As I watched, Beck’s veterinarian boyfriend came up to me.
“You’re Tug’s friend, right?” he asked. “You moved here?”
“Yes. Luke.” I held out my hand and we shook. “I got a job at the library.”
“I’m Lindy.”
“I remember.”
“Nice to see you again.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of lovingly worn jeans. “I’m hoping to graduate to fiancé over the holidays.”
“Congratulations.”
His eyes sparkled. “It’s a secret, so don’t tell.”
I mimed zipping my lips. “I’m a vault.”
“I’ve been wondering…” He eyed me with some speculation. “Did you move here because of Tug, or did St. Nacho’s get you?”
“I didn’t purposely follow Thuong. I like it here. There’s something about this place, isn’t there?”
“Same thing happened to me.” He shrugged. “I’m basically all about science, but I don’t know. Santo Ignacio’s seems like… something else.”
I agreed. “It was an immense stroke of good fortune that brought me here. I didn’t ask questions.”
He watched Beck fondly. “Tug’s almost got his debt to Beck paid off. Did you know that?”
I held up my hands. “I’m not real comfortable talking about Thuong’s business. He keeps that pretty private.”
“I thought you were together.” He narrowed his eyes. “I’ve seen you kiss.”
“It’s complicated.” Everyone had seen us kiss. We’d taken bumping into each other and made it both an art form and a source of endless gossip.
“You guys.” He nudged me playfully with his elbow. “You know, the Tug who came here with Beck was a totally different person than the one who’s here now.”
“That’s very true.”
“I actually hope he sticks around.” Lindy turned his attention back to Beck. “Beck would like to put the past behind them. He misses his old friend.”
“I hope they can do that.” The love Lindy felt for Beck was a palpable thing. I wondered if I was that obvious when I looked at Thuong. I probably was.
“Welcome to St. Nacho’s, Luke. Don’t be a stranger.” Lindy nodded before moving on to talk to someone else.
“You too. Happy holidays.”
I finished my stint at the crafting tables and found myself free to go in search of my parents. My siblings had shown up too, which meant I got to eat with all of them before “the big surprise.”
I caught up with my family at one of the picnic tables around six. They had sourdough bread bowls filled with chili, just the thing for a crisp winter night.
“I got you the chili bowl.” Mom pushed a piping hot volcano of chili my way. “Extra cheese.”
“That looks delicious.” I grabbed at the fork and napkin she offered. “I’m starving.”
“Dad’s bringing beer, obviously,” said Chloe. “Mark went along to help carry.”
Ben and Becky sat with Chaz between them. They fed him small bites from their bowls between sips of milk and pieces of cut up fruit.
“Do you know what this surprise is supposed to be?” Mom asked.
“Nope.” I glanced at Chaz. “Although I think it could be a visit from you-know-who.”
“That’d be a great photo opportunity.” Becky had her fancy camera with her. “This whole town is so picturesque. I got a couple of swoon-worthy shots of Ben and lots of Chaz at the beach. Tomorrow, I want to get a picture of all the siblings together, some of the nuclear Greaves family, and while we’re here I want to snap a few of the entire tribe.”
“That’s perfect.” Mom usually got into the holiday spirit in late July. She was on board for anything. “If you choose the place, we’ll show up. I’ll text everyone with what they need to be wearing.”
“No denim,” several of us said at the same time.
“One time,” my mother grumbled. “That was one time.”
“Here comes Christmas cheer.” Dad came back with two six packs of beer. “They had one called Mad Elf. Can’t wait to try it.”
“Sounds great,” Mom replied as Dad used the opener on his key ring before handing them out.
“I thought you were going to get beer from one of the vendors,” said Chloe. “Are you sure it’s okay to drink this out here?”
I took a quick glance around. “It seems several other groups had the same idea.”
Some folks even brought table settings with candles in hurricane lanterns to enjoy with their meals.
“Guess they do things different here.” Chloe lifted the beer to her lips, drank, and gave a delicate shudder. “Dad. Why can’t you be a wine connoisseur?”
“Because I like beer.”
I took a sip and found I really liked the strong ale he’d chosen. Its bitterness was perfect with my chili, and the slightly higher alcohol content warmed me all the way through.
I couldn’t keep still though. I couldn’t keep from looking for Thuong as I watched the throngs of people make their way from booth to booth. He was helping Minerva with her plans, so I didn’t expect to see him until after they were done for the evening and things wound down but I’d hoped to catch a glimpse.
They’d set a podium under the arch that led to the library doors. Huge speakers had been placed under portable shelters at opposite ends of the gallery. The lawn and street in front of the library had been cleared of booths and tents. People milled around, greeting one another. I checked my watch. Almost Seven.
My family walked onto the grass together. Ben carried Chaz on his shoulders. The kid looked tired but hadn’t yet reached the place where he’d start fussing. Becky was adjusting her camera lens and snapping candid photos as we waited.
My mother made Christmas into a months’ long event every year, culminating in a Whoville-worthy spectacle on the twenty-fifth. Coming to St. Nacho’s, where they actively planned a festival on the twenty-first, made us all give the pagan holiday deeper consideration. Maybe it was the beer, but the more I thought about it, the more I was ready to adopt its meaning—renewal. Solstice, as the return of the sun resplendent.
So much had changed for me during the year, yet I was bursting with hope for the future, love for everyone around me, and the kind of wonder I hadn’t felt since I was a child, filled with awe and anticipation for Santa.
I slipped an arm around my mother’s shoulders and kissed her cheek, so grateful and happy, I could have wept with joy.
“Happy Solstice, Mom.”
“You too sweetie. I’m so happy for you. This is a great little town.”
“I know, right? Thanks for everything. I love you.”
She cupped my cheek. “Of course you do. I’m awesome.”
Minerva made her way to the podium at exactly seven. She welcomed everyone and thanked them for participating in the fundraiser. She reminded us that the proceeds would go to the maintenance of the library and the grand celebration ahead on the old building’s birthday.
“In California, where it’s common to raze the old in order to usher in the new, here in Santo Ignacio, we value our past. We value tradition, but we’re never afraid to have new conversations. We value all our citizens, whatever their age, ethnicity, physical ability, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. In Santo Ignacio, we define our unity by celebrating our differences.”