Eden's Promise Read Free Page B

the mainland would deplete them. Since they still had really no idea what had happened, they had no idea when trucks might start running again. Thank God they were able to supplement their supplies with fish, and almost every family now owned a couple of chickens for eggs. The time of year was wrong for growing vegetables, but carefully rationed canned goods supplemented them for now. She could see them running out of vegetables before the spring.
    She hated thinking like this, hated the urge to horde. But she hated the idea of turning frightened people away. If only they had more supplies.
    Her father was more likely to welcome people who came with a large stash of their own, but very few did. No one had wanted to believe this could happen.
    Eden still couldn’t believe it had.
     
    ***
     
    “We need to do something for Christmas,” Sarah said one evening over dinner.  
    They had started eating dinner just after dark to save power. Since they used the generator to cook, it made sense to make the evening stretch just a little longer before shutting it off again and going to bed.  
    “I don’t think anyone’s exactly in the Christmas spirit,” her husband said with a snort.
    “That’s kind of my point.” Sarah set her fork down and folded her hands under her chin. “People need a reason to feel happy again. I know it’s hard, especailly since so many of us are missing our loved ones. But I think it would be good for morale.”
    Eddie grumbled. “We don’t have the supplies.”
    Sarah sat back and looked at Eden. “Eden and I have already talked it over. We can make several dishes that will stretch what we have on hand, supplemented by some fish, and I think it would be wonderful. Very first Thankgiving-y.”
    “We can’t do the boat parade or the tree-lighting ceremony. And we don’t have presents.”
    “We’ll find a way.” She waited expectantly, until he finally nodded.
    Sarah flashed a triumphant grin at Eden. “We’ll get to work in the morning.”
     
    Since Eden spent so much time emulating her father, she hadn’t known what a good party planner her mother was. Her mother had wanted her to join the Rainbow Girls when she was growing up, but they’d been, well, too girly for Eden. But as they planned the—Eden didn’t want to call it a party, maybe a celebration—she saw her mother put her leadership skills to use.
    And having a purpose helped Sarah push aside her own mourning as she threw herself into the holiday. She recruited several women, including Mary Jenkins and Veronica Rayburn, and the new woman living with the Rayburns, Jessica Vaughn. Together they planned a meal that would use the least amount of rations. They decorated the town square with a small tree and ornaments, but no lights. They went door to door and collected gently used toys children had outgrown, to wrap and pass out. Eden stood amazed at the innovation her mother and these ladies exhibited.
    On Christmas Eve, the town square was festive. The women had made candles out of cans of lard and set them on the long tables usually reserved for Fourth of July and other, warmer events. Despite the cold temperature, almost every family attended, standing in line for their servings of corn casserole and fried fish and home fries. Not the healthiest, or the most traditional, but the recipes fed a crowd.
    “Where’s the mayor?” Veronica Rayburn asked, herding the children who’d come on that first boat ahead of her in line.  
    Eden and her mother exchanged a look of dismay. He hadn’t been particularly in favor of this dinner, but to shun it completely....
    “He’s working on town business. I’m sure he’ll come down later,” Sarah said.  
    But by the time everyone had been served, there was no sign of Eddie. When the reverend stood to offer a blessing and a few words about the true gift of the holiday, when he thanked Sarah and the other women for their hard work, there was no sign of Eddie.  
    “It’s time now