Chapter 21

He looked into her eyes, his heart wrenching. There was no way that he would ever hurt her purposefully. She was such a wonderful person and vulnerable, it would be like hurting a puppy. And somehow, when she hurt, he hurt. Never had he ever felt that with anyone else before.
"Everything all right?"
When Caden looked up, his father was standing a few yards away, obviously not wanting to intrude on a moment. "Yes, Dad. We're fine. Just a little misunderstanding."
Jocelyn pulled back and wiped her eyes and gave Caden a slight smile.
"Well, pick up the bags and let's eat before the ants get it." Noah turned around and walked back to the tent. There were a few customers on the lot, but nothing that the other workers couldn't handle.
Caden and Jocelyn picked up the bags and Caden whispered over her head, "I'd better warn you. My mother has a worried look on her face. Translated, that means that you're about to face the inquisition."
Jocelyn laughed. "Come on. Let's go."
When they walked over, Caden was right.
"Come here and sit by me, dear." Emma patted the seat beside her. "Are you all right?"
Jocelyn did as Emma asked and sat down. "Yes, I'm fine. I think I got something in my eye."
"There, there." Emma patted her leg. "You can talk to me, you know."
"Mom, she's okay," Caden interjected, hoping his mother wouldn't make a big deal out of it.
Jocelyn smiled. "No, really. It's okay," she said to Caden, and then turned to Emma. "I'm fine, ma'am. Really."
"Well, if that son of mine ever says anything he shouldn't, you just let me know and I'll take care of it."
Both Jocelyn and Caden burst out laughing at the same time.
"I'd bet you would." Jocelyn looked over at Caden and gave him a devilish grin. "That's good to know. Thank you."
Noah leaned in to his son and stage-whispered, "I hate to tell you this, son, but you're in big trouble now."
"Don't I know it."
Everyone laughed.
They worked for a few more hours and had a wonderful time doing it. In fact, it was the most fun that Caden had had in a while. Somehow, with Jocelyn, it didn't seem like work at all.
When evening came, Jocelyn took off her gloves and said to Caden's mother, "Well, I hate to do this, but I have to go. It's been lovely working with you today, and thanks for lunch. But I really wish you'd let me pay you for mine."
"Heavens, no!" Emma replied. "In fact, you worked here for free today, so it was the least that we could do."
Caden finished tying a tree onto the roof of a car and then walked over and handed his mother the money. In their family, his mother had always been the one to hold the money at the tree lot. She was great with figures. Plus, his father never wanted to bother with it.
"So, what's next on the agenda?" Caden asked, taking off his gloves.
Jocelyn smiled. "Christmas caroling. You wanna go?"
Caden turned to his mother. "Mom, will you need me anymore?"
She reached out and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll always need you." She pulled him close and patted his cheek as she looked into his eyes. "But not today. Go. Have some fun. We have plenty of people here to work."
While they were working, the morning shift left and three more men came in for the afternoon. Dan went inside to get some sleep before the evening shift. Luckily, there was enough business to keep all of them busy, including Caden and Jocelyn.
Emma looked over at Jocelyn. "Thanks for bringing my son by."
"Well, thanks for having me today." Jocelyn took off her gloves and handed them to Caden, who put them away.
"It was our pleasure. Come back any time."
Caden gave his mother a kiss on the forehead and his father a manly hug. Then he followed Jocelyn to his car. Caden took out his keys and hit the unlock button when he was close, wanting to open the car door for Jocelyn.
"So, did you have fun today?" Jocelyn asked after they were both in the car.
"Yes, I did. Did you?" Caden turned the key and listened as the engine roared to life.
"The best."
Caden didn't tell her that her being there was what made it fun. Usually, he would have been bored stiff. But seeing it through her eyes, he had a ball. Somehow, her being there gave him a new perspective of the tree lot.
"So, where to?" Caden asked.
"The church." Jocelyn's and his family had been members of the same local church for years.
"You want to get something to eat first?" Caden asked, wanting to spend some alone time with her.
She shrugged. "After. I have to meet the choir there in a few minutes."
"Do you need to go home and change first?"
Jocelyn smiled. "No. We're fine as we are."
Although Caden knew that you couldn't compare people, he couldn't help but notice how different Jocelyn was from her sister. Mallory would have already taken out her compact twenty times to check her makeup by now. And she would never have thought to volunteer at the tree lot, either. Secretly, he was glad that Mallory had been busy again. Throughout the day, the thought of Mallory hadn't even entered his mind.
"I have just one question to ask you."
"What?" Jocelyn asked, looking into his eyes.
Jocelyn's eyes were the most brilliant blue--ocean pools that he wanted to jump into and stay there forever. But he wasn't ready yet. "Why do you volunteer so much?" he asked, breaking the spell of the moment.
She looked at him and blinked her eyes. Then she turned and looked out the window. "I know it sounds corny, but I love Christmas. I love helping people and making people happy." She nudged his shoulder, teasing him. "I know it's not your thing, and I don't expect you to understand."
Caden smiled, looking down at her. "I'm beginning to."
As they drove to the church, he was surprised that he hadn't even thought of Mallory during the course of the day. He looked over at Jocelyn, and she looked up and smiled, causing his heart to flutter. At that moment, he realized he was falling in love with her, and wondered what in the world he was going to do.