Chapter 39

"What can I get you this afternoon?" Angela asked. It was two o'clock in the afternoon, between lunch and dinner. He couldn't believe they had skated all morning, but it was another memory to add to the many he had of Jocelyn.
"Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn on the cob for me," Jocelyn replied, closing her menu. Then she looked over at Caden and stage whispered, "They have the best."
Caden's stomach growled at the thought. "Make it two." He closed his menu and handed it to Angela.
"Will do!" Angela tucked the menu behind the other. "I'll be right back with your meals."
"So, what are you doing tomorrow?" Jocelyn took a sip of her hot chocolate.
He shrugged. "I'm not sure." He didn't tell her, but he knew that talking to Mallory to break things off was definitely on the list. "I might volunteer at my parents' tree lot."
"That would be nice." Jocelyn wrapped her hands around her mug of hot chocolate.
Caden sighed and then took a sip of his hot chocolate and swallowed, letting the heat warm him. "I just don't want to get locked into it every day, like I was before I left. Every moment I had free from school, I was expected to work the tree lot. After years of it, I just got burned out. And now that I'm back, I don't want it to happen again."
"Just tell your parents how you feel. I'm sure they'll understand," Jocelyn replied. "Besides, they have plenty of help now."
Caden smirked, shaking his head as he looked down at his hot chocolate. "They had plenty of help then, too, but it didn't stop them from wanting me to work all hours of the day and night. Even in the off season, we sold Mom's flower arrangements, or Valentine's Day gifts or something. It never stopped."
"Well, maybe now you can change all that."
"Here you go!" Angela set two plates on the table in front of them, containing steaming hot mashed potatoes, fried chicken, and corn on the cob. She looked down at the cups and added, "I'll be right back with some more hot chocolate."
"Thank you," Caden replied as she walked away.
"This looks great," Jocelyn commented as she picked up a chicken leg.
Hunger took over as they started eating and all conversation ended. He added talking to his parents to his list of things to do, too. His parents were getting up in age and his mother was in ill health, so he didn't want to waste any time with them. But then again, he didn't want to get locked into spending every waking moment at the tree lot, either. If he ended up taking it over someday, he would make sure to schedule himself days off and to hire a manager to take over for when he was away. It just wasn't healthy to be working constantly, and not good for your family, either.
At that moment, he realized that it was almost as if he had been running away and never knew it. He needed time away not only from Christmas Cove, but from his parents' tree lot and working continually, too. What he had needed was time.
"What were you thinking about just then?" Jocelyn asked, bringing him from his reverie.
Caden shrugged. "About my parents and the Christmas tree lot. And about Christmas Cove."
"Have you made a decision about staying yet?" Even though she tried to hide her curiosity, her eyes were hopeful.
He shook his head as a smile lit his lips. "Why? Would you like me to stay?"
She sat back against the seat. "Caden, what are we doing?" She bit her lower lip and then asked, "Am I just a fill-in for Mallory when she can't be here?"
Caden's eyebrows rose in surprise. "No. Not at all. I love spending time with you. Is that so bad?"
She sighed as she shook her head. "No. It's not so bad at all. I love spending time with you, too." She bit her lower lip and then released it, sending chills over his body. "Before you left, you were my best friend."
Caden nodded. "I guess you were my best friend, too." He looked into her eyes and then asked, "Jocelyn, why did you stop writing to me?"
Her eyes opened wide. "Caden, you were the one who stopped writing to me, or don't you remember?"
Caden raised an eyebrow. "So, you never stopped writing?"
She shrugged. "After a while, I did, when I stopped getting any letters back."
"I guess I was all over the world and your letters stopped chasing me. I thought you stopped writing. But, in reality, the letters weren't finding me." Caden looked out the window and then back into her eyes. "Jocelyn, your letters became my lifeline to Christmas Cove. When I stopped getting them, it was as if Christmas Cove- and you- were just a memory."
"I'm so sorry, Caden." Then she reached across the table and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad you came back." Then she looked into his eyes. "Caden, if you decide to go back, write to me and I promise I'll write back."
He nodded, appreciating the sentiment. But he had a lot of things to think about before he made his final decision. "So, are you ready?" Caden pulled out his wallet and laid some bills on the table and then rose from his seat.
Jocelyn finished the last of her hot chocolate and rose to her feet. "I'm ready if you are."
"Thank you!" Angela yelled to them from across the restaurant. "Come again!"
Caden waved to her over his shoulder and then opened the door for Jocelyn. Outside, the snow was falling lightly to the ground. "So, would you like to go see a movie?" Caden asked, not wanting the day to end so soon.
Jocelyn shrugged and smiled. "I haven't been to a movie in a while."
"Okay, then. A movie it is." Caden was glad that she wasn't in a hurry to go back home, either. Now that he was back, he realized just how much he had missed Jocelyn. It was funny how life changed.