The Winter of Candy Canes (A Sweet Seasons Novel) (13 page)

“Dear God, watch over and protect them all. Help tomorrow night to be a blessing in their lives,” she prayed.

She grabbed Mr. Huggles and squeezed him tight. She couldn't wait to see the looks on Gus's and Mary's faces when they opened up their toys. It took an hour but she finally drifted off to sleep.

In the morning Candace stared in the mirror at her two legs side by side. They looked a little strange to her without the brace. When she tried to walk, it felt a little awkward because she had gotten used to the extra weight.

She took the stairs slowly, mindful of what the doctor had said about not going crazy. She put her brace and the crutches in the trunk of the car before climbing in. She'd asked her dad to put the presents in the trunk for her. She hadn't driven since the accident, because she couldn't keep her left leg straight and still be close enough to reach the pedals with her right. It felt odd but good to drive again.

When she got to the Santa Zone, she did a slow turn to thunderous applause from the other elves. She decided to still use the stool, though, to avoid putting more stress on her knee.

“Better safe than sorry, I always say,” an elf named Calliope told her.

Candace could barely wait until her morning break. When it finally came, she went hunting for Sue. She found her close to the cantina.

“Hey, how's it going?” Candace asked.

“Okay,” Sue said. “Look at you! I was just beginning to get used to the brace, and now you look a little off balance.”

“I feel a little off balance,” Candace admitted.

“How's the candy cane business?”

Candace rolled her eyes. “I'm starting to think I don't ever want to see another candy cane as long as I live.”

Sue laughed. “Didn't you say the same thing about candy corn a couple of months ago?”

“I vaguely remember something like that,” Candace acknowledged with a laugh.

“And before that wasn't it cotton candy?”

“Probably. So, what are you up to tonight?” she asked, holding her breath as she waited for the answer.

Sue smiled, but her eyes looked tired. “Not much. Just staying home with my brother and sister and trying to get some rest.”

“Good, that's good. Resting is good,” Candace said, realizing she was babbling.

“Yeah,” Sue said. “How about you?”

“I don't know, just hanging out, I guess,” Candace said.

“Well, I'll see you later,” Sue said.

“Yeah, later,” Candace said, trying hard not to smile.

Sue moved away, and Josh approached. “Well?” he asked.

“Home all night,” Candace said.

“Awesome. I'll spread the word.”

“Thanks, Josh.”

Candace could barely contain herself for the next two hours. She couldn't wait to get to Sue's house and see the look on her face when she opened the door.

It seemed like she passed out a million candy canes in those two hours, and yet the kids kept coming. She was so distracted by thoughts of the surprise party, that she handed a candy cane to Becca before she realized what she was doing.

“Thank you!” Becca said.

“Ooh, sorry,” Candace said, snatching the sugary treat back.

“Oh, man,” Becca said, looking crushed.

“I'm sorry. You know that normally I'd let you keep it, but we've got things to do tonight.”

“I know,” Becca said. “Josh said we were a go for the party.”

“Yup.” Candace glanced at her watch. “I'm off now.”

“So am I.”

“You want to help me do some shopping?” Candace asked.

“Sure.”

“Great, let's go.”

Candace and Becca headed for the grocery store. Candace pushed the cart, leaning on it a little for support, while Becca plucked things off the shelves.

“I don't think we're going to need four pies,” Candace said. “Not unless one of those is just for you.”

“Could it be?” Becca asked with a mischievous grin.

“Only if it's sugar free.”

“You're no fun.”

They grabbed everything else they could think of to make the Christmas feast complete. Martha had already volunteered to cook and bring the turkey.

An hour later Candace parked the car at Sue's house, and she and Becca climbed out. Martha joined them a moment later, and they pulled bags out of the trunk of both cars. A couple feet away the guys were pulling the tree and boxes of decorations out of the bed of Roger's truck.

Candace was excited and nervous at the same time. She prayed that everything would go well.

“You're sure they're home, right?” Kurt asked.

“Yes,” Candace said. Suddenly, though, she felt nervous. It would be terrible to have brought everything only to find Sue not home. She had said she wasn't going out, though.

“Lights are on; she should be home,” Josh said.

Candace juggled the bags in her arms until she could close her trunk. Then she walked up onto Sue's porch with the others close behind.

Candace stood nervously with the others, clutching her bags of food and presents while Josh reached out and rang the doorbell. She heard voices from inside and moments later Sue opened the door.

“Surprise!” they yelled.

Sue's eyes widened in shock and her fingers gripped the door tight. “Wha — what's going on?” she squeaked.

“Christmas is coming four days early,” Candace said.

“I don't know what to say.”

“Say come in, it's cold out here,” Becca said.

Everyone laughed, and it broke the spell. Sue threw the door open wide, and they all trooped inside. Inside, Sue's younger brother and sister regarded them with wide eyes from the living room couch.

“Which way to the kitchen?” Martha asked.

“This way,” Sue said, leading Martha, Becca, and Candace toward it.

Behind her, Candace heard squeals of delight from the children and glanced back to see Roger hauling in the Christmas tree. Josh, Kurt, and Pete followed with boxes of lights and decorations.

“Who wants to help decorate the tree?” Josh asked.

“Me!”

“Me too!”

Candace smiled and walked into the kitchen. By the time they had all set down their bags, the counter was covered.

“What on earth have you all done?” Sue asked.

Candace turned to look at her and saw tears sparkling in her eyes. She reached out and hugged her. “Just brought a little Christmas cheer is all.”

“Thank you,” Sue whispered, shaking a little as she cried.

“You're welcome,” Candace said, starting to tear up herself.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Martha said, her voice kindly. “But we brought a few extra presents to unwrap on Christmas day itself,” she said, handing Sue a bag.

Sue pulled away and took the bag. “I'll be right back,” she said before scurrying off.

“You did a good thing here,” Martha said once Sue had left the room.

“I just wish I could have done more,” Candace admitted.

It was amazing how many things she took for granted. It made her feel sad and a little guilty. It must have shown on her face, because Becca shook her shoulder.

“No sad faces allowed tonight.”

“Sorry.”

“Don't make me eat sugar,” Becca threatened.

“Make you?” Martha asked, rolling her eyes. “It's almost impossible to stop you.”

Becca shrugged and gave them both an impish smile, one with the slightest hint of a sugar craze in it.

Candace reached for the dessert bag. “You didn't …”

Sure enough, the bag of Christmas-colored Hershey kisses was open. “Oh no,” Candace groaned.

Becca's smile got a little wider. “It was just one.”

“One is more than enough,” Martha said, snatching the bag. “Who let her carry this bag in?”

“What bag?” Sue asked, returning to the kitchen.

“This one,” Martha said, waving the bag of chocolate in the air.

Sue went completely white.

“Don't worry. It was just one,” Becca said with a little hop.

A commotion from the other room drew their attention, and they all moved to get a view of the living room. The Christmas tree was standing in the middle of the room, and each child had a strand of lights that they were wrapping around the tree, running past each other and squealing.

“Faster, faster!” Kurt urged them on.

“There goes any chance at quiet and dignity,” Martha said with a smile.

“I think quiet and dignity are overrated,” Candace said, laughing at the sight.

“How're you ladies coming? We're going to be done here before you know it,” Josh said.

“I guess we should hurry then,” Candace said, turning back to the kitchen.

“What is all this?” Sue asked, waving toward the bags.

“Dinner,” Martha said.

“And presents!” Becca chimed in.

Candace grabbed a bag and pulled the presents out of it. She carried them into the living room and started a pile on the floor.

“See that, kids?” Roger asked. “We have to finish decorating so we can put the presents under the tree!”

There was more laughter, and Candace joined in as she raced back into the kitchen for more presents. In a minute she had separated out all the presents and stacked them in the living room. Back in the kitchen the others had emptied the food out of the paper bags.

“We figured we could all have Christmas dinner together a couple days early,” Candace explained. “So we brought turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberries.”

“Don't forget the pies,” Becca said, eyes wide.

“One of which is sugar free,” Martha said pointedly.

Becca looked so sad, Candace couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

“You guys didn't have to do this,” Sue said.

“Oh hush,” Martha said. “You know, any excuse to have a party.”

They heated up the food and chilled the sparkling cider. Josh sauntered into the kitchen when they were just finishing.

“That food had better be ready. Tree's gonna be done in five minutes, and if food isn't ready we're setting the kids loose on the presents.”

“The food will be ready,” Candace said, handing him a stack of plates. “Help me set the table.”

Five minutes later they were all sitting down to eat. They all held hands and Josh prayed.

“God, thank you for everything that we have, especially good friends and family. We ask that you bless this dinner and all who are partaking of it. Amen.”

“Amen,” they all chorused.

Candace picked up the platter in front of her, and soon dishes of food zipped around the table. For five minutes no one said a word as everyone began to scarf down the food.

Pete broke the silence. “You ladies did yourselves proud. I can't remember the last Christmas dinner I had that tasted so good.”

“Here, here,” Kurt added.

Candace smiled. It had to be one of the strangest holiday meals she had ever had, and she was sharing it with the strangest, coolest people she could hope for. She watched in delight as Mary and Gus stuffed themselves and Sue laughed and laughed. Seeing her look so happy was the best gift Candace could have hoped for.

A half hour later, everyone had pushed their plates away and was groaning and rubbing their bellies. Candace, Becca, Roger, and Martha carried the dishes into the kitchen and began cleaning up while the others played with Mary and Gus in the living room.

“If somebody's got a CD player, I've got Christmas music,” she heard Kurt say.

“Who wants to help me set up the train?” Pete asked to squeals of delight.

At last dishes were in the dishwasher, and leftover food was in the fridge.

“I think we should wait awhile before we serve pie,” Martha said, and Candace quickly agreed.

“I think it's present time,” Josh said, poking his head into the kitchen. “I can't hold these kids back any longer.”

“You mean we can't hold you back any longer,” Roger joked.

“Hey, I know I saw a present with my name on it,” Josh laughed.

“Who's going to pass out the presents?” Becca asked as she hopped into the other room.

“I vote for Pete,” Candace said.

“I second that,” Martha said.

Candace found herself in the living room sitting between Josh and Kurt on the couch. Everyone else sat on chairs scattered about the room in a loose circle.

Pete handed out a round of presents. Candace looked down at hers.
To Candy, Merry Christmas! Becca
. She gasped when she saw that there was a small heart over the “i” in Christmas. She looked over at Becca. So, she had found the golden candy cane after all! All of her charts and maps and statistical analysis had paid off for her. Candace was glad.

When everyone had a present, Pete shouted, “Let 'er rip!”

There were shouts of laughter, and wrapping paper went flying up into the air. Candace opened her box, and inside was a gold candy cane lapel pin. She laughed and held it up for all to see. “Does this mean I win?” she asked.

Everyone else laughed too.

“Thanks, Becca.”

“You're welcome and thank you!” Becca said, waving the box of See's in the air.

Sue gave out a little shriek when she saw it.

“It's okay, they're sugar free,” Candace hastened to assure everyone.

Pete passed out the next round of presents, and Candace noticed that Kurt was holding the one from her.

“Let 'er rip!” Pete shouted again.

Kurt opened his present, and a strange look crossed his face. He pulled the watch out slowly and then looked up at Candace. “How did you know?” he asked.

“I had a little help from Santa,” she admitted.

“I used to have one just like this. It belonged to my grandfather, but something happened to it.”

Candace felt warm inside. Santa had been right.

Candace opened Josh's present and began to laugh hysterically. She held up a tiny trophy and read the inscription out loud, “Candace Thompson. For most visits to The Hospital Zone in a single year!”

Gus and Mary were overwhelmed with excitement by their presents. Mary was clutching a doll. Gus had a basketball in one hand and a large box containing a basketball hoop that could be attached to the house in the other.

“I'll come over and help you put that up tomorrow,” Roger told him.

They opened more presents, and Candace loved that Kurt gave her a statue of the Lone Ranger. “It looks like you the day we met!” she said.

The last round of presents finally arrived, and when the paper had fallen to the ground, Candace saw that Roger had actually done it. He had given Becca a huge box of chocolates. Everyone stared for a moment, including Becca.

“They're
not
sugar free,” Roger said.