Chapter 47

When she pulled into the town square, the streets were desolated--probably due to the snow falling heavily now--but the shops were all open. Although she told herself not to, she looked over at the Christmas tree lot. A man was stacking trees, but Jocelyn was relieved to see that Caden's parents weren't there. They would freeze to death out in this weather. No one should be out on a day like this. Thank goodness there was a little one-room white shed with a front porch where the man could to warm up. Secretly, she wondered if he lived there and watched over the tree lot. After all, it was large enough for one person to live in, but not big enough for more than that.
The bell rang loudly as she walked into work. Kiki looked up from arranging jewelry inside one of the front cases and smiled.
"It's about time you got here," Kiki teased. "What took you so long?"
Jocelyn looked at the clock, and it wasn't even eight o'clock yet. "Why are you here so early?" She walked around he counter and shoved her purse in the compartment below the jewelry case.
Kiki shrugged and went back to work. "About seven, I guess. Couldn't sleep."
"Wow." Jocelyn smirked. "Usually, you're never here this early."
"Hey, now." Kiki giggled. "I resemble that remark."
Jocelyn laughed as she went to the back in search of jewelry to fill the cases. She loved working with Kiki. Oftentimes, she wished that it could be just the two of them working the shop. But Roxanne was the owner-.
"So, what's going on with you and Caden?" Kiki asked behind Jocelyn, causing her to jump.
"Kiki, you just scared the tar out of me," Jocelyn remarked, ignoring the question.
She shrugged. "I can't help it if I have that stealth thing going on." She folded her arms across her chest. "You didn't answer my question."
"I know."
Kiki waited. "Well?"
Jocelyn took a few pieces off the shelf and walked back out front, knowing that Kiki would follow. "Kiki, I don't want to talk about it. Okay?"
Kiki sighed. "No. Not okay."
"I need a break."
"But you just got here."
Kiki waited. She was a bulldog when it came to juicy gossip.
"Kiki, there's nothing to tell." Jocelyn slipped a double-heart silver necklace onto a form and set it in the front case. "I told Mallory that I wouldn't stand between them."
"You what?" Kiki asked, her voice raising several octaves.
"Ssshh!" Jocelyn chided, holding a finger to her lips, then let her arms fall to her side in exasperation. "Kiki, he bought her a ring."
"That's beside the point." Kiki opened a jewelry box, revealing a wedding band set. "Besides, he bought it for her before he saw her again- and before he saw you."
"He bought it from me."
"That's beside the point, too." Kiki waved her hand dismissively and then placed the wedding band set into the case. "Besides, you love him."
"Kiki--"
"I'm just saying that if you love him, then you should fight for him." Kiki opened another box and slid it into the case.
Jocelyn sighed. "Not against my sister," Jocelyn replied, arranging the pieces in the case. "We're finally getting along--"
"Since when?"
"Since last night." Jocelyn opened another box, revealing a diamond pendant. "We decorated the Christmas tree together."
Kiki looked up from arranging the other case. "Jocelyn, decorating the Christmas tree together does not a relationship make."
Jocelyn smiled at her word choice. She loved Kiki. She had been her best friend for years. "No, but it's a good start."
"Jocelyn, fight for him."
Jocelyn sighed. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. Let's get back to work."
Luckily, a customer walked through the door, pulling away Kiki's attention. Although she knew that the inquisition wasn't over, Jocelyn was grateful for the reprieve. At that moment, she just wanted to work in peace and mend her heart.
But throughout the day, she couldn't help but think of Caden. Try as she might, she couldn't get him out of her mind. She was glad that Roxanne was off today. Jocelyn couldn't take her bossing her around as well as Kiki's questions. By lunch time, Jocelyn had resolved herself to go on with her life and never to see Caden again, only when she had to.
Then, the door opened. "Special delivery for-." Logan, the local florist, studied the card attached to a huge bouquet of long-
stemmed red roses and baby's breath. "Jocelyn Taylor."
"You have got to be kidding me!" Jocelyn sighed, sliding the door of the case closed a bit harder than she had intended.
Logan's eyes popped open in surprise. "What? You don't like flowers?" He looked over at Kiki and smiled. "Hi, Kiki."
Kiki gave him a friendly smile, but it was clear that she wasn't interested. "Hello, Logan."
Jocelyn walked around the display case and took the flowers. "Of course I like flowers." She took the white vase filled with the bouquet, walked back around the back counter, and set it in the corner. She was tempted to hide them in the break room so she wouldn't be reminded of Caden all day, but they were too pretty to hide. Besides, she would be reminded of him anyway, regardless of where the flowers set.
"Have a nice day." Logan waved and then walked out the door.
Kiki smirked and leaned close to her. "Looks like someone has the hots for you."
Jocelyn quickly pulled away, turning her attention to the other case. "No, it's not like that-."
"Then, what's it like?" Kiki really wouldn't give it a rest.
"We're friends. Okay? But friends don't kiss you- not like that."
Kiki's eyes nearly bulged out of her head. "He kissed you?"
Jocelyn let out an exasperated breath as tears welled up in her eyes. "Why is he doing this?"
Kiki grinned. "Well, it looks like he has more than just friendship on his mind." She shrugged. "Maybe this is his not-so-subtle way of telling you that."
"Nothing can happen between him and me." Jocelyn swiped a finger under her eye.
Kiki placed her hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look into her eyes. "Jocelyn, give it a chance. And don't worry about it so much. Besides, if he was that interested in Mallory, he'd be sending her flowers instead of you."
Jocelyn let out a deep breath. "Kiki, let's get back to work." She turned away without waiting for an answer.
For the rest of the day and into the afternoon, Jocelyn wondered why Caden was pursuing her. After all, he had bought a ring for her sister, hadn't he? Jocelyn immersed herself in her work and didn't talk much, only speaking to Kiki when necessary and to customers, of course.
Jocelyn was relieved when there was a sudden influx of customers, men buying last minute gifts for their wives, and women buying gifts for their husbands and teenage daughters. As she worked, she tried her best to push thoughts of Caden from her mind, but every time she looked around, the roses were staring her in the face, mocking her.
After work, she took the roses and went home. She almost left them at work so Mallory wouldn't see, but she had done nothing wrong. After all, she wasn't the one pursing him and she didn't want to hide something like this from Mallory. Besides, Jocelyn couldn't take another day at work, staring at the roses that reminded her so much of Caden.
When she pulled up in front of the house, Mallory's car wasn't there. Hard telling where she was off to. As Jocelyn picked up the roses, tucked them into her arm, and slammed the car door, she wondered if things would go back to the way they were between Mallory and her. But she figured their truce would be short lived once she saw the roses.
Jocelyn sighed. She didn't want to hide anything from Mallory. But on the other hand, she didn't want to invite trouble, either. Some of the ladies from the church were going Christmas caroling again, and Jocelyn thought that it might be a good distraction.
So, she set the flowers on the counter and hurried up the stairs, dressed into warm clothes, and then hurried back down and was out the door. As she drove to the church, thoughts of Caden assaulted her mind. Why was she so drawn to him? Why did she have to fall in love with him when she was twelve, ruining her for all other men? Why did it have to be him? Tears streamed down her cheeks as she drove to the church, wondering how this would ever work out.