by Ciara Knight
Before I could decide on a retreat plan, Morgan’s gaze turned toward me and stopped. She blinked a few times before recognition crossed her pretty features, her eyes wide as if she’d seen the ghost of friendship past. My lungs tightened.
“H-Hi.” I waved, wondering if she hadn’t heard me over the gentle roaring of the waterfall.
“Hi.” She stood, wiped her cheeks as she smiled. That familiar anxious smile. The one where the left side of her mouth rose a little higher than her right. The kind of smile she’d wear when she worried about her mother catching her doing something wrong. Her mother, Ivy Reed, could scare the Grinch. I couldn’t help but scan to make sure Mrs. Reed wasn’t around right now. The sound of Ivy’s harsh shrill echoing through the precinct on graduation night still haunted me. I’d caused Morgan pain eight years ago, but what was hurting her now?
“Are you okay?” I stepped closer, stopping beside the bench, then waved my hands. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you I can come back later if you—”
“No way, Ash.” She reached for me but then stopped, as if she’d contemplated giving me a hug but then thought better of it. “I don’t want you to leave. Again.”
“Well, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
“It’s fine. I was just…thinking.” She shrugged, nudging some leaves on the gravel surface with the tip of her black boot.
She obviously didn’t want to share her thoughts with me. That awkward not knowing what to do to help gnawed at me. I was never good with feelings. Clint told me once I was more guy than girl when it came to that stuff. I kicked a pebble. It skittered across the path between us. “Ms. King said you were in town.”
“You got a letter, too?” Morgan asked.
“The one that summoned me here without mentioning why? Yes.” I shifted between feet. “I understand that she hadn’t wanted to tell us in her letter, but it was a shock to see her and find out she has kidney disease. I never imagined her anything but smiling and healthy. I wished she would’ve at least warned me about her illness. I’m afraid I didn’t hide my shock well when I saw her.” I sighed. Once I got started, I couldn’t seem to stop talking. “I guess you were shocked, too.”
“You’ve seen her? How is she?”
I sucked in a quick breath of realization. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry, I thought you already knew about her kidney disease.”
“Oh, I know. She told me in the letter she sent me. I just haven’t seen her yet.” An awkward silence fell between us as she appeared to study the pebble, I’d sent her way. “It’s not disease, though. It’s cancer.”
A shot of horror decayed my mood. I tried to hide my surprise. “Right, that’s what I meant.” I didn’t know why I was hiding the fact Ms. King hadn’t told me.
“I want to go visit Ms. King and I will. It’s just, well, I’m sort of in hiding, Morgan said.”
“From what?” I asked.
“This is so humiliating.” Morgan groaned, dropping her face into her palms. “Listen, can you not mention to anyone that I’m in town? I’d prefer it if my mother didn’t find out.”
I grinned. I couldn’t help it. Now that was something I could relate to. “I get it. Believe me, I just faced my own mother via phone recently.” Of course, I didn’t have an overcontrolling dragon lady for a mother, which had to make Morgan’s issue a hundred times worse. Maybe a neglectful mother was better than one that tried to rule your life. “I promise I won’t mention I’ve seen you to anyone.”
A look of relief crossed her face. “Thanks, Ash. I always could count on you.”
“Really?” My stomach clenched. I wanted to run, but where would I go? We were bound to see each other again in town at some point and I needed Morgan to know how deeply I regretted all that went down on graduation night eight years ago. “Morgan, I’m so sorry.”
My chest tightened as I waited for her to dismiss my words. She was such a nice person and I’d ruined her reputation of being a good girl who never got into trouble. I didn’t even want to think about how much her mom must hate me. I held my breath, waiting for her to unload all of the pain I’d caused her and tell me that apologizing could never be enough.
Instead, Morgan stared at me. “Huh?”
“I said, I’m sorry,” I repeated.
“About finding me here at the falls?” Her brows drew together, and she let out an incredulous laugh. “You don’t have to apologize for that, Ash. It’s not like I own the falls or anything. I mean, it’s public—”
“No.” I shook my head, wondering if she just didn’t want to unleash her anger at me. Obviously, she was angry with me. Although, truth be told, she didn’t seem angry at all. My heart pounded against my ribcage as I stepped toward her and put a hand on her arm. “I mean, I’m sorry about getting us arrested on graduation night.”
Morgan blinked, then scratched her temple. “You’re sorry for that?”
“Yes, of course I am! I don’t expect you to forgive me. I know your mother came down hard on you and it was my fault. All my fault.”
“Are you kidding, Ash? We’re all responsible for our own actions.”
“You’re not mad?” Relief flooded me. My muscles relaxed, my lungs welcomed air as if I’d breathed for the first time in almost a decade.
“Over something that happened eight years ago?” She lifted the hand I’d put on her arm and squeezed. “No, of course not. I mean, I was annoyed that you left us to clean up the mess. And pigs leave a lot of mess. Not to mention facing the coach and half the town when they discovered we’d busted their trophies. Football heroes are like royalty around here in case you forgot.”
“Nope, didn’t forget. I would clean up all the stalls and pens at Claver farm if I could make it up to you.” I sighed. “I’m glad I came back. If not, I may not have ever seen you again, and I may not have known about Ms. King’s condition.”
She leaned toward me, her pear-green eyes filling with compassion. “You told me that Ms. King didn’t tell you why she wanted you to return to Christmas Mountain in her letter. Why do you think she’d be vague with you when she told me about her illness in my letter?”
I shrugged but didn’t really want to know the answer.
She pressed her lips together a moment. “You’re sometimes a little crazy, but in a good way. But while you’re brave when it comes to dangerous activities like cliff-jumping and speeding through twisty roads, you’re certainly fearful when it comes to facing emotional issues.”
“I don’t think that’s true at all,” I said, but didn’t pull my hand away from hers. I didn’t like her words, they made my stomach feel weird and I wanted to change the subject. “If I don’t need to apologize for getting us arrested, then I’m sorry for leaving without a word. But I thought I was doing you all a favor… You guys always got in trouble because of me and my crazy stunts and that’s not right.” I fought the urge to run and instead held tight to her, trying to warm my hands that had turned stone cold. Cold that seeped up my arms, into my heart. “You never called me or wrote to me, so I assumed you never wanted to see me again.”
“I’ve been bad at keeping in touch with the girls. When I never heard from you, I just figured you were off having a great life.”
Her words shot through my chest. Great? Successful, yes. Fulfilling, I wasn’t so sure. “I’ve been fine.” I managed to say despite the lump lodging in its permanent home in my throat.
“I’m glad.” Her voice was a whisper and her eyes filled with tears. She shook her head slowly, released my hand, and walked toward the falls. I followed close behind her. “I wasn’t upset over the pig incident at all. In fact, it was an exhilarating night. The first night I’d ever felt free… Well, until my mother arrived at the precinct. You saw what happened there.”
“Yeah.” I flinched, remembering how Ivy’s icy tone had even rattled the cops who were releasing us. “The entire town knew at that point. I didn’t know your mom could convey that kind of anger without ever raising her voice.”
She tilted her head. “You don’t know the half of it.”
We both laughed, and in that moment, I felt as if I had my friend back.
“I should go,” Morgan said. “I’d rather not run into anyone who might tell my mom I was here. She’d immediately know that if I had time to be at the falls then I should’ve made time to see her. Ugh.”
I wanted to know what news she seemed scared to share with her mom, but she hadn’t offered, and I didn’t want to pry. “It’s good to see you again.” Morgan pushed back the fancy watch on her wrist, revealing a friendship bracelet woven in seven different colors. My breath caught. “You’ll always be my friend, Ash.” Then she wrapped her arms around me in a true friendship hug. “We’re the kind of friends who can go without speaking and then pick up where we left off. We’ll always be in each other’s hearts. We made a vow, remember?”
“Yes,” I whispered, squeezing her back hard.
Morgan released me and stepped back, giving me a brilliant smile. Then she turned and headed down the path. I was elated that I’d had the chance to mend an old friendship. Of course, I didn’t know how the others felt. Would they forgive me, too? My soul ached to revive the friendship circle. If all of us were in town again, maybe we could at least catch up.
Since I was already up at the falls, I decided to go see the Christmas Mountain Community Center. I tuned in the direction of the white steeple extending above the trees.
I walked down the path to the parking lot behind the Christmas Mountain Community Center. The sight of the old building weighted me down once more. Dirty, grey siding, broken boards, cracked back steps, overgrown plants attacking the side of the church, it all looked so…abandoned. We’d abandoned it.
A place that I once belonged, the only place I belonged growing up, now sat crumbling from neglect. Like our friendship had. But I didn’t know everyone had left. I thought they didn’t want me here anymore. Was Ms. King, right? Did I avoid putting myself out there because I have some sort of issue? What Morgan said stuck with me; did I run from any emotional issues? I went to the back door and tried to get in, but it wouldn’t open. For a second, I thought about picking the lock, but then images of Officer Hutchinson flashed through my head. Instead, I walked around front, but no success there either. Cracks crinkled the stain glass at the side of the building, but I tugged a piece of my sweater over my wrist and smudged the dirt enough to see inside. Through the murky cloud I made out overturned chairs and papers littered across the floor. The building truly looked abandoned. More likely they had a kid program last night and they didn’t clean up. Ms. King would not approve.
My stomach twisted at the sight. How did the town let it get so run down? I leaned my head against the side of the old church structure and closed my eyes.
“It’s a bit run down, huh?” Brent’s voice startled me to attention.
I twirled and faced him, but my shoe lace caught under the sole of my other boot and I became a twisted Sugar Plum fairy with the grace of Santa Claus in clown shoes. My shoulder hit the side of the building and Brent caught me before I landed in a prickly holly bush.
His firm grip provided much needed warmth that shot through each inch of my body and escaped through the hairs that stood up at attention. “Emma was the graceful one with all her ice-skating training, not me.” I laughed and to my disappointment he up righted me and then let me go.
I returned my attention to the center. “It’s tragic.”
“It is.” He scanned the building and then me. I shifted feet, uncomfortable with his attention. “You never did like being in the spotlight.”
“Me? Have you forgotten about all my crazy stunts?”
He stepped closer and my chest fluttered. “Stunts, crazy? Yes, and yes. Center of attention, no. You never stuck around long enough to get attention. Well, unless you were arrested.”
I smacked my hand against my forehead. “Does everyone believe that about me?”
He snagged my arm and moved it from my face to peer down at me. “Hey, it’s a good thing that you were never boring. Own it. You always kept life exciting. And trust me, this town could use some excitement. I for one am glad you’re here.”
I cornered my hope into submission. “You are?”
“Yes. So, what’s your plan for the night? Are you going to remove all the ornaments from the tree and hang old tennis shoes instead? Or are you going to dump yellow snow in front of the courthouse? Or will it be maple syrup on Mr. Oglethorpe’s desk?”
I lowered my chin to my chest, took a long breath, and looked back up at him. “I had planned on cutting down the town tree and putting it in the police station, but I figured Officer Hutchinson is out for me, so I best play it cool tonight.”
“Probably wise. What are you going to do to stay out of trouble?”
I shrugged. “Thinking about helping decorate the town tree. I only wish it was still a big celebration with hot chocolate and my mom’s cookies.”
“It is, that is if people participate. Things have been rough around here for a while. You might have seen the vacant store fronts on Main Street. It’s as if one generation is retiring and leaving, but the next doesn’t want to pick up the torch.” He tilted his head in that Brent like, boyish way that made little flutters erupt in my chest. “And your mom doesn’t bring cookies anymore.”
“Seriously? She lives for that kind of stuff. What happened to the town pride?”
“Honestly?” Brent ran a hand over his hair that flipped up in spiky waves. “I think when you girls left the town lost its spirit.”
“Us? Why would we affect the town so much?”
Brent slipped a hand to my cheek. “Because you ladies were special. Ms. King agrees. She told me once you girls inspired this town like no one else. She’s dreamed of having you all return to reignite the light.”
His warm palm to my cold cheek was like a lightning rod attracting flashes of hope. “That sounds like Ms. King.”
He released me too quickly and held out his elbow. “Come on, I think it’s time for you to throw one of your sparks to set fire to this town. We need some Christmas spirit.”
I slid my hand into the crook of his arm and walked side-by-side with him until we reached the center of town.
“When do the tourists start arriving? It seems a little dead around here for our big day.”
“They don’t come any more. There are too many tourist towns nearby. Blacktail Mountain is the biggest draw.”
“If you want a commercial, Bavarian kind of Christmas. We’re home spun and sweet. We should be celebrating that.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. No wonder stores were going out of business. There wasn’t even a Christmas shop any more.
The clock on the court house chimed two times. “What about the hot chocolate?”
“Not really a thing anymore.”
“That’s crazy. What does the town do together for the tree ceremony?”
“Nothing. Actually, they are talking about this being the last year they even decorate the town tree.
“No. This isn’t happening. The idea of never experiencing another town tree decorating is too much. I’ve had enough. I can’t get my car out until tomorrow, so I have today to make a difference. It’s time to do something about this. Let’s go.” I grabbed his wrist and tugged him toward the grocery store.
“Where are we going?”
“To set fire to this town. Not just any fire. A wild fire of Reindeer flying, Gingerbread dancing, sleigh full of presents kind of fire.”
Seven
I entered the grocery store and stopped in front of my mother’s cash register. She looked at me as if I’d grown antlers. “What are you doing here?”
“I want to save Christmas.” I said bluntly.
She rolled her eyes. “Great, another one of your schemes. I don’t have time for this Ashley. Some of us have to work.”
“I’m sure Boss Man will give you a couple of hours off. And if not, don’t worry about it.
I’ll pay your bills for the next six months if you’ll take some time off.”
Mom straightened her apron and gave me that you-silly-girl look. “I don’t need your charity.”
Brent grasped my arm in his calming way. I clenched my teeth to prevent the next insult slinging battle from boiling hotter than the Secret Santa Sizzling Sauce displayed on the end cap. It would only end with us not talking and getting nothing accomplished. “I need your help. I want you to bake cookies.”
Brent slid in between us. “Christmas cookies. We want to get the town to attend the Christmas Decoration event this year.”
The lines around Mom’s eyes softened and her tight bun looked loosened for a moment. Her face didn’t appear nearly as harsh or angled. “You want to go to that? Don’t you want to go do something with your friends or with Ms. King?”
Brent snagged my hand. “Actually, Ash told me she’d hoped you’d go with her and take the cookies. I’ll ask Holly at the Café to provide the hot chocolate.”
I fought the urge to look at Brent, so I didn’t giveaway his lie. What was he up to?
“Is that true?” Mom asked.
I’d never perfected lying, that’s what Mom said, but I had to give it a good ol’ country try. “Absolutely.” Okay, it wasn’t a total lie. I loved her Gingerbread cookies.
Jan, one of the other long timers at the grocery store and professional gossip, poked her head out from around the iced tea cooler. “Go, we’re slow today anyway. I’ll let ‘Boss Man’ know.” She air quoted me.