Puppy Wishes & Candy Kisses (Kringle Falls #1)

14. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

A ll five of them climbed into the pickup.

As the snowy scenery passed by outside the window, Candi wondered what Michael was up to. After he’d returned from making his mysterious call, all he’d said was to get ready and that they were taking a ride—all five of them.

When she asked questions, all he’d tell her was that she’d have to wait and see. The fact that he’d insisted they bring the pups had her thinking it might have something to do with them. But there was no way he’d found homes for them so quickly. So, if it wasn’t that, what else could it be?

She didn’t have to wonder for long, because it was a short drive into town. She was disappointed they didn’t have to take the bridge over the river so she could see Kringle Falls again.

Instead, she was treated to an entire town that was decorated for Christmas. The decorations were everywhere. She’d never seen a town that made such an effort to decorate. It must take them a long time to do all of this.

“When do they start decorating?” she asked.

“You mean the town?”

“Yes. It’s very impressive.” She pulled her phone out of her purse so she could take some photos. She wanted to show Bob and Stacy when she got home.

“You don’t know anything about Kringle Falls, do you?”

She felt like she should know more than she did. “No.”

Michael was quiet for a moment, as though deciding where he should start his explanation. “Kringle Falls is a Christmas town.”

“I can see that.”

He shook his head. “That’s not what I’m saying. This town celebrates Christmas year-round.”

Her mouth gaped. “Really? Wow. That’s a lot of Christmas.”

He nodded. “It’s been that way my entire life. In fact, I don’t know when it started. But people travel here from all over to visit. There’s the Santa museum, Elf Playhouse, and so much more. It’s a great town if you’re into that kind of stuff.”

She studied him for a moment. “You make it sound like you aren’t.”

He shrugged. “My wife used to work at the Elf Playhouse. She used to say that Kringles carried Christmas in their hearts year-round, so why not let it show.”

Candi smiled. “Your wife sounds like she was a really positive person.”

“She was...” His voice drifted away, as though he were getting caught up in his memories of her. “Evelyn was quiet. She had a big heart, but she was an introvert.”

She liked that he was comfortable enough around her to speak about them. His voice became animated the more he spoke of Evelyn and Noah. Her heart broke for him that he’d lost them far too soon.

Michael pulled the truck into a parking spot on the side of the road. She glanced around and recognized where they were. This was close to the pet shop. Was that their destination?

Michael took Tank and Odie. She only had to manage Tater Tot as she stepped out of the truck. Thankfully, the sidewalks had been cleared. Still, worried there would be salt on them, she held on to Tater Tot.

She couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer. “What are we doing here?”

Michael sent her an I-know-but-you-don’t smile. However, he came to a stop in front of the pet shop. She opened the door with her free hand and let him pass by her. She then followed him inside.

Merry Kringle came rushing to the front of the store. “I thought I heard someone come in.” She sent them both a warm smile. “And look at those cuties you have with you.” She proceeded to pet each of them.

Michael turned to Candi. “I brought you here because Merry has been gracious enough to help the pups find their forever home.”

“That’s wonderful,” Candi said. It didn’t feel wonderful. She knew this moment was coming, but she’d refused to think about having to say goodbye to these three musketeers.

Her gaze lingered on each of them. How was she supposed to say goodbye to them? She loved each of them.

But in the next breath, she realized she couldn’t keep them. And as much as she loved them, they would find homes filled with love. She just didn’t know this was going to hurt so much.

“Isn’t that right?” Michael’s gaze met hers.

Oops . She had no idea what had been said because her mind had wondered.

Heat rushed to her face. “Sorry. What did you say?”

Michael’s brows arched. “We were talking about how good-natured the dogs are, even if they can get into mischief if left alone for too long.”

“Oh, yes. That’s true. Although, I think Tank is the ringleader when it comes to making trouble.”

Michael looked at Tank, who was sitting on the floor next to him. “Are you the chief troublemaker?”

“Bark. Bark.”

They all let out a laugh. Tank looked proud of his new title.

Candi hugged Tater Tot before placing him on the floor. Merry held out her hand for the leash. This was all happening so quickly.

There was an ache in her heart as she surrendered the leash to the kind woman. When she’d volunteered for this job, she never imagined all they’d go through together or how sweet they were to snuggle with at night. Boy, was she going to miss them.

And then everyone turned to Michael. He immediately handed Merry the leashes for Tank and Odie.

When she knelt down to pet the dogs, Michael said, “I’ll meet you in the pickup.”

She turned her head to see him walk away. She couldn’t believe he’d turned his back so easily on Tank. The husky was pulling on his leash and frantically barking at Michael to come back.

She tried to soothe Tank as she reached out to pet him. “I’m sorry, boy. You’re going to be okay. It’s all going to work out.”

Tank kept fussing. It broke her heart. How could Michael just walk away? She’d witnessed how those two had bonded.

“Tank isn’t going to be happy about the separation.”

“He is Michael’s shadow. He isn’t going to understand what’s going on.”

“Maybe Michael just needs some time. I’m glad he has you to help him step out of the shadows and back into the land of the living.”

“Oh, no.” Candi shook her head. “I’m not his friend. Well, I am, but what I mean is that I’m, uh, leaving soon.” Heat swirled in her chest and rushed up to her cheeks.

Merry sent her a warm smile that eased her discomfort. “No one ever knows the future. After all, you didn’t expect to end up in Kringle Falls, did you?” When Candi shook her head, Merry said, “Maybe you were meant to be here. After all, Christmas is a magical season.” The woman’s blue eyes twinkled as she smiled at her.

Candi couldn’t explain it, but she got the distinct feeling everything was going to work out. But how could that be? So far, her trip had been a disaster. Yet there was a calmness about her and an assured feeling that it was all going to work out.

With the greatest regret, she said one last goodbye to the pups and thanked Merry before making her way to the pickup. Michael had the motor running and warm air blowing out of the vents to take the chill out of the air. However, there was still one thing bothering her. She thought for sure Michael would have kept Tank.

She glanced over at him at the same time that he looked at her. Why wouldn’t he keep Tank? Was he that broken on the inside that he couldn’t let himself care for a puppy?

“Don’t look at me that way.” Michael’s voice was stern.

She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t turn away either. She’d finally figured out that he used his grouchy exterior as a shield—to keep people at a distance. But now she knew the truth. He was nothing more than a marshmallow on the inside—all sweet and soft.

He shook his head as he turned away. “It’s not like you kept any of them either.”

That was true and it dug at her heart. But she wasn’t abandoning them either. She truly believed they’d find their forever homes. But if that didn’t happen, she’d take them back. She didn’t have a plan for where they’d live, but she’d figure something out. They hadn’t come this far together just for her to bail on the pups now.

He glanced at her with a smug look like he’d won the argument, she countered. “There’s a difference. I can’t keep the pups, because my lease doesn’t allow it. But there’s nothing keeping you from giving Tank a home. That dog is utterly devoted to you. He looks at you with such adoration.”

“Stop. Just stop.” Michael focused on his mirrors as he pulled out into traffic.

Part of her wanted to keep pushing him until he turned the truck around and went back to the pet shop to get Tank, but she didn’t. She knew by the tone of his voice that there was a war waging inside of him. The question was what part of him would win?

Instead of heading back to the house, he pulled into a little restaurant called the Kringle Diner. At first, she was confused. Then she remembered that he’d promised to take her to dinner.

The problem was that she didn’t have an appetite after the agonizing scene where she had to say goodbye to the pups. And yet she felt this was important to Michael. From everything she’d learned about him, it seemed he didn’t get out much. Maybe if she and Tank were lucky, this dinner would put another crack in Michael’s crusty exterior.

With that thought in mind, she got out of the truck and joined him on the sidewalk. She walked up to the front of the Kringle Diner. Michael opened the door for her.

She thanked him and then stepped inside. She wished she’d taken more time with her appearance before they’d left the house. But it was too late to worry about that now.

What had he done?

Michael couldn’t stop thinking about the sad look in Tank’s eyes. The memory stabbed at his scarred heart.

As much as he wanted to turn around and go back for Tank, he wouldn’t allow himself. He couldn’t open his heart up. He couldn’t put himself at risk of loving and losing again.

He pushed the troubling thoughts to the back of his mind. The problem was that they wouldn’t stay there. Thoughts of Tank kept crystallizing in the forefront of his mind. He could still hear the dog’s anguished barks.

Maybe some conversation would help distract him. “This is the oldest restaurant in town.”

Candi glanced around. “It’s cute.”

He looked around, trying to see it like she would. The walls were white with red trim. The tables all had red linoleum tabletops. There was a skinny Christmas tree in the corner. Coming here was like having Christmas dinner with a bunch of friends because everyone in Kringle Falls knew each other. It was what happened in a town of twelve hundred give or take a few.

No sooner had they been seated and their menus in hand than he heard a familiar voice. “Michael, what are you doing here?”

He looked up to see his parents headed in his direction. It was too late to duck out of sight. He didn’t want his mother to make a big deal about him being there with Candi.

When they stopped next to the table, he said, “Hey, Mom. Pops.”

His mother beamed as she looked at the two of them. He wished she would stop that. She didn’t have to say a word for him to know she was jumping to all of the wrong conclusions.

“Hi,” his mother said. “I’m Tricia Bishop and this is my husband, John.” She held out her hand.

Candi placed her hand in his mother’s. As they shook, she said, “It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Candi Goodman.”

His mother looked at him. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”

He inwardly groaned. “That’s because I’m not.” When his mother’s gaze darted to Candi and then back at him, as though pointing out the error of his statement, he said, “We’re just friends.”

“I see.”

Michael looked at his father, hoping he would help him. Michael loved his mother, but when she thought someone needed help, she could be meddlesome. It appeared she thought he needed help with his love life when nothing could be further from the truth. He didn’t have a love life—not anymore.

He wondered if this was what Evelyn would have wanted for him—eternal and complete devotion. It wasn’t like they ever talked about things like that. They’d been young. They never thought the end would come so suddenly—so traumatically.

Evelyn used to say that you only got this one life to live, so live it to your fullest. He wondered if she’d feel the same way when it came to him introducing another woman into his life. As Candi and his mother spoke, he couldn’t help but wonder if Candi could be that person.

He didn’t have a chance to come to terms with that startling thought when his mother said, “I expect to see you both for Sunday dinner.”

And then his parents walked away before he could tell her that wasn’t going to happen. She knew he rarely went to Sunday dinner since Evelyn and Noah passed. He always had an excuse. Most of the time, it had something to do with his work. Was it wrong of him to hope the winter storm would stretch out through the weekend?

“Why are you frowning?” Candi’s voice drew him from his thoughts.

“I’m sorry about my mother. We don’t have to go.”

“But I’d like to. You know, meet the rest of your family. How many brothers did you say you had?”

“Three. The oldest is Parker. He’s the town’s sheriff. Then there’s Colin. He’s a veterinarian here in town. And then there’s Justin. He works with me, doing township maintenance.”

“I can’t even imagine what it must have been like growing up with three siblings. It must have been so much fun.”

He wasn’t in a good mood between leaving Tank at the pet store and then his mother insisting they go to dinner that weekend. Taking Candi to his parents’ house would feel like—like he was bringing home his girlfriend to meet his family. And this was not that case. Not even close.

When he noticed Candi was looking at him with an expectant look on her face, he cleared his throat. “The truth is that the good times definitely outweighed any of the bad stuff. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without my brothers and the lessons we learned together. And trust me, there were a lot of them.”

“I bet. I can’t even imagine how your parents kept up with all of you.”

He smiled and nodded. “My father would tell you that we were responsible for every one of the gray hairs on his head.”

Candi laughed. The warm sound eased the band of stress that was wrapped around his chest. By the time the waitress made it to their table, they both ended up ordering club sandwiches with a side of fries and ketchup.

He liked that they had that in common, in addition to loving dogs. He wondered what else they had in common. And so, they kept talking throughout their meal, and they’d even opted to get dessert—a slice of pie. He chose cherry. She picked pumpkin. Okay, so they couldn’t have everything in common. That would be boring.