The Winter of Candy Canes (A Sweet Seasons Novel) Read online

  “You know,” she said slowly. “Sometimes God takes a long time to answer prayer. It's about His timing, not ours. Kurt and I aren't married or anything like that. I mean, who knows what the future will bring.” She swallowed and then said one of the hardest things she had ever said in her whole life. “If God wants the two of you to be together, nothing will stand in the way.”

  Lisa hugged her tight and then let her go again before Candace could even react. “I still hate you,” Lisa said.

  “Okay.”

  “Okay.”

  Lisa walked off, and as Candace watched her go, she asked God, “What was that all about?”

  He didn't answer, but she could feel in her heart that the meeting had not been coincidental.

  She settled herself on top of the stool and began to distribute the candy canes. She couldn't figure out what was up with Lisa, so she tried to think about something else, like the golden candy cane and where it might be and whether Becca already had it.

  For a Friday afternoon, it was a lot slower than she had expected it to be, and she was able to do some people watching. She noticed clusters of referees in regular clothes walking around with heads together and clipboards in hand. They must be taking a page from Becca's playbook, Candace thought as she watched them. The closer it got to the Christmas party, the more desperate people were in searching for the golden candy cane.

  When she finally got her dinner break, she walked over to the Muffin Mansion, curious to find out how Becca was doing with her search. She walked inside and saw George, one of the referees from the Splash Zone, standing in the middle of the room looking miserable.

  “What do you mean you don't get it?” Gib was asking.

  “Just what I said, I don't get it.”

  “How do you not get it?”

  “I don't know. Maybe because my parents never told me?”

  “That's absurd.”

  “Well, it's true. Can you help me or not?”

  “What don't you get?” Candace asked, unable to remain quiet.

  “Christmas.”

  “What about it?”

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “What do you mean, what is it?” Candace asked.

  “See, there you have it!” Gib said.

  Candace couldn't help but feel like she was in some sort of farce. She turned to look at Gib. “I don't get it.”

  “He doesn't know what Christmas is all about!” another Muffin Mansion referee finally shouted from the back.

  “What Christmas is all about?” Gib asked disbelievingly. “I'll tell you what Christmas is all about.”

  He struck a pose that seemed oddly familiar. He cleared his throat and began. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”

  “Being what with what?” George interrupted.

  “That is, being pregnant,” Gib said. “May I continue?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  Gib cleared his throat again and carried on. “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

  “Which inn?”

  “Any inn, all inns. Just listen to the story!” Gib bellowed.

  “Sorry.”

  Gib continued. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”

  “Luke, chapter two, verses one through sixteen,” Candace said softly. The passage never failed to move her, and she could tell from the passion in his voice that it moved Gib as well.

  “Okay, I didn't understand it when Linus said it in the ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ show, and I really don't get it now,” George said.

  “What's not to get?” Gib asked, clearly bewildered.

  “Let me try,” Candace said.

  “Aye,” Gib conceded.

  “Jesus, born to be the Savior of the world, was born in a barn and put to bed in a trough used by the animals. The first people to hear that he was born were shepherds who were poor. They were told by angels and urged to go see the baby.”

  “Oh, I get it.”

  “That you understand?” Gib asked before throwing up his hands and walking away.

  “Well, yeah.”

  George turned back to Candace. “I get it.”

  “Good.”

  She turned and walked out. She was beginning to get a headache, and she figured the longer she stayed, the worse it would get. She'd have to find out how Becca was doing some other way. She'd also been toying with asking Gib's advice on what to get Kurt for Christmas, but clearly that could wait.

  She was only a few feet from the shop when Becca appeared. “Coming for a muffin?” she asked lightly.

  “No,” Candace said. “I was coming to see how your golden candy cane hunt is going.”

  “Good, good, I've eliminated many of the viable possibilities, and I'm confident that I'm closing in on it,” Becca said, tapping her massive clipboard.

  “I wouldn't go in there right now if I were you,” Candace said, indicating the store.

  “Ton of whiny players?”

  “Theological discussion.”

  Becca raised an eyebrow but didn't ask.

  “So, what do you think I should get Kurt for Christmas?” Candace asked.

  Becca smiled. “I can't even figure out whether or not to get Roger something for Christmas.”

  “I know he's getting you something. Does that help?”

  “Yes and no. How's your knee?”

  “Better. I'm getting a bit used to the brace and crutches. I figure I'll be able to ditch them just about the time I master them.”

  “Isn't that always the way?” Becca asked.

  “Tell me about it.”

  “Any more kids try to attack you?”

  “No, apparently there's a rumor that I smack naughty kids with my crutches.”

  “Ah yes, I heard that one. Your legend only grows by the season,” she said with a smirk.

  Candace rolled her eyes. “I'd trade in legend for quiet and simple any day.”

  “Really? In my experience, quiet and simple are overrated.”

  “With you, I didn't even realize they were an option,” Candace teased.

  “You know me,” Becca said. “Well, I better get back before they send out a search party. See ya.”

  Candace continued walking back toward the Holiday Zone. She was no closer to finding Kurt a present than she was in finding the golden candy cane. She just hoped they didn't both prove completely elusive.

  12

  Come Tuesday afternoon Candace still couldn't figure out what to get Kurt for Christmas. She was starting to get desperate and had
even briefly considered asking Lisa's opinion on the subject. She walked around the different vendor booths but didn't see anything that grabbed her. Finally, she hunted up Roger in the Dug Out.

  “Hey, Candace, what I can do for you?” he asked.

  “Has Kurt ever been in here admiring anything?”

  “No. Can't figure out what to get him for Christmas?”

  “No. Any suggestions?”

  “Sorry. I just don't know the guy well enough.”

  “He's really into history.”

  “Then get him a book or a model or something.”

  “I just don't know. I was hoping for something a little more special or personal.”

  “Well, good luck. If he comes in, I'll make sure to find out what he likes.”

  “Thanks, Roger,” she said before exiting the store.

  She tracked down Sue next.

  “The last thing I want to even think about right now is Christmas presents,” Sue said, scowling as she cleaned the mirrors in the Holiday Zone women's rooms.

  “I'm dying here. I can't figure out what to get him.”

  “Why don't you ask him what he wants?”

  “Because I'm too proud to admit to my boyfriend that I have no idea what he would like for Christmas.”

  “Then maybe he shouldn't be your boyfriend.”

  “Ouch,” Candace said.

  “Sorry. Too harsh?” Sue asked, looking over at her.

  “Little bit. Are you okay?”

  “I'm fine. I'm just sick of cleaning lipstick off the mirrors. Tell me why some people think it's funny to use the glass as a blotter?”

  “Haven't a clue.”

  “I'm tempted to tape a note here saying I use water from the toilets to clean the mirrors so kiss them at your own peril.”

  “Okay, remind me never to get on your bad side,” Candace said.

  Sue stopped. “I'm sorry. I'm really stressed right now. I just finished up finals at school, and I'm still playing catch-up. It's not you.”

  “Is there anything I can do?” Candace asked.

  “I don't think there's anything anyone can do,” Sue said with a sigh.

  “Well, if you change your mind, let me know,” Candace said, edging toward the exit.

  “Thanks. And if I think of anything for Kurt, I'll let you know.”

  “I'd appreciate it,” Candace said.

  When Candace got home, she walked over to her father.

  “Dad, you're a guy.”

  “Thank you for the affirmation,” he said.

  “I mean, I need a guy's opinion.”

  “Well, since you've laid the basic groundwork establishing me as a guy, I believe I am qualified to give a guy's opinion,” he said with a smirk.

  The last thing she needed was lawyer humor, but she smiled anyway.

  “Dad, what do you think I should get Kurt for Christmas?” she asked.

  “Does he collect anything?”

  “I don't know.”

  “Does he need anything for school?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Get him a wallet.”

  “Too generic.”

  “Get him a set of golf balls.”

  “I don't think he plays golf.”

  “Okay, get me a set of golf balls.”

  “Dad!”

  “I'm sorry, honey. I just don't know enough about him to make any kind of reasonable speculation about what he might like. Wish I could help.”

  “It's okay.”

  “You could get Josh a board game, though. There's this new one that sounds pretty cool.”

  “I already got his present,” she said.

  “Oh. Then get me the board game, will you?”

  “Good night, Dad.”

  She headed upstairs and tried to prep for Bible study. She couldn't get the subject of gifts out of her mind, though.

  “Next week will be our last meeting before Christmas, and if everyone is interested, I thought we could do a gift exchange,” Candace said, addressing the group.

  “I don't know,” Joy said. “The commercialization of Christmas has hurt the real meaning of the holiday. I don't think it would be a good idea to celebrate by spending money on tacky gifts.”

  “You know what, Joy? You don't have to be a part of it, but I happen to like giving gifts at Christmas, and I don't see it as commercialism. I see it as a sacred tradition handed down from the wise men to us. And I wasn't suggesting “tacky” gifts or white elephants. I was going to suggest we try to give a gift that has somehow touched us personally. If you're not comfortable with that, or with me, you can feel free to join a different Bible study.”

  Candace came to a stop. She'd said it. Out loud. There was no taking it back. I'm so going to be fired as Bible study leader.

  The other girls in the group had their eyes on the ground.

  “Well, I have a hard time believing that everyone here agrees with you,” Joy said.

  “Actually, I do,” Jen said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

  “What?” Joy asked, eyes blazing.

  “You make us all feel like you're judging us, and you think you're better than us,” another girl said.

  “Just because we can't spend two hours a day in prayer doesn't mean we don't love God and try to follow him,” a third girl continued.

  Joy stood up and stalked out.

  “Now you've done it,” Tamara said.

  “I better go after her,” Candace said, dragging herself to a standing position and grabbing her crutches.

  “Please don't,” one of the other girls begged.

  “I have to. As bad as she makes us feel, I think I just made her feel that way, and that isn't cool.”

  As much as she didn't want to, Candace forced herself to walk outside in search of Joy. She didn't have to go far. She found the other girl sitting on the curb, knees pulled up to her chest. Candace wished she could sit down beside her, but she hadn't mastered lowering herself that far down yet.

  “I'm sorry. That was uncool of me,” Candace said. “I guess I let you push my buttons.”

  “You suck as a leader.”

  “Well, if you wanted to be the leader so badly, why didn't you volunteer?” Candace asked.

  “I did.”

  Candace was quiet while she took that in. If Joy had volunteered, then there had to be a reason why Pastor Bobby wanted Candace to lead this group of girls and not Joy.

  “I'm sorry. I know what's it's like to feel you've gotten the raw end of the deal.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “No, trust me on this one.”

  Joy was silent for a minute, and then Candace heard something that sounded like a sob.

  “Joy, what's wrong?” she asked.

  “Sometimes I feel like I don't know how to be a Christian,” Joy admitted.

  That one really threw Candace for a loop. “What do you mean?”

  “I don't know what God wants from me. My parents are always pushing me to trust God, trust God. My mom prays constantly. If I ask my dad a question, he just quotes Scripture at me.”

  “So, in some ways they've messed you up. I'm sorry. Look, I don't have all the answers, but there's one thing I do know. It doesn't matter what we do; what matters is what Jesus did. No amount of praying can get us into heaven; only He can. I guess I see faith as more of a relationship than anything else. And like all relationships, sometimes I'm an idiot. I say stupid things, get angry, and screw stuff up. The cool thing about God, though, is He doesn't care. He just waits for me to calm down so he can pick me back up.”

  “You're saying He forgives you.”

  “Yeah. And I'd like it if you would forgive me too.”

  “Only if you forgive me for sniping at you.”

  “Done. Easiest deal I've made in a long time.”

  Joy stood up and held out her hand. Candace shifted her crutch, and then they shook. “Now let's go inside and discuss meaningful gifts, shall we?”

  Joy nodded.<
br />
  “And while we're talking about that, what would you get a boyfriend for Christmas?”

  “How long you been dating?”

  “Kinda hard to tell. About five months.”

  “Serious or not so serious?”

  “I'm not sure.”

  Joy stopped and looked at her like she was crazy. Finally she shook her head. “Until you can answer that question, I don't think anyone's going to be able to help you, Candace.”

  The next day her mom went with her to her doctor's appointment. Candace had been praying that he would release her from the brace so she wouldn't have to wear it to Winter Formal. Her hopes were dashed, though, when he told her she'd have to wear it at least another week.

  “Winter Formal is tomorrow night!”

  “Sorry. You'll just have to do the shuffle instead of the tango,” he said with a humorless smile.

  As soon as they left the office, Candace called Kurt.

  “Brace or no brace?” he asked.

  “Brace.”

  “It's okay. You'll look beautiful no matter what you wear.”

  “That's sweet,” she said.

  “It's the truth,” he countered. “Don't worry, we'll have fun, and I won't let anyone photograph you below the waist.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  She hung up, and a second later her phone rang again. She thought it was Kurt calling right back, but it turned out to be Tamara.

  “Brace,” Candace said.

  “Bummer.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Guess what?”

  “What?”

  “The cast list is out for Man of La Mancha,” Tamara said, sounding like she was about to burst.

  “Already?”

  “Yes!”

  “And?”

  “I'm playing the housekeeper.”

  “Good for you, although I don't really see you in that part,” Candace said.

  “And you're the lead.”

  “What?” Candace asked.

  “You're playing Aldonza!”

  There was some static, and then another voice said, “Hi, Candace, this is Lila. Congratulations!”

  It took all of Candace's willpower to say, “Thanks!”

  She so didn't want to be the lead, but it looked like she was stuck with it. The worst thing she could do was show her disappointment in front of someone who probably would have loved to have been in her position.