The Winter of Candy Canes (A Sweet Seasons Novel) (14 page)

Suddenly, there was a flurry of activity as four people dove at the box of candy and Becca did a backflip over her chair, clutching the candy over her head. She hit the ground running and headed for the front door. “My present! Mine!” she shrieked.

She made it outside, and Pete, Kurt, Josh, and Martha followed. There were grunts, and it sounded like some heavy-duty tackling was going on.

“I did a bad, bad thing,” Roger admitted.

Sue sighed. “There goes the neighborhood.”

Gus and Mary just stared wide eyed.

Roger stood, a guilty look on his face. “I should go help her.”

“Her?” Candace asked.

“Them. Help them get her.”

He walked outside, and Candace and Sue burst out laughing.

“One thing's for sure, life is never dull around this crowd,” Sue said at last.

“I should think not. Here, let me help you clean up,” Candace said as she stood up.

She and Sue grabbed trash bags and started stuffing them full of discarded wrapping paper. They tossed the bows into a small pile under the Christmas tree. When they were nearly done, everyone else trooped back in. There were grass and dirt stains covering most of them. Becca had a wild, defiant look in her eyes, but her hands were empty.

“We've promised to give this to her once she's at home,” Josh said, holding the candy box high.

Candace could swear she heard Becca muttering, “My candy,” over and over again. Everyone took a trip to the rest-room to wash up as best they could. Then they indulged in pie. Candace couldn't help but feel sorry for Becca as she watched the other girl miserably eat her slice of sugar-free apple pie. When at last dessert was finished and cleaned up, Sue thanked them all again.

“On this happy note, I think I'll say good night,” Martha said at last.

“I'll walk out with you,” Pete said.

Gus had engaged Roger in an earnest conversation about basketball.

“I need to get going too,” Kurt said. He gave Candace a quick kiss before heading out.

“Hey, Roger,” Josh said.

“Yeah?”

“Could I trust you to drive Becca home and not give her your gift again until you get there?”

“Yeah, I'm your man,” Roger said, jumping to his feet. “I'll be over tomorrow so we can shoot some hoops,” he promised Gus.

“Come on, Becca, I'll take you home,” he said with the hint of a blush.

“Good night,” Becca said, hugging Sue. “Merry Christmas.”

“Thank you,” Sue said. “Merry Christmas to you too.”

Becca and Roger left.

“I hope the two of them go out soon,” Josh said with a sigh. “Watching them is driving everyone crazy.”

“Tell me about it,” Candace said, rolling her eyes. “I thought it was a done deal half a dozen times already.”

Sue smiled at them. “It's amazing sometimes how blind or shy people can be. You just never can tell sometimes what will finally wake two people up.”

“Will you be able to give me a lift later?” Josh asked Candace. “Roger was kinda my ride.”

“No problem.”

Gus and Mary finally said good night. Both of them looked exhausted but happy. Sue, Josh, and Candace chatted while they finished cleaning up. At the end, Sue grabbed an empty box and started scooping bows into it from the pile under the tree.

“Hey, what's this?” she asked.

“What?” Josh asked, craning to see what she was holding.

Hanging from one of the bottom branches of the tree was a small, wrapped present.

Sue pulled it off. “It's addressed to me, but it doesn't say who it's from.”

“Open it,” Candace urged.

Sue sat down and unwrapped the gift. She gasped and then slowly held it up. There in her hand was the golden candy cane.

“Who … who would give this up?” Sue asked.

Tears flooded Candace's eyes. “I know,” she said. After all that hard work, all that searching, and her desperate desire to have the gingerbread house, Becca had given it all away to someone who needed it more.

Josh and Candace stayed a little while longer before finally leaving. They ended up heading to a coffee shop to decompress and discuss the evening.

“It was better than I dreamed,” Candace said.

“It was awesome. Did you see Gus's face when he opened up the basketball you got him? I was mad that I forgot to bring a camera.”

“I should have used my phone to take a picture,” Candace said.

“I heard a rumor that you're going to be in
Man of La Mancha
.”

“It's true.”

“Awesome. You are going to invite everyone to come see it, right?”

“I wasn't planning on it,” Candace said with a laugh.

“You should. I think it would be fun. We need to do more stuff outside The Zone like this. You know, something every few months.”

“That would be fun,” Candace admitted.

“And see, your play is the perfect chance. We can go out to Max's Opera Café afterward.”

Candace laughed. “I don't think my performance will quite warrant that.”

“Who cares? I want to go to the café,” Josh said with a laugh.

Candace smiled and rubbed her knee. It was starting to get a little stiff.

“Do you need me to get you something? Ice? Your brace?”

“No, I probably just need to go home and rest,” Candace said.

“You seem to be holding up pretty well,” Josh said, standing and dumping his trash into the bin.

“Yeah. It's been awesome.”

They got to the car, and Josh gave her directions to his house.

“Kurt said you and Tamara looked gorgeous the other night. I would have loved to have seen you guys all dressed up.”

Candace laughed. “I tried to convince Tam to ask you out, but she wouldn't.”

“Yeah, she and I would so not work. I like her, I really do, but I think we would drive each other crazy in a bad way.”

“Can't blame a girl for trying,” Candace said.

When they reached Josh's street, Candace slowed down.

“You can just drop me at the gate,” he said.

“What? Don't want me to see where you live?” she joked.

“Nah. Are you kidding? You already know my big secret. What more could I possibly be hiding? It's just late and I don't want to wake mom and dad up.”

She pulled over, and he hopped out of the car. “See you later, Candy Cane,” he said with a grin before closing the door.

She shook her head. She'd only known Josh a few months, but some days it seemed like a lifetime. She put her foot on the gas and headed for home.

Once home she put the Lone Ranger statue, the trophy from Josh, and the golden candy cane all on her dresser next to her other souvenirs from The Zone. She changed into her pajamas
and actually felt a tiny bit better when she strapped on the leg brace.

She was exhausted, but her mind was racing. She replayed the evening, remembering everything that was said and how everyone looked. Operation Christmas Carol had been a success. There was no way she could have pulled it off without her friends.

She felt amazed that she had somehow become part of The Zone community. When she had started working there in the summer, Tamara had been her only real friend. Now there were several people who fit into that category. She thought about what Sue had said about a gift being a wish from the heart.

She closed her eyes and thought of each of her friends.
God, I'd like to give a gift to each of my friends tonight. I'd like to give Roger the courage to tell Becca how he really feels about her. I'd like to give Becca the respect that she deserves. I'd like to give Martha a Christmas surrounded by those who love her. For Pete, I'd like to give the feeling of Christmas all year round. I'd like to give Tamara what she's searching for. For Sue I'd like to give a future that is brighter than her current circumstances. For Josh … I'm not sure what I would like to give him, but I want you to make his brother's homecoming a blessing to everyone who knows him. And dear God, for Kurt, I'd like to ask for happiness. Amen.

The next day, spirits were running even higher than usual in the Holiday Zone. Even Santa somehow seemed jollier. Candace was relishing the freedom of her second day without the leg brace. She had even opted to forego the stool. Unlike the day before, she was more confident and beginning to feel like her old self. It was a shame that there were only two more days of this. She was finally feeling like she really had the hang of the whole elf business.

On one of Santa's breaks, Candace got the chance to thank him for the hint about the watch. He smiled at her and winked. “I was glad to help, Candace. I want to thank you for the fine work you've done here. If you ever want to become a full-time elf, look me up.”

“Thanks, Santa. Oh, and my best friend wants me to tell you that if you ever need a Mrs. Claus …”

He laughed, a deep belly laugh that brought a smile to her face. “I have a Mrs. Claus. But you tell Tamara that she'll find her Mr. Right soon enough.”

He turned and left, and Candace stared after him.
How did he know her name?
she wondered.

“Earth to Candace?”

She turned around and saw her mother standing there. “Sorry, Mom, I didn't hear you. What's up?”

“I'm heading home. I just had a short shift this morning. Will you need me to pick you up tonight?”

“I'm not sure. I'll see if I can catch a ride with someone.”

“Well, give me a call if you can't.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

With so few days left before Christmas, the elves had gotten official word that they could double the number of presents they were giving out. Candace made full use of the opportunity. Every time she handed a child a present, she couldn't help but see Mary and Gus in her mind. She was so glad that everything had turned out well the night before. She had vowed to help Sue this Christmas season, and she finally had. Still, Becca had been much more generous than she in the long run.

When lunchtime finally came, she headed off toward the Muffin Mansion to talk to Becca. As she walked, Roger caught up with her and fell into step.

“So, how did things go with Becca last night?” she asked.

“Fine. We talked. I dropped her at her house, gave her the candy, and ran.”

“Coward.”

“That's me.”

“Seriously, Roger. When are you going to make a move? Ask her out, kiss her, something?”

“I don't know,” he said, voice full of misery. “I have every intention of doing just that, then I get around her and I get all tongue-tied.”

As they passed one of the restrooms, Sue came flying out. She threw her arms around both of them in an impromptu hug, and they hugged her back. “Thank you again for everything!” she said. “Mary and Gus couldn't stop talking about it this morning. That was the best Christmas present anyone could ever have given.”

“We were glad to help,” Roger said, smiling.

“And thank you for offering to come over and help put up the basketball hoop,” Sue said.

“No problem, happy to do it. I've got to encourage my fellow athletes in any way possible.”

Sue laughed. “It's amazing. You know, sometimes I think this place does something wonderful to people. It makes us all better.”

“I couldn't agree more,” Candace said with a smile. “I think it's because we get to hang out with such great people.”

“I have to get back to it, but I saw you guys and just had to say thank you again. And Roger?”

“Yeah?”

“Ask out Becca. I'm sure she'll say yes.”

Roger blushed and nodded.

Candace and Roger continued walking. They reached the Muffin Mansion and found Gib and Becca outside. Becca was standing on a ladder, hanging something over the door.

“What's going on?” Candace asked.

“A little last-minute decoration, as it were,” Gib said.

“I'm hanging mistletoe,” Becca said brightly. “Is this centered?”

“Yes,” Gib said.

Becca finished pushing the tack into place.

“Hey, Roger,” Becca said.

“Hey.”

Candace rolled her eyes. Gib muttered something under his breath.

“Roger!” Gib growled.

“Yeah?”

“Catch,” Gib said before putting his foot on the ladder and shoving.

It wobbled a moment, and Becca shrieked before tumbling backward. She landed in Roger's outstretched arms. He stared at her, and she stared back.

Then, for one agonizing moment, Candace thought he was about to set her on her feet.

“For crying out loud, you idiot, you're standing under the mistletoe!” Gib bellowed.

Roger jerked as if stung. Then he bent down and kissed Becca, and she kissed him back. They stayed like that for a minute.

“That boy's got a wildcat on his hands,” Gib muttered to Candace, shaking his head.

“I can't believe you did that. She could have gotten hurt!” Candace said.

Gib shrugged. “What can I say? Kids shouldn't try this at home.”

Finally the kiss ended. “Becca, will you —”

“I thought you'd never ask,” Becca interrupted him. Then she kissed him.

“Finally,” Gib said, shoulders relaxing. “They were driving me crazy with all their mooning around.”

Candace grinned, patted Gib on the arm, and headed back to the Holiday Zone, determined to find Josh and tell him the good news. Back in the Holiday Zone, though, the first person she recognized wasn't Josh but Tamara.

“Hey, Tam, what are you doing here?” Candace asked.

“I figure this was a good place to shop for the HTBFs on my list.”

“HTBF?” Candace questioned. She thought she was familiar with all Tamara's acronyms, but this was a new one.

“Hard to buy for.”

“A h.”

“See, here I can find stuff they won't have seen in the mall or are not likely to have already.”

“True.”

“I'm sure to find a few things that will work.”

“What's the verdict on your evil aunt? Is she coming for Christmas? Do you have to get her something?”

“I should get her something, but I'm not likely to be able to buy her soul back,” Tamara said, rolling her eyes. “Yes, she's coming, and so is Trevor. Is it too late to come spend Christmas at your house?”

“It's never too late. I'm just not sure your folks would be happy about it.”

“Maybe they'll still be discussing Aunt Liv, and they won't even notice I'm gone.”

“Dream on.”

“Can't blame me for trying. Well, wish me luck. These presents aren't going to buy themselves.”

“Good luck. Don't forget to check out the eco-friendly booth,” Candace said.

“I think my Uncle Mike is getting one of their birdfeeders. Speaking of, is your mom here today?”

“No, why?”

“I wanted to do present coordination with her.”

“What?”

“Oh come on, Cand. We do it every year.”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. Remember the first Christmas after we became friends?”

“Yeah.”

“She and I gave you the same Barbie.”

“I didn't mind,” Candace said.

“Yeah, yeah. Look. Every year when I think of something cool, she's beaten me to the punch. This year, though, I'm going to win. I've got something so cool there's no way she's thought of it.”

“If you're so sure, then why are you worried about coordinating with her?” Candace asked, still amused by the whole idea.

“Because I want her to acknowledge my terminal coolness. Well, that, and it's kinda become a tradition.”

Candace laughed. Just when she thought her friends and family couldn't get any weirder, they always found a way to surprise her.

“I'll just have to call her, I guess. Anyway, I can do that later. Now it's time to shop.”

“Have fun,” Candace said.

“I will. And tell Santa I'll be back to have a few words with him. Save me a candy cane.”

“Santa already had a few words for you!” Candace called.

She smiled at Tamara's retreating back. Having two of the same Barbie had never bugged her. She'd just thought of them as twins. It seemed funny to her that it had bugged Tamara enough that she had spent the last thirteen years coordinating gifts with her mom.

She turned and walked over to where Josh stood by the exit to one of the rides. “I dig the costume,” she said.

He was dressed in a white snowsuit. “Yeah, I just got off working the Toboggan ride today. I was filling in for someone.”

“I heard a bunch of refs went down it backward after park closing two nights ago.”

“Guilty as charged,” he said, flashing a smile.

“I've got news,” Candace said.

“Do tell.”

“I just left the Muffin Mansion where Becca and Roger were kissing under the mistletoe.”

“Yes! Finally!”

“It's too bad we didn't have a wager on that,” she said slyly.

“Aha! I knew it!”

“Knew what?

“I knew this was going to come around to pizza somehow.”

“I have no idea what you're talking about. Since you brought it up, though, when are you making me pizza?” she asked.

“Ah! I knew that gift came with a catch,” he said.

“Yes, it did. I expect some kind of fabulous gourmet pizza.”

“I see. Did you have anything particular in mind?”

“No, I figure you can go through the book and surprise me. Did you really like it, though?”

As she was talking, a guy with a blond crew cut and dressed in jeans and a tight black T-shirt walked up behind Josh. He put a finger over his lips like he didn't want her to say anything. She wasn't sure who he was or what he was planning, but there was something about him that seemed familiar.

“It was awesome!” Josh finished. “I looked it over a little more closely this morning, and I found a couple we have to try.”

“I go off overseas to fight for my country so my little brother can flirt with girls,” the stranger boomed in a loud voice.

Josh jumped, and a look of wild joy passed over his face. He spun around, shouted something Candace didn't understand, and threw his arms around the other guy.

“Hey, Josh. Good to see you too!”

Candace was stunned. This had to be James, Josh's older brother returned from war. A minute later Josh confirmed that as he turned around, still hugging his brother with his right arm while wiping his eyes with his left.