The Christmas Lamp (10 page)

After orders were placed, Jake settled back in his chair, his eyes fixed on her. “I figured you wouldn’t be speaking to me.”

“I…” There was no purpose in misleading him. She had been upset about him taking the home decorating prize money away this year. There had to be a limit to his cutbacks. To her, the three-hundred-dollar prize had almost been the last straw. “I was upset. Still am, but I can’t say that I don’t understand your decision. But I don’t have to like it.”

“Neither do I,” he confessed. “If I’d known this particular assignment would be so difficult I would have turned it down.”

She glanced up. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. Do you think I like making the cuts I’ve made?”

“It isn’t a matter of ‘like.’ It’s your job to make cuts.”

“Precisely. I hope you understand my position.”

The waitress arrived with their drinks and set the glasses in front of them. In spite of her earlier “not hungry” response, Roni couldn’t pass up deep-fried mushrooms and a Diet Coke.

“Let me guess,” Jake said as the waitress left. “You’re thinking, ‘But why the decorating contest? Three hundred dollars is nothing.’ ”

She stifled the urge to send a paper missile in his direction as she removed the straw wrapping. “Correct so far.”

“This Brisco guy’s a jerk.”

“Keep going.” She grinned and stuck the straw in her drink.

His features sobered. “I know it seems that way, but three hundred dollars here, four hundred dollars there — it all adds up, and while I value the meaning of Christmas as much as the next person, my real joy will be putting Nativity back into the black.”

She couldn’t argue with logic, yet could a price be fixed on people’s traditions? “Money isn’t everything.”

“No, but to Nativity it’s a means of existence. Too many small towns in this area have fallen victim to changing circumstances. I want to see Nativity thrive.”

Toying with her straw, she admitted. “If we’re speaking candidly, then I have to admit that I believe it’s too late to save the town. Our economy has been so dreadful the past few years. The town has nothing to offer. Now, with the recent cuts, people have lost heart. I hear it everywhere I go. The citizens know their little town won’t last much longer.”

“What did Nativity offer when the buses used to come through?”

She shrugged. “The Dairy Dream was the biggest draw. They serve the largest cones in the county. Folks seemed to enjoy the small-town atmosphere. While they ate their cones they’d browse the stores. We had a novelty shop that carried Christmas ornaments with the town stenciled on front, and some would buy Christmas cards and address them. Every store had a collection box, and the next day the owners would carry them to the post office where Nadine, our postmistress, would postmark them ‘Nativity.’ Then she would mail them all on the first day of December.

“The tour people were also drawn to the house decorations. Nativity is known throughout the area for our festive celebration and the way the town goes all-out for the event. The day of our annual lighting, folks from out of town would come in for the whole day. They’d eat, shop, and ice skate. Then everyone would stay to see every house in town lit at the same time.”

“Fun idea,” Jake responded. “I rarely visited Grandma after the accident, especially at Christmas, so I never saw the lighting event.”

Roni sighed. “Nadine always looked forward to this time of year, but this season she’s worried we won’t have enough mail to justify keeping a post office.”

Jake listened intently, stopping her occasionally to ask questions. Their food arrived, and they talked between bites. “Did you have a big Christmas when you were a kid?”

Nodding, Roni dipped a mushroom into her tub of ranch dressing. “I’m an only child, but my mom came from a large family. My aunts and uncles live in Kansas City, but over the holidays they all came to our house. The place would overflow from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day, when they’d all pack up their gifts, luggage, dogs, and kids and leave.” She took a cautious bite of the hot mushroom. “What about you?”

“My holidays were pretty quiet after the accident. My aunt wasn’t one to decorate or make a big fuss, and I was a disagreeable teenager. I never wanted to come and visit Grandma Mary during the holidays. I still don’t make a fuss. I’m usually home and in bed by ten o’clock.”

Roni smiled. “That’s a shame. You’ve missed a lot.”

He shrugged. “Occasionally I think back and realize that having a big family would have been nice.”

“Big families have their drawbacks too. They can get awfully loud. How long did you live with your aunt after the accident?”

“Until I went into the air force.”

“How long were you there?”

“I opted out after four years.”

“You didn’t enjoy the ser vice?”

“No, it wasn’t that. My first love is flying. I have a pilot’s license, and I was training to fly missions in Iraq, but I have this sense of duty that plagues me. My aunt passed away, and Grandma Mary had a heart attack.

There wasn’t much family left in the area, so I decided to come home and look after Grandma. It wasn’t all bad.”

He winked. “I found out she makes a mean meatloaf at Christmas.”

“Meatloaf? You don’t have the traditional turkey?”

He shook his head. “Meatloaf. There’s nothing better. Meatloaf and raisin pie. After our Christmas Eve dinner, she sends the leftovers home with me. I warm them up and have them on Christmas Day while I watch the football games.”

Roni gave him a condescending look. “You watch football on Christmas?”

“As much as possible. I look forward to it every year.”

“What happens if cable goes out that day?”

He glanced up. “Perish the thought.”

“It could, you know.” The lights had, in essence, gone out in Nativity.

“Honestly? I don’t know what I’d do. It would spoil the holiday.” Then he got the connection. “But cable and town expenditures are two different things.”

“Perhaps.” For him. She bit into a mushroom.

Later, Jake walked her to the Volkswagen. Once she was seated and buckled up he bent in and kissed her. When he was about to lift his head and break contact, she impulsively brought him back with both hands. As the kiss deepened, she knew she was in deep water, as vast and unknown as beautiful Lake Taneycomo.

9

Roni set a tiny cradle in the window of the advent calendar on her desk, thinking of all the activities she’d yet to start, primarily putting up her house decorations. When Jake eliminated the prize money, most families in town had rebelled. Childish attitudes prevailed as the homes in Nativity sat dark with only a lighted Christmas tree in the window. Even Roni was guilty of mutiny. She’d begun to think like the others. Why go to all the trouble? If everyone’s house looked like it did every other month of the year, why should she knock herself out dragging down all those decorations from the attic? Dusty insisted they implement their own plans, but she still held off. Her heart just wasn’t in Christmas yet.

“I’m going to the post office!” Roni called to Judy, who was in the back room.

“Okay!”

“Need anything?”

“Bring me back a large soda with lots of ice.”

Temperatures had finally settled into a more seasonal pattern. Huddled deep into her wool coat, Roni crossed the street. Nadine was behind the counter when Roni entered the post office.

“Morning, Roni.”

“Good morning, Nadine. I need stamps.”

“Sure thing.” The woman slid off her stool and opened a drawer. “I suppose you want holiday ones?”

Roni perused the possibilities, and chose the large red poinsettia. “Fifteen will be enough.”

“Fifteen it is.” Nadine began counting out the purchase. “You know, there was a time when I couldn’t keep these stamps in stock this time of year.” She shut the drawer. “Things sure have changed.”

“No one brings their mail here for the Nativity postmark?”

“A few locals still want it, but even that’s slowing. In case you haven’t noticed, local Christmas spirit has disappeared.”

Roni laid a twenty on the counter and found herself defending Brisco. “I know Jake is working hard to correct the town deficit.”

“Might be, but talk is, he’s the problem.”

“You know that isn’t fair. He’s just doing his job.”

She hooted. “And we’re going down like a lead sinker.”

Picking up her change, Roni gave the postmistress a harsh look. “It’s hardly rational to blame a man for doing his job.”

Nadine sobered. “Oh girl, you haven’t gone and fallen for the guy, have you?”

“Don’t be silly.” Roni closed her wallet. “Can’t a person defend someone without being accused of falling for him?”

“I hear you two are awfully close.”

“Well, you hear wrong. By the way, I’m supposed to tell you that the date for the church cantata has changed.”

“Changed? What’s wrong? Brisco can’t cancel the cantata.”

“Jake wouldn’t even think of — ” She caught her aggravation. “The choir director decided that since so many families are planning on being out of town this holiday that the Saturday night before Christmas isn’t suitable for the concert.”

“When is suitable?”

“Thursday night.”

“
Thursday
night.” Nadine shook her head. “I’ve never heard the likes. They haven’t changed the Christmas Eve ser vice, have they?”

Roni sent another censuring look. “Of course the Christmas Eve ser vice is still on.”

“Just wondered. I thought Brisco might have decided to cancel that too.”

“Don’t be absurd. He has nothing to do with the church program.”

“It’s a good thing, or else — ”

Roni rudely closed the door behind her and blocked Nadine’s complaint. A cold wind swept the pavement, skipping leaves along the sidewalk.

Crossing the street, she caught sight of the China Wok. Mr. Wong had set a small, but gaily decorated tree outside the establishment. At least he’d caught the spirit. The holiday reminder drew Roni. Though it was barely eleven o’clock in the morning, she suddenly craved sweet and sour chicken.

She entered the welcoming restaurant on a gust of wind. Mr. Wong glanced up from behind the counter and broke into a grin. “Senorita Roni!”

Spanish today, Roni noted. “Are you serving yet, Mr. Wong?”

“Si. Sit.” He motioned to the rows of empty tables, each with a festive poinsettia sitting in the middle.

Roni picked the one closest to the window, where she could stare at the twinkling tree. Outside, the wind blew power lines in a frantic dance. Inside the restaurant, Christmas carols floated softly over the speakers. Other than the night that she and Jake had eaten beside Lake Tanycomo, she hadn’t felt so festive this season.

Focusing on the flashing lights, she sipped the hot tea Mr. Wong brought. The steamy liquid warmed her insides.

She sat up straighter when she saw Jake leave the city office in a big hurry. Still pulling his jacket on, he strode to his car and the lights blinked when he hit the unlock button.

“Mr. Wong!”

The owner peered around the kitchen doorway. “Si?”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Okay by me, pilgrim.” He disappeared around the corner.

Roni realized that she should have worn her coat as she crossed the street. Jake was pulling out of the parking spot in front of the office. She waved him down.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?”

“I just got a call from St. John’s Hospital. Grandma’s taken ill, and they’ve transported her to Springfield.”

“When?”

“Evidently several hours ago. My cell had been on the charger.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Ride to Springfield with me.”

It only took seconds for Roni to go back for her coat and purse, and to cancel her order.

“Oh — and Mr. Wong?”

“Si?”

“Would you please deliver a large Dr Pepper with extra ice to Judy?”

He nodded agreeably. “I’ll mosey right over.”

Roni paid him and then put on her coat and left. Moments later the silver Acura sped away.