by Liwen Y. Ho
She rolled her eyes. It was as she expected; he had excuses and reasons for everything. But what she needed were results. “There’s nothing wrong with trying things. But there comes a time when you need to put your foot down and pick a path to go down. What’s going to happen when you need to provide for a family, when you need to bring home a steady paycheck? You can’t survive on hopes and dreams, Colin.”
He blinked and stepped back. His composure fell for a second, as did his gaze. He seemed to be taking her words to heart because he nodded in agreement. “So, you want me to prove that I can provide for you, for our family.”
“What? No, I wasn’t talking about us. I was talking about a metaphorical family. It was an example.”
“But you said you could see a future with us once I have a steady job.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You implied it.”
His teasing tone made her roll her eyes. She put her hands on her hips, not wanting to be swayed. “You’re putting words into my mouth.”
“I’m interpreting what you said. So, if I can show you I can get a steady income and provide financially for you, you’ll agree to give us a shot?”
She groaned. This wasn’t how she’d envisioned things going. “No, Colin, you’re supposed to say you don’t need to change and how I should accept you as you are, like how the good Lord made you.” He said that line so often, she knew he couldn’t deny his own words. “That’s what you always say.”
He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Sure, but it seems someone as stubborn as you needs a bit more convincing. And what you’re saying isn’t wrong. I do need to be more financially secure. I don’t want to be depending on my woman to bring home the bacon. Not that I have anything against you working. I’m all for supporting my wife in her career,” he added with a grin that implied so much more than he was saying.
Candy gritted her teeth. She clenched her hands into tight fists, wishing she could rein in this conversation and steer it in the direction she wanted it to go. “Colin Spark, you are out of your mind if you think I’m going to marry you.”
He raised his hands as if to say she was crazy to think she wasn’t. “You like me, Candy, and I like you. There’s no denying our attraction, so I wouldn’t even try. I see how you look at me.”
She huffed, her breath coming out in a white wisp of air. What Colin lacked in accomplishments, he more than made up with his ego. The sly grin on his handsome face tugged at her heart way more than she wanted to admit. He reminded her of her favorite actor, a guy who was often starred in popular rom-coms. Like him, Colin had a fun-loving side that made the audience laugh but also a sweet, endearing side that made women swoon. He was almost the whole package. Almost being the key word.
Her phone vibrated in her purse, breaking the tension of the moment. Candy breathed a sigh of relief and used the interruption to her advantage. “Excuse me, I’m waiting for a call about that TV gig I told you about.”
“You got it?” Colin asked, his dark eyes lighting up. “I knew you would.”
“Yeah, I did.” She swiped the screen to unlock the phone as a text message popped up. “I’ll be filming in a couple of weeks. I think this might be the message I was waiting for to confirm the date.”
“That’s awesome, Candy. The viewers are going to love you. You’ll have your own show in no time. I can see it now—Candy’s Critiques. Watch Candy dish about the latest foods.” He laughed, the sound booming through the air. “You like that? Candy dish. I just thought of it.”
“It’s cute, but the tagline could use some work,” she joked as she shook her head. Her eyes focused on the text bubble on her screen, the words causing her cheeks to flush. This was unexpected.
“So, what date’s the filming? I’d be happy to go with you. Is it going to be a live audience? I love shows like that.”
“What? Um, yeah, it will be a live taping.” She turned the phone off and stuffed it back into her purse. “I don’t know yet. That wasn’t the text I was expecting.”
He quirked his brow, giving her a suspicious look. “Are you blushing?”
She raised one hand to her cheek, feeling how warm it was. “It’s this dress; it’s really toasty.”
“So, who was that text from, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“It was work-related.”
“Then why are you being so secretive?” His eyes registered understanding. “It was from a guy!”
“This doesn’t concern you, Colin.”
“It most certainly does!” he huffed. “If I’m going to woo you, I deserve to know who my competition is.” He pointed his thumb behind him toward the organic dessert shop. “It’s like this place. I need to know who I’m up against to succeed.”
“This isn’t a contest! I’m not some prize to be won.”
“I know only the good Lord could give you to me. Other than prayer, the next best thing I can do is tell you why that guy’s not the right one for you.” His eyes narrowed as he studied her face. “It’s that chef from last night, isn’t it? I knew something was up when he brought you an extra dessert.”
“I’m a food critic, for crying out loud! It was his new dish. I told him I liked it, so he offered to bring me an extra one.”
“And the whipped cream on top just happened to be shaped like a heart?”
“We were at an engagement celebration. Engagement—love, hearts?” She rolled her eyes. “This is unbelievable. And how do you know he’s not the one for me?”
“So it was Chef Pierre who texted!”
“Yes, it was,” she admitted reluctantly. “And if you must know, he wants to have dinner tomorrow night. His place. He’s going to cook for me.”
“That’s rich. He can’t come up with something more original? He’s a chef so he’s going to cook for you. I see he doesn’t have any other talents to impress you with.”
“Colin, don’t be rude. It’s an honor to have a Michelin three-star chef cook for you.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure. But everyone knows three out of five stars is a mediocre rating.”
All the blood rushed to her face. He had no clue what he was talking about! “The most you can get is three—argh, why am I arguing with you about this?” She unlocked her car door with her key fob, signaling an end to their conversation. “I need to go home and write a review. Thanks for the chat, Colin.”
“Hold on, before you go, let me answer your question.”
With one hand on her door handle, she paused and spun around. “What question?”
“How I know this chef isn’t the one for you.”
“Fine. Tell me why.”
He puffed out his chest and stood a little taller. “Because he doesn’t know you the way I do.”
With that final remark, Colin turned on his heels and walked away. Candy stared at his back, bristling at the obvious swagger in his steps. She got into her car and slammed the door shut. Oh, the nerve of that man to make such a bold statement! Who did he think he was?
Determined to leave his presence as quickly as possible, she turned on the engine and pulled onto the road. The image of Colin in her rearview mirror grew smaller as she sped off, leaving her with an ache in her heart. As much as she didn’t want to dwell on his words, she had to wonder if he was right.
Chapter Five
Colin
Colin tied up the large black trash bag filled to the brim with take-out containers, old junk mail, and a pair of dirty socks that he’d found under the couch and placed it near the door. He brushed off his hands and turned back to survey the place. It had taken him more than an hour, but he’d finished what he’d set out to do. The living room of the apartment he shared with Darren looked spic and span. Only one remote control lay in the center of the rectangular coffee table after he’d put away the piles of video games and controllers. Laundry—both dirty and clean—no longer took up residence on the sofa. He’d also vacuumed the tan-colored carpet and wiped off the dust from the large flat screen TV.
The entire area looked clean enough to eat off of.
Pride bubbled up in Colin’s chest. He beamed from ear to ear, certain his work would pay off. Operation “Make Candy Melt” was underway.
If Candy wanted a man who could provide for a family, he would show her she’d already met one. He could be that man and more. He knew what it took and had plenty of great examples in his life—starting with his own father—to follow. He just needed the motivation to push him, which Candy had provided.
A niggling thought in the back of his head wouldn’t leave him in peace though. Memories flashed through his mind of his past ventures, how he would start each one with the best of intentions and all the passion required to get a project off the ground. But somewhere along the way, usually a few months in, he would lose interest. His ice-cream store was his longest successful business by far, clocking in at over a year now. He enjoyed meeting customers and talking to them. And he loved coming up with new flavors. He may have finally found his calling. If only that place across the street hadn’t opened.
Colin wasn’t one to grumble though. He knew how fortunate he was to have everything he had. God had certainly blessed him with more than he deserved. But it would’ve been nice to have some clear direction of where he was supposed to go in life. What Candy said was true. He needed to figure his life out—preferably sooner than later.
The front doorknob turned, and his younger brother walked in with a backpack slung over one shoulder. Darren’s muscular frame filled the doorway as he stood there in a jacket, a gray hoodie, and jeans. A lock of wavy brown hair fell over his forehead when he glanced around the room. He turned to Colin with a raised brow and asked, “Uh, what’s going on, bro?”
“You like it?” Colin placed his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest, feeling like a superhero even in his T-shirt and sweats. At least he looked more manly than Superman who wore his underwear outside of his tights. “I thought we could use a little spring cleaning around here.”
Darren closed the door and dropped his backpack to the floor. “It’s amazing. But spring’s more than a month away. Is this some kind of new year’s resolution?”
Colin furrowed his brow, not liking the doubt in Darren’s voice. “Hey, this isn’t some limited time deal I’m doing. I’m cleaning up my act for good, starting with our apartment. I’m serious about this. Say goodbye to Messy Colin and say hello to Clean Colin.”
Darren slung his jacket onto the back of the couch before plopping down onto it. “That sounds great. I appreciate you cleaning up. I’ll admit it was getting kind of hard to walk around here.”
Colin immediately picked up the jacket and walked over to the hall closet to hang it up. Before today, he would’ve been the first one to leave his belongings all over the place, but no longer. He was becoming a new man. A more responsible, mature one. It would take a little more effort on his part though to convince Darren of this. “I know you don’t believe this’ll last, but I’ll show you. This place will still be neat and tidy the next time you come back from a shift.”
Darren smiled despite the exhaustion on his face. He turned to Colin who sat down beside him on the sofa. “I didn’t say I don’t believe you.”
Colin scoffed. “I can hear it in your voice.”
A guilty look creased his forehead. “No offense, Colin, it’s just that …”
Colin held up a hand to stop him. He knew his faults; he didn’t need to hear them again from someone else. He’d already gotten an earful from Aiden the last time his business idea fell apart. His dog walking business had taken off like a cocker spaniel chasing a squirrel … until he got sick of picking up after his clients. He realized performing mundane, routine tasks wasn’t his forte, but he would learn to embrace them. “It’s okay. I know my track record isn’t all that great, but I’m here to show you people can change.”
“Of course they can. God can change anyone’s heart.” Darren paused. “Can I ask what brought about this change?”
Colin leaned back against the couch and laced his fingers behind his head. With a pleased grin, he replied, “Someone very sweet.”
“Ahh, I see.” Darren flashed him a knowing smile. “It’s because of a woman. That seems to be the trend in our family lately.”
Colin chuckled. Darren was right. Just within the past year, three of the Spark boys had fallen for women who seemed to have a lasting influence on them. Colin understood the influence the opposite sex could have on a man—both good and bad. In their cases, though, it was all good. Seeing Aiden, Brandon, and Evan find love gave him faith that love could be possible for him, too. “It’s a good trend. One you should consider following.”
A pained look crossed Darren’s face. “Yeah, well, you know I won’t be going down that path unless God does a miracle for me.”
He patted his brother on the arm. “God’s all about the business of doing miracles, big and small ones. We’ll keep praying.”
“Thanks, bro.” He stood up and stretched. “I’m going to hit the sack now.”
“Have a good sleep,” Colin called out to Darren as he walked off down the hall.
Colin sat for a moment, thinking about his next move. He needed to figure out—fast—what to do about his shop. Should he wait it out until the summer and pray the heat would bring in more customers? That would mean going to Aiden and begging him for some money to tide him over until then. Or should he cut his losses and close the place down permanently?
Bowing his head, he closed his eyes and did what he wished he did more often: pray. Sure, he prayed for his brothers on a regular basis, but he never really asked for direction for his future. He figured he just needed to take advantage of whatever opportunities popped up. Wasn’t that how God opened doors? But for once, he considered asking for direction before he jumped to action. This required patience though, something he wasn’t strong in. But he’d give this praying and waiting business a shot.
When he was done praying about his next step for his ice-cream shop, he decided to pray for Candy. If anyone could change Candy’s heart, it was the Lord. Colin figured God was as tenacious as, if not more than, she was.
Lord, would you give Candy peace and joy from her worries. I know she stresses out a lot about needing to be in control and being perfect. But she’s already wonderful the way she is. Would you help her let go of her need for control and be free from the things that weigh her down? I love it when she laughs, the way her eyes light up and she doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. I want to make her laugh like that for the rest of my life. If you’re willing, I would be so grateful. I promise to take good care of her.
A calm settled over Colin’s heart as he voiced his concerns and heart’s desires. His shoulders fell, unraveling the knots that had gathered there. Knowing that God cared for him and for Candy gave him the confidence to believe everything would work out for their good. He just needed to be willing to follow wherever God led him.
When he opened his eyes, his gaze immediately landed on the bookshelf next to the TV. The title on the spine of one book in particular stood out to him: Tax Preparation for Dummies. Colin chuckled as the gears began turning in his head. It seemed God was answering his prayers already. He knew what he needed to do.
He took his cell phone from his pocket and swiped it open. Typing out an email, he composed a short note to an old colleague. Hey, Frank, I’d like to take you up on your offer. I can start anytime. Give me a call.
He hit the send button, feeling accomplished. This adulting business wasn’t so hard. He was certain he’d have Candy back in his arms in no time.
Chapter Six
Candy
Candy wiped her mouth carefully on her napkin and smiled at the man sitting across from her. Chef Pierre had cooked a wonderful meal for her. The duck confit had been moist, tender, and flavorful with just the right hint of juniper berries. Now, they had just finished a delicious tarte Tatin. She was satisfied and full, both in her stomach and heart.
This
date had turned out better than any of her other recent ones, not that she dated often. Between her busy work schedule and the lack of available single men out there, she didn’t go out much. The last time she’d spent one-on-one time with a man was with Colin. She frowned, chiding herself for thinking about him. He was the last person who should’ve crossed her mind, but there he was again, taking up space in her brain with his knowing smirk. How was it that he still infuriated her from afar?
“Did that not satisfy your palette, ma cherie?” Chef Pierre asked with concern. “I used only the firmest apples. I thought for sure it turned out well.”
“No, it was perfect,” Candy reassured him. “I was just thinking about … my TV appearance coming up. I’ve never been on TV before, so I don’t know what to expect. I know you’ve done several interviews. I’d love to hear about your experience. Perhaps I can pick up some pointers from you.”
Chef Pierre nodded readily. He was a nice man, with the most pleasant French accent. He also had a handsome face, with intense blue eyes and a prominent nose fit for someone who used his sense of smell daily for work. If only he smiled wide enough to show his teeth, he’d look more pleasant. “Of course. It’s quite straightforward, really. For the interview I did recently, there were two cameras directed at us, so it was a matter of knowing when to look at which camera. One gave a side view, the other …”
Candy listened with wide eyes as he droned on and on, telling her about a variety of camera angles. He literally gave her a play-by-play of what happened throughout his hour-long interview. She nodded her head and made murmuring sounds when appropriate, all the while holding back her yawns. Had he been this boring during the meal? She thought back to their conversation and realized he had also given her a detailed description of each dish he made. She had been too caught up in the wonderful flavors of the food, however, to care.
