December 24th, 1971

     Despite the band’s modest worries about ticket sales, the two weeks since the release of Lion Rampant in America had brought enough excitement to fill the 1,800 seats at the venue in London. The whole night had gone remarkably well, and the next day we’d set off to the airport to travel to France.
    Only three French cities had the chance to see Amoeba this round— though six others and a second night in Paris would be the first gigs in the new year— and yesterday’s drive from Bordeaux to Bilbao went smoothly. The concert would only be in three days, so I’d gotten excited at the prospect of time off and couldn't help being mildly ticked off when Harry made an announcement after this morning’s breakfast.
    “Have you got your overnight bags packed?”
    Colin put down his toast. “Were we supposed to?”
    “Why did no one tell me?” Dale let out a sigh. “I can’t be blamed for being late if I’m not aware we’re going somewhere, now can I?”
    “I’ve wrangled something for Christmas,” Harry explained. “There’ll be a bus taking us to it and we’ll be there until Sunday, so make it an over-two-nights bag.”
    “A weekend away?” I asked curiously. “At Christmas?”
    “A little treat,” he replied, glancing at his wristwatch. “And that’s all I’m saying about it. Be ready and downstairs in two hours.”


    I had tried to persuade Harry to give more details, but his veil of secrecy remained even after we’d boarded the bus and left Bilbao. He’d only divulged to us that we’d be on the road for less than an hour, saying it would likely be forty-five minutes until our arrival.
    I’d taken a seat beside a window and left the men to their own devices as I watched the landscape. I always found enjoyment in seeing new scenery, and touring with Amoeba had certainly afforded me many opportunities to do so. I had noticed more and more trees as we drove, but the sight of familiar signage made me speak.
    “Amurrio?” I questioned aloud. “Why does that name tell me something?”
    Cameron opened his mouth, but Harry cut him off. “Have you been reading my pamphlets?” he demanded in frustration.
    “That’s where I saw it!” I exclaimed. “It was your papers!”
    “You scheming woman!” Harry shook his head, but a hint of a smile was visible on his face. “When did you read them?”
    “I only had a glance at them,” I said defensively. “Before dinner in Paris.”
    Harry had been the first to arrive at the dinner which was arranged by the venue’s owner, but I’d been the next to arrive. Cameron chatted with the bartender and I’d sat down at the table, only catching a few words from the papers in front of Harry before he gathered them into his jacket pocket.
    “So, what’s in this town, anyway?”
    “Nothing,” Harry replied to Lee. “We’re going to Baranbio, and should be there in ten minutes.”
    Though he hadn’t been entirely accurate, we soon discovered that there wasn’t much in the area. The main street couldn’t have been more than a mile long and the village itself didn’t warrant much attention other than being pleasant to look at, but the driver brought us to a stop just as I was about to begin questioning Harry.
    We all exited the bus; the men retrieving suitcases as Harry thanked the driver. I peered down the long driveway we’d stopped in front of, but the pavement wound to the left and obscured any building I might see.
    “Shall we?” Harry announced, picking up his suitcase. “The house won’t entertain itself, after all.”


    Harry had chosen a beautiful house to rent, and luckily it was surrounded by enough trees that we’d have privacy but not so many to give us a chance to get lost. We’d brought a meal from the village’s restaurant and indulged at the large kitchen table; by dusk we’d settled into the living room with ear-to-ear grins.
    “It does get a little nipply around here, doesn’t it?” Dale rubbed his hands together as he spoke.
    “Have you drunk too much?” Lee questioned with a mocking laugh. “Or does the cold arouse you?”
    Dale jumped to his own defense, much to our amusement. “Fuck off, Lee. Are you trying to tell me your fingers aren’t a little stiff?”
    “Something’s a little stiff,” Colin muttered.
    Willie joined in next. “Definitely later, if not now.”
    “I’m sharing a room with you, Lee,” Harry chimed in, “I’d be careful with any stiff appendages if I were you.”
    Our laughter momentarily drowned out any protests, until Lee pointed at Cameron. “We’re all laughing, but he’s the only lucky one here. His blanket’s got a name!”
    “Don’t give Cameron any ideas,” I warned jokingly. “I’ve got a temper too.”
    I felt Cameron shake as he held back his laughter, but the next comment made him cackle.
    “Emily? She’s too shy for any of that.”
    “We might embarrass her,” Dale agreed, seemingly oblivious to Willie’s sarcasm.
    I laughed loudly. “Oh please!” I scoffed. “I may have gone to a Catholic school for girls but the only nuns there were the teachers.”
    It took Harry quite a time to get everyone to calm down, as my offhanded reply had sent them into hysterics. “Alright, you hooligans, simmer down!” He’d taken an envelope out of his coat pocket and handed it to Colin. “Here. A note came with it, saying not to give it to you before Christmas. I figure we’re only a few hours away,” he reasoned.
    “Who’s it from?” Colin asked, but Harry had already left the room. He tore the envelope and smiled when he unfolded the letter. “It’s from Autumn!”
    “Oh! What does she say?” I asked excitedly.
    Colin skimmed the letter and read it aloud to us all.

    Dear Colin and company,
    Just a little note to wish you all safe travels and a Happy Christmas! I’ll see you all when you’re back in Britain— I should be resettled in Liverpool by the end of January.
    Say hello to Willie for me.
    Take care, (or else)
    Autumn

    “That’s so sweet of her!” I gushed. Cameron had given me a sideways glance at her mention of Willie, but my comment didn’t stall anything.
    “She still fancies you, you know,” Colin muttered.
    Willie didn’t have a chance to answer, as Harry walked back into the room carrying a large box. “Who fancies him?” he prodded.
    “Colin’s friend.”
    “I see.” Harry put the box on the floor before continuing innocently. “And does he fancy her?”
    “He broods,” I answered. Willie gave me a menacing look but I was too cheerful to notice and blew him a kiss; I saw the flicker of amusement cross his face.
    “What’s in the box?”
    “A small assortment I’ve recently acquired,” Harry told us. He lifted the lid and handed out bottles as he named them. “Champagne, rum, and two bottles of whisky. And a double dose of tequila for fun.”
    Every one of us buzzed in excitement, anticipating a long night of intoxicated relaxation.
    I took the bottle of champagne from Cameron and removed the foil around the neck. “Has anyone played ‘tequila or water’ before?” I asked. I held the cork tight and slowly twisted the bottle with my hand on the neck. “No? Well, I think you’ll enjoy it anyway. Let’s drink like fish!”
    The bottle’s pop! was the perfect punctuation.



    The moon was a half-circle in the sky when I left the men to the celebration and walked outside. Though I’d taken a walk along the forest path with Lee earlier in the day, when he asked me if I wanted to speak to my sister— he called after our conversation, to wish her a Merry Christmas and ask if she’d received the gift he’d mailed to her— I didn’t have much chance to wander the property.
    I had only walked about a hundred feet when I came across a gazebo in a small clearing. It was shaped as an octagon and had small white lights wrapped around the pillars, giving some light to the area. I sat on one of the two benches inside and relished in the cool night air as I drifted into thought, the outside calm oddly soothing.
    There was only one week left in the year and so much had changed. Amoeba had lost Clyde, and Sylvia was now living her new life. Colin was brought in and, being ten years younger than the rest of us, he’d given a renewed youthfulness to the band. We’d met Autumn and the relaxed version of Willie that emerged in her presence, and Lee had fallen for my sister.
    ‘She fell for him too,’ I reminded myself, and that much was true. I was well aware that if we were able to receive mail while touring, Liliane would be sending letters for Lee. I had no idea of how they’d be able to have a relationship unless Lee moved to Montreal or my sister moved to Balmedie, though I didn’t see either option being more realistic than the other.
    I turned around, unsure if I’d heard my name said from a distance, and heard Cameron call out once more.
    “I’m over here.”
    The still air carried my voice well, letting Cameron find the gazebo with ease. “This is a nice little place,” he commented.
    I stood with my back to the railing and called him over to me, smiling when he wrapped his arms around me. “Did I miss anything inside?”
    “The party left with you,” Cameron assured me quietly.
    I chuckled. “Did it?”
    “For me, anyway,” he admitted. I couldn’t help the smile that appeared on my face, which grew with Cameron’s own grin. “It’s nice to see you like this.” He kissed me softly. “You’re just drunk enough to be goofy and not care about it.”
    “They really should give better warnings about the dangers of alcohol,” I mumbled jokingly, making Cameron chuckle along with me.
    “I didn’t think we’d be in the woods for it,” he began, “but happy Christmas, sweetheart.”
    “It’s after midnight, you’re right.” I pulled him close and kissed him, feeling the warmth of his hands on my sides. “Merry Christmas, Cameron.”
    “I’m sorry I don’t have a gift for you. I was hoping something would catch my eye—”
    “You’re not supposed to get me anything! We agreed, didn’t we?”
    “We did. But that doesn’t mean I can’t get you a gift that isn’t for Christmas.” Cameron had a sneaky look on his face and a smile to match.
    “I’ve already gotten my present,” I assured him sweetly. “You’re mine, aren’t you?”
    He smiled widely and kissed me. “Completely yours.”