Welcome, everyone, to our Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk holiday celebration!” Mayor Harcourt’s voice projected from the same stage where he’d stood six months earlier—only this time his feet stirred up a dusting of fake snow. Sprigs of holly and redwood decorated the Ferris wheel and the sky glider chairs overhead, lending their woodsy scent to the sea air. More than the scenery had changed since the summer, when Mayor Harcourt had announced his son’s construction project.
Mari sipped her hot apple cider, and Jason wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her tight. He looked so handsome in his beanie and heavy flannel. No matter the season, she could kiss him all night long.
“Thank you all, who’ve gathered here on this foggy and chilly evening. I think it’s fair to assume you’re all locals.”
The crowd laughed, and Mari chuckled too. The boardwalk had been transformed with sparkling fairy lights and a Christmas tree decorated with beach balls.
Jason rolled his eyes. “You Californians think sixty degrees is cold? You’d never survive a Chicago winter.”
“Shhh,” Mari said, tugging his arm. “Tom is still speaking.”
It was weird how easily his name rolled off her tongue. The day they’d met for coffee, Tom had looked at her with sincerity in his eyes, and told her that reading her emails had broken his heart. He was pulling the funding for Travis’s project.
Travis Harcourt hadn’t raised the money himself—he was not the successful businessman he pretended to be. Every cent for the project came from his private trust fund, controlled by his father. But Tom Harcourt had decided there were two people more deserving of that money . . . Mari and Lily.
“Tonight,” Tom said, smiling at Mari, “I’m proud to unveil the newly restored gazebo. Thanks to the tireless work of our young historian, Marisol Cruz, the gazebo will be preserved as a historic monument, honoring Santa Cruz’s rich Chicano and Latino cultural heritage.”
The crowd clapped, and Mari smiled, tears in her eyes. The gazebo had been reinforced with new wooden beams, all of the Victorian gingerbread details salvaged. With a fresh coat of paint, globe lights strung from the rafters, and a colorful mural depicting members of the Latino community, the gazebo welcomed visitors.
It was an exact replica of the diorama Mari’s artists had created—only this time, it was life-size. Violet had agreed to record her story, and for the remainder of the Beach Boardwalk Centennial Celebration, the art installation had been on display at the museum booth, drawing curious visitors. With increased local interest in the gazebo from both the diorama and Violet’s story of Ricky Cruz, ultimately it was saved from demolition.
Now the diorama and Violet’s recording had become a permanent installation at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, along with a plaque on the wall: Mari Cruz, 2007 Swanson Grant recipient. But it was Violet’s words, honoring Ricardo Cruz, that brought tears to Mari’s eyes. In her story, Abuelo was the hero, and the gazebo an important part of the boardwalk he loved.
“I’m so proud of you,” Jason whispered, sending a shiver down Mari’s neck. He kissed her flushed cheek.
Mayor Harcourt smiled. “And now, for the ribbon cutting!”
Mari handed Jason her cider and walked past the gathered members of the community to the stage, where Tom presented her with a large pair of ceremonial scissors.
Her mouth felt dry looking out at the sea of faces. She’d never been a fan of speaking to crowds, but she recognized many of the neighbors who’d attended the city council meeting. Mari felt elated to share this accomplishment with them.
She cleared her throat.
“Thank you all for coming out tonight to celebrate the unveiling of the gazebo. As the saying goes, it takes a village. I could not have accomplished this without your support. My grandparents danced here underneath the stars over sixty years ago. And tonight, we’ll do the same. Happy holidays!”
Mari snipped the red ribbon and the crowd erupted into applause. She thought of her abuelo smiling down on her and wiped a tear from her eye. The swing band began to play “In the Mood” and Mari couldn’t help swaying her hips to the rhythm. It was impossible to feel sad listening to such an upbeat song.
Lily skipped toward Mari, followed by Mari’s parents, and she wrapped her arms around Mari’s waist. “I love you, Mama.”
Mari’s heart filled to the brim. “I love you too, sweetie.”
Lily turned to the mayor. “Will you dance with me?”
“Of course,” he said, taking Lily’s hand and spinning her around. Though Mari and Tom had agreed not to tell her that he was her biological grandfather until she was older, Lily had come to know him as a friend. For every occasion where Travis wasn’t present, Mayor Harcourt showed up in spades. Over the past few months he had attended each of Lily’s dance recitals and every kindergarten play, clapping enthusiastically.
Mari frowned, thinking of how Tom’s relationship with his son had become strained in the wake of what he’d learned about Travis. But as Tom put it, Travis needed to learn to stand on his own two feet. Travis had taken a job at a tech company in San Francisco. Tom was no longer paying his rent.
“Dance with me?”
Mari turned around to see Jason, who took her by the hand.
“Of course,” Mari replied, laughing as he dipped her. They danced to the brass band, skipping and shuffling, swaying their hips to the music.
“My turn!” Lily cried, grabbing Jason by the hand.
Mari smiled, watching them dance together, her heart swelling with happiness. Over the past months, Jason had become a father figure to Lily. He helped her with school projects, drove her to dance practice and read her stories every night. Sometimes they fell asleep together on the couch, heads touching. It was strange to think that they were related—Jason’s grandfather being Lily’s great-grandfather. But Charles Harcourt’s cruelty had gone to the grave. In this family, there was only love.
The band played on, swing and mariachi and salsa. Mari found herself laughing and spinning around the dance floor with different partners. Her mom and dad had some serious moves. In fact, they were getting a little too cozy, Paulina giggling as Ernesto whispered something in her ear, cupping her butt with one hand.
Jason laughed. “Look at the two of them, still so in love. You might need to wear earplugs tonight.”
Mari slapped his arm. “Ew, Jason. I don’t want to think about that!”
After dancing to a few more songs, Jason pulled her to the side, wiping the sweat from his brow. “I need a break. Walk with me for a minute?”
“Sure,” Mari said, taking his hand.
The ocean rushed in her ears, the sea breeze cooling her flushed cheeks. Even in December, Santa Cruz was stunningly beautiful, the fog hanging over the ocean like a cloak. The damp air smelled like seaweed and brine, like home.
Once they had walked a ways down the beach, Jason paused. Mari looked at the sparkling lights of the boardwalk in the distance, illuminating the night sky. Breathing a sigh of contentment, she thought about how much she had to be grateful for. She’d accepted a full-time position at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, as an assistant curator. She’d become closer to Violet and Gene, who’d invited her whole family to visit them for the holidays, and she looked forward to meeting Jason’s parents too.
Mari and Jason often met up on their lunch breaks during the week, now that they both had nine-to-five schedules, sometimes on the UC Santa Cruz campus, overlooking the ocean, sometimes downtown, closer to the museum. Once, as a joke, they went to the Jupiter Café. Mari had giggled and buried her face in Jason’s jacket when Wanda glared at her. But she savored every cheese fry, and then left Bridget a hefty tip.
“You’re beautiful tonight,” Jason said, pushing a strand of Mari’s hair behind her ear. “You think I’m cheesy, because I say it too often, but I love you.”
Mari smiled. “I love you too.”
Jason’s eyes grew serious. “I ended the lease on my apartment. It’ll be up at the end of this month.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s not big enough for three people. And I’ve spotted a few places that would be perfect for you, Lily and me. What do you think?”
Mari bit her lip. She’d become so accustomed to sharing her bedroom with her daughter, to having her mom and dad down the hall. But she was turning twenty-seven, and it was time to fly the nest. Her heart fluttered at the possibility.
“I think it sounds wonderful.”
“Good,” Jason said, squeezing her hand.
He reached into his pocket and took out Violet’s diamond and sapphire earrings. “My grandma wants you to have these.”
Mari sucked in her breath. She’d returned them to Violet when she’d come to visit over the summer. “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly. They’re too valuable.”
“What if I told you they’re for a special occasion?”
“Like what?”
“Well, they’re something blue.”
“I don’t get it.”
He laughed, and then rubbed his face. “Oh man, I’m already nervous. You’re not making this easy for me.”
Before she could put two and two together, Jason got down on one knee in the sand. Mari’s throat tightened and her eyes welled with tears. Reaching into his pocket, he removed a gray velvet box. He opened it, and inside sparkled an oval-cut diamond ring, the delicate Art Deco–filigree setting perfect for her.
“In case you were wondering why I’ve only taken us to cheap places for lunch and why I never want to go to the movies, this is the reason. Thank you for putting up with me, and never complaining that we only eat pizza slices.”
“Jason,” Mari said, a tear sliding down her cheek.
He smiled. “Mari, I love you so much. I’ve loved you from the moment you talked to me about The Kite Runner and then ran away. I vowed that day I would never stop chasing you. Will you marry me?”
Mari laughed. “Yes.”
Jason slid the ring onto her finger, and they kissed, the music of the brass band carrying on the breeze, and the lights of the gazebo shining in the distance. Mari felt her abuelo and abuela smiling down on her as they danced among the clouds. Violet had taught her an important lesson: a broken heart could heal, and love made a family.
The past didn’t matter now, only the future.