5. Catherine
Chapter five
Catherine
T he comment about journalism class caught me off-guard. I had taken journalism for one semester, looking to see if the writing style was something I liked. I’d taken it my senior year of high school, so it hadn’t been something I had come into naturally. I liked it, though. It started me on the pathway to where I was today… so I supposed it was a good thing I reminded him of the student I had been so many years ago. They were good memories.
The camera was mainly because I hadn’t been to the parade in a couple of years, and I wanted to compare this year’s floats to the last year I had pictures of. My phone’s camera was a good one, but it wouldn’t be good enough for this. I needed the flash of an advanced camera, with the winter darkness coming so early in the evenings.
As the parade started, I got a good look at the grand marshal. This year, it was the mayor. That wasn’t much of a shock. It had always been the mayor., but that was just how things went in a small town like Indigo Lake. He absolutely loved the cameras, and I snapped a couple of good photos of the fancy car he was in as he led the parade.
One of the floats was playing ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ from speakers as it passed, and for the next few minutes, the crowd sang along with the float. I did, too, even while I kept my ears out for the classic ballet melodies I loved the most.
“Whoa! Look at that one, Uncle Noah!”
Vanessa said something as I kneeled to take a picture of the large nutcracker that was coming into view. She was pointing at the nutcracker, and I managed to snap a photo that caught her pointing at it with a wide smile.
“The Nutcracker float has always been your favorite one, huh?” Noah chuckled as he looked at Vanessa. “Catherine there likes it, too.”
“I have seen The Nutcracker too many times to say I don’t,” I said with a laugh. “What about you, Vanessa? Do you like the ballet?”
“I was one of the fairies when we performed it this year!”
Vanessa beamed proudly. I smiled a little. If she was taking ballet, The Nutcracker would be one of the main pieces she performed. I was glad to hear that she had come to like it as much as I did. I had never taken ballet as a kid but always loved the art. It was far too late for me to start taking lessons to be a serious dancer, but maybe there was still room for a hobby. That way, I wouldn’t have to worry about being perfect for performances.
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
Vanessa was about to share more with me when Noah turned to his sister and whispered something to her. The little girl was simply staring up in awe at the floats, and I continued to watch, moving back into the crowd a little, as there were many floats playing music at this point. The beautiful songs helped me get into the mood for the season. I hadn’t been feeling very Christmasy before coming, partially because I wanted to celebrate with more than my family. This parade reminded me that the town was always here to celebrate with me.
Vanessa took her mother’s hand, and Noah gave me a soft nod as he left the area. I opened my mouth to ask where he was going, then saw Coach O’Keefe. If I knew Noah well, he wanted to talk to the coach.
“Where is that lawyer boyfriend of yours? Alex. That’s his name, right?” Mary turned to me now that Noah was gone. “I remember meeting him last Christmas, or was it the Christmas before? Raising kids can get your mind scrambled at times.”
“We broke up about six months ago. The relationship just wasn’t going anywhere,” I said over the music.
Mary smiled at me with a soft laugh.
“That takes some nerve and confidence to move on from a long relationship,” she said. “But a woman needs to listen to her instincts, and I’m sure you did the right thing.”
I nodded. As much as I wanted a family and marriage, it wasn’t going to happen with Alexander.
Footsteps behind me startled me, and I turned to see who approached. Noah returned as the last float rolled, wearing a wide smile after his conversation with the coach, and I was glad to see that he was no longer cradling his arm. With the last float having passed by, our section of the crowd was breaking off into smaller groups. Time to go, honestly.
I looked over my shoulder to see that my parents were talking to some friends. I glanced over to see what Noah was doing and saw that he was talking with his sister. Instead of catching up with him and interrupting their conversation, I started towards the truck that we had all come in. I had ridden with my parents since they would likely leave immediately after the parade. I was wrong. I should have asked to drive their car separately, but I supposed it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
“Hey! Catherine! Wait up.”
Pam’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see her coming to catch up to me, running in her snow boots and tight jeans, as if there was nothing better to do right now than to make sure I was all right.
“I saw you taking pictures. Were you getting things ready to make another collage of the Nutcracker-themed float?” she asked.
I laughed a little. My collage days were over, but I could understand why she asked. In high school, I’d all but flooded the school paper and the school yearbook with pictures from the Christmas parade.
“No, not this year. Just taking pictures to have, you know? I feel like every year, I forget a little more of what the spirit of Christmas feels like. Become more jaded,” I said. “Though, I suppose that having that feeling this year could be attributed to the fact that I’m still working through the tail-end of a break-up.”
“You did mention that you and Alexander had broken up. What made that happen, if you don’t mind my asking? You were a little vague about it the other day,” Pam said as we leaned against the truck.
“I had gotten comfortable in the relationship, and so had he,” I started. “I decided to end it because I wanted more of a commitment from him. Whenever we discussed where our lives were heading, I mentioned wanting more out of it. A ring, even a promise ring, would have been enough for me to know that he wanted the same thing. He just didn’t want it. So, he’s free to go find the woman who’s all right with having that kind of relationship.”
I shook my head, laughing at the absurdity now that I was more removed from the situation.
“Well, he’s missing out on a wonderful woman because he didn’t want to hear what you had to offer on your own,” Pam consoled. “Now, do you have time to go see The Nutcracker with me this year? I had a friend who was going to go, but she’s bailed to go to Bali this year. Her job has the coolest perks – even if they are a little random at times.”
“I don’t know, Pam,” I said. “I already have tickets to go see it in California in January. I don’t think I need to see it twice within a month.”
Pam laughed.
“Understood. Well, I suppose I should let you get going, then. It will only get chillier the longer we stand here, and I don’t want to catch frostbite.”
With that, she left me alone by my parents’ truck. I glanced over and noticed they were still carried away in their conversation, smiles and laughter abounding. I managed a small smile. This Christmas season was already off to a great start, even if I was a little lonelier than usual. I supposed that not having a partner could do that, but I wasn’t about to get into another relationship right away.
Then, I caught sight of Noah helping Vanessa into the car. Mary was helping the other young girl, and a man was getting it all warmed up for them. Probably Mary’s husband, Thad. I hadn’t seen him in years. Noah certainly had the spirit of a helper this season. Whatever he was doing when he had walked away during the parade must have been worth it. Even after a look around, I couldn’t see him. Must have been something important to make him leave the area when all of the best floats were going by.
However, I didn’t have a chance to go ask because as soon as he was done strapping the two girls into the car, he walked towards where his parents were standing. They were waiting for him before leaving, and then both cars drove away.
I sighed.
Noah had his own life, and it wasn’t fair of me to expect him to cater to my every whim. To any of my whims, really. It wasn’t fair to expect anyone to do that, honestly.