Chapter Twenty-One
T he silent treatment.
At least that was the way it felt to Candi.
Michael had stayed in the workshop all evening. He hadn’t even stopped to have dinner with her. So, they hadn’t talked when she got back from her trip into town. She didn’t know whether to be angry or hurt or maybe a little of both. She spent the evening working on her special project.
The next morning, she slept in—sort of. She’d had a hard time going to sleep the night before. She’d tossed and turned until very late, when she finally fell into a restless sleep.
And to make matters worse, she’d gotten up this morning to find Michael and Tank gone. Michael had at least left her a note on the kitchen island:
Went to drop Tank off. Might check in at work. Be back later.
M
Her heart broke for both Tank and Michael. His resistance to open his heart solidified her decision. She walked to her room and grabbed the present she had for him. Would he like it? She hoped so. She placed the wrapped package on the kitchen island.
The van had been so kindly dropped off after they’d learned she didn’t have a ride to pick it up. It was so sweet of them. Without any excuses to linger, she knew it was time to go home.
She was sad to leave Kringle Falls. But her things were packed and in the van. And yet she was hesitating—perhaps hoping Michael would come home before she left—which was totally ridiculous. It wasn’t like he was going to talk her into staying. If he couldn’t commit to a dog, he couldn’t commit to a relationship. She was just wasting daylight hours.
Still, he’d saved her from freezing in a wrecked vehicle. He’d given her and the dogs a place to stay. She couldn’t leave without thanking him.
So, she reached for the pad of paper that Michael had written his brief note on. She ripped off the sheet he’d written on and then started her own note. When she finished, she placed it atop of the present she’d left for him.
Then it was time to go. Inside the van, she paused. She looked at the snowman that had melted just a little but was still standing tall. She thought of retrieving her scarf, but she didn’t want to leave the snowman naked. It was a small sacrifice.
Her gaze moved to the workshop. She thought of all the ornaments just waiting to be painted. She told herself it wasn’t her responsibility. Michael had painted them before her; he would paint them after her.
The truth of the matter was that she didn’t want to leave. There was something special about Kringle Falls. She was drawn to this place—and Michael. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. She blinked them away.
It was more than just Michael she would miss. There was Merry Kringle. It was her new acquaintances Belle, Holly, and Felicity, whom she was certain would become friends if they had more time. It was the Bishop family, who made her feel as though she were a part of them. They all filled an empty spot in her heart that she hadn’t known existed until now.
With tears blurring her vision, she blinked repeatedly, and then she backed out of the driveway.
She paused on the quiet road and stared at the house. “Goodbye, Michael. I hope you’re able to find happiness again.”
And then she drove away.
He couldn’t do it.
Michael sat in his office, checking his email, which was just an excuse not to go home. Because Candi was there, and he owed her an apology. He didn’t know if she would forgive him for blocking her out for the past almost twenty-four hours. He wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t.
Tank put his big paw on Michael’s work boot, as though reminding him he was still there. Not that Michael could ever forget the furbaby who’d snuck into his heart.
When he’d left the house that morning, he’d been intent on taking Tank back to Purr ’n Woof. He’d driven by the store twice but had kept going. Another time, he’d slowed down in front of the store, but Tank had been napping and looked so cute, so he’d kept going.
For his last attempt, he’d actually pulled over into a parking spot. He’d sat there for a good fifteen minutes, thinking of all the reasons he should take Tank into the shop and leave him there. Michael was used to living alone. Tank would shed all over the furniture. But most of all, Michael wasn’t ready to open his heart up. He wasn’t ready for the risk of losing someone else he loved.
But what finally made his decision was the fact that love wasn’t something you planned for. Love wasn’t something you could just choose to have in your life when it was convenient. Love came in its own time and in its own way—even when it was inconvenient or unwanted.
You can fight it, but in the end, love wins every time.
And the truth was that he loved Tank. How could he not? The dog was adorable and irresistible.
When he was finally able to admit this to himself, he breathed easier. As he’d driven away with Tank, he knew it wasn’t his decision about keeping the dog that had him freaking out.
It was coming to terms with his feelings for Candi. For so long, he’d been able to lie to himself about his growing feelings for her, but he couldn’t do that any longer. She was leaving soon, and he had to decide what to do before then.
“What are you doing here?”
Michael was startled from his thoughts. He hadn’t heard the footsteps. He looked up from his computer monitor to find Justin standing in the doorway.
Michael cleared his throat. “I, uh, have work to do.”
“This is your vacation week. You do remember that you’re not supposed to work on your vacation, right?”
“That isn’t always the case when you’re the boss.”
Justin nodded toward Tank. “And I suppose he’s assisting you.” Justin approached the dog and fussed over him. Tank rolled over and let his brother pet his belly.
“So much for him being a guard dog,” Michael said teasingly. “He lets anyone pet him.”
“Hey. I’m not just anyone. I’m your favorite brother.”
Michael arched a brow. “Favorite, huh? I don’t remember ever saying that. Do Parker and Colin know this?”
“They’ve always known it.” Justin sent him a big grin. “So, what are you really doing here? Shouldn’t you be with Candi?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Justin arched a brow. “Are you trying to tell me that you aren’t crazy about her?” When Michael shrugged, Justin continued. “Everyone can see it when you look at her or when you talk about her. They’re even taking bets about whether you’ll do something about it or let her slip through your fingers.”
“Are you serious?” When Justin nodded, he asked, “And how did you bet?”
“Oh, I can’t tell you.”
“Yes, you can. Or I can tell Mom how you broke her favorite vase when you threw the baseball in the house and let the cat take the blame.”
“You wouldn’t?” When Michael arched a brow, Justin said, “That’s not fair. I was only fourteen at the time.”
Michael shrugged. “There’s no statute of limitation. So, out with it. How did you bet?”
Justin sighed. “I said you’d blow it with her. Sometimes you’re so stubborn that you can’t see a good thing, even if it walked up and slapped you in the face.”
Michael wanted to argue with his brother, but perhaps there was a note of truth in his words. Instead, he sat there quietly, wondering if he was going to regret it when Candi left. He already knew the answer.
“Listen, big brother, I know how much you’ve been through. It was the worst, but I just can’t see Evelyn wanting you to punish yourself the rest of your life. It’s time for you to live again.”
Justin didn’t wait for a response. He turned and walked away as quietly as he’d arrived. Michael was left alone with his thoughts. His mind told him that letting himself care for Candi was just asking for more heartache. It was safer to leave things the way they were.
His heart told him to race to Candi and tell her that he was sorry for acting like a fool. He should plead for forgiveness and then tell her that he loved her.
Whoa! Wait. Did he love her? He pondered it for a moment.
He did. He loved Candi.
He’d been so busy fighting his feelings for her that he hadn’t even noticed when it had happened. He thought of Evelyn. She had been a good woman. His brother was right. She wouldn’t have wanted him to be alone the rest of his life. And something told him that if Candi and Evelyn had met under totally different circumstances, they would have been fast friends.
He knew then and there what he needed to do. He got to his feet. “Tank, let’s go home.”
“Bark. Bark.”
A few minutes later, they arrived at the house. Michael was nervous. What if she didn’t forgive him? What if she didn’t feel the same way?
His empty stomach knotted up. He didn’t let it stop him. When he got to the side door and found it locked, he was surprised. Usually it was left unlocked during the daytime.
Using his key, he unlocked the door and stepped inside. He was greeted by silence. He wasn’t used to it because as long as Candi had been staying with him, there was either Christmas music playing or the sounds of a holiday movie.
“Candi?” He looked in the kitchen. She wasn’t there. “Candi, are you here?” He moved to the living room before looking in her room, but he didn’t see any sign of her. When Tank pressed his wet nose to his hand, Michael petted his head. “It’s okay, boy. I’m sure she’s just out in the workshop painting some ornaments. Let’s go find her.”
As though he understood what Michael had told him, Tank led the way to the back door. But on the way through the kitchen, Michael noticed the wrapped gift on the island.
When he saw his name on a folded piece of paper, the knot in his gut tightened. He hesitated before picking it up. Something told him he wasn’t going to like what it said.
Tank barked at him as though to tell him to hurry up and open it.
Michael’s chest tightened as he unfolded the paper and began to read:
Michael,
Thank you for riding to the rescue when we wrecked. You saved our lives, and I will always be grateful. And then you opened your home to us, when you could have just dropped us off in town and drove away. You are such a good man. And I am going to miss you. But it’s time that we each get on with our lives. I know how much you love your work. Kringle Falls is lucky to have you. I’ll never forget you or our Christmas adventure.
Love,
Candi
P.S. I’ve left a gift for you. I hope you like it.
His vision grew blurry, and he swiped at his eyes. He was too late. She was gone.
With a heavy heart, he picked up the wrapped package and removed the wrapping paper. Inside, he found another little note and a pillow. It wasn’t just any pillow; it had his son’s name embroidered on it. It took him a moment, but then he realized this was part of the pillow the dogs had destroyed their first night at his house.
Candi had cut away the damaged parts and turned it into a small square pillow with ribbon and lace around the edge. It was just the right size to put on display on a bookshelf far from Tank’s reach.
He stared at it for a moment, touched that she’d gone through so much trouble. She could have easily thrown the ripped material away, but she hadn’t.
And then he looked at the note. It read:
We’re sorry!
We love you,
Odie, Tater Tot, and Tank
P.S. I’m sorry too. Hope this helps. C.
He looked at the pillow again. How did he let someone so thoughtful, kind, and loving slip through his fingers? He was such a fool.
He reached for his phone and dialed her number. It went directly to voicemail.
He wanted to go after her, but he didn’t have a clue what time she had left or what direction she had gone in.
The cracks in his heart widened. The pain stole the breath from his lungs. He’d done everything he could to protect himself from getting hurt, and in the end, he had ended up hurting himself.