Ladies Guild and VFW members led the way. Followed by the high school marching band, scouts and other groups. Santa, in a real horse-drawn sleigh, came up Main Street last.”
Ben leaned in close enough for Sophie to breathe in his aftershave. “Once Santa reached the Christmas Tree, he’d hand out presents to all the kids who showed up.”
She scrunched her nose. “What if he ran out of presents?”
“That never happened.” Gage rubbed his chin with his fist. “Although since I was a teenager during the last parade, I never paid attention to how it worked.”
No one responded. When the silence felt heavy, Sophie asked, “What about the star Clara mentioned?”
“The star.” Mr. Elmer stared out the window that faced Main Street. “We’d all hike up the ridge behind Mosby House and wait for the star to appear.”
Sophie squeezed Ben’s hand again. “Is that the star you told me your grandfather put up on the highest point of Mosby’s Gap, on top of the mountain next to this one?”
“Yes.” Ben’s smile softened the rough lines around his eyes. “We’d hike up to the ridge and turn off our flashlights. The moment the church bells rang at midnight, the star would light up in the distance. It’s so tall, it can be seen from miles away.”
Nana Ruthie touched Mr. Elmer’s shoulder. “Do you remember, Elmer? Once that star appeared we’d all make our Christmas wishes.”
Mr. Elmer covered her hand with his. “I remember.”
Nana Ruthie released a deep breath and used a paper napkin to dab her eyes.
Sophie watched as everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts and memories. How she wished she’d grown up in this town with its traditions and memories. “Nana Ruthie? Does anyone in town remember how to run the parade?”
“No.” Nana Ruthie looked at Ben with hooded eyes. “They’ve moved away or died. Including Caleb Mosby.”
Gage’s father and Ben’s grandfather. From what Sophie had heard, Caleb had been a hard man to deal with, before and after his death.
She began picking up the dishes and placed them on a tray on a nearby table. “What if I ran Santa’s parade?”
Nana Ruthie snorted. “Do you know anything about running a large event?”
She bristled at the implied criticism. “No. But, like Lily said at the meeting tonight, if no one remembers how to run it, then no one will know if I’m running it wrong.”
Mr. Elmer frowned. “Christmas Eve is in forty-eight hours.”
“I know,” she said. “It won’t be the grand event it used to be, but it will be a start of a new tradition.”
“Why?” Gage’s brown gaze, so similar to Ben’s, held hers.
“Because this town has been good to me.” She placed the hot chocolate mugs on the tray and wiped her hands on her apron. “It’s my way of saying thank you.”
My way of being included.
Everyone stood and watched her until Nana Ruthie said, “If the girl wants to do it, let her do it. We have nothing to lose.”
“We don’t have any money,” Gage said. “Everything will have to be begged for or donated or fought for, including your volunteers.”
“I know.” She touched Ben’s arm. Even though he wore a flannel shirt, his muscles bunched beneath her fingers. “I can do this.”
Ben brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “Are you sure? This will be a huge amount of work in a short period of time.”
She nodded. “I’m sure.”
