Candy Lane Christmas by Jackie Castle

Author:Jackie Castle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: small town stories, sweet romance, Inspirational, Christmas story, New Adult and college
Publisher: Jackie Castle
Published: 2017-10-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

____________________________________________________________________________

BRIGHT AND EARLY THANKSGIVING morning the Winters couple paid Candyce a visit. She knew what they were up to the moment they strolled into her shop and took a look around. She already had her defense ready, too. “I’m really busy today. I plan to do a soft opening tomorrow morning. See if any of the Black Friday shoppers might stop in.”

“It’s a holiday. No working today.” Haley was bundled in a jean jacket, tan Stetson, and those marvelous red boots. “Get your coat, Sugar. We’re onto your trick to hunker down here by yourself, and it’s not going to happen. This is a day to be with others.”

“I appreciate your offer but—”

Ethan moved beside his wife, thumbs tucked in the pockets of his jeans. “Not taking no for an answer. I ran into Finn yesterday. He gave us a heads up that you’d probably hide out here. So, come on, I won’t be able to enjoy my meal knowing you’re all alone today. Neither will Haley. You’ll be doing us a favor, considering we’re insufferable meddlers.” He winked, and she knew it was a lost cause to argue. Two against one. She didn’t have a chance.

“Fine. But I’m bringing dessert.” She headed to the back where she kept one of her coats by the door. While in the kitchen, she boxed a raspberry chocolate ganache cake. Little white flowers adorned the top tier. When she met the couple up front, Ethan’s eyes widened.

“I know that what’s under all that artwork is probably delicious, but this is almost too pretty to eat.”

She’d made it in case she mustered up the bravery needed to attend Mallory’s potluck. But her fear of running into people who remembered the old Candy Bar deflated any daring she had started to muster up. At least now someone would actually be able to enjoy the cake.

When they arrived at the Victorian, the old house was busting with family, music, and games. Since nobody there knew about Candyce’s past, she was actually able to enjoy herself. The spread was amazing and she ended up eating more food than she’d consumed in nearly a whole month.

“I’m going to bust.” She laughed when the younger members invited her to play football out in the field. They’d not had another snow since she first arrived, and the yellowed open areas were perfect for a small game.

“We can go watch and cheer them on,” Haley grabbed both of their coats. “I need to walk off some of this grub before I can help devour that cake you brought.”

They walked along the path leading toward a barn with a glass front. Haley talked about the adventure lodge they were calling Winters End, and Ethan’s recording studio in the barn. “Sure took us a lot of hard work and it’s just starting to come together. But not without the help of people from town. At first, I was a one-woman tug-boat, kind of like you. Pulling my plans and dreams along, trying to make things work.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.