One Sweet Christmas (novella) by Fredette Darlene

Author:Fredette, Darlene [Fredette, Darlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-11-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Candi cranked the volume on the CD player and Christmas carols drowned out the worry in her head. She didn’t want to think about Jackson anymore. She’d spent the past few hours pondering nothing but him and the way their short-lived kiss left her trembling. Not to mention the questions from Steve and Virginia.

Jackson’s mood had suddenly changed after the last child departed the shop. Something happened, and now his whereabouts were unknown. Candi had left the shop and headed for the inn hoping to check on him, only to find he had disappeared.

When she returned business was slow, and with only an hour before closing she sent Virginia and Steve home. Candi needed to clear her thoughts. Her emotions had been running wild since Jackson’s return. Her willpower to keep her distance had quickly diminished last night. Then today, his tenderness with the children had broken down the wall she’d constructed around her heart.

Damn, why didn’t she just sign the divorce papers and let Jackson leave? Did she really think she could be around him without rekindling her dreams of their wedding night? He didn’t even remember what happened. Why torture herself?

With the cookies for the carollers decorated, bagged, and dropped off at the hall where they were gathering, Candi placed the ingredients for the chocolate bark on the counter. She chopped the chocolate into pieces and dropped them into the double boiler, stirring constantly. The filling added, she poured the mixture onto waxed paper to cool.

Next on her list was a chocolate cake and crimped candy ribbons. Elvis’ version of Santa Claus Is Back In Town crooned from the speakers. Candi sang the chorus and danced around the room, flapping her hands above her head and swaying her hips.

‘I wouldn’t mind climbing down your chimney on Christmas Eve.’

Candi froze. Her cheeks flushed when she spun around and saw Jackson standing in the doorway. Obviously, she’d forgotten to lock the front door. Candi scrambled to the CD player and lowered the volume.

‘Hey, don’t stop because of me. I was enjoying the show.’ He grinned devilishly.

‘Where have you been? When you didn’t show at the inn, I got worried.’

‘I went for a walk.’ Jackson paused. ‘Thought I packed up and left without telling you? Isn’t that what you did?’

He remembered! Candi removed the chocolate mixture from the burner, her hand trembling on the handle. She didn’t want to talk about that night, especially since he was right. ‘How long are you planning to avoid your family?’

‘They probably don’t even know I’m here.’

‘I’m sure Violet or Sam have mentioned that you’re staying at the inn. You can’t hide from them forever.’

He shook his head. ‘I’m not here to talk about my family. I want to talk about our wedding night. You told me I passed out.’

’You did.’ Candi reached for the sifter and added the cocoa powder and flour. Her nerves hung on the edge of sanity.

‘Okay, so you didn’t lie about that, but you forgot to mention the part about when I woke up.

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