LIGHTING THE WAY
Maryah
Christmas had inched closer and closer until I was gagging on all the yuletide cheer. Winter break should have been a welcome relief, and yes, I was grateful for time away from school, but it meant I’d have to survive the dreaded Colorado Christmas.
River wanted to go to a real mall to go shopping, so we headed up to Flagstaff. I wasn’t thrilled about the idea of cranky holiday shoppers, but after days of listening to him plead and whine, I caved just to shut him up.
We passed yet another store as River tried to decide what to get April.
“She might be getting a bulldog under her tree,” he said.
“Aw, she’d love a puppy!”
“No, my bulldog. Eightball is an expensive, needy flea bag.”
“Don’t be mean. I love that dog.”
“Good. I know what I’m giving you.”
Passing by a music store window gave me an idea. “Why don’t you make her a CD?”
“A CD?”
“You’re a singer. Sing a bunch of sappy songs and burn it onto a CD.”
“Who listens to CD’s anymore? Besides, that’s the kind of stuff poor people do because they can’t afford a real gift.”
“I think it’s sweet.”
“You would.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
River shot me a sideways glare. “Never mind. What do you want for Christmas, besides a CD of me singing?”
I’d become a pro at keeping up with River’s asinine comments. “I asked Santa for a tattoo with your name on it, but they’re on back order.”
“You’d really get a tattoo?”
“No, I was kidding, Sir Inks-a lot.”
“I’d buy you a tattoo. I’d even go with you to get it done, so I could watch while you writhe in pain.”
“You’re so sweet,” I cooed sarcastically. “But I’ll pass. I’m not the tattoo type.”
“Everybody has them.”
“Exactly, and I like being different.”
“You’ve succeeded at that goal,” he said with an arrogant head nod.
He ignored the dirty look I gave him and pulled me into a jewelry store. I’d never been a fan of expensive jewelry. The sentiment behind a gift meant more to me than the dollar amount on its price tag.
“That’s badass” He pointed to a heart shaped necklace made of black and white diamonds. “What do you think?”
“It’s pretty.”
“How much?” River asked the stuffy sales lady. She looked irritated that we were even in the store.
“It’s on sale for six-hundred and ninety nine dollars.”
I laughed at the absurdly high price.
“I’ll take it.” River winked at her and she dropped her attitude, smiling and falling all over herself to find a box.
“Are you crazy?” I whispered. “It costs seven-hundred dollars.”
“It’s only money.” He brushed it off like he was buying a five-dollar happy meal.
Arguing with him was pointless. River enjoyed flaunting his money—correction, his uncle’s money. Making a big deal out of the situation would just feed his ego. If his ego grew any bigger the ozone layer would burst. The important thing was that he decided on a gift. I wanted to get out of the crowded mall and go home.
Anthony wanted to leave for Colorado first thing in the morning, and I still needed to pack.
∞
On our drive back to Sedona, River asked, “What am I supposed to do while you’re out of town for a week?”
“I’m sure you’ll survive.” I channel-surfed the radio, trying to find anything but Christmas carols. “Trust me, I’d rather stay here.”
“Why? I hear Colorado is dope.”
“I guess I’m worried Louise’s other son will show up. We don’t get along.”
“Nathan?”
“You know him?” I asked.
“Of course. We’ve been going to school together since we were little.”
“I figured you might not know him since he’s a year ahead of us.”
“He’s not a year ahead of us. He’s a senior.”
“No, he started college in Colorado this past fall.”
“Well, he was a junior last year. Did he go to college without graduating?” River stomped on the gas pedal.
I stared ahead, replaying conversations about Nathan and him studying abroad. Louise wouldn’t lie about Nathan going to college. Would she?
“Did you know his girlfriend too?” I asked.
“What girlfriend?”
“Mary. Tall with black curly hair—looks like a model.”
“In all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen that guy even look at a girl. He was the loner type. The only girls he talked to were his brother’s girlfriend and your freaky Cain and Abel twins.”
I was too confused to smack River for the Cain and Abel reference. Besides, the names were appropriate for Faith and Harmony. We passed by houses decorated and lit up for the holiday. “Did he seem a little…off to you? Like a few bulbs were burnt out on his Christmas tree?” I tried making a joke so River wouldn’t question why I cared. I wasn’t ever sure why I cared.
“A few bulbs? I’m not sure his tree lit up at all.”
Maybe Nathan really was crazy. Maybe Louise and Anthony had to send him away to a mental hospital in Colorado. Carson did act strange when I asked about Nathan’s girlfriend. Maybe she was part of Nathan’s issues. I knew she looked too much like a supermodel. Plus, the photo looked old. He probably cut her out of an old magazine.
River’s snide comment caught my attention. “I have no idea why girls swooned over him.”
“Huh?”
“He’s a weirdo, but lots of girls crushed on him. He’s not even that good-looking.”
River was wrong about the last part. Nathan was by far the best-looking guy I’d ever seen. However, his mental issues disqualified him from ever being the total package.
“I’m glad to hear you didn’t fall for his Mr. Mysterious crap,” River snarled. “I knew you had good taste.”
We arrived at my house and I hugged River, telling him to try to enjoy the holiday with April. It made me sad to know he didn’t have family to celebrate Christmas with, and that April’s mom was still so sick. It wouldn’t be a happy holiday for any of us.
The Nathan thing ate away at me, but I didn’t know how to approach the subject, so I left it alone. We were leaving for Colorado first thing in the morning and I didn’t want the long drive to be awkward.
