Free Have Yourself a Naughty Little Santa by Karin Tabke Page B

corn salsa, and blue tortilla strips, tossed in what smelled like a lime and pico de gallo vinaigrette. Her nose followed the casserole of enchiladas. Then a bowl stacked high with tamales. The aromas were wonderful, and the conversation enlightening. Her appetite suddenly voracious, Kim dug in. But she never once forgot why she was there. “Has there been a problem with tourists?” she casually asked.
    As one, all the adult eyes turned to her and stared as if remembering her presence. She didn’t mind; she’d grown used to it as a child. Elle nodded and answered, “We’ve been cursed with bad weather the last half of December for the last five years. The last few years have been the hardest. It’s caught up with us. Bad weather has kept the tourist trade away. The only way into and out of Evergreen is on 82. Regular snow is not a problem, but when it keeps coming down we can’t remove it fast enough, and when they close 80, it’s the kiss of death.”
    “Is the town in trouble?”
    Leti smiled, and it wasn’t a happy gesture. “We’ve had rough spots before and weathered those. We’ll weather this one as well.”
    “Mama’s the town controller and a private CPA. She knows who owes what and to whom, and if she says Evergreen will pull out of this slump, then we will,” Esmeralda proudly said.
    “The Martinez family finally put the marina up and pulled both of their kids out of St. Anne’s. Mother Justina is worried and is making cuts,” Jasmine said as she fed her little boy a piece of tamale.
    “Is your job in jeopardy?” Ricco asked.
    Jasmine nodded. “I’ve updated my resumé.”
    “For what?” Ricco asked.
    Jasmine set down the piece of tamale and looked at her brother. “For your information, little brother, I have a master’s in child development. I’m not your garden-variety teacher.”
    “I know that, Jazz. What I meant was, what is there here for you in Evergreen other than teaching?”
    She looked down at her plate, then looked back up to her brother. “Nothing. I’d commute to Reno or move to Sac.”
    “No!” Elle and Esmeralda said in unison.
    Jazz set her fork down and put her elbows on the table. She looked around at her family. “What am I supposed to do, then? Live off my family? Don is never home, and while he makes a decent living, we can’t survive on his salary. I need to work.”
    “We let Dr. Newman go last week,” Elle said quietly. She looked at her mother. “I don’t know where Dr. Juarez is going to come up with that balloon payment. He can barely make payroll. He hasn’t drawn a check in months.”
    “Dr. Juarez isn’t the only one,” Leti sighed. She seemed to have lost her appetite. She pushed her food around on her plate.
    “What about investors?” Kim asked between bites of tender boiled pork.
    Once again all adult eyes turned to her. Leti scowled. “We have an offer from a land developer in L.A. to buy Evergreen lock, stock, and barrel.”
    “Oh,” Kim said, acting innocent. “Is it a good offer?”
    “Any offer, good or bad, is not subject to consideration.”
    “Oh,” Kim said, then couldn’t help adding, “why not?”
    “Evergreen is unique. The people here trust one another. We can and do count on our neighbors, and we know all we have to do is look like we need a hand and it’s given without question. This town rescued me and my family over thirty years ago when no place else would. I’ve seen it happen over and over—families uprooted elsewhere and taken into the fold of this town. Our roots are deep and loyal. There is no other place any of us would rather be than right here. We’d rather commute into Reno or down to Sacramento then give up our homes here. Selling out is not an option.”
    “But if the money—”
    “Not an option.” Leti’s tone left no room for further discussion.
    Ricco laughed. “Leticia Maza is the mama bear of the town. Cross any resident, and you cross her.”
    Kim understood that on a business level: