Chapter 36

Caden threw his arm over his forehead the next morning and closed his eyes. But the sun was peeking through the curtains as he lay in bed, alerting him to the start of a new day- a new beginning.
There was one thing that she asked him that bothered him. What was he doing? It was a good question and one he kept asking himself, too. He picked up his pillow and put it over his head. One thing was certain: He had to see Jocelyn again. He had no idea what he was going to tell Mallory, but the truth was a good start. He had no intention of seeing Jocelyn behind Mallory's back. Despite everything, he was a gentleman. Then he had an idea and reached for his cell phone. No matter what happened between them and no matter what the future held, they still had today. If his time in the military hadn't taught him anything else, it was to live life today, for none of us know if we have tomorrow. Although he knew he was probably setting himself up for heartbreak, he wanted today, this one more day, with Jocelyn.
Are you working? he texted Jocelyn.
No answer.
Okay. I'm coming to your work again.
You wouldn't dare, came the response back.
You don't think so?
There was a pause and then Jocelyn texted, Okay. You have a point.
Caden laughed aloud. Good, because I'd hate to have a repeat performance of yesterday.
LOL! Yeah, I'm sure Roxanne would love that. Keep that up and you'll get me fired. There was a pause. And to answer your question, I'm off today.
Caden sat up on the edge of his bed. Good! I'll be right over.
There was another pause. What is this, Caden?
Don't overthink it. Let's just take it a day at a time. For some reason, the more time he spent with Jocelyn, the more time he wanted with her. He jumped out of bed and texted one more message. Get ready. I'm coming over. Decide what you want to do, but nothing too Christmassy today. He laid down his phone, showered, and dressed in jeans and a clean tee shirt. Then he put on his military work boots--a habit he knew he wouldn't get over for a while, if he decided to leave the Navy. Caden had an idea and grabbed his phone to send Jocelyn one more text. Bring your skates. Then he grabbed his heavy coat, grabbed his ice skates just in case, and headed out the door toward Jocelyn's house.
It was funny that he no longer thought of it as Mallory's house, but Jocelyn's. The car seemed to know the way of its own accord as it drove onward. He just hoped Mallory wasn't there. Although he planned to tell her and break it off whatever it was with Mallory, he needed to spend a bit more time with Jocelyn first. It wasn't that he was keeping Mallory around as a life preserver, but he just wanted a bit of time to clear his head. After all, he had a big decision to make. Now, he had several.
As he drove, he remembered all of the times he had spent with Jocelyn skating on the lake behind her parents' house. Years ago, he had thought of her as Mallory's little sister. But now, she was so much more.
Luckily, Mallory's car was gone when he pulled up. She must have been at a photoshoot again or preparing for the Christmas pageant and parade. Secretly, he wondered how long she could keep it up. Although she was still beautiful, there came a time to adjust your dreams. He had a feeling that Mallory was no closer to wanting to settle down than she had been when they were both eighteen.
Although he knew you couldn't compare people, Mallory and Jocelyn were as different as night and day. He hoped that one day, Mallory would find her happiness, but he was certain it wouldn't be with him.
He skipped up the stairs, taking two at a time, and knocked on the door. Jocelyn opened the door right away, obviously not having been too far away.
"Come on in," she said, taking a step back.
Caden rubbed his hands together and then slipped on his gloves. "No, come on out. Let's go skating."
"Today?" she asked, wearing an incredulous grin.
He shrugged. "Sure! Why not?" He stepped down the wooden stairs, and then turned back to her. "I'll meet you at the pond."
"I thought I was going to choose what we did today!" she yelled after him.
"Not now," Caden shouted back, smiling, and then winked. "But maybe later."
She smiled, shaking her head. "You're incorrigible."
"I try." He gave her a wave over his head and then headed around the back of the house to the pond. Surveying it, he saw that it was still frozen solid. Great for ice skating.
He sat down on the stone bench her father had installed years before and slipped on his skates. He was excited to get back onto the ice, but more excited at the prospect of spending time with Jocelyn again. Caden swirled around and did a lazy figure eight, getting a feel for the ice and checking for any weak areas, but there were none.
When he looked up, Jocelyn was walking toward him, carrying her skates. "What took you so long?" He skidded to a stop in front of her, showering her with ice shavings again.
"Since when did you get so cocky?" Jocelyn brushed the ice shavings off her coat.
He shrugged as he skated away, and then turned around to face her, skating backward. "I always was. You just never noticed."
Jocelyn laughed as she stepped onto the ice and started skating lazy circles, leaning from side to side, getting a feel for the ice. Caden loved watching her skate. She was poetry on ice- literally. She was graceful, agile-.
"Why didn't you ever go pro?" Caden asked, skating backward beside her.
She shrugged, looking up at him with her crystal blue eyes. "I never wanted to leave home. I love it here in Christmas Cove, and if I was a professional skater, then I would have had to leave."