Chapter Seven

Understanding women had never been Jackson’s strong point, and when it came to figuring out Candy, he was lost. Something happened between them last night or was about to happen—if his brother hadn’t walked in. But hanging out with Joseph had been good. And Jackson wanted to thank Candy.

After a few beers and catching up with Joseph, Jackson had left Kringle’s Lounge and went in search of Candy. There had been no sign of her at the shop. The lights were off and the door locked. He checked the inn and had just missed her. Violet said Candy still lived home with her parents, but his search ended in disappointment. Either Candy was truly busy or she was purposely avoiding him. Both reasons upset him more than he wanted to admit. He had lain awake all night, jealously wreaking his thoughts. By law, she was his and couldn’t remarry, but he naively hadn’t considered she might have a boyfriend. She was too beautiful, too special, not to have a man, or even several, pining for her attention.

The mere thought of someone with his wife caused the pit of his stomach to burn. Whoa! Had he just referred to Candy as his wife? He shouldn’t let the emotions he’d ditched long ago rise to the surface. Jackson slipped the beard onto his face and tugged the Santa hat down around his ears.

He should be concentrating on his business, yet Candy bore into his every thought. This morning, when she didn’t show up at the inn, nausea rolled in his stomach. Even now, as he prepared to greet the children, Candy still hadn’t arrived at work. He had a good idea Virginia knew where she was, but if she did, she wasn’t telling.

Two minutes before Jackson stepped out to welcome the boys and girls, Candy rushed through the door. Her cheeks were flushed and he could have sworn tears rested in her eyes.

“Where have you been?” He pulled the beard away from his mouth.

“None of your business!”

Jackson flinched at her angry tone. “Technically, it is. We have a piece of paper that says so.”

“Don’t start with me, 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.

Giving in to what he knew wouldn’t end in his favour, 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 Candy felt the same way. Jackson stole glances in her direction, but she always seemed busy with a customer.

Once the Santa gig wrapped up, he cornered her in the kitchen. “If you’re mad at me, I’m sorry for whatever I did.”

Candy 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, pining for you all these years?” She slammed the closet door. “Well, I haven’t. I have more to think about than you and that marriage certificate.”

Virginia gasped from the doorway, her mouth hanging open.

Candy brushed by Jackson and flung her coat around her shoulders. “I have to get more supplies,” she told Virginia. “Would you mind taking care of things here?”

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

“I’ll be there. I already dropped off the cookies, coconut squares, and chocolate truffles at the restaurant.” Candy met Jackson’s eyes over her shoulder. “Thank you for showing up.” She disappeared out the door.

Jackson shook his head. “Wow. Was that my fault?”

“You apparently know more than I do.” Virginia shot him a glare. “Just make right whatever you did.”

Jackson chose to remain silent, knowing Virginia was referring to the overheard marriage comment. If Candy 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. Candy 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. He missed this town. But most of all, he missed Candy…her smile, her laughter, her understanding, and even when she confused the heck out of him. He didn’t know what the future held though he knew one thing for certain…he wanted Candy.

****

Candy 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 Wolfridge this afternoon.

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 no alternative option and 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, Candy needed an escape. She bought supplies for the bakery 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.

“I love your dress.” Virginia left the table 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.” Candy sipped her hot cider.

Virginia frowned. “If it’s man trouble, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You have two men seeking your attention.” She leaned close. “How does mister quarterback kiss?”

“Like an all-star.” She blushed.

“You go girl.” Virginia winked. “So tell me, what’s really up with you and Jackson? I know you had a serious crush on him and you disappeared the same day he left town. I thought maybe a secret rendezvous, which made sense due to your broken heart afterward. I would never have thought you got married.”

“Shh. It’s a long story. Can we talk about it tomorrow?”

“Oh, don’t worry. We will.”

“And please don’t mention anything. No one knows.”

“Andrew?”

Candy shook her head. “I know. I’m a terrible person.”

“No, you’re not. But you need to decide which man you want, because Andrew is head-over-heels and he is definitely checking you out in that dress.” Grimacing, Virginia glanced at the table 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 Candy’s arm. “We’ll chat more later.”

As soon as Virginia left, Candy barely had a chance to dismiss her husband from her thoughts before her boyfriend arrived at her side. Complicated? Not at all. Liar. Andrew kissed her cheek. “Hello, beautiful. You look amazing.”

“Thank you. You look pretty good yourself.” She pointed to the tie close to his neck. “You also sound much better.”

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

Candy smiled, shockingly surprised by the lack of reaction his affectionate gesture garnered. Had Jackson touched her in such a way—stop! She was in a relationship with Andrew. Well, they were supposed to be in a relationship, even though she kept him at arm’s length for the past few years. Andrew wanted more and sometimes Candy wished she did too, but she was a married woman. The vows she took were legal and binding. Yet, she now realized her bond with Jackson was far more than words on paper.

Andrew could have any woman in town. He was downright gorgeous, tall and muscular. Throw in his excellent personality and caring nature, 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.” Candy paused when Jackson caught her eye as he spoke with Virginia’s family. A chill raced down her spine—without a touch—just a look. His mere presence captivated her.

Jackson winked, and Candy quickly looked away.

Andrew reached for her hand. “You were about to tell me something?”

“I...um...” She deliberately held Andrew’s gaze, avoiding the man walking toward her. Thankfully, Jackson was nabbed by Mrs. Bishop, the doctor’s wife, and Mrs. Potter, the fire chief’s wife.

“Are you okay?” He pulled her close, placing an arm around her waist.

Candy couldn’t play games with Andrew. He was worthy of much better. Knowing it was the right thing to do, she eased out of his embrace, keeping a watchful eye on Jackson as he broke free from the older women, which was not an easy undertaking, and slowly made his way across the room.

“You look amazing,” he told her and then held a hand out to Andrew. “Andrew Bailey, right?”

Andrew shook Jackson’s hand. “Jackson Frost.” He cocked his head to the side. “I heard you were back. What brings you to town?”

“Candy didn’t tell you?” Jackson raised his brows. “I had business in town and when I learned she needed a Santa, I came to her rescue.”

Andrew narrowed his eyes at her. “Jackson took my place?”

“Seems I was her first choice.”

Candy wanted to crawl under a rock and hide. “Andrew, 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 Candy 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 Candy’s back. “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, but Candy placed her hands on their chests and pushed, putting some distance between them. Her hand against Jackson’s dark blue suit fluttered with warmth that travelled up her arm.

No, this isn’t awkward at all. Candy released a breath. “Andrew, I think it’s best if we let Jackson finish out the week as Santa.” She forced a smile. “The children adore him and they’d sense if someone else stepped in.”

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

Candy wrinkled her nose. As if Jackson was a child expert after playing Santa for two days. She wanted to smack the smug smile from his face.

“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.

Jackson reached for her arm. “Can we talk privately for a moment?”

“Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

“Not really.”

“Tonight is for fun and socializing.” He needed to understand she wasn’t his for the taking anymore. Now if she could only convince herself. “Come by the shop early and we can chat before you play Santa.”

His jaw jerked and his eyes grew dark. He wasn’t pleased with being dismissed, but Candy wasn’t about to have the whole town, including Andrew, wondering why Jackson’s actions were as if he was staking claim to her.

She tapped Andrew’s arm. “Let’s grab a table while there are still empty seats.”

Andrew smiled. “I can’t wait to taste your chocolate truffles. They are my favourite.”

Candy expected Jackson to retaliate and stuck her hand out to stop his advancement. He huffed and left.

The remainder of the evening passed without a murmur of gossip, and the next day, she waited Jackson’s early arrival, but he didn’t show. In fact, he didn’t appear until ten 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 Candy 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.”

Candy grabbed the broom and started sweeping. She told Virginia her secret, the story she hadn’t voiced to anyone until Jackson’s return.

Staring, Virginia opened her mouth and closed it several times. “I don’t know what to say.” She rolled her eyes. “Though everything makes sense now. Why didn’t you tell me? You’re my best friend. I wouldn’t have said anything.”

“I was mad and so ashamed of myself.” Candy fought the tears threatening to fall.

“You did nothing wrong—well okay, skip the wedding part. Jackson took advantage of you.”

“He was drunk. I…” She put the broom in the closet and inhaled a deep breath. “I knew what I was doing. I wanted him so bad. I loved him. I would have left town with him. I’m thankful he fell asleep when I went to get protection out of his wallet.”

“Safe sex is important.” Virginia smiled.

Candy shook her head and laughed. “I came to my senses and high-tailed my butt back home.”

“And now? What happens next?”

“I don’t know. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around him. We spent so much time together as kids. Back then, I read him like a book, but now I can’t figure him out. He shows up asking for a divorce. He flirts with me and then ignores me.” Candy heaved a sigh.

“Did you tell Andrew about Jackson?”

“I wanted to.” She raised her hands in the air. “I should have. But after tomorrow, I’ll sign the divorce papers and Jackson will be gone. Only you and I will know I’m a divorced woman.”

“Do you love him?”

“Andrew or Jackson?”

“Both.”

“I care about Andrew.” Candy paused, long enough for Virginia to fill in the blanks.

“But you don’t love him.” Virginia raised an eyebrow. “Not like you love Jackson, and don’t tell me I’m wrong because I can see it in your eyes.” She reached for Candy’s hand and squeezed. “I don’t want you to get your heart broken again.”

Candy didn’t respond because she feared the exact same thing.