The Winter of Candy Canes (A Sweet Seasons Novel) (4 page)

Candace smiled as she returned to the study. Josh always had a way of making her laugh. Now
he
would make a great Bible study leader. Actually, he would make a great leader of anything. He was passionate, funny, caring, and competitive. She sighed. It was too bad he and Tam wouldn't get together. She was sure they'd be great for each other.

With a sigh she closed the leadership manual. At least she had an idea of what was expected of her. She opened up the study and read the verses and then wrote down her answers to the seven questions. She might not be the world's best leader, but at least she could be prepared.

When she finished, she put the books away and rewarded herself with a phone call to Kurt.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he said when he answered the phone.

She smiled. “Hey, yourself.”

“Guess what I did today?”

“What?”

“I bought your Christmas present.”

“What did you get me?”

“No way I'm telling you. Just know it's perfect.”

Perfect.
Instead of filling her with anticipation, the word filled her with terror. He thought he had gotten her something perfect, which meant that she had to find him something perfect.
No pressure
, she thought as she groaned inwardly.

“I've got my eye on something special for you,” she fibbed. Maybe a little fishing would help her out.

“Like what?”

“Guess.”

“A fishing pole and a mess of hand-tied flies?”

She actually pulled her phone away from her ear and stared at it for a moment, wondering in what spectacular way it was malfunctioning for her to have heard that.

“Um … maybe,” she said.

“Or how about one of those shower radios?” he asked.

“Are you wanting one of those?” she asked, trying to make her voice teasing.

“Not really, we've already got one.”

“Well then, guess again,” she said, her voice cracking a little.

“Ooooh, I know … a set of wrenches.”

She thought for a moment. He had to be playing her. She refused to believe that these were his best guesses at what she might think he would want. She took a deep breath. “You aren't really trying to guess, are you?”

“Of course not. I don't want to know what you get me. I want to be completely surprised.”

“I see.”

“It's fun playing, though. I mean, really, what would I do with more hand-tied flies?”

“Heaven only knows,” she said, feeling nervous laughter coming on.

“Hey, what should I wear to Thanksgiving?”

“Just some Dockers and a button-down shirt would be fine,” she said.

“I've got a tie.”

“No, think a notch below church wear,” she said without thinking.

“Okay,” and his tone told volumes.

She winced. It sounded like he didn't know what church wear would be. “So, a tie would be too much,” she hastened to say.

“You're sure?” he asked, now sounding thoroughly confused.

“Definitely.”

“Okay. Well, I should go. I've got more studying to do.”

“Okay, see you Thursday,” she said.

“Yeah.”

When Candace got home from school the next day, her mom had already loaded the van. After quickly changing into jeans and a T-shirt, Candace hopped into the van beside her mom.

“Ready to go!”

“Then let's get this party started,” her mom said.

A few minutes later they reached The Zone. A large sign read, Welcome Holly Daze Vendors! and had an arrow pointing around the side of the park away from the player parking lot. After following several such signs, they parked in a referee-only area, where they found people unloading an assortment of vehicles. Referees were on hand, providing dollies and carts.

“It's going to be strange. It will be like we're working together,” her mom said.

“Tell me about it,” Candace said, jumping out.

“Need a hand?” Sue asked as she walked up, pushing a cart.

“Sure! What are you doing here? Were you pressed into service?”

Sue shook her head with a smile. “I volunteered. It beats cleaning bathrooms this afternoon.”

“I guess it would,” Candace's mom said as she came around the van. “Hi, I'm Patricia, Candace's mom.”

“Pleased to meet you. I'm Sue.”

“You were on Candace's team for that summer scavenger hunt, right?”

“The winning team,” Candace pointed out with a smile.

They shook hands, and then the three of them set to work. Once they had loaded up the cart, Candace stared at how much was left in the van.

“It's going to take ten trips!”

“No, three,” Sue said. “Trust me. I've been here all day.”

They walked right into the Kids Zone, and Candace smiled when her mom gasped.

“I know, first time not going through the front gate is bizarre, huh?” Candace asked.

“And cool. I can see why you enjoy working here,” her mom said.

From the Kids Zone they pushed the cart into the Holiday Zone. The noise and activity were nearly overwhelming. The area already had its Christmas overlay, which Candace hadn't seen yet. Lights and wreathes hung on every permanent structure in the area, and a giant tree illuminated the center. Booths were scattered all around for the outside vendors, and on hand was a small army of food carts to keep the busy vendors from getting too hungry or thirsty.

“Do you know what booth you're at?” Sue asked.

“Thirty-two.”

“It's over there by the gingerbread house.”

A giant gingerbread house dominated a maze in the center of the Kids Zone all year round. Although something seemed a little different to Candace, she didn't pay much attention until they stopped next to her mom's booth. Then she gasped. The usual house had been replaced by one made out of real gingerbread.

“That smells heavenly,” Patricia commented.

“They just put it in this morning,” Sue said. “It's real gingerbread, and even the glue that holds it together is made out of edible materials.”

“You mean you could eat that thing?” Candace asked.

“Yeah. Someone probably will too.”

“What do you mean?” Candace asked, her mind flying to Becca.

“One of the Game Masters told me they will be giving it away at the referee Christmas Party.”

“Wouldn't that be something?” Patricia said.

“You've got a great view from your booth here,” Sue said.

Candace looked at the booth. Like all the others it had about ten feet of counter space and a little awning to keep rain off. It was particularly well situated just to the right of the entrance to the maze.

“How about you start putting stuff where you want it, while Candace and I take care of emptying the van?” Sue suggested.

“Sounds like an excellent idea.”

A few minutes later Candace and Sue headed back to the van with an empty cart.

“Your mom seems really nice,” Sue said quietly.

“Yeah, she's pretty cool,” Candace said. “She can be a bit tough, but that's okay.”

“You're so lucky that you get to spend time with her.”

“I take it you don't get much time with your mom?”

Sue shook her head and looked away.

They worked fast and had the cart loaded up again in five minutes. “I think you're right,” Candace said as she closed up the van. “One more trip should do it.”

“Told you,” Sue said.

“So, how's college going?” Candace asked.

Sue smiled. “Piece of cake.”

“Isn't it hard to juggle work and school?”

Sue shrugged. “It can be. The classes just haven't been that hard for me. I learned a lot of the stuff in high school, so most of it's really just a refresher.”

“Bummer.”

“Hey, at least I'm taking classes, and someday I'll get over to Cal State.”

When they made it back to the booth, Candace was amazed at how much her mom had accomplished in such a short time. The antique-looking cash register sat proudly on a table next to two chairs. Merchandise was already sparkling on the green felt display areas. Her mom smiled at them as she hung an ornament from a hook on the roof of the booth.

“Special delivery,” Sue called as they wheeled the cart to the back of the booth.

“I just don't know what it could be,” Patricia said with an exaggerated smile.

The two laughed as they unloaded boxes, and Candace noticed how happy Sue looked.

After making a final run to the van, Patricia put Candace and Sue to work laying out merchandise on the counter and hanging wind chimes, ornaments, bird feeders, and art made of recycled material on the hooks.

“How did you decide to have a booth here?” Sue asked.

“The organization I work with chooses a venue each year to display holiday items and to attempt to raise awareness about environmental issues. This year we chose The Zone because of the excellent example it sets.”

“How's that?” Sue asked.

“They recycle over eighty percent of all the materials used in the park.”

“Well, then that means they're definitely eco-friendly,” Candace said with a smile.

“Exactly,” her mom said, giving her a quick hug.

It had always seemed somewhat funny to Candace that while she could speak easily with both her parents about their professions, she had never felt any desire to follow in either of their footsteps. It wasn't that she didn't care about justice or clean drinking water, but she just didn't feel like she had a passion for those things like her parents did.

Maybe someday she would find the thing that could make her talk for hours on a single subject to anyone who would listen. She hoped so. She envied them both their enthusiasm and dedication.

She shook her head. She was being too hard on herself.

More vendors arrived.

“I think we've monopolized you long enough,” Patricia told Sue.

“Yeah, I need to go help cart things for other people,” Sue said, sounding tired.

“Good luck with that,” Candace said as the other girl took her cart and moved off.

“She's nice,” Patricia said.

Candace nodded.

“She works janitorial, right?”

“Yeah, and she goes to the same community college as Kurt.”

They worked for another hour, and when they were done, they stood back to admire their handiwork.

The booth looked inviting, and it blazed with color. It definitely outshone all the other booths that were finished. She gave her mom a quick hug.

“It looks amazing, Mom.”

“Thanks. Thank you for all your hard work. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem. You're not going to be the only one working it, are you?”

“No, there will be eight of us on rotation. I requested weekdays to work.”

“Good for you. It's nice to have a choice,” Candace said with a sigh.

“Not as much as I'd like. I'm working Friday.”

“Looks like neither of us will be hitting the Black Friday sales,” Candace said.

“Oh well, we'll just have to make up for it some other time.”

Candace glanced at her watch. “What about now?” she asked.

“I think we could arrange for a banzai run at the mall,” her mom said.

The run turned out to be a one-hour literal run. By the time it was done, Candace was exhausted but had gotten gifts for more than half the people on her list. She was still coming up with a huge blank, though, next to the name Kurt. There was a little nagging voice in the back of her head that said if Thursday didn't go well, she might just be crossing his name off her list. She shook her head. It was only Thanksgiving dinner, what could go wrong?

Wednesday evening Candace was a bundle of nerves when Tamara came to pick her up for Bible study. She wasn't sure which she was more stressed out about: leading Bible study or the possibility of something going wrong with Kurt and her family in less than twenty-four hours.

“Are you sick?” Tamara asked suspiciously. “If you are, I'd appreciate you not giving it to me.”

“I'm not sick, just stressed,” Candace told her. “Just drive before I chicken out.”

They arrived at the youth building to find the parking lot empty. “Maybe no one will show up,” Candace said.

“Don't count on it. We're ten minutes early.”

They walked into the building, and for one second Candace was filled with hope, until she saw a small figure sitting on one of the floor pillows, knees tucked under her chin. She recognized Jen.

“I'm so glad you're here!” Jen said. “I thought it was going to be just me.”

“Candace was hoping it was just going to be her,” Tamara said.

“Huh?” Jen asked.

“Nothing,” Candace said, glaring at Tamara.

Candace and Tamara grabbed their favorite couch in the room, and Candace carefully laid out everything she was going to need. Her stomach was still twisting in knots.

Jen scooted closer. “I thought you were great in the maze at the Halloween thing at The Zone.”

“Thanks,” Candace said.

“It looked very exciting.”

“A little too exciting,” Tamara piped up.

Candace waved her hand. “Long story. Yes, I had fun, though. I'm glad you could come.”

“Me too.”

The other girls trickled in until they were all there. Everyone grabbed chairs and pillows and sprawled out in a rough circle. Finally, when everyone had settled in, they began.

“Hello and welcome to Bible study,” Candace said.

The next hour seemed to fly by. The initial meeting was less about studying and more about getting to know each other and hearing each other's stories. Both Candace and Tamara were “pew babies” who had been born and raised in the church. There were other pew babies in the group, as well as several who had found Christ on their own or through friends within the last couple years.

It seemed like a good mix of girls, and Candace found herself relaxing as the time passed. Everyone there was eager to learn and discuss. That was going to make things a lot easier. She'd had nightmares where no one in the room talked except her.

When the study was over, Candace and Tamara headed to Big D's for ice cream, only to find that three of the other girls had the same idea. They all ended up at the same table.

“I can't believe tomorrow's Thanksgiving,” Eilene said.

“I'm just so thankful for the four-day weekend. I'm totally exhausted,” Rachel said.

“There's something we should talk about … what are we all thankful for?” Joy asked.

It was a logical question, one they could have discussed at Bible study. Candace just wished she had been the one to think of it. What was she thankful for? There was a lot. Good friends, family, God, The Zone — all were right up there.

“I'm thankful to live in a country where I'm free to say what I want and worship how I want,” Eilene said.

Eilene's family had originally been from Poland, and even though Eilene had been just two when they came to America, she still cherished her freedom. It was nice. Candace took so many things for granted because she had never known anything else.

“I'm thankful that none of my teachers assigned homework for the break,” Rachel said.

Candace smiled. Rachel could always be counted on to say something funny or lighthearted. She and Eilene were best friends. It seemed like such an odd combination, but they balanced each other out pretty well.

“I'm thankful for having the best friend in the whole world,” Tamara said, smiling at Candace.

Tamara was sitting across the table, otherwise Candace would have hugged her. “VH,” Candace said.
VH
was their code for Virtual Hug.

“VH back,” Tamara said.

“What about you, Candace?” Joy asked.

“She's thankful she has a boyfriend to take to Winter Formal,” Tamara teased.

Candace blushed. She hadn't even thought about Kurt. Too many thoughts crowded her mind. There were all the things she was thankful for and all the things she should be thankful for. Suddenly she wasn't in the mood to share, so she took the easy way out. “I'm thankful for ice cream,” she said just as the waitress appeared with their order.

“I'm thankful to have a personal relationship with Christ Jesus,” Joy said.

Of course you are
, Candace thought. Joy was one of those girls who always gave the meaningful or pious answer. Candace could never tell if Joy really meant it or she just thought the show was expected.

“I think that one is a no-brainer,” Candace said out loud and then clamped her hand over her mouth, horrified.
I so did not mean to say that out loud!

Tamara laughed, and Eilene and Rachel joined in.

“At least it's something actually important, unlike ice cream,” Joy said, a fake smile plastered across her face.

Now you've started a fight
,
good going.
She sat there, a dozen retorts crossing her mind, and each of them more guaranteed than the last to inflame things. She decided to take a page from Rachel. “Yes, Christ is more important than ice cream. However, I believe that ice cream is clear evidence that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” Candace said, smiling like a good elf should.

It worked. After a moment, Joy smiled back. “I can agree to that.”

“I think we all can,” Rachel added.

“Here, here,” Tamara said, lifting a spoon.

Candace sighed to herself. Some days she had a real knack for getting on people's bad sides. She continued to smile at Joy as she dug into her ice-cream sundae. Only eleven more weeks of Bible study to go and then she could go back to sitting quietly in youth group and keep her big mouth from getting her into trouble.