Silent Winter Solstice by Bonnie Oldre

Author:Bonnie Oldre
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press

Chapter 16

Today was the first day of 1969. New Year’s was a holy day and Beth had gone to mass with her family. Her dad, mom, and sister had picked her up and then they had met her brother, Gary, and her sister-in-law, Debbie, at the church. However, Beth let them know she had plans with Evie, so she wouldn’t be able to join them for the usual midday ham dinner that marked the end of the holidays for the Williams family.

After mass, when the rest of the family stopped in the vestibule to chat with Father McClure, Beth excused herself and went back up to the front of the church, to the Holy Mother’s side altar. She dropped a quarter in the offering box, lit a vigil light, and said a quick prayer for the repose of the soul of Crystal Jones.

When she walked back to join her family, Father McClure was gone and the rest of them were standing in a cluster, heads down, talking. They stopped talking and watched her as she approached. Debbie looked upset, Gary looked annoyed, her parents and sister just looked a little confused.

“Why did you tell Father McClure that Debbie wanted to become Catholic?” Gary demanded when she joined them.

“I didn’t…that is…I don’t think I did. Is that what he said?” Beth said.

“Yes, and it was very embarrassing for Debbie.”

“It’s okay, Gary. It’s not that important,” Debbie said.

“If you didn’t say it, then why did he think you did?” Gary asked.

“Let me think…” Beth hesitated as she tried to recall what she’d said to Father McClure when she and Evie had talked to him. “I may have said something about someone wanting to become Catholic. I guess he jumped to a wrong conclusion.” She turned to Debbie. “I’m sorry, Debbie. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.”

“But, who did you mean?” Gary said.

“Oh, leave your sister alone,” Dad interrupted. “I’m sure she meant well. Anyway, we need to get home. Mother will want to put that ham in the oven. Are you sure you can’t join us?” He asked Beth.

“I wish I could, but Evie and I are going to Grand Bend. Is it okay if I stop by later for a snack after we get back?” Beth asked her mother.

“Of course, dear. You know you’re always welcome,” her mother said.

Beth wound her scarf around her neck.

“I’ll talk to you later, Gary, and explain everything. And I want to ask you about my car, too. Okay?”

“Your car is ready if that’s what you want to know,” Gary said. He sounded annoyed.

“Great,” Beth said, ignoring the subtext. “Well, gotta run. Evie’s waiting. See you all later.”

As Beth and Evie drove to Grand Bend, snow restlessly wove across the highway, driven by the unceasing westerly winds that blew across the vast expanses of the prairies of eastern Montana and North Dakota, and into northwestern Minnesota. It was a rare day when the wind didn’t blow, and the few spindly trees, bare now in the January gloom, did little to slow it down.

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