It was Christmas Eve, and Robert waited in the lodge foyer for his guests. He and Sophie had put luminarias along the curve of the circular driveway, and the candle-lit paper bags glowed softly against the darkness, reminding Robert of a simpler time, although he knew the Resource Wars weren’t simple to the adults who had to keep up certain pretenses so that he and Arthur could have a happy childhood.
At the sound of footsteps, he turned around. Sophie was dressed in black pants and a red sweater with a sprig of holly pinned to it for the occasion. She peeked out the window and Robert suspected she was wondering once again why the luminarias didn’t burn. He wondered if he would have to explain it to her a second time, but then they heard the sound of horses’ hooves and excited voices. Their guests were arriving.
They opened the double doors and stepped outside as their employees and their families arrived on horseback and in carriages improvised out of old automobile parts. Robert helped the women from their horses and directed people to the hitching posts. Sophie began leading guests inside and showed them to the coat room and the lounge, where food, cider, egg nog and spiced rum were set out on tables near the fireplace and piñon logs burned briskly, filling the room with their distinctive aroma.
Robert had found an old record player and some vinyl records, and set them up in the corner. An album of Christmas music was playing, and the guests flocked around it. Vinyl records had been purged from nearly every household at the end of the previous century with the advent of CDs and MP3 technology. But now it was only the vinyl that could still be made to serve its intended purpose, and the guests gazed enviously at the old technology Robert had scavenged out of the lodge basement.
Although there were only five store employees, the addition of their families soon made for a busy scene, with the men sipping rum and playing pool on one of the old billiard tables, the cashiers gossiping with the stock boy’s girlfriend, and Fernanda’s children monopolizing the cookie and fudge trays, much to Sophie’s chagrin.
Mateo and his parents arrived just as the final song on the Christmas album was dying away. Sophie waved him over and showed him how to flip the vinyl platter over and place the needle. As the strains of “Silent Night” started coming out of the speakers, he grinned with excitement. “Can I do it next time?”
“Sure.” Sophie showed him the small collection of albums she and her father had found in the basement. “We just need to pick another one, so we aren’t listening to the same thing all the time.”
Norma, dignified in a dark red velvet shift and with sprigs of holly in her gray hair, made a plate of cheese and crackers, and poured herself a cup of hot apple cider. She found a place on one of the sofas in front of the fire, but hadn’t been there long when Robert sat down beside her.
“I’m glad you were able to come,” he told her.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” she assured him. “This is a lovely idea, and I hope we can have more store parties like this in the future.”
Robert looked away. “That’s actually what I’d like to talk to you about. Not now when we’re here to have fun, but sooner rather than later.”
Norma gave him a quizzical look.
“I’m thinking about selling the store. Not right away. But if it happens, it will be in late spring or early summer. I can think of no better person to hand it over to than you.”
“I hardly know what to say.” The woman brushed imaginary crumbs off her skirt to keep from having to meet his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re hoping to get for it, but unless you’re giving it away, I’m pretty certain I can’t afford it. I appreciate the thought, though.”
“That’s why I decided to mention it now, to give you time to review your financial situation over the holidays, and then we can talk at greater length after the new year. Would that work for you?”
Norma still seemed stunned, but she nodded and managed a smile. “Yes, of course.”
Robert’s gaze went to the plate in her lap. “I hope that isn’t all you’re having tonight. Have you tried some of Sophie’s fudge? She’s becoming quite the cook.”
“I saw it and it looked delicious, but it’s not really what my figure needs.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Robert stood up. “One little piece of fudge never hurt anyone.”
“Well, I guess not…”
“Great.” Robert smiled. “You wait right here. I’ll be back with Sophie’s finest in just a minute.”
I suppose that's for the best. I had kind of imagined he'd just walk away from it and let her take over.
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