Cindy's Perfect Dance (The Candy Cane Girls Book 2)

by Bonnie Engstrom

  “Even though it’s just two days before Christmas, they should sell well. We can wrap them with a few real candy canes, like extra embellishments.” She sounded so delighted with the idea. “I’ll put a Candy Cane Roses banner in the window.”

  “You have learned so much, just helping here for the past week.” His voice was warm, and he took her hand.

  “Thanks, Rob. I’ve enjoyed every minute. Except the bloody part.” She laughed self-consciously. “So, what about tomorrow? It’s Christmas Eve.” She cocked her head, begging the question. “I assume we are open. But, until when? What time?”

  Rob looked all around the shop … at the cool case stocked with pre-grouped bunches of flowers, at the enticing arrangements on the rounders, and the shelf that held all the beautiful vases customers could purchase. Finally, he stopped at the huge Christmas tree. It was decorated in silk flowers and little parchment ornaments with Bible verses printed on them. And, lots of angels – every kind and shape, but all exquisite in tulle and lace and taffeta with wings made of feathers.

  “I think Bray used to close the shop by five on Christmas Eve.” He felt a little confused. He put a hand on his forehead and said, “I should call Mom and ask her.” He felt so out of it. Was it the disease causing the confusion? Why couldn’t he make a decision? He knew Braydon left a list of instructions, but where were they? He hated the ambivalence. Why couldn’t he remember?

  Cindy looked at him with a strange expression. He noticed one eyebrow was cocked up higher than the other, and her cute nose was wrinkled, the tip poking up. “You okay?,” she asked.

  “Yep, fine.” He smiled at her, hoping it was reassuring. “Just trying to remember the routine.”

  “That’s understandable, considering you’ve never done this before so close to Christmas.”

  She was right, and her comment made him feel so much better. So much so, that he took a risk. “Do you have plans for tomorrow night, for Christmas Eve?” He searched her face again, hoping she would say no. “I can’t remember,” he blabbed on without thinking, “if you have family here in town … to spend it with, I mean.”

  She shook her head. “No. Not for a long time. Family is in Omaha.” She paused. “Since my mom died, we try to do our get-togethers later in the year, in the spring. Airfares are cheaper then, as well as hotels.” She stopped to chuckle. “At least there they are. Not in Newport. Gotta go to the Midwest during winter, sort of like a reverse Snowbird.” He laughed at that. What a concept.

  “I love it! Reverse Snowbird. Too funny.”

  Getting up his courage, he decided to risk it. Just ask her. Maybe she already had plans with friends, with the other Candy Canes. He blurted it out.

  “Mom and Dad always do a special Christmas Eve thing. Of course, Bray and Noelle will probably opt out since they will just be arriving from their honeymoon. But,” he hesitated, “would you like to come? You would be very welcome,” he added. And waited for her response.

  ~

  Cindy was thrilled to be asked to join the Lovejoys. She’d had no plans, just the early Christmas Eve church service and pizza. Not that she cared what she ate, but being with special people … well, she couldn’t imagine. Did he really want her?

  She didn’t want to seem so enthusiastic that she seemed desperate. Maybe he felt sorry for her; or, maybe he had a special, longtime girlfriend who’d been out of town before Christmas, before Rob and she managed the floral shop, before they’d danced at the wedding. Would she walk into the Lovejoy’s living room and see another woman sitting beside him?

  “Uh, that’s very nice, Rob. But, I don’t know.” She found herself looking at his chin. “Maybe your parents would rather keep it family. I don’t want to intrude.” Or, be the odd man out she thought to herself. That would be horrible, and uncomfortable. No, unbearable.

  He looked her square in the face and grasped her hands. “Do you really think I would ask you that way? Like not part of the family?

  “You,” he emphasized the noun, “ARE part of the family. You are a Candy Cane, right?”

  Cindy laughed with him. Being one of six, now seven with Melanie included, did make them special. “Okay. If you are sure. I would love to join you all.

  “Oh, Rob, what about your mom? She is the hostess, it is her home. I’m sure she has special plans.”

  Cindy had never heard such a guffaw of laughter. What had gotten into Rob? He was holding his belly and almost doubled over. “What?”

  “What is right!” he said. “My parents’ home is totally and always open, especially at Christmas.” He looked at her again and laughed … again. But, not so effusively. “You wanna come?” He paused to give her time to respond. Should she accept? What would being with the whole Lovejoy family mean?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Cindy pulled her now repaired little car up to the Lovejoy’s house and parked in front on the street. There must have been ten other cars there. Surely they were at neighboring homes. Rob said this was a family gathering. She trotted to the door holding a small hostess gift, one her granny had often given.

  Mrs. Day opened the door. No staff? How nice. She was surprised, had expected a server in fancy black and white uniform. But, what was Noelle’s mother doing here?

  Mrs. Day answered her unspoken question. “Lydia appointed me door opener,” she laughed heartily as she said it. “Welcome. Come in and join this crazy group.”

  Mrs. Lovejoy stepped forward and grasped Cindy’s hand. She felt more relaxed around Rob’s mother than the other day in the shop. She figured it was only natural the Lovejoys and Days would become friends since their children had recently married each other. She was enveloped in a hug and a whiff of delicate perfume.

  “Where should I put this little gift I brought?”

  “Oh, let me take it.” Mrs. Lovejoy said. “There is a designated pile in the guest bedroom.” She grinned and took the small package from Cindy. “Unless it is something that should be included in tonight’s festivities?” She tilted her head to question Cindy. “And, please, Cindy … may I call you that? … Please call me Lydia.” Cindy smiled.

  “I know,” Lydia said, “accidental alliteration when I married.” She laughed again, and Cindy thought her voice charming.

  “Uh, … Lydia,” Cindy had trouble calling Rob’s mother by her first name, but she stammered on. “What exactly are tonight’s festivities?” She looked at the other woman’s face for a clue. “Was I supposed to contribute in some way? Rob never said.”

  “So Rob.” Lydia’s face twisted in frustration. Finally, she said more. “He is a bit reticent about sharing. Even at his age.” She sighed, rather loudly Cindy thought. “It’s a trust issue.” Then she took Cindy’s little hostess gift and disappeared. Into the guest bedroom? Hopefully, her glass Bluebird of Happiness would be added to the pile.

  ~

  Rob was glad Cindy came, but he was nervous about introducing her to his special pals. Thank goodness some of the Candy Canes were here. At least she’d have some familiar faces to chat with. He stretched his arms forward to take her small hands in his big ones and led her into the melee. When she saw Doreen and Candy he could almost feel her relax. The three women started chatting together. Doreen looked him full in the face. “How do you know all these people, Rob? Obviously, they are friends of yours.” She paused. “From some kind of business group?”

  He knew the CCs, as he had privately dubbed them, were aware he was a real estate entrepreneur. Most of them also knew he surfed. Yes, either explanation would do. “Yes, some are. We realtors have a loose, but wide, association,” he said. He hoped that would explain. After all, it seemed lately that the meetings he attended were dominated by realtors and others connected to the industry.” He nodded toward two men, one with longish hair laughing together. “Brad and Nick are surfing buddies, and Nick is a loan officer who specializes in mortgages.” There, that should be explanation enough. He excused himself to help his dad pull some of the living room furnitu
re in a circle.

  Candy leaned in close to Cindy. “Do you know what is going on? Why the set-up?”

  “Maybe we’re going to sing carols? Or watch Scrooge on that big screen TV.” Cindy pointed to the large black screen above the fireplace mantle. “After all, it is Christmas Eve.”

  Rob overheard their not very well concealed whispering. Won’t they be surprised!

  “Ladies, come join us and take a seat.” He waved his arm toward the loose circle of chairs on either side of the deep sofa. The girls shrugged at each other and did as he asked.

  ~

  Candy and Doreen searched for seats. Both held plastic glasses of bubbly red liquid. Just as they were about to split up, Rob’s two surfer friends stood up. The one called Nick moved over leaving two empty spots on the sofa between Brad and himself. “Over here, lovely ladies.” He pointed with a long finger to the empty space. The girls blushed a little, Cindy noticed, but they settled between the two men. Very handsome men she thought.

  Surely Rob had saved a place for her. But, when she looked around, he was sitting on a barstool behind Noelle’s dad, close to the fireplace. Darrell Day held a big open book on his knees, and Rob’s dad Logan held what looked like a video camera. Kerstin Day and Lydia Lovejoy stood off to the side holding piles of clothing. What were they doing?

  She spied a chair, the only empty one, between two women about her age. Well, maybe time to make new friends. “May I join you?” Cindy wasn’t sure why she asked since there was no other place to sit.

  “Please do,” the brunette with the short bob said kindly. The other girl with dangly earrings imitating Christmas wreaths that seemed to catch strands of her shoulder length blonde hair when she turned her face to Cindy, said, “This will be fun. Rob mentioned this at the meeting the other night.” She tapped jiggling knees with brilliantly red manicured nails. Mmm. Nervous girl.

  “Oh, a realtors’ meeting?” Cindy asked. “So close to Christmas?”

  Blonde raised her eyebrows over a blank face. Cindy felt the other girl’s arm slip behind her and rest on the top of her chair back. Was she tapping Blondie on the shoulder? In her peripheral vision she could swear the dark haired girl shook her head slightly. She was just about to ask if they wanted to sit next to each other when Darrell Day cleared his throat loudly. Cindy noticed a guitar was perched across Rob’s left knee. He started strumming softly. When all the guests had quieted down, he broke into Silent Night, and everyone started singing.

  She had guessed right. What a great way to celebrate Christmas Eve. They only sang the first verse. Probably because without the prompts most churches gave on big screens, few remembered more. When the final “heavenly peace” was sung, Kerstin Day rang a bell. Cindy noticed it was the kind most people associate with hanging around a reindeer neck. Cute. When the chuckling and giggling died down and she had everyone’s attention, she made a quiet announcement. “Does anyone know what’s coming next? Any guesses?” Lydia held up the pile of clothing in her arms; Kerstin did, too. Grinning impishly she stepped forward and finally spoke. “This was my idea, actually my family’s. Something we’ve done for years since our boys were little.” She glanced at Rob who nodded, but whose face took on Christmas color. “Kerstin and Darrell were kind and generous to allow us to go along with it tonight.”

  “Please,” she continued, “feel under the front of your chairs.” She waited while everyone did as instructed. A few came up with post-it notes in their hands and waved them. “Great. Did anyone get a star?”

  Cindy raised her hand with the star post-it in it wondering what on earth that meant.

  “Cindy!” Lydia sounded excited. “You are the star.” She paused to search for Cindy’s reaction. “If you are willing.”

  Cindy nodded, hoping this would be fun. As it turned out, it was more than special.

  ~

  Rob held her hand as he led her back to her car. She held a beautiful devotional book nestled in tissue in a colorful holiday bag in one hand and squeezed his big warm one with the other. She started to slip into the driver’s side of her car when he pulled her close.

  “I was honored you got the role of Mary in the family play.” He said. “I wondered if the moms had planned it.” He looked at her askew. “Did you mind?”

  “Mind? No, I loved it. Ever since I was ten I wanted to play Virgin Mary in the church program.” She smiled at him. “Had to wait a few years, but it was awesome.

  “I hope your mothers didn’t ‘plan it’ for me to be Mary.” It was almost a question. Did he know?

  “Not that I know.” He looked into her eyes. Cindy thought she could drown in their pools.

  ~

  Cindy and Rob had agreed to meet at the floral shop at eight, even though it was Christmas Day. Just for a quick cleanup and reconnoiter. They doubted anyone would come to purchase today, but they had so much to do the next day taking down the Christmas tree, it would be good to get a head start. After checking there was water in all the pre-assembled bouquets and discarding any drooping flowers, they were about to close shop and lock the doors when a distraught looking young man burst in.

  “Oh, please, please,” he pleaded. “Are you really open?”

  “Not exactly,” Rob said. “But, what do you need?”

  “She finally agreed to marry me. Last night. On Christmas Eve.” His blue eyes were moist and his tousled dark curls showed evidence of hands running through them. He searched Cindy and Rob’s faces and apparently decided to trust them. “She invited me for Christmas dinner,” he explained in a breathless voice. “I need to bring something special to her and to her mother. Can you help?”

  “Can we!” Rob proclaimed. “You bet.

  “Cindy, can you gather some Christmas roses?” He turned to her with a devilish smile.

  “Of course. Coming right up.” She grinned. “We aren’t called Love in Bloom for nothing.”

  Together, Rob and Cindy wrapped two gorgeous bouquets in Cellophane and embellished with candy canes and lots of bows. They thought the young man might collapse he was so overwhelmed when they refused to charge him.

  “That was special!” Cindy gazed into Rob’s eyes.

  “Yep.” He looked back into hers. “Christmas.” Was all he said.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “That was something special.” Rob opened his arms to Cindy.

  She nodded, hesitated and stepped forward. It was hard to resist the warmth of his arms, when she wanted them so badly, especially on Christmas. He wrapped his large arms around her in a comforting hug.

  When he nibbled her ear, she almost collapsed. Then, she giggled.

  “Rob!” She cried. “Are you sure about this display of affection?”

  “Oh, very sure.” He grinned that lopsided grin that shook her heart. Flutters, surely from her heart, floated up to her throat almost choking her. She petitioned her creator. What, God, was that about?

  “I’d better go.” Cindy pulled away from Rob and reached to grab her purse.

  “Really? Do you have to?” Rob’s hands were still on her shoulders. “I was hoping we could spend at least part of Christmas together.” He cocked his head, questioning.

  “Uh. Don’t you have to spend it with your parents? And, aren’t Braydon and Noelle coming home today?”

  “Yes. I offered to pick them up at the airport, but they insisted they are taking a shuttle.” He cleared his throat, rather dramatically Cindy thought. “I don’t suppose they need to see me when they step off the plane.”

  “I guess, even though you were the best man, they would want to see your parents first. Or, the Days.”

  Rob’s hands slipped gently down from her shoulders to her fingers. She automatically squeezed them. What on earth was she doing? Making it harder to let go and say goodbye.

  Her mouth took over like a squawking Myna bird. Sounded like one, too. “Nachos? You like Nachos?”

  “Yum. Love them. You offering?”

  She wiggled her eye brows, g
rabbed her purse and led him to the door. “My famous ones,” she declared. “Follow me. In your own car,” she added over her shoulder with a grin.

  ~

  Rob settled on the velour suede red sofa, pushed a throw pillow behind him and asked, “What makes your Nachos so special?”

  Cindy had insisted he plunk down there while she did her Nacho thing. He liked the ambiance, the contemporary décor. Simple, clean, uncluttered. Like Cindy, he thought.

  “Want a glass of wine while I mix up the Nachos?” He could hear Cindy popping a cork.

  “No thanks. Not tonight, anyway.”

  “That’s okay. You mind if I have one?”

  “Not at all. Go for it.”

  “Soft drink?”

  “Sure.”

  “Pepsi? Coke? Sprite?”

  “Any will do.” He sucked in a deep breath. Maybe it was time. Especially if their relationship was to go anywhere. Time to be honest, confess.

  She set a Pepsi in a glass filled with cracked ice before him on the coffee table.

  “You okay, Rob? You look a little strange.”

  “Yes, and no.” He clasped her hand and pulled her down next to him on the sofa. “Something I need to tell you, probably should have some time ago.”

  “Something bad?”

  “Depends on how you understand it.”

  Cindy nodded and clasped his hand tighter. The look on his face frightened her.

  ~

  Rob is an alcoholic!

  The next morning Cindy still couldn’t get her mind around it. She didn’t know much about the situation, or as Rob said, “the disease.” He explained, and after he left, she googled. He made it very clear that if their relationship (was there one?) continued, there should be no pressure on her. She could have a glass of wine or a beer or even a cocktail anytime. At home, or out on a date. He was covered. Her drinking would have no effect on him.