Memory’s family was already at the lighting ceremony when she made her way over after locking up the shop. She’d taken a few extra minutes to change into a bright red sweater and her favorite dark blue jeans. The ones she’d worn all day weren’t dirty, but she thought she may as well look her best if she was going to go to the trouble of standing near Dak at the ceremony. She’d fixed her makeup, put on some red lipstick that matched her hat, scarf, and gloves, and brushed out her hair. And maybe sprayed on a little bit of her favorite vanilla-scented perfume.... She wasn’t necessarily trying to impress him, but why not look her best if she could?
Ellie had been talking about the ceremony all day, even staying past 2:00 when she’d normally been leaving the shop so that she could continue to chatter about it. Memory did her best to calm her new friend because it really wasn’t a big deal, but Ellie seemed to think it was. She’d relayed basically every conversation she’d ever had with Dak at least twice, trying to convince Memory that he really was looking to do some good for the town and not swipe up cheap historic homes and turn them into profit centers for his business, but Memory wasn’t convinced. Ellie might be looking at the situation through rose colored, heart-shaped glasses.
The ceremony started at 6:00 and was held across the street outside of the shop in the green area in the center of the square known as Christmas Park. Lots of pine trees dotted the landscape, but the large cedar in the center, near a gazebo erected just for the lighting ceremony, was always decorated as the town Christmas tree. Memory had noticed the ornaments going up off and on for the last few weeks, but this night would be the first time the town got a glimpse of the tree all lit up. It always looked spectacular, and she had no doubt it would tonight as well.
Kirsten waved at her, balancing Anson on her hip as Maison bent down to talk to Lorelei. The little girl was bouncing up and down with excitement, pointing at the different ornaments on the tree. “Where’s dad?” Memory asked, giving Anson a kiss on the cheek as he reached for her. She took him in her arms, glad to give her sister a break for a minute.
“He’s over there, talking to Sheila,” Kirsten replied, making her eyes go wide for a second. Memory chose to ignore the face. She knew her sister thought her dad was interested in the coffeeshop owner, but Memory didn’t have time to think about that right now. “Where’s... your friend?”
Memory drew in a deep breath and glanced around. “I don’t know. I don’t see him. Maybe he’s not coming. Maybe he got busy and won’t be able to make it.”
“Maybe he’s standing over there with Jen and Chet,” Maison said, standing up and gesturing across the park with the top of his head.
Pursing her lips, Memory moved her head a little and saw Dak exactly where her brother-in-law said he was. She cleared her throat. “Maybe he is.”
Maison chuckled at her, and Kirsten said, “Go on over.”
“Give me a minute!” Memory insisted as Lorelei pulled on her hand.
“Look, Aunt Memory! Look at the Santa.” She pointed at one of the larger, more sparkly ornaments on the tree. Santa’s red coat gleamed in the soft glow of the street lamps strategically placed around the park.
“It’s beautiful. I should see if I can find some like that for the shop, huh?”
“Yeah! And we could have one on our tree!”
“Memory, what are you doing here?” her dad said, coming up behind her. Memory leaned up and looked at him. “Isn’t your friend here yet?”
“He’s over there,” Kirsten said, thumbing over her shoulder.
“Don’t point at him!” Memory insisted.
“I didn’t!”
“Yes, you did!”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Girls,” Bryce said, shaking his head. “Memory, don’t you think you should go over?”
“I’m going. Give me a minute.”
“You look beautiful,” Kirsten said. “Even if you are a brat.”
Memory narrowed her eyes at her big sister as Lorelei scolded her mother. “Mommy—that’s not nice.”
“Oh, my! If it isn’t the happy family!”
Ellie’s voice interrupted Memory’s opportunity to agree with her niece. She turned to see the redhead approaching, a wide grin on her face. “Hi, Ellie!”
“Hello, dear,” she said, giving Memory a hug. “I’m so excited to meet all of you!” Ellie’s eyes were glistening, which Memory found puzzling. Why would the prospect of meeting her family make her new friend tear up?
“You remember my dad, Bryce.” The two greeted each other. “And this is my sister Kirsten and her son Anson, her husband Maison, and this is Lorelei.”
Ellie said hello to everyone and noted that Anson was “such a big boy.” She stooped down to look at Lorelei. “How are you, princess?”
“Are you an angel?”
Ellie’s eyes grew large as she studied the child. “Am I a... what? An angel?” Ellie giggled. “Now, uh, why would you say that?”
“I don’t know. You just... seem like an angel.”
“She’s not an angel, Lorelei, but she’s sent from heaven. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her help this week. She’s like an angel, but not a real angel.” Memory looked at Kirsten who shrugged. Lorelei had quite the imagination.
“I’m not an angel, sweet girl,” Ellie assured her. “But I bet you’ve been an angel all year. Tell me, what did you ask Santa for?”
As Lorelei began her long list, Kirsten poked Memory on the shoulder and cleared her throat.
“What?” Memory glanced over Kirsten’s shoulder and caught Dak’s eyes. He hadn’t moved, but he was definitely aware that she was there.
“Go.”
“I am.”
Ellie asked Lorelei to stop for one second and then looked up at Memory. “Honey, don’t you have plans?”
“I, uh....”
“Go on, now. Being fashionably late is one thing, but anything more is just rude.”
Ellie was right—she had told him she’d stand near him, and while she was contemplating arguing that she was within twenty feet, which was close compared to say, four miles, she knew she’d have to go over eventually or else he’d think she was just awful. If he didn’t already. She hadn’t exactly been nice to him the other afternoon, once she’d found out who he was. It was a wonder he even wanted to see her at all. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe she’d walk over, and he’d say something came up and he had to go.
“Fine,” Memory finally said, rolling her eyes and brushing her hair off of her shoulders. She’d thought it was a little chilly when she first came outside, but now that her cheeks were on fire, she wasn’t cold at all.
“Have fun....” Kirsten called, turning and waving in the direction Memory was headed.
“Stop it!” Memory mouthed at her.
“I’m waving at Jen!” Kirsten practically yelled.
Memory chose to ignore her, even though she knew her sister was waving at Dak, too, and made her feet shuffle through the snow.