11. Candy
Chapter Eleven
CANDY
Jax is staring darkly at me over the table.
The smell of Grandma’s spectacular Christmas Eve lasagna doesn’t raise a smile. Even Rudy demonstrating his new trick, sitting when Grandma orders him to, gets no response.
“Jax, why are you sitting there with a face like a dropped pie?” Mom’s had a couple of glasses of wine. The store is finally closed and she’s in party mode. I’ve put on a cute red dress and some lipstick, wrapped presents and baked a strudel. I should be feeling relaxed and festive.
Except my brother hates me. And he’s making it obvious. He crosses his arms in front of his chest and stares over my head like I don’t exist.
Mom rolls her eyes. “Juni, why did you set four extra places? Have you been drinking my wine?”
Rudy barks as the doorbell sounds. Grandma holds up her hand. “Lasagna’s out of the oven, I’m getting the door. Y’all stay where you are.”
Grandma returns, beaming. She’s arm in arm with a silver-haired man with a bristly mustache. Jax sits up straight, looking around at Juniper and me, mouthing, ‘The vet?’ Then he remembers he hates me and crosses his arms and slouches again.
“Dr…Abbott?” Dad steps forward with his hand outstretched.
“Mr. Cane. Thank you for the invite.” He hands Dad a bottle of wine.
“Please, call me Chris. And we’re always delighted to have guests…” He’s interrupted by the doorbell.
Juniper stands. “You sit down, Grandma, Dr. Abbott. I’ll get it.”
Rudy starts to bark and looks at Dr. Abbott. He wags his finger at the dog, and Rudy sits, then slinks out of the room.
“That bad boy is going to learn new tricks, isn’t that right Eileen?”
Grandma winks. “Which bad boy are we talking about, Leonard?”
Mom and I exchange bewildered glances as Dr. Abbott pulls out a chair at the table for Grandma, before taking a seat of his own. Juniper comes back into the room. Jax sits back up, his knees jolting against the underside of the table. All the silverware rattles.
“Thank you so much for inviting us,” Heidi smiles, as Charlie waves at me. Dalton towers over them in the background.
Jax starts to stand up. “What the–”
Grandma puts a firm hand on his shoulder. “Sit.”
He eases back into his seat, glaring at Dalton.
“I love lasagna!” Charlie sits opposite Jax, while Dalton takes the chair next to me. He squeezes my leg under the table, and warmth floods through my body.
“Does everyone have a glass of something? Charlie, we have some soda for you…” Grandma pours drinks and then holds up her glass.
She looks around the table, her eyes twinkling. “So, I have a confession to make. Dr. Abbott here is my boyfriend.”
Jax’s eyebrows shoot up. “Grandma!”
“I apologize for keeping secrets. But we weren’t sure if either of us were serious until the fall. I didn’t know if I could ever love anyone after your Grandpa died. I spent ten years grieving him. And Christmas– well, it’s as good a time as any to introduce you to Leonard properly. I’m of the mind that any relationship that makes me as happy as this wonderful man does will be gladly accepted by my loving family.”
“Of course,” Mom’s voice is full of emotion.
“Now, Juniper’s told me someone else has been keeping secrets. Candy, honey, do you have something to tell us?”
Dalton puts his arm around the back of my chair.
“Yes. Dalton and I are together. It’s early days, but it seems like a lot of you already know. And Jax, I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. It all happened quickly. Like the last few days quickly.”
Dalton leans forward. “I’m sorry, man. I know I broke the pact. I tried to find you yesterday to apologize.”
Jax shrugs. “I don’t like being lied to. But I guess I’m going to have to get used to it. Just treat her right. She’s been through a lot.”
“I will.” Dalton’s tone is sincere.
“Jaxon Cane, you can do better than that.” Grandma crosses her arms. “Any fool can see how in love the two of them are. Once you find your own happy ever after, you won’t begrudge your sister’s happiness.”
“Okay, okay. I accept them, Grandma. It might be nice having Dalton here to back me up sometimes. But I have one condition.”
“Name it,” Dalton says.
“Come back for a trial shift at the firehouse. The Chief keeps bugging me to bug you about it. And you’re avoiding it, but we all know how good you are. There’s a place for you there, even if it takes time to get back in the groove.”
Dalton rumbles out a laugh. “You’ve picked your moment. I can’t say no.”
Charlie grins. “You were so brave saving me, Uncle Dalton! Now, you have to be even braver and face your fears. Like I have to face the bullies once I go back to school.”
“We can both be brave. I like the sound of that.”
Jax has finally cracked a smile. Everyone clinks their glasses together and the room falls silent.
From the kitchen, there’s a crash and a rhythmic chomping sound.
“No! My lasagna!” Grandma squeals.
Jax runs into the kitchen, and Rudy dashes out, his head covered in melted cheese and specks of meat.
Dad rolls his eyes.
“Anybody want pizza?”