“I think you’ll forgive me when you hear my news,” her father said. Lucy felt his lips brush the top of her head in a hello kiss and then the sounds of him leaning over to kiss her mother.
“I hope it’s worth our dinner getting cold,” Lucy’s mother said.
“Well, hm, I’m not sure,” her dad said. “Lucy, would you say that your good old dad getting a new job was worth waiting for, even if it made this delicious ravioli catch a slight chill?”
Lucy shrieked and clapped her hands. Her mom jumped up, her chair scraping back as she came around the table to hug her husband.
“What’s the job, Dad?” Lucy asked.
“It’s with Kira Cutler’s firm,” her dad said. “They’ve been getting a lot more jobs lately and have been planning to hire a new senior architect. She was going to post the job at the start of the new year but she’s been so pleased with my work on the Callahan house that she offered me the job this afternoon. We spent about an hour going over details of the contract but it’s more than fair. It’s a better offer than I could have hoped for and I’ll start the first of the year.”
“Congratulations!” Lucy said. As the news washed over her, the heaviness that had been pressing into her shoulders the past seven months was dissolving, leaving a sweet weightlessness behind.
“In a way, that’s another gift we’ve gotten from the Angel Tree,” Lucy’s mom said.
“It is,” her father said, beginning to serve ravioli around the table. “We’ve been awfully lucky this year.”
As her parents discussed the details of the new job, their voices rippling with joy, Lucy felt the truth of her father’s words. But it wasn’t just luck. It was someone’s hard work that had made this all happen. Which meant that now, more than ever, it was essential that they find GB and thank her. So if Lucy did anything at all to mess up their shot at the bingo game, she would never forgive herself.
Cami, wait up!”
Cami’s whole body stiffened at the sound of her friend Oliver’s voice. She knew exactly what he was going to say and she was not looking forward to it. She turned slowly, trying to push her face into an expression of nonchalance.
“Cami, the Gala is in six days and we need you,” Oliver said when he had caught up to her, concern etched across his features. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve been really busy with school stuff.” She had planned this response and hoped it came off sounding natural. “I’m struggling a little in science and, you know, school has to come first.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Oliver asked. “Maybe I can help you study for the science test —”
“I’m fine,” Cami said, hating how cold she sounded. But it was that or bursting into tears right there in the crowded hallway.
“Cami, come on,” Max shouted from the front door of the school. “You’re late!”
Normally it would have annoyed Cami to have him yell like that but now she was so relieved to escape this conversation with Oliver that she waved enthusiastically. “See you later,” she said to Oliver, not able to look him in the eye. But that was a mistake because her gaze landed on the saxophone case he had cradled under one arm. It reminded her of the comforting feeling of carrying her violin. Being without it was like missing a piece of herself, and that feeling hadn’t gotten any easier these past few weeks.
“Hey, Cami,” Joe said, coming up beside her as she headed toward Max. He looked at her, then asked, “Are you okay?”
Cami quickly blinked back the tears that had appeared in her eyes. She couldn’t fall to pieces anytime she saw someone carrying an instrument case. She was trying to be more like Willa, not become an emotional basket case. So Cami cleared her throat and grinned at Joe. “I’m great, thanks,” she said.
They came to the doors of the school where Max and Lucy were waiting.
“Let’s do this,” Max said, his energy infectious.
The four of them headed into town, sidestepping a snowball fight at the corner of Claremont and Main Streets. They made a quick stop at Cinnamon Bakery for a bag of doughnuts, and then headed to the basement of the Pine River Baptist Church.
Cami noticed Lucy was going super slowly down the steps. “Are you hurt?” she asked her friend.
The corners of Lucy’s mouth turned down. “No, just being careful,” she said. Cami saw that her hands were gripping Valentine’s lead so hard that her knuckles were turning white. Something was clearly going on, but before Cami could ask her, they stepped down into the crowded basement, where the bingo game was in full swing.
And now she needed to put every bit of her attention toward Mrs. Barrister. This weekend she and her grandmother were going to visit Willa and her family, and Cami was hoping that she and her friends would have the proof they needed that the Barristers were indeed GB. She wouldn’t actually tell her family the story, since she wanted to surprise them once the plans for the big thank-you celebration were in place. But just knowing they were close would make the weekend of her grandmother praising perfect Willa a lot easier to take.
As she glanced around the room filled with long tables and folding chairs for the game, she spotted her grandmother sitting next to Julia Whittaker, the two of them bent over their bingo cards. Cami couldn’t help smiling a bit; her grandmother was very serious about her bingo.
“Mrs. Barrister is over there,” Max said in an exaggerated whisper as they stood at the foot of the stairs, taking in the scene.
“I don’t think she can hear you this far away,” Cami said in her normal voice. Mrs. Barrister was at a table at the opposite side of the large, drafty room, hunched over her bingo cards. Cami’s heart clenched up as she thought about the fact that Mrs. Barrister had lost her son. Her white hair was falling out of its bun in wisps and her blue cardigan hung off her thin body like a cape.
Max raised any eyebrow. “You can never be too careful. I think we should come up with a few hand gestures before we get closer.”
Cami and Joe snickered, though Lucy didn’t seem to have even heard. “Why would we need to communicate silently?” Cami asked.
“Who knows if we might need to act quickly,” Max said.
“What, in case she makes a break for it?” Cami asked. “I don’t think she’ll be moving very fast.” She gestured toward the walker next to Mrs. Barrister.
Before Max could respond, a shout of Bingo came from the front row.
“I won!” Cami’s neighbor Wilbur Jenkins called out.
Mrs. Whipple, who was famous for chasing kids off her lawn with an umbrella, whipped her head around. “Better check that card,” she yelled. “He’s a known cheater.”
Cami cringed at the words as she watched kind Mr. Jenkins, who always cleared their driveway and front path with his snowblower after storms, sag a bit in his seat.
Right in front of them, Clara Mitchell, the town registrar, stood up. “Hogwash,” she called out indignantly. “Mrs. Whipple, I’m quite sure I remember the only cheater we’ve ever had at this game was you, last month.”
Mrs. Whipple sent a stinging glare at Mrs. Mitchell, who held her pose defiantly.
Cami was torn between being appalled at how they were acting and wanting to laugh.
“Let’s break for some coffee,” Mrs. Johnson said, running a hand through her salt-and-pepper hair. Cami noted that she looked tired.
“This is our chance,” Max whispered, starting toward the refreshment table set up at the back of the room. The bingo players were slowly standing up and heading over.
Cami trailed behind Max as he walked up to Mrs. Barrister, who was carefully taking a Nutter Butter from a tray of cookies.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Barrister,” he said.
Her hand froze and she looked up nervously. “Do I know you?” she asked.
“I am a youth at the local school right here in Pine River,” Max said.
Cami stifled a laugh at his formal declaration but Mrs. Barrister continued to look at him uneasily.
“Do yo
u have any plans for Christmas?” Max asked.
Mrs. Barrister looked alarmed, as though she worried Max might invite himself over for Christmas dinner. “Just a quiet evening at home,” she said.
“That sounds great,” Max said.
Cami could hear the edge of desperation in his voice and she wracked her brain for a way she might be able to help. “Christmas is such a special time of year,” she said. “And there are so many wonderful Christmas traditions here in Pine River.” It was lame but Max shot her a grateful look.
“Yes, like the Angel Tree,” he said.
Mrs. Barrister pressed a hand to her forehead as though the conversation was too much for her. “The what?”
Cami was getting a sinking feeling in her chest.
“The Angel Tree?” Max said. “Where people hang up wishes and other people help them come true.”
Mrs. Barrister’s brow wrinkled in genuine confusion. “I’m not aware of that,” she said.
Max’s shoulders drooped. “Enjoy the cookies,” he said.
Mrs. Barrister gave him an odd look but Max was already walking away, Cami and the others behind him.
The weight of their failure was pressing down on Cami’s chest but she bit her lip, wanting to keep it together while they were still surrounded by half the town.
Joe was shaking his head. “I can’t believe she’s lived here all this time and doesn’t know about the Angel Tree. Even I know about it.”
“It is weird,” Max said. “I guess they really do like to keep to themselves.”
“I think it’s the grief,” Joe said. There was a faraway look in his eyes and Cami knew he was thinking about his mom. She reached over and squeezed his arm.
“We should do something to help them,” Max said.
“Yes, let’s,” Lucy said. Cami saw that her face and hands had relaxed, which Cami didn’t fully understand because now she herself was barely able to hold back tears.
“Cami, darling, introduce me to your friends,” her grandmother called. She was standing with Mr. Jenkins, a paper cup of coffee in one hand, and the four of them headed over.
After she had shaken Lucy’s and Joe’s hands, Cami’s grandmother gave Cami a quizzical look. “What were you talking to Mrs. Barrister about?” she asked.
And that’s when Cami realized she could at least do one thing right today. She could tell her grandmother about the Barristers, because sure Willa could be helpful, but Cami’s grandmother? When she put her mind to helping someone, it was like Wonder Woman had taken over the job.
Cami told her grandmother and Mr. Jenkins what the boys had seen at the Barristers’ home, with Joe adding details.
“Oh, those poor people,” Cami’s grandmother said sympathetically. “And to think they’ve just shut themselves off from everyone, carrying all that grief alone.” She straightened her shoulders. “We’ll have to take care of that right now. I’m going to ask Mrs. Barrister to join our knitting circle and I’m not going to take no for an answer.”
“I can ask Mr. Barrister to join the men’s Bible group,” Mr. Jenkins said, his eyes lighting up.
“And we’ll be sure to take them with us to the Christmas Gala,” Cami’s grandmother said in a determined voice. She started to walk toward Mrs. Barrister, then turned back to Cami and her friends. “You kids did a good thing telling us,” she said. “And we’re going to take it from here.”
Cami grinned, knowing that the Barristers were in very good hands and feeling pleased that she had done something her grandmother was proud of. But even though it was something good, it wasn’t close to something Willa would do. Something like finding and thanking GB. So as she followed her friends back up the stairs and out into the chilly afternoon, the fact that they had failed to find GB came crashing back down on her. And Cami did the only thing she could: She burst into tears.
Joe froze, shocked at the sight of Cami, the one who always kept them going, looking so defeated.
“Cami, it’s going to be okay,” Lucy said, struggling forward to hug Cami.
“We’re going to find GB,” Max said grimly.
Joe finally found his voice. “Yeah, we are,” he said. “We’re going to get a whole new list of suspects — I mean, possibilities — and we won’t stop till we know who GB is.” As he spoke he realized he wasn’t just comforting Cami; this was what he wanted, too, more than anything.
“But we only have six days till Christmas,” Cami said. Her voice was shaky but Joe was relieved to see that the tears had stopped. “And I’m away this weekend.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Max said determinedly. “We’ll all brainstorm this weekend and then when we meet on Monday we’ll be ready to go.”
“And you think we’ll find GB?” Cami asked.
“I know it,” Max said.
“Me too,” Joe agreed.
Lucy gave a small smile. “Me three.”
Cami took a deep breath. “Okay, then,” she said, wiping the last of the tears off her face. “We’ll get this done.”
An icy wind whipped around the buildings in the town square and the branches of the Angel Tree, now with most of the wishes plucked, danced in the gusts. Joe burrowed into his warm jacket, thankful to not be freezing.
“Where are you going this weekend, Cami?” he asked as they began walking. He knew the others were probably eager to get home but he wasn’t. Leon was away on business until the next day and Joe was dreading the night by himself in the dark apartment.
“My aunt’s house,” Cami said, wrinkling her nose. “I’ll get to hear how great my cousin is all weekend. What are you guys doing?” She was looking and sounding like herself again, which was a relief.
“We’re going out to dinner to celebrate my dad’s new job,” Lucy said. She had told them the good news about her dad’s job over lunch.
Cami glanced at Joe expectantly, but he had nothing to say. Something jagged rattled in his chest as he pictured the long weekend alone.
“Joe’s coming over to my house,” Max said.
Joe jerked his head back in surprise. “What?” he asked.
“You’re camping out at my place this weekend,” Max said like it had already been decided.
Joe wanted to say yes so much it hurt and that scared him. He’d gone for months without letting himself need anything, closing himself off from people and this town. The thought of opening himself back up now seemed dangerous, like a bad idea he needed to back away from. “I’m not sure —” he began.
But Max cut him off. “My little sister’s having a slumber party and I’ll be drowning in American Girls and My Little Pony. You’ve got to help me out.”
“Go,” Cami said. “Max needs you.”
“My Little Pony can be really scary,” Lucy said, and she and Cami cracked up.
Max laughed too, but Joe, weighed down by the decision, couldn’t even smile.
“Joe, I’ve been meaning to ask you, when is your mom coming?” Cami asked, serious again. “I really want to meet her. I’ve never met a real live soldier before.”
Lucy was nodding. “I want to meet her too. Maybe you guys can all come over to dinner one night while she’s here. My dad makes amazing spaghetti and meatballs.”
It had already happened, Joe realized as Max began talking about the chocolate cake his mom would bake for the dinner. Somehow in the past weeks this group of three people had nestled themselves into the place Joe had thought he’d shut away. They’d been there for him, they’d helped him, and they’d taken the help he offered. There was no deciding now what they meant to him: It had already been decided. They were his friends, plain and simple. All he had to do now was say yes.
“A dinner would be great,” he said. “My mom will love it. And, Max, I’ll protect you from the evil that is My Little Pony.”
As Joe headed back with Max across the square, he looked up at the Angel Tree, a dark silhouette against the blue-black sky. He thought about everything the tree had given to him: the visit from h
is mom; the friendships with Max, Cami, and Lucy; and something even deeper than that too.
Pine River had become his home.
Max kicked back on his bed as Joe looked around his room. Well, his temporary room. But knowing that one day his family would be in their new house made living in the temporary apartment a whole lot easier.
“You have all the Harry Potter books,” Joe said, leaning over Max’s bookcase. “I love those!”
“Me too,” Max said. “Though it took me forever to get through them. I kind of suck at reading.” The words just slipped out. Max almost never talked about his school struggles, even with Cami. He tensed up, waiting for Joe to make a joke about it.
But Joe had moved on to Max’s DVD collection and didn’t seem to care. “I cheated and watched the movies first,” he said. “Though I liked the books better.”
Max leaned back against his pillows. “Want to watch one of those?” he asked, gesturing to the box of DVDs. Max had an old TV in his room that didn’t have cable but was hooked up to their ancient DVD player.
“Yeah,” Joe said.
Max stood up. “Let’s make some popcorn to eat while we watch.”
“How can you even think of eating after that dinner we just ate?” Joe asked, slapping a hand on his stomach.
Max’s mom had made her famous mac and cheese for Max’s sister’s slumber party. While the girls had taken their plates into the living room to eat in front of an American Girl movie, Max had watched in awe as Joe devoured four servings of the creamy mac. Later they’d all had ice cream with caramel sauce and Christmassy red and green M&M’s on top. Max had been pretty full but the meal had been over an hour ago and he was ready to eat again, especially something like popcorn, which was practically eating air. “More for me if you don’t want any,” Max said.
He expected Joe to respond but Joe was looking intently at a book in his hand.
“You’re into karate?” Max asked, glancing at the title as he stood up. He hoped there was some Parmesan to sprinkle on the popcorn.
The Angel Tree Page 11