Chapter 28

But Caden didn't regret going away. He had done a lot of good in the world while he was abroad and had saved a lot of people's lives. If he went back, he knew he could save more, but was that what he really wanted to do? After all, he had had enough of war, famine, and heartbreak to last a lifetime.
"Here you go!" Angela chirped. When Caden turned around, she was holding three paper bags and a drink carrier with the drinks. "You can pay at the register."
"Thank you. Here's a little something for you." Caden shoved a bill into her hand.
"Why, thank you!" She shoved the bill into her apron without looking at it. "Please, come again! Enjoy your day at Christmas Cove!"
She could be a spokesperson for the town, Caden thought as he headed over to the register. Tammy took his money without a word.
Caden gave her a broad smile, unable to resist. "Have a nice day!" He turned around and walked out the door, not waiting for her reaction. Then he looked both ways and hurried across the street, back to the giftwrapping booth.
"Here you go," Caden handed Alice a drink, burger, and fries.
"Man! I'm famished." Alice quickly unwrapped her burger and took a bite and then reached for her purse, hidden under the table. "Here. Let me pay you for this."
"No, it's the least I could do." Caden passed out the rest of the food.
Mallory forced a smile when he handed her a burger. "Thanks."
Caden pretended not to notice her sarcasm. After she ate, she sat on a high bar stool and went back to her phone. Caden enjoyed working, serving the community with the simple gesture of wrapping their Christmas gifts. Soon, the day wore on and Mallory started getting antsy, huffing her disapproval.
"Looks like the natives are getting restless," he said to Alice, motioning with his head toward Mallory. "Guess it's time to go."
Alice giggled, sneaking a peek at Mallory, who had her nose in her phone. "In high school, you two were the perfect couple. What happened?"
Caden shrugged. "It appears that I grew up and she didn't." Then he pulled her in for a quick hug, mindful of her huge belly. "It was good to see you again, Alice. Please tell Jeff hello for me."
"Will do." Then she looked up at him, suddenly serious. "Caden, I hope you find your happily ever after."
He nodded. "Thanks, but I think I already have."
She lifted an eyebrow expectantly.
Caden laughed and then whispered, "No, not with her."
Alice laughed, relieved and then leaned in conspiratorially. "Good. You deserve better."
"Than what?" Mallory was standing right behind him.
"Never mind," Alice replied. "It was good to see you again, Mallory."
"Likewise," Mallory replied flatly, and then turned to Caden. "Ready to go?"
He was about to tell her that if she was ready, then she could catch a bus or a cab, having had enough of her for one day. But he was ready to go, too. "Come on. I'll take you home."
"Oh! I thought we could go somewhere else." She pooched out her lip into a perfectly rehearsed pout.
He gave Alice one last wave over his shoulder and walked toward his car, not looking to see if Mallory was following. "How about a movie? I haven't seen one in a while." He knew that in a movie theater he wouldn't have to talk to her much and he needed time to think.
"Yeah, I guess-."
"Perfect!" he exclaimed before she would suggest something expensive to do. He climbed into the driver's seat, not bothering to open her door for her. He rolled his eyes when he looked over and she was still standing there. Caden was tempted to drive off and leave her, but he reached over and opened the car door from the inside. "Are you coming or not?"
"You used to be such a gentleman. What happened?" she huffed as she slid into the car.
"Well, you used to be a nice girl, or so I thought. What happened?"
Her mouth opened, forming a perfect O again. Then she finally found her voice. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He cranked up the car and pulled out onto the street, headed toward the movie theater. "The whole time we were at the gift-wrapping booth today, did you once wrap a gift?"
"Well, no--"
"Did you greet a customer, even once?"
"Well, I--"
"Mallory, you weren't even civil to Alice, for heaven's sake! And we used to hang out with her and Jeff in high school, or did you forget?"
"No, I didn't forget."
"You never once took your nose out of your cell phone. Instead, you spent the whole day texting away to someone, probably complaining about having to be there."
"Now, wait a minute!" Mallory slid her phone into her purse. "I thought we were going to spend the day together alone, having fun. Not working. It's my day off, after all."
Caden looked over at her in disbelief. "Mallory, have you even thought of anyone besides yourself lately?" He gestured around them. "We live in the Christmas capital of the world, the perfect place to volunteer and spread a bit of good cheer. And you can't see past yourself."
She folded her arms across her chest and tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked down.
He had no idea if her tears were real or fake, but if there was one thing he couldn't take, it was a woman crying. "Mallory, I'm sorry." He reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Let's just try and make the most of the rest of the day."
"Okay," she sniffled, sounding like a spoiled child who didn't get her way.
Caden was glad he didn't have to spend the evening having to talk to her. Spending the day with her had been more than enough. He was surprised that she didn't complain when he pulled into the movie theater parking lot. But when they walked in, she recognized a girl behind the refreshment counter.