‘I know you probably think you’re being mysterious,’ she said as we headed to my truck. ‘But actually, you’re just super annoying.’
I laughed. ‘I’mannoying?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Wow.’ I turned the key in the ignition and my truck roared to life. ‘And here I was just trying to be welcoming. Trying to share a Pine Harbor tradition with you.’
She looked at me sideways as we exited her driveway onto the road. ‘Tradition?’
‘That’s right.’
‘What sort of tradition?’
‘One that’s been happening in these parts for around a hundred and eighty years or so.’
She was quiet for a while.
‘It’s not one of those polar bear plunges, is it?’ she asked eventually.
‘What in the hell is a polar bear plunge?’
‘You know, when a group of people run into freezing cold water.’
‘Why would they do that?’
‘To raise money for charity, usually.’
‘Oh. Right. No, it’s not that. I’d have told you to bring your bikini if it was.’
She snorted. ‘And I’d have told you to get lost.’
I followed the shore road towards the ferry terminal and harbormaster’s office at the dock. As we got closer, Mae leaned forward to see better out of the windscreen. The wipers did a valiant job of trying to keep it clean, but light little flurries of snow that danced in the headlights kept blurring it.
‘What’s going on over there?’ she asked. ‘I can see a bunch of lights and people. It was practically deserted the other night when I arrived.’
‘That,’ I told her, indicating to pull into a parallel park, ‘is why we’re here. The annual Pine Harbor turning of the light ceremony, and night market.’
‘Turning of the what?’
I turned off the truck and pulled out the key. ‘The light.’
‘What light?’
I smiled. ‘Instead of telling you, why don’t I just show you.’
13
MAE
There were lights everywhere. Strings of warm golden lights strung between every post, with garlands of evergreen wrapped around them. The branches of the barren trees in the park next to the harbor had been strung with lights as well, and the fountain in the center had blue lights in the water, shining up towards the small statue of a woman holding a lantern, facing out towards the harbor. Large metal outdoor heaters glowed along the dock, bringing warmth to the night. As we walked closer, I could see mason jars on tables with sand and candles inside. Christmas songs came out of tall speakers. The atmosphere was jovial, festive. On one side, there were food stalls all in a line, lit up with fairy lights and lanterns. The smells in the air were incredible. Roasted chestnuts, woodsmoke and other delicious cooking smells. Immediately my stomach rumbled.
‘I heard that,’ Jonah said, amused, as we wandered towards them.
‘What? My stomach voicing its displeasure at having being made to wait so long for sustenance? Good. It’s all your fault.’
‘Wow. Dramatic much?’
‘Only when it comes to food.’
