“This morning you said I was refusing to integrate. That I expected everything to change for me.” Her fingers dug into the jacket as she pulled it closer. “But I’m not asking you to celebrate Christmas. I’m asking you to take me to your people’s celebration. To let me be part of something here. To not be so...”
Alone. The word stuck in her throat. That sounded pathetic, even to her own ears.
“Isolated.”
The purple fields gave way to rocky terrain. Shadows from the twin suns stretched long and strange across the landscape. She watched a herd of something, not krulaati, but something smaller and quick, scatter as the transport rumbled past.
Still he said nothing.
Her but her lip. She’d pushed too hard. Asked for too much.
He was going to say no and probably ignore her for the rest of the drive.
“One celebration.”
Her head snapped around toward him. “What?”
“The Midwinter Celebration. I’ll take you.” His jaw stayed tight, eyes locked forward. “Once. Don’t expect me to enjoy it. I don’t like crowds.”
The vise around her ribs released all at once and her breath came easier. She pressed her lips together to keep from grinning like an idiot.
“Thank you. Really. Thank you.”
He grunted.
Once she’d started, it was like she couldn’t stop the words.
“The council member said it goes from sunset to dawn. There’s music and dancing and something about an eternal flame?—”
Another grunt, but less harsh. Her shoulders dropped, the knot between her shoulder blades loosening a bit.
“The vendors were telling me about the food. Special dishes that only get made for Midwinter. Aida said Daax promised to show her how to make something called e’tra cakes?” She shifted in her seat, angling toward him. “Do you know how to make those?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
Right. Of course he didn’t.
“Well, maybe someone at the celebration can teach me. I love baking, or I used to. Haven’t had a proper kitchen in—” She caught herself. “Anyway. I’d love to learn your traditional recipes.”
The road smoothed out as they descended into the valley. His ranch sprawled ahead, the massive krulaati visible in their enclosures.
“Finley said there’s traditional clothing too. Special colors and patterns for Midwinter.” She tugged at the sleeve of his jacket. “I don’t suppose you have anything that would work? Everything I own is either LMP issue or?—”
“We’ll figure it out.”
Warmth spread through her chest, settling low in her belly.
“Right. Of course.”
The transport pulled up to the house. He cut the engine but didn’t immediately move to get out. She waited, not wanting to break whatever fragile thing had just shifted between them.
“The supplies need unloading.” He opened his door.
She scrambled out her side, boots crunching on the frozen ground. The wind hit her immediately, but it didn’t feel quite as bitter. He opened the cargo area. Boxes and crates were packed tight, way more than she’d expected. There were thick blankets visible through clear packaging and what looked like heating coils. And underneath, wrapped in protective cloth, a flash of red fabric.
Her breath caught.
