“For starters, my squash blossom pendant and some earrings I like to wear with this blouse.” She reached in for the pieces and waited as Carol helped her put them on.
“You look very pretty,” Carol told her.
“For an old lady, anyway. But thank you.” Maria crossed to the closet door mirror to inspect herself. “And there’s another old necklace in that box. You might have to dig a little. It’s nothing too elaborate or expensive. Don got it for me on our first Christmas. It’s a silver chain with garnet drops, and it went nicely with the Gunne Sax dress.”
Carol extracted and untangled a chain that seemed to fit the description. “It’s pretty.”
“Needs a bit of polishing.” Maria pointed to a small flannel square. “Give it a rub then.”
Carol polished the silver chain until it shone, then took it over to the mirror and put it on. “It does go nicely, but it’sspecial. I don’t think I should wear it tonight. What if I broke it or lost it?”
Maria waved her good hand. “Never mind about that. Like I said with the dress, I’d rather have these things go to good use than be hidden away forever.” She suddenly blinked as if seeing Carol for the first time. “Oh, my dear girl. You do look lovely.”
“Thanks to my fairy godmother.”
“You’ll be the belle of the ball tonight.”
“More like a wallflower.”
“Trust me, you look nothing like a wallflower.” She pointed to the alarm clock by her bed. “Now, if we want to be there in time to check on everything, we need to get moving pronto.”
****
It didn’t take as long as Maria had anticipated to have the Grange Hall all set for the evening. And with softer lamps and electric lanterns glowing, it looked even better in the nighttime than in the day. But Carol didn’t mind having spare time because it was interesting to help the chattering Grange women fussing about in the kitchen. At first Carol assumed they were stereotypical “farm wives” who possibly lived in the shadows of their traditional farmer spouses, but after helping the loquacious ladies set up the food and drinks, she was surprised to discover that the woman in charge, Maggie Pierson, was a divorcee who’d inherited a large cattle ranch that she’d been managing on her own for several decades now. And Lucille Vaughn, a quiet, industrious widow with short gray hair, managed her own two hundred acres with the help of several farmhands.
Realizing that trying to help in the kitchen was wearing Maria out, Carol suggested they go sit down at a table in the main hall. As they exited the kitchen, an older couple was just coming in the main door.
“There’s Antonia and Larry,” Maria told Carol. “Victor’s mama and pop.” She called out to the couple, waiting for theirslow approach since Larry was moving awkwardly with the help of a cane. After introductions, Maria led the way to a table along the wall.
“I’m so happy to finally meet you,” Antonia told Carol after they all sat down. She turned to her husband. “This is that gal Victor told us about, Larry.” She said Carol’s name slowly. “Carol.”
His eyes lit up. “ChristmasCarol?”
Carol laughed. “As a matter of fact, yes.”
Of course, Maria used this opportunity to explain about Carol’s birthday being on Christmas. After the normal reactions that she usually tried to avoid by keeping her birthdate under wraps, she confessed that she usually wasn’t one to celebrate.
“It’s always been sort of awkward,” she said. “People either feel sorry for you or they act like it’s something special.”
“Itissomething special.” Antonia patted her hand. “You share your special day with our Lord and Savior. What a privilege for you.”
“I guess so.” Carol didn’t know what to say, suddenly feeling guilty for all the times she’d complained about her birthday.
“Christmas Carol,” Larry said again. “You sing?”
Carol laughed. “Not so well. But I do enjoy it.”
“Good.” He nodded. “Pretty girl. Sing pretty.”
“Not right now, Larry,” Antonia quietly said.
“We’ll all sing carols on Christmas Eve,” Maria assured him. “With all our friends and neighbors. Just like we always do.”
He nodded with a slightly vacant expression.
“And what about Carol’s birthday?” Antonia asked Maria. “I’d like to do something special to celebrate with her on Christmas Day.”
“No, no, that’s okay,” Carol said quickly. Besides not wanting any special attention, the idea of Victor’s mother planning something for her felt awkward. “We’ll just have had a busyevening on Christmas Eve. I don’t want you to go to any trouble for—”
