by Liwen Y. Ho
Candy washed some remaining soap bubbles off her hands then grabbed the dish towel hanging from the oven handle. Shaking her head in chagrin, she took a seat at one of the barstools.
Before she could open her mouth, Mrs. Connelly asked, “Is this about the boy who made dinner for you the other night?”
“The boy? Mom, I’m thirty-four. I don’t date boys anymore. And Chef Pierre is most definitely not a boy. He’s got to be in his forties.”
“You know what I mean.” She chuckled as she handed Candy a clean dish. “How did the date go?”
“It was … okay. Not exactly what I’d imagined,” she admitted reluctantly as she dried the dish and placed it into a cupboard. “I hate to admit it, but I was bored out of my mind. Other than our love of food, we don’t have much else in common.”
“Well, at least you found out quickly. No point in dating someone you don’t enjoy being around.”
“Exactly.”
“So, who is on your mind then? It wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain Spark boy, would it?”
Candy scoffed. Her mother had recently discovered her hairdresser was none other than Colin’s sister-in-law, Bria. Candy had a feeling her mom’s recent trips to the salon included more talk about matchmaking than hair styling tips. “What have you and Bria been talking about now?”
Mrs. Connelly rinsed a glass cup under the tap water then held it up to inspect before passing it along to Candy. “She filled me in on your wedding party dinner. How things got a little tense between you and Colin. What happened? I thought you were helping him with his store?”
She flipped the towel around and stuck a dry corner into the glass, turning it around to dry up all the wet spots. “I was, but I told him we couldn’t hang out anymore.”
“Why would you do that? He’s such a sweet boy. I always thought he was the sweetest Spark.”
“He is a sweet boy, emphasis on boy,” she remarked with an eye roll. “But he wanted more from the relationship than I did. So, we don’t hang out anymore.” Don’t was probably a word she should use loosely, considering she had stayed on the phone with him for almost an hour on Sunday. It had been so easy to talk to him, she hadn’t wanted to stop. He’d been sweet enough to keep her company as she drove home from Chef Pierre’s. If only he weren’t so young.
“I see. But you enjoy his company.” She stated her words more as a fact than a question.
Candy’s brows rose as she felt her mom’s eyes on her. She chose to turn toward the cabinet and put the glass away rather than meet her gaze. Her mom was the one person she couldn’t squirm her way around. “I do. But he’s still figuring things out in life. You know Colin, always playing around. It’d be a miracle if he ever decided to take things seriously.”
“Candace, you’re being awfully harsh on the boy, especially when he’s not here to defend himself.”
She turned around and leaned her back against the counter. She crossed her arms over her black turtleneck, the dish towel sticking out from under one elbow. “I’m not telling you anything I didn’t already tell him. He knows how I feel.”
A line formed between her mom’s brows. She turned off the faucet and dried her hands on her apron, facing Candy squarely. “And what did he say in response?”
She rolled her eyes as she picked at a piece of lint on her burgundy pencil skirt. “The usual things a guy tells a girl when he wants to win her over. That he cares for me and he thinks I should give him a chance.”
Mrs. Connelly nodded, seeming to agree with Colin. “And you said?”
“That he deserves someone who feels the same way about him. Someone who is not me.” She took the next plate her mom offered and began drying it. “I do want to settle down, Mom. But I need a man I can count on, someone like Dad who will be there for the family when times get hard.” She punctuated her sentence with a sigh. Her mom’s knowing look confirmed she understood what Candy was hinting at. Their own family had hit rock bottom more than once following her sister’s diagnosis. But through it all, her dad had been dependable, always working hard to make sure they could pay for Mandy’s treatments and whatever other bills they had. That’s the kind of man Candy wanted in her life.
“What makes you think Colin isn’t that person?”
“Mom, he can’t even keep his apartment clean. His business is also failing, just like his previous ones did. There’s nothing reliable about Colin except that he’s notoriously unreliable.”
“But you do like him.” Mrs. Connelly gave her a pointed look. “I can tell. You don’t get this worked up about something unless it matters to you. You have that fiery look in your eyes.”
She moved her hands to her hips, straightening her posture. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It’s okay that you find Colin attractive. He reminds me a lot of your father when I first met him. Tall, dark, and handsome. Always a smile on his face.”
An image of Colin’s smile flashed through Candy’s mind, and warmth flooded her chest. He did have such an adorable face with his long lashes, the little dimple in his chin, and the light scruff along his jawline. She wasn’t kidding when she said she liked men with facial hair. She shook her head free from her thoughts, embarrassed to be thinking about Colin like this, especially in front of her mom. She was supposed to be making an argument for why they weren’t compatible, not thinking about how much she loved listening to his rich voice and enjoyed seeing him laugh.
Why couldn’t God have either made Colin less attractive or, better yet, more responsible like her father? “But Dad had a career and was living on his own when you guys met,” she touted. “Colin has neither of those.”
“That’s true, but your father also had a mountain of student loans and credit card debt. And he wore the same plaid shirt, with a hole in one armpit, day in and day out.”
Candy quirked a brow. “You never mentioned that.”
Mrs. Connelly shrugged. “It wasn’t important. Your dad may not have been the total package when I met him, but his heart more than made up for it. And he changed over the years, became more responsible and expanded his wardrobe. So don’t be so quick to judge, Candy, or too stubborn to give a boy a chance. Life is too fragile to demand perfection.”
She bristled, not liking how well her mom could pinpoint her faults. Was it so wrong to be decisive and sure about what she wanted? That’s how she had gotten so far along in her dream career. But, she admitted, her high expectations made it hard for any man to live up to her standards. That explained why she’d never had a relationship longer than a handful of dates and why she was still single.
What did it mean though to give Colin a chance? Could she overlook his shortcomings and pretend they didn’t exist? Or should she accept them—and him—as is? Sure, he could change, but how long would it take and at what cost? These were questions she wished she had answers to, especially since she had already agreed to go on Colin’s beach trip this weekend. She sure hoped she didn’t end up regretting her decision.
Chapter Nine
Colin
Colin adjusted the navy tie around his neck, loosening it a bit so he didn’t feel like he was choking. He swallowed slowly, still feeling the silk noose squeezing his Adam’s apple. Or maybe it was just the drab walls and fluorescent lighting of this accounting office that made it impossible to breathe freely. Whatever the case, he needed to change his perspective. Shaking the tension from his shoulders, he reminded himself to focus on the goal.
After his phone call with Candy on Sunday, Colin had made another call to Aiden for advice. With his older brother’s blessing and financial backing, Colin decided to cut back on the hours for the ice-cream store through the rest of winter. He also promised to explore other options for the business, whether it meant changing up his menu or closing up shop permanently. He had a month to figure everything out.
His first step was to return to an old job he took from time to time when he needed extra money. It was only his seco
nd day back though, and he was already wondering if he’d made the right decision. Being a tax preparer was the farthest thing from anything he found enjoyable, even if he did have a good eye for numbers. It was easy, mindless work, although a bit mind-numbing. But if crunching numbers helped to pay the bills and give him some credibility in Candy’s eyes, so be it. A little discomfort and hard work could pay off big in the long run. He would suffer through this, suffer being the optimal word.
Rubbing the scruff along his jaw, he perused through the 1040 tax form on his computer monitor, double-checking the figures he’d just inputted for a client. All the numbers added up for this married couple who were filing jointly. Two six-figure salaries. A hefty mortgage. Two child credits. Several donations made to charitable organizations. This picture-perfect profile reflected many families living in the Silicon Valley that he’d come across in this line of work. Unfortunately, he wasn’t part of that fifty percent.
Colin couldn’t help sighing in frustration. It wasn’t that he wanted a high-paying job per se, and especially not the ridiculous mortgage, but he did hope to one day have a family. A wife and however many children God would bless them with. At this point in his life, however, he was struggling to provide for himself, let alone anyone else.
Candy was right. He wasn’t cut out to be a family man—yet. He couldn’t support a family on love or laughter, no matter how much he had of both those things to give. He needed a steady income. But could he find something he loved to do that would make enough money? Surely if his brothers had, he could as well.
A couple of verses he’d read that morning from Proverbs came to mind. One about trusting in God and submitting to Him in every area so that God would make your paths straight. The image of a well-paved road, one free from twists and turns, sounded great right about now. He really needed to give this part of his life over to the Lord and trust Him to open the right doors for him. He was tired of walking around in circles. All his rash decisions in the past had gotten him nowhere. He felt like one of the Israelites who had wandered in the desert for forty years after God brought them out of Egypt. He only hoped it wouldn’t take him as long as them to reach the promised land that God had for him.
He shifted in his hard plastic chair and raised his arms over his head, feeling the effects of sitting still for four hours. Rolling his head to either side, he stretched his neck muscles until he heard some joints pop. He used to joke with his brothers that working around sugar all day was hazardous to his health, but now he was certain a desk job would do him in. Both the sedentary lifestyle and the boredom were aging him fast.
He looked around the office at the other tax preparers who were dressed in business attire of neutral colors, their expressions as drab as the white walls. It was almost a comical sight, except there was nothing funny about the situation. The one pop of color in the whole place was the bright orange tie an elderly gentleman across the room wore. Colin grinned when the man caught his eye and walked over.
“Hey, I’m so glad you decided to join us again this year, Colin,” his boss, Frank, greeted him, his bald head glistening under the lights. With a pair of round glasses and a long, white beard, he resembled a wise wizard. He gave Colin a pat on the shoulder, along with a kind smile. “We could really use an extra brain and pair of hands. I’m sorry things didn’t work out with the dog walking service you’ve got going on.”
“Actually, it’s an ice-cream shop, Frank. The dog service was something I did a few years back.”
Frank chuckled. “Oh, I see. It’s hard to keep up with your ventures. It could also be this noggin of mine. It’s not what it used to be. The missus complained this morning that I left my dentures in her coffee mug. It’s a wonder she puts up with my antics after all these years.”
A mental image popped into Colin’s mind, causing him to laugh. Frank and his wife were a wonderful couple from church whom he had known since he was in diapers, apparently. Aside from the fact that Frank owned his own tax services company, he was one of the funniest and down-to-earth men Colin knew. His wife, Donna, on the other hand, always walked the straight and narrow and kept Frank in line. If this couple could be happily married for forty-plus years, he saw hope for himself and Candy.
“You guys make a great pair. If you don’t mind me asking, Frank,” Colin began, “did you know from the get-go that Donna was the right woman for you?”
Frank’s crystal blue eyes widened. “Of course! One look at her from across the church banquet hall was all it took to win this heart of mine. She still makes my heart go pitter-patter. The pacemaker might help some, too,” he joked with a wink.
“How about Donna? Was it love at first sight for her, too?”
Frank’s brows shot up. “No sirree. She took her time to realize I was the one for her. I still tease her about it to this day. She missed out on lovin’ this bit of God’s creation for four whole years. Completely her loss.”
“She sure didn’t know what she was missing.” Colin ribbed, thinking how familiar Frank and Donna’s story was to his own. Except Candy had already had ten years to come to her senses. And she still didn’t want him. “What is it with men who fall for women who don’t seem to appreciate us for who we are?”
Frank gave him a knowing look. “You’re referring to Candy, aren’t you?”
Colin’s jaw dropped. For someone who couldn’t locate his dentures, Frank was well aware of things going on around him. “H-how did you know?”
“Donna brought it to my attention several years ago. She’s got a keen eye, my wife does. Nothing gets past her. She sees the way you look at Candy. Reminded her of how I used to stare from across the room at her when she was still dodging my advances.” He rubbed his chin as he thought, seeming to get lost in his memories for a moment. When his eyes refocused on Colin, he smiled. “I loved the thrill of the chase. That’s one of the best parts of a relationship.”
Colin laughed drolly. “Looking back, sure. At this point though, I just want to know if it’s even possible to catch Candy. She keeps giving me mixed signals. She’s hot one minute, cold the next, and impossibly adorable all the time.” His stomach clenched as he thought about their times together. “Just when she’s ready to jump in with both feet, something holds her back. I don’t get it. What could be so hard about accepting love from someone who is crazy about you?”
Frank nodded, his expression sympathetic. “You need to be straight with her, Colin. Tell her why you love her. Have you ever told her why?”
Colin paused. Actually, he had never come out and told Candy exactly how he felt. “I haven’t, no. But she knows how great she is. Do I really need to spell it out? It’s pretty obvious why any guy would fall for her.”
“It’s obvious to you because you see her through your lenses.” Frank tapped the edge of his thick glasses and remarked, “I’m not talking about these things, mind you. It’s the rose-colored ones that make you see all the best in her, the things about herself that she doesn’t recognize as being lovely. Tell her how you see her.”
Colin blinked quickly as Frank’s words sank in. Maybe his old friend was a wizard after all because he felt like a spell had been cast on him. His advice was getting his heart and mind racing. Yes, this was the solution he’d been looking for. He would tell Candy just why he loved her.
How appropriate that Valentine’s Day was a week from today. With the beach trip in two days, he’d hatch a plan to take Candy aside from the rest of the group and pour out his heart to her. Perhaps it would be just in time to make her his Valentine.
Chapter Ten
Candy
Candy knew the moment she arrived at Colin’s apartment that things looked a little fishy. The whole place was spotless, not a patch of dust to be found or a single sock left lying on the carpet. She walked past Colin into the living room, turning around to take in the odd sight. Could it be that she’d stepped into an episode of The Twilight Zone? Or maybe she was in Wonderland because she spotted Colin grinning at he
r like a Cheshire cat. Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “What’s going on here? Am I in the right apartment?”
He scoffed good-naturedly. “Yes, you are. I tidied up a bit the other day. Are you impressed?”
She couldn’t help smiling when their eyes met. Colin was so cute with the way he puffed out his chest with pride. Plus, he looked amazing in a pair of black track pants and a navy compression top that fit his torso like a second skin. She could see every bulge of his pectoral muscles and the flat plane of his abs. The sight was even more impressive than the clean apartment. How an ice-cream store owner stayed so fit was beyond her.
As much as she wanted to stare though, she forced her gaze away. The voice of reason in her head reminded her not to get caught up in superficial things. Colin wasn’t the man for her. Sure, he’d cleaned his apartment, but how long would it stay this way? This attempt at adulthood was nice, but she doubted it would last. She bit back the sarcastic remark on the tip of her tongue and tried to sound positive. It was his birthday, after all. “I am impressed. Happy birthday, by the way.”
“Thanks.” He beamed. “It’s been a great one so far, and even better now that you’re here. Have a seat. Darren’s changing, and we’re still waiting for Danica to show up. Everyone else said they’d meet us in Carmel.”
She sat down on the couch, noticing the new throw pillows there. Specifically, ones made from a fabric printed with gumdrops, jelly beans, and other colorful candies. She raised a brow as she ran her hand over the polyester poplin. “Nice pillows,” she remarked drolly, knowing full well why he’d chosen them. “I thought ice-cream cones were more your style.”