Stopping Traffic (A Back to School Romance) (Love at The Crossroads) (15 page)

Candace had never seen Royce so beside himself. At least he had recovered from that morning fiasco. However, since he picked her up for dinner an hour ago, Royce hadn’t let go of her hand and she wasn’t complaining.

As they stared at each other across the table, the candlelit setting played on all the love he had for her that shone from his eyes.

“I’m fine, sweetie,” she tried to convince him. “You respond to emergencies all the time, so why don’t you believe me?”

Royce shook his head. “I consider myself fearless in order to do my job, but I’ve never been so scared in all my life. I thought I had lost you or that you were injured…” he looked away and swallowed.

At that moment, Candace knew he understood what it felt like to lose someone you love. After squeezing his fingers, she brought his knuckles to her lips. “I love you, Mr. Kavanaugh. You once told me that in this life, nothing is for certain and that I should live each day as if were my last. I’m fine. I’m sorry for the scare, but let’s enjoy the moment and our love.”

“I can definitely do that.” Clearing his throat, he waved for their waiter. “I guess I’ve worked up an appetite.”

CHAPTER twenty-four

Candace and Royce were about to have their first petty argument on Christmas Day. “Mr. Kavanaugh, you’ve got to be exhausted. Solae has turned me into a fire junkie. I watched last night’s news about that building fire that took hours to put out.”

Despite a horrific twelve hour shift that Royce worked on Christmas Eve, he insisted on accompanying Candace to church on Christmas Day and spending time with her and Lindsay.

“Thank God no one was injured, or that it was a house fire where gifts would’ve been destroyed. Those are the most heart-wrenching incidents near the holidays.” Royce made a stretching sound.

“I can hear the tiredness in your voice,” she argued to no avail as he informed her he would be at her house in an hour.

“Be ready,
Miss
Clark.”

“You are one stubborn man, but I love you. Merry Christmas.”

“And my love for you is just as stubborn, babe. See you in fifty-nine minutes and Merry Christmas.”

She gasped as he disconnected. Most times his persistence was attractive. At the moment, it was frustrating her because he didn’t give much time for her and Lindsay to get dressed. At least they had taken their baths the previous night and laid out their clothes.

First, she would have to tangle with Lindsay to put away two of the five Christmas gifts she had already opened, which was her limit and it had nothing to do with her budget.

Her pastor reminded the congregation each year that Christmas was about celebrating Jesus’ birthday, not anyone else’s, and that God’s offering should outmatch other’s presents. That point hit home.

She dressed Lindsay in a dark green velvet dress with a satin bow tied in the back with green satin shoes. Her daughter primped in front of the wall length mirror as she twirled and danced from side to side.

With ten minutes and counting, Candace hurried and piled her mass of curls on top of her head and applied light makeup, then slipped into a red suede dress.

“You look pretty like me, Mommy.”

“Thank you, sweetie,” Candace said as she eyed her reflection in the same mirror temporary vacated by her daughter. The dress outlined her figure; her legs were hidden in suede knee boots.

Royce’s face came alive when she opened the door not long after that. “Wow, woman.” He stepped into her foyer carrying gifts, but couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of her. Only Lindsay’s piercing scream of delight at seeing him broke their connection.

“Hi, baby,” he greeted Candace with love in his eyes, lowering his voice before Lindsay threw herself at him.

The moment was heartwarming as Candace freed him of the presents, so he could lift Lindsay into his arms. He gave her his full attention. “Don’t you look like a princess?”

Lindsay nodded her head in agreement. Royce and Candace laughed as he graced them both with a kiss.

“We can open gifts after service,” Candace informed Lindsay as she eyed the packages Royce brought. As expected her daughter pouted.

Seemingly taking pity on her sulking daughter, Royce tickled Lindsay, then made a production of bundling Lindsay up to her giggles. “I love you, Mr. Royce.”

“And I love you, too.” He capped off his declaration with a juicy smack on each cheek. “You’re next.” He turned to Candace and gave her the same treatment, bundling her up in her coat. His tired eyes seemed to take on new life when he delivered several juicy smacks to her cheeks, nose, and forehead, purposely teasing her, leaving her lips untouched. Candace withheld her own pout.

As tit-for-tat, she planned to send him home packing soon after they returned from service, ate, and opened their gifts. En route to church, Lindsay led them in a round of familiar Christmas carols.

Twenty minutes later, they strolled into Jesus Saves Church as if they were a family. Locating a pew, they knelt and offered a prayer of thanks, almost in unison before taking their seats. Once their coats were off, Candace snuggled as close as possible to Royce with Lindsay sandwiched between them. 
Lord, thank You for the good man You allowed to find me,
she said silently.

You had to overcome your fears in order for your blessings to find you,
Jesus whispered in the wind.

Yes, I did.
Candace smiled, grateful for that moment of fellowship with the Lord.

“What’s so funny?” he whispered.

She hadn’t realized Royce was watching her. “You make me smile for no reason at all.”

It appeared her explanation brought out the cockiness in him as his lips curled into a smirk. Before he could respond, her pastor began his sermon. They both scrambled to flip through the pages of their Bibles, but he started without selecting a text.

“This is the day most of us have been waiting for, so today, it’s time. God wants you to unwrap your gift,” Pastor Alexander told the congregation. “And guess what you’ll find…Jesus revealed.”

Candace jotted down the sermon title in her Bible.

“There is no guessing. After unwrapping Grace, we discover Mercy. Joy escaped and danced behind Peace. Salvation and Power stood at attention before Healing and Deliverance was uncovered. Somehow Love seemed to be a small package, but once opened, it exploded, covering all the other gifts, Pastor Alexander quoted scriptures verbatim, faster than Candace could write, so she stopped. She would purchase the DVD.

Everyone seemed to be riveted, including Royce who was surprisingly wide awake. Her pastor concluded the short sermon with an altar call. Stretching out his hand, he offered an invitation, “There is never any reason for you to leave this church hungry. There’s more food from where this came from, and you know what?”

The crowd responded, “What?”

“There are more gifts, too. If you want your presents, ask. Daddy, I want the box labeled Peace, I need two packages of Power. Need Joy? Yeah, it looks like that’s here, too. C’mon. Today is a good day to ask. Repent first, confessing your sins, not to me, but to the Lord Jesus. Tell Him you’re sorry. Ask Him for help.

“Once you’ve made up your mind, c’mon down for prayer. If you want to get rid of your filthy garments, let God wash your sins away in Jesus’ name. He offers a full service makeover. He will wash, dry, press, and dress you Himself. C’mon now. There’s no sense in letting these gifts go to waste.”

After the benediction and witnessing three repentant souls get baptized in Jesus’ name, members processioned to the altar to joyously give their Christmas offering to the deacons. Afterward, Royce reached for her hand. “Well, let’s go unwrap gifts and create some more memories.”

“Okay.” She playfully wrinkled her nose. “After I feed you, then I’m putting you out, so you can go home and get some rest.”

“My lady is kicking me out.” They chuckled together as they put on their coats and exchanged holiday greetings with others as they walked to the car.

Back at Candace’s house, Lindsay opened her gifts—all three of them—from Royce while she warmed up her turkey dinner. She hoped Royce liked the nature CDs to lull him to sleep and the few other small items from her and Lindsay.

Candace watched with amusement as her daughter rewarded Royce with a death grip around his neck from her little arms for the 3-D twenty-five piece puzzle dollhouse that they had put together in record time. Lindsay bobbed her head up and down when Royce whispered something in her ear. Without speaking a word, her daughter skipped away. Royce patted the spot next to him on the love seat. “Your turn.”

CHAPTER
twenty-five

Candace tried to hide her excitement. It had been five years since a man bought her any Christmas presents—gifts period. Her boss sending chocolates, cheese and nuts through the mail didn’t count.

Once she made herself comfortable, Royce cooed, “Close your eyes.”

The seat shifted seconds before she was ordered to open them. Candace’s heart pounded at the sight of Royce on one knee. So what if it was cliche-ish.

“Baby, I love you,” his husky voice began, “and that cute little girl in there.” He paused to wipe at a tear that had escaped when she blinked. “I want you, Candace, and I need you and Lindsay to make my life complete. I’m ready to be your husband and her father. Marry me.” Reaching into his pants pocket, he pulled out a tiny gift-wrapped box. “Say yes.”

Candace’s hand trembled as she pinched the tiny ribbon to untie it. Royce strong hand wrapped around hers to steady it. “Thanks,” She said as her voice cracked.

Meticulously she unfolded the gift wrap that wasn’t taped. She took a deep breath and they opened the blue velvet box together. “It’s so beautiful.”

“Like you….Will you marry me?”

Candace never thought this moment would come again. She never imagined she would ever utter, “Yes, I would be honored.”

Royce slid the ring on her finger, then kissed her hand. He admired it before turning her hand over, then brushed his lips gently across her palm. “Thank you.”

Closing her eyes, Candace leaned toward him. Royce graced her lips with a soft kiss. The sweetness lingered until she opened her eyes to meet his.

“You still want to send me home?”

“I guess you can stay fifteen minutes longer,” she teased.

Royce was about to tickle her when Lindsay appeared in the doorway. “Did Mommy say yes?” she asked excitedly.

Hmm. Candace wondered if her daughter had been watching all along. She eyed Royce with a fake frown. “You were in cahoots with my daughter?”

“Yep. This is officially a family affair.” He grinned. “Come on Lindsay, let’s tickle Mommy.”

Squealing, Candace pleaded for mercy. Royce wrapped her in his arms and Lindsay hugged her. She felt so loved. “As payback and because I care about my fiancé, I’m sending you home.”

“Yes, dear.” After treating himself to a goodbye kiss, Royce strolled out the door, whistling. “I’m finally going to get me a wife.”

Once Royce’s tail lights had disappeared around the corner and Lindsay was occupied with the dollhouse that she and Royce had put together, Candace stared at the engagement ring. It was much bigger than the one Daniel had given her. Grabbing her cordless phone, she headed to her bedroom and closed the door. She couldn’t contain her excitement when Solae answered. “I got a diamond for Christmas.”

“Me, too.”

Candace did a praise dance for both of them. Two friends, two brothers and two weddings. This was better than that old musical,
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Six months later, Candace and Royce stood at the altar with their wedding party: Solae as her maid of honor; Lindsay, the adorable flower girl and Hershel, Royce’s best man.

The sanctuary was packed with well-wishers, including a heavy dose of firefighters. When a group of them left in a hurry, she and Royce exchanged knowing glances.

Solae was teary eyed that Candace had beaten her to the altar twice, but thankfully her good friend’s day was coming.  Candace refocused. She was moments away from becoming Mrs. Royce Kavanaugh.

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no dishonest man or conniving woman put asunder,” Pastor Alexander stated with a twist that had become customary for the nuptials he officiated. Her pastor took marriage very seriously and his pre-nuptial counseling proved that. Still, the look of surprise on Royce’s face was amusing.

Jesus, help us to be faithful, true and discerning about who we let into our circle
, Candace silently added.

“You may now kiss your bride,” Pastor Alexander granted his permission with a nod.

Candace felt like a princess when Royce gathered her in his arms, tilted her back and smothered her with a kiss hot enough to ignite a fire that would stop traffic.