Chapter 32

As he drove down the streets headed toward town, she wondered what she was going to do. After all, Mallory was her sister and she'd never do anything to hurt her, no matter how infuriating she was.
"You're overthinking again."
She gave him a slight smile as she sighed.
He shrugged. "I'll tell you what. Let's just have fun today. Try not to worry about anything, okay? Let's just enjoy the day."
She sighed, relenting. What could it hurt to just have fun? She and Caden could just be walking down the street and have a blast. "Okay. So, what's on the agenda?"
"How about skiing?" One corner of his lips curled into a cocky grin.
She laughed. "Yeah. You're a comedian."
"Then how about a carriage ride? I haven't been on one in years. Wanna go? We could see the Christmas decorations."
She smiled in disbelief. "You want to see Christmas decorations?"
"Sure! Why not?" He sighed. "Since I've been gone so long, I guess I've come to appreciate the town and what I've missed. Now, I don't want to miss any more."
She nodded. "Okay, then. A carriage ride it is."
He gave her a heartbreaking smile. "What would you like to do after that?"
"Maybe lunch? But let's just see how it goes."
"Sounds good."
A few minutes later, he pulled into town and stopped at the end of the town square at a cute bench decorated in Christmas fare where people waited for the carriage to come around. In the center of the town square was the Christmas tree lot, and on the opposite end was the gazebo. His mother looked across the square and waved, a smile spreading across her face, even at this distance.
"You want to go visit your parents first?" Jocelyn waved at his mother, smiling.
Caden waved, too. "Not now."
"Why not?"
He smiled, nodding toward the street. "Because the carriage is here." They looked down the street and the carriage was headed straight toward them, pulled by two beautiful brown and white Clydesdale horses. Their big hooves clomped noisily against the pavement. Luckily, no one else appeared to be waiting. "Shall we?" He held out his hand and she took it.
"Where to, my good man?" the driver asked, dressed in an eighteenth century British waistcoat and breeches, and in full character.
"Once around the park, please." Caden handed him a bill, but the man waved him off.
"No, kind sir. Enjoy the ride first, and then we shall do business." Then he smiled at Jocelyn. "We shan't spoil the day with doing business before such a fair lady."
"You are quite right, dear sir," Caden replied, playing along.
"Well, climb aboard and we'll be on our way."
Caden took Jocelyn's hand and helped her into the carriage, and then climbed up and slid in beside her. A moment later, the man clicked his tongue, the carriage jolted, and the horses began walking around the town square.
Caden started pointing out Christmas decorations in the town as they passed, including everything from decorated snowmen to kitschy plastic Santa Clauses, riding in a sleigh, complete with reindeer. "This is one of my favorites, Santa's Workshop." In reality, it was a toy store with sales people dressed as elves. And Santa was always on his throne, awaiting young visitors, except for on weekends when he moved to the gazebo in the town square, adorned with multi-colored twinkle lights. Santa was on duty every day throughout the year, except for late on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day, of course.
"What're you doing, Caden?"
"What?" he asked, his eyes wide with innocence.
Jocelyn sighed, watching as they passed by the various decorations throughout the town. "Caden, you're leaving after the holidays, aren't you?" She knew that he was deciding whether or not to get out of the military, but she wasn't going to get her hopes built up. "What are you doing?"
Caden took his arm out from behind her. "Since I've been back, I'm starting to realize how much I missed the town and the people in it while I was away." He let out a deep breath. "I've seen enough heartache and war to last a lifetime. Somehow, living in a place filled with magic and wonder doesn't seem so bad now. Forgive me, but we always have a good time when we're together. Besides Brock, you're one of my best friends." He chuckled. "I mean, we could be walking down the street together and have a blast."
Jocelyn smiled. "Yes, we could." She could only imagine the horror that he had witnessed over the past eight years while he was away. And if she could help to bring him a little happiness to his life, then so be it- even if they would only be friends. "So, have you seen the new Candyland Playground yet?"
"No. When did they build that?" Caden asked in disbelief.
"A few years ago. The kids just love it."
Caden leaned forward and spoke to the driver. "Could you drive us past Candyland?"
A smile lit the driver's lips as he looked over his shoulder. "Yes, indeed! Right away, sir."
Since Caden had cleared everything up, Jocelyn decided not to worry so much. To just relax and enjoy the day. After all, she had no idea how long he would be there or if he would decide to stay or not, and she was determined to enjoy her time with him, for however long it was.
"So, why didn't you ever marry?" Caden asked casually.
Jocelyn shrugged. "I guess I never met the right man," she lied. There was no way that she was going to tell him that she had met the right man when she was twelve years old and never got over him. As an adult, she compared every man she went out with to him and they never quite measured up.
"Oh." Caden suddenly grew quiet and turned his attention to the scenery. Jocelyn wondered why.
Just then, they pulled into Candyland. There was a gingerbread playhouse and a candy cane slide, along with a real reindeer in a petting pen.
"Man! I wish they had something like this when we were little," Caden mused. "What a great place for kids."
"So, do you want to have children one day?" Jocelyn asked at the risk of making a fool of herself.
"Why? Are you offering?" Caden teased, giving her a wink.
She hit him playfully on his chest, not telling him that she would. "I knew you'd say that."
Caden laughed. "Yes, I would love to have children one day. This is the perfect place to raise kids."
Jocelyn raised an eyebrow. "Really? You don't think the children would get too tired of Christmas- like you did?"
He shook his head, smiling. "It's magical here. What kid wouldn't like it? Besides, we could always take them away for vacations, too."
"We?"
"You know, my wife and I."
"Oh. I see." Jocelyn nodded, smiling. She didn't have the heart to tell him that Mallory didn't want to have children anytime soon, if ever. But she'd let them work that out for themselves. It was nice to hear that he was ready to settle down now, though. She suspected that his time away really did a number on him. She knew she would ask him what he had witnessed someday, but now wasn't the time. She was sorry that he had endured so much, but glad that his path had finally led him home.
"So, do you want to have children one day?"
Jocelyn was taken aback by the question. "Why? Are you offering?"
He laughed and then gave her a wink. "Maybe," he teased, but then grew serious, awaiting her answer.
"I'd love to have children one day- with the right man."
He nodded thoughtfully. "You'd make a great mother."
"Thanks," she replied, feeling a blush color her cheeks.
"So, are you getting hungry?" Caden asked as the driver headed back toward the town square.
She shrugged. "I could go for some hot cocoa."
"So, Santa's Café?"
Jocelyn shook her head. "No, I know of another place."
"Where?"
"It's a surprise."
One corner of Caden's lips curled into a smile. "I like the sound of that."
Jocelyn laughed. It was definitely true: They could have fun together anywhere.