10. Dalton
Chapter Ten
DALTON
Charlie walks to the center of the stage. “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Applause rings out as the curtain falls. Thanks to Candy’s directorial skills, the performance went almost without a hitch, apart from one of the reindeer getting his reins stuck on a Christmas tree and a dancing sugar plum refusing to leave the stage.
In the whirl of congratulations and parents looking for their kids backstage, I concentrate on packing away the remote lighting equipment I brought with me. The crowd starts to thin out. Candy’s nowhere to be seen.
After Jax left Twinkle Town, I went searching for him. I owe him an apology for breaking the pact. But even though I stopped by his house, the coffee shop, and the local bar, Friar’s, I couldn’t find him. He has a tendency to go for long walks when he’s upset, so he could be anywhere. I was due at the school, so I stopped looking for him, but what happened earlier weighs heavily on my mind.
At the same time, there’s a calm certainty that being with Candy is my future. Despite all the complications. Despite the pact I made with her brother. When something’s so right, you know. And every time her beautiful face comes into my head, my heart jumps.
“Dalton? You back there?” My sister peers over the back of a speaker stack.
“I’m here.”
“Is Charlie with you? I can’t find him anywhere.” Heidi’s voice wavers.
Throwing the wires into a bag, I stand up. “No, he’s not here.”
She runs her hand over the back of her neck. “The last time I saw him was on stage. I was waiting for him to come find me, since I thought he’d have so many people congratulating him. But he didn’t show up. His teacher hasn’t seen him either, she’s gone to check the classrooms for me, although they’re meant to be locked.”
I shake my head. “This is my fault. I should have mentioned it to you.”
“Mentioned what?”
“He said something about kids being mean to him. He wanted to handle it himself. I wonder if this is connected.”
She sighs. “I wish you’d said something. He puts on a brave front, but he’s still only a little boy.”
“Let me look outside. You check the bathrooms. There aren’t many other places he could be.”
She nods. “I’m starting to get anxious. Where is he?”
I pat her shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll find him.”
My gut clenches. I’ve got this all so wrong. First, I’ve fucked it up with my best friend. And now my nephew’s missing, and maybe I could have prevented it.
The auditorium is empty, apart from Candy. She’s stacking chairs as I walk over to her. Her scent washes over me, and it’s like coming home when she smiles.
“Charlie’s missing.” My voice is gruff.
She puts down the chair she’s holding. “I saw him on stage earlier…he’s not back there?”
“No. My sister is checking the bathrooms, Mrs. Hargreaves is looking in the hallways and classrooms. I’m going to look outside.”
She puts her hand in mine. “I’m coming with you.”
We walk out into the cold air. Thick snow is falling and I put my arm around her as we check around the parking lot. Back in front of the school, Candy grabs my arm.
“I have an idea. Do you think he went to your place?”
I stare at her. “Maybe. He has a set of keys. Come on!”
I keep my arm around her as we walk, her curvy body nestled against mine. The hallway and living room are dark when I open the front door, but there’s a light coming from the basement.
Running downstairs, I find Charlie standing in the middle of his train set. He looks up.
“Are you mad at me, Uncle Dalton?”
I shake my head. “No. Come here, bud. We were just worried. Want to tell us what happened?”
Charlie’s words come out in a rush. “They’ve been telling me they would get me after the performance, unless I let one of the other boys have my solo. But I knew it was my solo and I’d practiced so hard. I couldn’t step down. I’ve been worrying about it for a long time. So I did it, but then I ran here afterward. To your house. It’s safe here. I didn’t want to give them enough time to find me, and I knew they wouldn’t look for me here. I guess I should have told Mom?”
I give him a hug. “It’s okay. I should have told your Mom when you said the kids were being mean a few days ago.”
He sniffs and looks at Candy. “It was a good performance, wasn’t it Candy?”
She smiles. “It was the best. You’re a star. I’m sorry you’re having trouble with those bullies. They’re jealous, and jealous people are the worst.”
He nods.
“I’m going to call your mom, and then we’re all going to have some cocoa, okay?” I squeeze his shoulder.
“Sounds great. Can I have those red and green marshmallows again?”
I laugh. “You sure can.”
“Candy, let me show you my train set. It’s actually based on Snowflake Falls.” He takes her hand and leads her over to the corner.
I leave them giggling as he shows her how to make the mountains light up different colors, walking upstairs to call my sister. Relief floods through me. He’s safe, and now we can make sure that those bullies are dealt with.
But I can’t relax completely. I need to find Jax and make things right. Because I’m going to marry his sister and become part of the family.
Whether he can accept it, or not.