One Sweet Christmas (novella) (6 page)

‘Where have you been?’ He pulled the beard away from his mouth.

‘None of your business!’

Jackson grimaced at her angry tone. ‘Technically, it is. We have a piece of paper that says so.’

‘Don’t start, Jackson. I’m in no mood to deal with you right now.’ She threw her purse in a cabinet and opened the closet, retrieving her elf costume. ‘The children are waiting.’

Jackson adjusted the beard over his face, searching her eyes for answers to questions he didn’t dare ask.

‘Go, I’ll be there in a minute.’ She waved toward the door.

He opened the door and bellowed, ‘Ho, ho, ho!’

The children cheered and for the next two hours one little person after another climbed onto his lap. A few new faces were mixed among several familiar ones. Many came back to deliver letters they forgot the day before, while a few said they returned just to see him. If only Candi felt the same way. Jackson stole glances in her direction, but she always seemed busy chatting with parents.

Once the Santa gig wrapped up, he cornered her in the bakery room. ‘You’re mad at me, I get that. I’m sorry for whatever I did.’

Candi pushed his chest. ‘I know this might be hard for you to believe, but my whole world doesn’t revolve around you.’ She hung her elf suit in the closet and rammed her feet into a pair of winter hiking boots. ‘Do you really think I’ve been pacing the floor, waiting for you all these years?’ She slammed the closet door. ‘Well, I haven’t. I have more in my life than you and that damn marriage certificate.’

Virginia gasped from the doorway, her mouth hanging open.

Candi brushed by Jackson and flung her coat around her shoulders. ‘I have a meeting,’ she told Virginia. ‘Would you mind taking care of things here?’

‘Sure, no problem. Will I see you at the pot-luck this evening?’

‘Of course. I already dropped off the cookies, coconut squares, and chocolate truffles at the restaurant.’ Candi met Jackson’s eyes over her shoulder. ‘I’ve got to go.’ She disappeared out the door.

Jackson shook his head. ‘What the heck is up with her?’

Virginia rolled her eyes. ‘You apparently know more than I do.’

Jackson chose to remain silent, knowing Virginia was referring to the overheard marriage comment. If Candi wanted to fill her friend in on the details, that was her call.

Virginia returned to the front register and Jackson quickly changed out of the Santa suit. When he stepped onto the snowy sidewalk, he searched the street. Candi was nowhere to be found.

The nip in the air chilled his cheeks, but reality slapped him harder across the face. People scurried in and out of shops, gift boxes in hand. Children laughed, throwing snowballs at their siblings. His missed this town. But most of all, he missed Candi, and he wanted her back in his life.

Candi smoothed a hand down her three-quarter-length dress. The V-neckline, long sleeves, and princess seams added a slimming effect. The teal ensemble had been an impulse buy while in the city earlier that day.

She shouldn’t have splurged, not with a financial crisis looming over her head. Colin had delivered the bad news during their morning meeting. Cutbacks were inevitable. One, possibly both, of her staff had to be let go through the winter.

Colin offered an alternative option, but Candi cut him short. The inn was off limits. That’s when their discussion became an argument and she stormed out of his office. Her whole day coasted downhill from that point.

After yelling at Jackson and exposing their marriage to Virginia, Candi escaped to the city for baking supplies, and unintentionally walked past a storefront displaying the teal dress. The plastic mannequin smiled happily, like she didn’t have a care in the world. Candi longed to be just like her.

‘I love your dress.’ Virginia left the where her family sat devouring their food. ‘Is it new?’

‘Yes, I was fooled into believing all my troubles would disappear if I owned this dress. That’s what I get for talking to a doll in a window.’ Candi sipped her hot cider.

’If it’s man trouble, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You look totally hot.’ Virginia leaned close. ‘Speaking of men, what’s going on between you and Jackson? I knew you shared a past, but you said nothing about marriage.’

‘It’s a long story. Can we talk about it tomorrow?’

‘Sure.’

‘And please don’t mention anything. No one knows.’

‘Not even Andrew?’

Candi shook her head. ‘I know, I’m a terrible person.’

‘No, you’re not. But you should decide which man you want, because Andrew is head-over-heels, and he is definitely checking out that dress.’ Virginia frowned at the where her family sat. ‘I leave for five minutes and one of them is wearing the food instead of eating it.’ She placed a hand on Candi’s arm. ‘I’ll catch up with you later.’

As soon as Virginia left, Andrew arrived at Candi’s side and kissed her cheek. ‘Hello, there. You look amazing.’

‘Thank you. You look pretty darn good yourself.’ She ran her hand down the lapel of his suit jacket. ‘You also sound much better.’

‘Two days off work, plenty of fluids and rest, and the laryngitis is almost gone.’ He ran his finger down her shoulder to her elbow. ‘I’ve missed you.’

Candi smiled, surprised by the lack of emotion his affectionate gesture garnered. They were in a relationship. Well, Andrew believed they were in a relationship, even though she kept him at arm’s length. Andrew wanted more and sometimes Candi did too, but she was a married woman. The vows she took were legal and binding.

Andrew could have any woman in town. He was downright gorgeous, tall and muscular. Throw in his excellent personality and caring nature, and Andrew was perfect — for someone who wasn’t already married. She couldn’t pretend with him any longer. He deserved to know the truth.

‘I need to tell you something, Andrew.’ Candi paused when
he
caught her eye as he talked with Virginia’s family. A chill raced down her spine.

Jackson turned toward her and Candi quickly focused on the tiled black and white floor.

‘Are you okay?’ Andrew touched the side of her cheek. ‘You were about to tell me something?’

‘I…um…I missed you, too.’ She tilted her head and deliberately held his gaze.

‘Music to my ears.’ He pulled her close and Candi stepped in under his shoulder.

But she didn’t want to play games with Andrew. He was worthy of much better. Knowing it was the right thing to do, Candi eased out of his embrace. She kept a watchful eye on Jackson as he slowly made his way across the room, but he kept getting pulled aside by old friends who wanted to reminisce.

When Jackson finally stepped in front of them, he kept his focus on her, but spoke to Andrew. ‘Andrew Haley, right?’ He held a hand out.

Andrew shook Jackson’s hand. ‘Jackson Frost.’ He cocked his head to the side. ‘What brings you to town?’

‘Candi didn’t tell you?’ Jackson raised his brows. ‘I had business in town and when I learned that Candi needed a Santa, I came to her rescue.’

Andrew narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Jackson is wearing my suit?’

Candi wanted to crawl under a rock and hide. ‘You were ill and I couldn’t disappoint the children. No one else was available.’

‘Well, I’m better now. Thank you, Jackson, for filling in, but your services are no longer required.’

‘I promised Candi four days and I’m sticking to our agreement. I don’t intend to disappoint her ever again.’

She snapped her head up and stared at Jackson. He met her gaze with the same intensity.

Andrew placed his hand in the small of Candi’s back, as if staking his claim. ‘That’s very gallant of you, but she has me now and I’ve
never
let her down.’

Jackson frowned and squared his shoulders in preparation to respond. Candi placed her hands on their chests and pushed, putting some distance between them. Her hand against Jackson fluttered with the warmth travelling up her arm.

‘Andrew, I think it’s best if we let Jackson finish out the week as Santa.’ Candi forced a smile. ‘The children adore him and they’d sense it if someone else stepped in.’

‘That’s true. Children are very smart.’ Jackson nodded. ‘They’d be suspicious and we wouldn’t want that.’

Candi wrinkled her nose. What was he? A child expert after playing Santa for two days?

‘Fine,’ Andrew agreed, but judging by his tightly-pressed lips he wasn’t happy. He slipped an arm around her waist and drew her to his side.

‘Can we talk privately for a moment?’ Jackson persisted.

‘If you wish to discuss business or your Santa role, I’d prefer we wait until tomorrow.’ Candi had to be clear and decisive. Jackson needed to understand she wasn’t his for the taking anymore. ‘This evening is for fun and socializing.’

The tension in his jaw tightened.

She tapped Andrew’s arm. ‘Let’s grab a while there’s still empty seats.’

Andrew smiled. ‘I can’t wait to try the chocolate truffles you brought just for
me
.’

Jackson nodded as they walked past him, and he did as she requested. He left her alone for the remainder of the evening. He didn’t arrive at breakfast the next morning, either. In fact, he didn’t appear until 10 minutes before show time.

Jackson changed in the tiny bathroom and barely acknowledged her presence as child after child sat on his lap. He played the role perfectly. The only person aware of the tension between them was Virginia.

‘What’s up with the two of you?’ Virginia asked as she helped Candi tidy the bakery.

Jackson had left without a word when his two hours were up, and with the shop so quiet after the children departed, she let Steve leave early to do some last-minute Christmas shopping.

‘I thought there’d be a fight at the restaurant last night,’ Virginia continued. ‘Jackson seemed really pissed after seeing you with Andrew. Then all this silence today. You’re both freaking me out. I keep waiting for a bomb to drop.’

Candi grabbed the broom and started sweeping. ‘That makes two of us. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around him. We spent so much time together as kids. Back then, I could read him like a book, but now I can’t figure him out. He shows up asking for a divorce, telling
me how he has this important business deal that can’t wait. He flirts with me and then ignores me.’ Candi shook her head. ‘Andrew questioned what was going on between me and Jackson.’

‘Did you tell him about your marriage?’

‘Why? After tomorrow, I’ll sign the divorce papers and Jackson will leave. No one will be the wiser. Then I can finally concentrate on a
real
relationship with Andrew.’

‘Do you love him?’

Candi stopped mid-stroke, gripping the broom handle. ‘That was a long time ago. I was young and naive. I’m not in love with Jackson anymore.’

Virginia raised an eyebrow. ‘I wasn’t talking about Jackson.’

‘Oh, I…um…I like Andrew a lot. Once my divorce goes through, we can move on.’

‘You think it will be that easy to forget about Jackson?’

Candi didn’t respond because, based on Virginia’s lifted eyebrow, she already knew the answer.

Jackson had spent the last hour freezing his butt off on a wooden bench in Redford Falls Park. Open year round, the trails provided skiers and hikers with an alternative for exercise, especially since the ski lift had closed. Herds of tourists flocked there during spring and summer. People came from far and wide to view the spectacular waterfalls and picnic with their families.

The town should be thriving, but the opposite rang true. The many shop owners Jackson had spoken with over the past few days told him the winters were hard. The money made in three seasons went to cover the high cost of heating. Most were getting by, while others struggled — Candi included.

After a night of catching up at the lounge with Colin, Jackson had learned of Candi’s financial predicament. Guilt troubled Jackson today. He’d fed his friend too much liquor after hearing Candi not only owned Cane’s Chocolate Shop, but Redford Falls Inn as well. The supplied vodka had loosened the bank manager’s tightly sealed lips. Candi needed a miracle to save her from debt.

Why didn’t her
boyfriend
lend her the money? The restaurant was obviously not one of the shops in distress, with its regular clientele. Jackson’s suspicions of another man had been confirmed. Candi and Andrew were close. When he saw them together at the restaurant Jackson’s temperature rose.

A gnawing feeling reminded him how much he’d missed her. The only reason he’d gone to the pot-luck was to see Candi. He hadn’t expected a brush-off and to watch Andrew pawing her all evening.

After receiving the cold shoulder from Candi, he’d left the restaurant and ended up at the lounge, where he drank away his misery in the company of Colin. Then, the heavy weight that crushed his heart made him act like a heel this afternoon. Each time Jackson glanced at Candi, he envisioned her with Andrew.

So why was he walking toward the chocolate shop? In less than 24 hours Jackson would leave this town and seal the end of his relationship with Candi. He couldn’t just vanish without explaining his side of the past.

The door was locked, but Candi answered his consistent knocking.

She frowned when she saw him. ‘What are you doing here? It’s after ten.’

‘I could ask you the same thing. Do you ever sleep or have a social life?’ Bad question. Another image of her and Andrew flashed through his mind.

‘I’m normally done by now, but I went to the parade earlier. I still have a chocolate mousse to make before heading home.’

‘Need some help?’ Jackson kicked the snow off the doorstep, waiting for her answer, praying she’d let him in.

‘Sure.’ Candi stepped aside, and then locked the door behind him.

Jackson hung his coat in the closet and followed her into the bakery. He sat in a chair across the from her. Jackson thought it best to put some distance between them. Impure thoughts seemed to take over whenever he mixed Candi and chocolate.

‘What can I do?’ he asked.

‘You’re serious? You really want to help? I thought you were just looking for an excuse so you could apologize for being such a jackass today.’