Page 3 of Candy Cane Dreams
Yeah, they seemed sincere, and maybe things were different here in a small town versus where she grew up in the city, but in Kate's experience, people really didn't want to be imposed upon like that.
So she rebuffed Nelly's efforts to get her to change her mind, firmly saying that she would spend more time hunting for a place to stay.
"Then at least stay with us until you find a place. It would be cheaper than a hotel."
"That's very nice of you. If I don't find a place by the new year, maybe I'll take you up on it."
Nelly looked disappointed, but she nodded.
The new year was a month away; surely she would find a place by then.
"If I can't get you to stay, at least come for supper tonight," Nelly said, smiling and giving her an appealing look.
She had already said no to the offer of lodging; she could hardly turn down supper. Although, there was still that part of her that didn't want to impose.
"You're not going to be putting anyone out. There's always plenty of food. No one's going to cook anything different if you come. There's just... friendly faces and hearty food." Roland didn't seem like he was begging her, but he was simply laying out the facts. Did he really not mind people descending on his house?
"You talked me into it," she said, still unable to believe that it wouldn't be an imposition. At the very least, they would have more dishes to do.
"Awesome. We'll see you tonight at six. Does that work?" Nelly said, her eyes shining like Kate had just given her a hundred-dollar bill, rather than an agreement to eat supper with her. Maybe Kate was looking at it all wrong.
She tucked that thought away for later. It was possible that she was mistaken, although she had been raised to give other people a wide berth and respect their privacy and family. Again she thought that maybe it was the difference between growing up in the city and growing up in a small town.
After a little bit more small talk, they parted ways, with Kate going back to her car and heading toward the school.
As she passed by the candy cane shop one more time, she glanced in the window and saw a little girl staring silently at the man, who appeared to be talking.
Other shops were open on the street now, and the town had, if not come to life, at least started to wake up.
Maybe that little girl would be at school in a bit, and perhaps Kate would meet her, along with all the other children.
It was going to be a big difference from the school that she had been at, a much smaller student population. Less than a quarter of what it had been at the inner city school where she had worked.
In one way, she was looking forward to possibly knowing the name of every child, which Principal Stevens had assured her every teacher and administrator knew.
Kate somehow found that exciting and unbelievable at the same time.
Regardless, a little thrill of excitement went through her, for the change if nothing else, as she got in her car and headed toward the school.
Chapter Two
Jack Henderson glanced at the timer and then picked up one of the strings of hard candy that he had set to cool in the pan on the counter.
"Did you finish getting all of your homework together?" he asked his daughter, a rhetorical question since he knew she would not answer him, as he picked up the candy and began rolling it between his hands.
What had been strange and foreign ten years prior now came as easily as brushing his teeth or driving his tractor.
Without thinking about it, his hands expertly shaped the cooling candy into a perfect candy cane shape.
He looked over his shoulder, lifting a brow at his daughter, Lilly.
She was waiting for his glance, and she nodded one time, her head going up and down seriously, her eyes grave and serious.
"And everything else is ready to go?" he asked, waiting for her nod before he turned back to the candy.
She hadn't spoken a word since her mother had died three years prior. At this point, Jack had despaired of ever hearing her speak again.
They'd developed a rhythm, an easy camaraderie, and while it was a little bit harder than it might have been had she been able to speak, they'd gotten along fine.
