by Scott, Lisa
“She’s using the bathroom in my trailer out back. She’s not very fun, that one. I offered her Good and Plenties, and she stormed off.”
Hans frowned. “She’s worried about our parents. And I think she’s mad I’m not helping her look.” It was hard to tell what Greta was thinking sometimes. Although, many past girlfriends had accused him of being clueless.
“She should be thrilled. You’re pulling in some nice cash. I quadrupled yesterday’s sales thanks to you and all…that.” She waved her hand toward his torso.
“I was pretty useless out there, just standing around. But if you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“Oh, I am. And you should be, too.” She grabbed a few bills and stepped out from behind the counter. “That’s two hundred dollars for a few hours work, you hot, yummy thing. I’m never letting you go.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
He tried to unlatch her, but just then Greta entered the room. Hans was pretty sure he heard her growl. He stepped back, peeling Candy’s hands off him. “That’s wonderful. Will that pay for a hotel around here?”
Candy laughed. “A scummy motel back on the highway, not anything here on the ocean. Listen, it doesn’t make any sense for you to spend time driving back and forth from a hotel and wasting your money. You can stay here with me for free. I’ve got a second bedroom in my trailer. Just another perk of the job.”
“We should get a hotel,” Greta said.
“We’ll be fine here, Greta,” Hans said.
“She’s staying, too?” Candy asked.
“No, I really think we need a motel.” Greta sounded desperate.
“We need to watch our money. If we don’t find our parents on Neverland Island, we’ll have to hit some of the other carnivals and amusement parks. That could get expensive,” Hans said. “Let’s try it for tonight.”
“I’d settle for the scummy motel,” Greta said.
“We’re already here and I’m beat. Just for tonight?” Hans asked.
Greta sat on the couch and patted the throw pillow. “I suppose this will be fine.” She squinted at the pillow. It was shaped like of a pair of buttocks. “I can’t sleep on this.”
“I know,” Candy said. “Real ones are so much better.”
“Take the bedroom, Greta,” Hans said, stifling a laugh. “You can have the bed and I’ll sack out on the floor.” Just so long as he was near her, he’d be happy.
***
The next morning, Greta changed into a sundress and wandered around the carnival while Hans stayed behind handing out samples. Topless—and enjoying it. That was the part that annoyed her the most, him enjoying all those gawking women. And to think she’d been planning to tell him she loved him? He was a playboy with a heart of gold. Her friend. Her buddy. Her pal.
That made her all the more determined to find their parents and get out of there. She’d already shown a picture of her mother to all of the food vendors but none claimed to have seen her. Her mother had long, red hair. She was hard to miss. If she and Hans’ father weren’t here, then where were they?
She took a break and ate an ice cream cone while watching the fire jugglers in Side Show Row. She felt sorry for herself, until she saw a woman who was advertised as the princess with world’s longest hair. She sat on a throne all dressed up, her eyes downcast, her shoulders sagging.
Do I look that sad? she wondered. It was time for some positive self-talk. I am strong and independent. I can handle this. If I don’t find my mother, I will be able to take care of myself. And I will find someone else to fall in love with. Right. Someone else who knew exactly what the pain of her brother and father’s deaths felt like. Someone else who slept in her living room on a lumpy couch for months after their deaths so Greta and her mom would feel safe. Finding someone like Hans would be impossible.
After wandering up and down the rows of vendors one more time, she stopped at the candy shop to see if Hans would go with her to the water-skiing show. He wasn’t outside, so she slipped into the store. Women were browsing around, laughing and examining the goods. “Hans?”
Laughter echoed from the behind the shop. Curious, she walked out back and spotted Hans and Candy chatting in front of her RV. Candy was wearing a very low-cut pink satin mini-dress with high heels. Her black hair was curled, and she was done up in full makeup. It was like she was a piece of candy come to life. And Hans looked like he was ready to gobble her up.
Hans didn’t even notice Greta standing there. Is that what he wanted? Someone like Candy? Was that the problem? Greta didn’t wear makeup, and she’d never owned a pair of high heels. These days, she wore her hair in one of two styles: straight down or up in a ponytail. For fancy occasions, she washed it twice.
Candy whispered something to Hans, and he laughed that deep throaty laugh of his. Greta faked a cough and the two of them looked over. Candy frowned, while Hans kept his big grin in place. “Any luck?” he asked.
“No. Since you’re done working, I thought maybe you’d like to see the water-skiing show with me. I guess they dress up like mermaids or something. It’s supposed to be good, and you said you wanted to have some fun while you’re here.”
“Oh, we’re having fun, aren’t we, Hans?” Candy said, tipping up on one foot and kicking the other one behind her.
He shrugged. “It’s been interesting, that’s for sure.”
“Actually, I’ve got a big delivery coming in any minute, and Hans is going to help me unload it, aren’t you?” Candy asked.
“Sure, if you need help with that.”
“I do,” Candy said with a pout.
Hans turned up his hands. “Whatever you need.”
Greta blinked at him. “Fine. I’ll go to the show myself. I’ll be back after dinner.” There was a hot dog stand she wanted to try anyway. She tromped back through the store and grabbed a very inappropriate piece of gum so she could chew out her frustration.
The water-skiing show was great, and she went on ride after ride, then strolled along the beach at sunset. She could understand why her mother loved this place as a child, but it wasn’t any fun when you were all alone. She tried to imagine what it would feel like to walk around with Hans, hand in hand, laughing and whispering the way he’d been doing with Candy.
She stopped and stared out over the water. If Hans had been interested in Greta, he would’ve done something about it by now, wouldn’t he? And he’d never had any qualms about dating other women. He’d even flirted with Candy in front of her. There was a very good reason she wasn’t getting any signals from him. There were none to pick up.
Maybe she should go home, or move on to another carnival. Hans could stay here with Candy, and if their parents showed up, he could call her.
She headed back for the candy shop with plans to leave the next day. Cutting through a few back alleys, she passed the fortuneteller’s tent. Marlene was outside, leaving for the night.
“Hello there,” Marlene said, tying the tent flap shut. “Any luck finding your mother?”
“No. And Hans is having a grand time with Candy. So, I’m going to be leaving tomorrow.”
“Have you told Hans how you feel?” Marlene asked.
“It won’t matter. He’s having fun being a boy toy. I have to face it, I’m not his type. If he wanted me, he would’ve said something by now.”
“Give the man a chance to consider being with you.” Marlene squeezed her hand.
Greta groaned. “But if he doesn’t feel the same way, our friendship is ruined.” She looked up at the sky. “I wish you really were a fortuneteller. Then you could tell me if this was a good idea or not.”
“It is a good idea. And I don’t have to be a fortuneteller to see that. Letting out your true feelings is always the smart thing to do.” Marlene smiled. “You have a good night. And good luck.”
***
The white lights draped across the candy shop’s roof twinkled in the dusk. The “Open” sign was off, and she hoped Hans hadn’t already turned in for the nigh
t. Walking into the tent, she was greeted with soft music and the smell of flowery candles.
“We’re closed,” Candy said from the couch where she was feeding Hans chocolates out of a box. A bottle of wine sat at their feet. Candy glanced over and frowned. “Oh. You’re back.”
“Candy’s letting me sample some of her new treats,” Hans said, smiling. “They’re awesome.”
“I’ll bet.” Greta yawned and stretched, so he couldn’t see the sadness on her face. “So, are we going to find a hotel tonight?”
“I’m beat,” Hans said. “I just want to crash here again.”
Candy snuggled closer to him on the couch.
Greta stifled a scream. “Fine. I’m going to bed.”
***
Hans thought bed sounded like a good idea, too. Standing in the hot sun, smiling and flirting all day took an unexpected toll on a man. He stood up from the couch, but Candy pulled him back down. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To bed.”
“Is that an invitation?” Candy cooed.
He blinked at her. Oh Lord, he was thick as lard. Candy hadn’t just been putting on an act these past few days as part of her naughty candy peddler persona. She wanted him.
He ran his hand through his hair. “Um, no. That was not an invitation. I’m going to clean up and then catch some Z’s on the floor in Greta’s room. Listen, Candy, you’re real…uh, sweet. But I don’t have those kind of feelings for you.” No, he didn’t want to run his hands through her hair. It wouldn’t be long enough to twine around his finger a few times like Greta’s, anyway. He shook his head like he could make that image go away. He shouldn’t be having such lewd thoughts about her. But being here at the candy shop, eating those naughty treats, and having women fawn over him made him long for the simple sweetness of Greta even more. It was like having an entire decadent chocolate cake shoved down your throat when you really just wanted to savor a perfect, simple piece of chocolate.
He stood. “So, yeah. It wouldn’t work between us.”
The smile didn’t leave Candy’s face. “You didn’t know you’d like chocolate-covered jalapeno-penises until you tried them, but now you can’t get enough.”
“In my defense, I didn’t realize they were intended to be…” He clamped his mouth shut.
She stood and ran a hand up his chest. “I’m just saying, don’t write me off until you’ve taken a taste of this candy.” She wiggled her shoulders.
He took a few steps back. “I’m real tired. I’d like to take some time off from work tomorrow and walk around with Greta.”
Candy sauntered toward him. She made him think of a lion. He backed up until he banged against the wall. “I guess whether or not I’ll let you go will depend on how busy we get.”
She means the store, right? “I think I’ll hit the hay here on the couch,” he said. “I’m beat.”
“I’m not giving up on you,” Candy said, backing out of the room, never taking her eyes off him.
***
The next morning, Greta was up before he was. He caught her trying to sneak out of the shop. “Where are you going so early?” he asked.
She wouldn’t look at him. “I have some things to do.”
“Want me to come with you? It’s like I’ve been held prisoner here passing out candy. I want to see some of the carnival. And help you look for our folks.”
“Later. I’ll be back for you later. Get some sleep while you can.” Greta slipped out the door.
He sat on the couch and rubbed his hands across his eyes.
Candy appeared at the back of the shop in a see-through negligee. She really should buy a pair of those edible undies and cover up, he thought.
“Did I hear voices?” she asked.
“That was Greta. She’s heading out early.”
Candy walked over, giving him an up-close view of her barely covered goods. “Thought more about my offer?”
Hans sat up. “You’re wasting your time, Candy. You’re not my type.”
“And who is?”
He looked at the door Greta had just left through.
Candy laughed. “Her? Farm fresh? You’re kidding me, right?”
If Candy were a guy, he would’ve punched her. Instead, Hans said nothing and went to the trailer to take a shower. A cold shower.
***
After an early morning shopping trip in New Royalton, Greta returned to Neverland and found a store that sold makeup. She was overwhelmed by the sheer number of tubes and bottles. It reminded her of a wizard’s shop that peddled potions and concoctions. Hopefully, it would bring her a little magic and help Hans see her differently.
She grabbed a basket and wandered around the store, clueless as to what she should buy.
“Do you need help?” asked a salesgirl.
“Just a little. I’ve never worn makeup and I don’t know where to start,” Greta admitted.
The salesgirl sucked in a breath. “You’ve never worn makeup?”
Greta shook her head, and the salesgirl sunk onto a stool by the counter. “So why start now?”
“I want a new start. I picked out these new clothes, and I suppose I should do something with my hair, too. I need to look different.”
The saleswoman nodded. “It’s a guy, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. He’s working down at the candy shop, and I can’t compete against the owner.”
“Oh, she’s a witch. You do need help. She’ll eat that man whole. Let me see what I can do. I’m Ashley. Let’s get to work.”
An hour later, Greta was almost unrecognizable. Ashley had done her makeup and set her hair in hot rollers, leaving Greta with unimaginable curls. Her green eyes looked huge with coats of mascara and her lips glowed a lovely pink.
“You look amazing. You have to buy the makeup and rollers so you can look like this everyday,” Ashley said.
Greta hugged Ashley and thanked her, and left with her bag of goodies. This was it. Now that she had newfound confidence, this was the moment to tell Hans how she felt…before she lost her nerve.
When she returned to the shop, Hans was outside, shirtless again, holding the door for a customer. Greta took a deep breath and walked up to him. “Hi,” she said, trying to lower the pitch of her voice.
Hans scrunched his eyebrows. Then he looked closer. “Greta?” He looked her up and down. And then he laughed. He laughed! “What is all this? Are you joining a show here or something?”
Her throat tightened and she blinked back tears. “No, I…I…” She didn’t know what to say. Despite her best efforts to become what he wanted, he still wasn’t interested. What a stupid woman she was. Hans Piper would never be interested in her. Either because she would always be Felix’s little sister, or because she wasn’t someone like Candy, it was clear she wasn’t what he wanted.
She ran up the alley to the midway, looking for a restroom where she could wash the junk from her face. It itched, and she didn’t like it.
As she removed the makeup, tears trickled down her cheeks. This was it, then. She hadn’t found their parents, and she’d managed to lose Hans. There were three days left before Golden Egg foods wanted their contracts signed. There was a carnival upstate she should check out, but most likely, she’d be going home alone with no plans for the future.
She rushed to the candy shop to get her things. Hans wasn’t outside. She pushed open the front door and saw him standing in front of the couch with his back to her. Candy faced him, talking softly with one eyebrow arched.
Hans didn’t seem to like what Candy said. “No. I’m done here, Candy. I came here to work and to find my parents, not to fool around with someone like you. I’m in love with Greta, and if I ever get the courage, I’m going to tell her. You’re not going to ruin things for me.”
Greta froze, trying to process what he’d just said. He loved her? He meant like a friend—like a sister, right? Then again, maybe not. Why else would he need the courage to tell her? Was she dreaming?
His ann
ouncement had no effect on Candy. “Just take a taste before you make up your mind.” She stepped forward and looped her arms around him, planting her lips on his.
Anger surged through Greta. She ran across the room and rammed her shoulder into Candy, pushing her off Hans onto the couch.
“What the hell?” Candy said, flat on her back with her legs in the air.
“You can’t have him,” Greta said.
“And why not?” Candy asked, not bothering to tug her skirt back into place.
The words swirled in her head before they made their way out of her mouth. Was she really going to say this? It’s now or never. “Because I want him.”
Hans blinked at her. “You do?”
The hopeful, disbelieving look on his face slammed her in the heart. “Hasn’t it been obvious for years?” she asked softly.
He scratched his head. “I guess I was too busy trying to distract myself from my feelings for you. It just didn’t seem right.”
She looked into his kind blue eyes. “It is right. It’s so very right and I don’t want to waste another minute arguing about this.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and moved to kiss him, their lips almost touching.
“I’ve been dreaming of this for so long.” His hands snaked around her waist and he kissed her, slowly and gently, then he nibbled on her lips like she was a piece of chocolate he’d plucked from one of the jars. He broke away from their embrace and took her face in his hands. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow,” she said.
He trailed his big fingers along her jaw. “But it’s time to go. We need to find our folks.”
He dashed to the trailer and gathered their things.
Candy chased after him. “You can’t go. Business is booming because of you.”
Hans pulled a shirt over his head and grabbed Greta’s hand. “We’re leaving and there’s nothing you can do to keep me here.”
“Hans, we’re a good team!” Candy cried, but he ignored her and hurried down the alley with Greta.
She thought her heart might explode.
When they reached the midway and the candy shop was out of site, Greta stopped. “Was that all real? Everything you said?”
He picked her up by her waist and kissed her. Still dangling in the air, he asked her, “Did that feel real?”