The Winter of Candy Canes (A Sweet Seasons Novel) by Debbie Viguié Page B

kids with parents in tow ran through the ropes, shouting for Santa.
    The first kid ran toward Lisa after shouting his requests to Santa at the top of his lungs. The next one was slightly more restrained, and Candace handed both him and his father a candy cane as they exited.
    “I get to add sugar to this?” the father asked with a groan.
    Candace just shrugged and smiled. “Merry Christmas.”
    The next dozen people didn't say a word to her; they just took the candy canes and dashed off.
    A little girl climbed up onto Santa's knee, looked at him, and burst into tears. An elf picked her back up and gave her to her mother who apologetically herded the little girl toward Candace.
    Candace felt so bad for her. She had probably been so excited to see Santa. Candace glanced at Santa and was surprised to see him staring at her. He gave a little nod.
    “I didn't get to tell Santa what I want,” the little girl sobbed.
    Candace reached behind her and picked up a brightly colored package.
Gold for girl
, she mentally recited.
    She bent down and handed the package to the little girl. “It's okay, honey, Santa knows what you want,” she said.
    “Thank you!” the girl said, clutching the present.
    “Merry Christmas,” Candace said, handing the mother a candy cane.
    “Merry Christmas to you too,” the mom said with an appreciative smile. “Come on, let's go.”
    The next hour flew by. When Chrissy relieved her, Candace was a little sad to leave her post. Candace left, though, and made a beeline for her mom's cart.
    “I got a glimpse of you at work, and you looked great,” her mom said.
    “Thanks. I saw you laughing earlier with Mr. Hanson.”
    “Yes. I told him I was Candace's mother. He said he knew exactly who I was talking about, and we had a laugh. He's a very nice man and had some good things to say about you.”
    “I'm glad,” Candace said. “Well, I gotta go make sure kids remember to come see Santa.”
    “Like they'd forget,” her mom teased.
    “Good luck with the selling,” Candace said before taking off.
    She spent the next hour walking around telling every kid she saw where to find Santa in the Holiday Zone. The best part was seeing the little crying girl again, this time clutching a doll.
    “Thank you, Elf Candy!” the little girl shouted, waving.
    Candace waved back.
    “More like Eye Candy,” Kurt joked.
    Candace jumped. She hadn't seen Kurt walk up beside her. For some reason his comment irritated her.
    “Hey,” she said.
    “Look, sorry I had to bail.”
    “No big. Is your roommate okay?”
    “Yeah. We got his car fixed.”
    “Cool. Well, I gotta get back,” Candace said.
    “See you later.”
    “Yeah.”
    Candace walked away. She hadn't realized until that minute that she was mad at Kurt. She wasn't angry that he'd gone to help a friend. She was angry that he hadn't come back later or at least called. He could have come to the movies with her and Josh. She sighed. Why did romance have to be so complicated?
    She made it back to her post only to find Lisa there looking miserable.
    “What's going on?” she asked her.
    “Laura quit.”
    “After an hour?” Candace asked incredulously.
    “No. After five minutes.”
    “What happened?”
    “You don't want to know. I wish I didn't know.”
    “Where's Chrissy?”
    “When Laura quit, they moved her to the other side and closed this exit until Martha found me.”
    “Well, I'm here now. You can go.”
    “No, I have to relieve Chrissy.”
    Lisa moved away, misery showing in every line of her body. Candace wondered what on earth could have happened that could have been that bad. Then the first kid came flying at her, screaming for his candy cane, and she had no more time to think.
    On the way home, Candace and her mom barely spoke. It was four thirty and they were both completely exhausted.
    “Sell much?” Candace finally asked when they turned onto their block.
    “Thousand dollars worth.”
    “Cool.”
    “Yeah. You know your summer