Puppy Wishes & Candy Kisses (Kringle Falls #1)

17. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

H er eyes fluttered open.

Candi glanced around, trying to gain her bearings. The room was dark except for the glow from the television. It took her a moment to realize she was in Michael’s house. And her head was resting on his shoulder.

She immediately sat up straight. How had this happened? And then she noticed there was a blanket draped over them. The other thing she noticed was that Michael was sound asleep. The poor guy. He was so wiped out.

She should wake him so he could sleep in his own bed, but she hated to disturb him. Maybe it was best to just leave him asleep there on the couch.

She carefully got off the couch, trying not to disturb him. And then she tiptoed to her bedroom. She grabbed one of the pillows from her bed and placed it on the end of the couch.

She thought about repositioning him, but she was certain it would wake him, and he looked so peaceful in his sleep. She grabbed the remote and turned off the infomercial trying to sell an automatic doughnut maker. And then she turned off the tree lights, shrouding the living room in darkness.

Michael made a sound, and then he shifted positions. When she crept nearer, she found him stretched out on the couch. Then he resumed his deep breathing.

With a little smile pulling at the corner of her lips, she tiptoed to her bedroom.

Dinner with the family.

Sunday morning, Candi tried to get out of the family affair, but Michael said if he had to go to dinner, she did too. When she persisted with all of the reasons she shouldn’t go, he said he’d call his mother and tell her they weren’t going to be there. Candi didn’t like that idea.

She got the impression from his exchange with his mother the other day that Michael didn’t go to family dinners very often. Something told her that until very recently he had been spending a lot of time alone.

And he proposed they leave early and swing by the pet shop to see the pups. Now he was playing dirty. He knew there was no way she could turn down that offer.

She rushed to get ready, putting on her nicest sweater. It was navy-blue with white snowflakes. Instead of pulling her long hair back into her usual ponytail, she left it down. With a little bit of makeup, she was ready to go.

However, when they stopped at the pet shop, it was closed, and there was no sign of the pups. She was disappointed not to see them. She wondered if Merry had already found each of them a home. She was really hoping Merry would have hung on to Tank for a little longer to give Michael more time to change his mind.

“I’m sorry,” Michael said as they walked back to his pickup. “But this is for the best, right?”

She hesitated. “I suppose. I just miss them.”

Once they were seated in the pickup, he said, “Maybe someday when you move, you can get a dog.”

“I guess, but I’d have to find a job first.” She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. She didn’t want Michael feeling sorry for her.

“You’re out of work?”

“It’s no big deal.” Liar. “After the New Year, I’ll continue substitute teaching until I find a permanent position.” She didn’t want to talk about her problems. “Do your parents live far from here?”

He started the engine. “No. Just a couple of blocks. And you’re changing the subject.”

She wished he’d quit staring at her and instead start driving. “We’re going to be late.”

He didn’t make any effort to put the pickup into gear. “All this time you’ve been doing things for the puppies and doing things for me, and you never said that you needed help.”

“I don’t.” She didn’t want him to look at her with sympathy in his eyes. “I can take care of myself. I’ve got a plan.” When he continued to sit there, staring at her, in that moment she wanted to fade into floorboards and disappear.

“Candi, if there’s anything I can do.”

She shook her head. “I’ve got this.” She hoped her voice sounded more reassuring than she felt. “Really. I do.”

Michael sat there quietly for a moment before he put the truck into gear and headed off down the road.

He wanted to help her.

But how?

Michael didn’t have time to formulate a plan, because he’d just pulled into his parents’ driveway, which was filled with his siblings’ vehicles. It looked like this was going to be a big family affair—exactly what he’d wanted to avoid.

He knew his mother was going to make a bigger deal of his relationship with Candi than it was—than it would ever be. He should warn Candi, but when he turned to her, she’d already alighted from the pickup.

He scrambled to catch up with her. “Candi, I need to warn you that my mother is likely to make a big deal about us being here together.”

“I kind of guessed that when I met her at the diner.”

“If you don’t want to go in, I totally understand.” Maybe it wasn’t too late to turn around and go home. The thought appealed to him. “We can pick up something to eat and head back to my place.”

She stopped and turned to him. Her eyes searched his. “Are you trying to talk me out of having dinner with your family?”

“No.” The answer came out too quick to be believed. He sighed. “It’s just that... I know how they can be, and I, well, I don’t want this to be awkward for you.”

Her brows drew together. “Don’t you mean you?”

“Me, what?”

“You don’t want it to be awkward for you?”

He shrugged. He’d been busted. Bringing Candi home to his family was a bigger deal than he’d let himself believe until now. It was a huge deal, and everyone knew it—most of all him.

Candi stared down at the sidewalk. “If you’re embarrassed of me—”

“What?” He couldn’t believe what she was saying. “Of course not. Nothing could be further from the truth. You’re sweet, thoughtful, kind, and so beautiful.”

Her gaze darted up to meet his as her cheeks took on a rosy hue. And then the corners of her mouth lifted. He hadn’t intended to say all of that, but now he was happy that he had.

The front door opened. “Michael, get in here,” his mother called out. “It’s freezing out there.”

“Guess it’s too late to turn around.” Candi marched up the sidewalk.

He was quick to follow her. He sure hoped she knew what she was getting herself into. His family could be a handful, to say the least.

When they stepped inside his parent’s two-story colonial home, he found his whole family crowded into the foyer. He rolled his eyes as he inwardly groaned. This was going to be an excruciatingly long meal.

Had he really said she was beautiful?

And sweet? And kind?

Candi’s heart fluttered every time she recalled his words. She wanted to hang on to that special moment, but now that she was standing in the foyer of his parents’ home, she was confronted with the whole Bishop family. She swallowed hard.

She affixed a smile to her face as she looked at the people staring curiously at her. Her stomach shivered with nerves. She’d lost her appetite long ago.

Maybe Michael had been right about skipping this meal. But she’d been so anxious to learn more about him. Like who did he get those dark mysterious eyes from? And did all of his brothers have that same warm, rich chuckle when they were joking around?

“Okay, everyone,” his mother said. “Quit standing around, staring. Parker, finish mashing the potatoes. Justin, carry the food to the table. And, Colin, make sure each dish has a serving utensil.”

Without an argument, they disappeared. They were now alone with his parents. Candi didn’t know if that was good or bad.

Once their coats were hung up, his mother gave Candi a quick hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.” And then she turned to Michael. She was quiet for a moment as her loving gaze caressed his face. “You’ve lost some weight. But we can fix that. I made your favorite, roast beef.” And then she enveloped Michael in a warm embrace. This hug went on long enough for Michael to send a pleading look at his father.

His father pressed a reassuring hand to his wife’s shoulder. “If you hug him any longer, the food is going to get cold.”

Michael’s mother released her son, and that was when Candi noticed the sheen of unshed tears in her eyes. “I’m just so happy you’re here.” She looked at Michael, and then she looked at Candi. “I’m glad you’re both here.”

“Hey, Mom,” Michael said. “Should we go eat?”

Candi could sense he was anxious to get this over with. But she didn’t know if it was because he was uncomfortable having her there or if it was guilt because he’d obviously been avoiding his family for far too long. Or perhaps it was a bit of both.

His mother led the way to the dining room where food lined the large table. She turned to them. “First, introductions. Candi, I’d like you to meet my oldest, Parker. He’s Kringle Falls’s sheriff.”

Parker stepped forward and shook her hand. “Hi. You’re the one that had the accident out in Reindeer Pass.”

She wasn’t sure if that was a question or a statement of fact. So, she nodded. “There was a detour. Between the snowstorm and my phone losing its signal, I got lost. Luckily, your brother came along to save us.”

Parker nodded. “That’s right, you have some puppies.”

“They’re not mine. I was transporting them to a shelter in Maine that had volunteered to find them homes before Christmas. Well, they had until my accident.”

Michael cleared his throat. “And now Merry Kringle has them.”

“I’m so grateful to her,” Candi said. “She’s certain she’ll be able to find them their forever homes.”

When Parker stepped back, Tricia said, “And this is Colin. He’s a veterinarian. So, if those puppies need anything, you’ll know where to take them.”

Colin stepped forward and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

“And last is my baby, Justin.” Tricia beamed at her son.

Justin dramatically rolled his eyes. “Mom, how many times do I have to tell you to stop doing that?” There was a distinct rosy hue to his cheeks. “I’m not a baby anymore, if you hadn’t noticed.”

Tricia stepped up to him. “It doesn’t matter how old you get, you will always be my baby.”

Justin rolled his eyes again. And Candi did her best to subdue a smile. She already liked this family.

Justin stepped forward and gave her hand a brief shake. “It’s nice to put a face with the name at last.”

Well, that was a most curious comment. Her gaze moved to Michael, who was looking everywhere but at her. And then her gaze returned to Justin. “I take it you heard about me.”

“Definitely.” A mischievous grin lit up his face. “You’re all Michael has talked about for the past week.”

Really? She wasn’t sure what to make of this revelation. When she looked at Michael, there was the slightest bit of color in his cheeks.

When his gaze rose to meet hers, he said, “It’s not like that.”

She wanted to ask what it was like, but as Justin let out a hearty laugh followed by laughter from his other brothers, their mother ushered everyone to their seats.

It was a formal dining room in hues of cream and deep blue. In the center of the room was a large table. It might actually be the largest table she’d ever sat at. They all easily fit around it. It was like his parents had been expecting to have a large family that would only grow with time, so they bought the largest table available. She supposed there was something to say about positive thinking.

Throughout the meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy with a number of side dishes, the brothers kept good-heartedly teasing each other with stories from their youth. There was laughter, and even Michael loosened up to the point where he was lobbing as many verbal jabs as he received.

She loved seeing this side of him. And it wasn’t like she was a bystander during all of this. They included her in their conversations. Why Michael would avoid these warm and friendly people was beyond her? She wished she had a loving family like the Bishops.