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Chapter 8

Author: Theresa Oliver
last update Last Updated: 2022-06-15 14:02:45

As he backed out the drive and onto the street, he guessed that the old saying was true that you couldn't go back home again. When he was younger, he was infatuated with her glamor and her flirtations. But now, she no longer had the same effect on him. He was no longer a boy and could see past beauty. And so far, he didn't like what he saw.

Caden pushed on the gas, backed out of the driveway, and headed back toward town, wanting to see the sights before heading over to his parents' house. He was lucky that his parents were still alive and well. On one hand, it would be nice to live near them again, to help them out. But on the other hand, he wondered if he wanted to live in a town again that's main form of capitalism was Christmas. But now that he was here, he knew he could easily get used to it again.

He drove back through the winter wonderland of ice and snow that covered everything, as if ordered specifically for the town, enjoying the festive feel. Somehow, Christmases away just didn't compare. And whether he stayed or not, he was glad he'd be spending the holidays here in Christmas Cove.

Soon, he pulled back into the town square, enjoying the Danish and Swiss architecture that added to the town's appeal. The Christmas tree lot was set up in the town square under a wooden overhang in the center of town. He pulled to a stop and turned off the engine. His father was busy with a customer, so he waited in the car until he finished, not wanting to distract him from his customer. There were a few other men working the tree lot, too. Business must have been booming.

His family owned the local tree lot and it had become their primary source of income. His father had hoped that Caden would take over the family business one day, but was equally thrilled when Caden had decided to join the Navy. His father, Noah, was an ex-Navy man, too, and was thrilled when he had told him that he was going to serve. But what he was most proud of was that Caden had decided to serve his country- no matter which branch of the service he chose.

He looked over and his mother, Emma, was sitting in a lawn chair, watching. There were other customers, but she was sitting. So unlike his mother. He wondered if something was wrong. Most of the other men were helping customers and one was carrying a tree to a lady's car.

Caden decided to chance his father losing a sale and got out of the car. As soon as he closed the door, his mother's eyes brightened and she slowly rose to her feet. Guilt rushed through him when he noticed how frail she looked, mentally kicking himself for not having visited sooner. She held onto the back of the chair as tears came to her eyes.

"Stay there, Mom. I'm coming to you." Caden rushed across the tree lot and scooped his mother into his arms, letting her sob onto his chest. "Mom, it's okay. I'm here." Tears came to his own eyes, too. How could he have waited so long to come back?

His father walked over and rubbed her back. Tears were in his eyes, too, when he looked up at Caden. "Emma, come on back and sit down." Then he looked up at his son in warning. "I'm sure Caden's going to be staying for a while. At least through Christmas."

"Yes, Mom. I'm going to be here for Christmas." Then he scooped his mother into his arms with ease and carried her back to her chair.

"Ooohh. You didn't have to do that." She patted his arm as her eyes shone with pride. "But I'm so glad that you'll be here for the holidays. We'll have a good ol' fashioned Christmas."

His father pulled up two folding lawn chairs. "Here. Sit down and stay a while." Caden did as his father asked and sat down on one of the chairs and his father sat down on the other. "Your mother's been fussing over everything since you told me you were coming. So, what brings you home?"

"Now, Noah. Leave him be." His mother patted his father's hand. "Let's just enjoy him while he's here."

Caden smiled. "No, that's okay." He paused for a moment, wondering if he should tell them, not wanting them to get their hopes up. With his mother in this condition, he knew he wouldn't leave, but it was still something he had to think about. "I'm staying through New Year's."

"When do you have to be back?" Noah asked.

Caleb gave him a small smile. "Not until after the first of the year. So, I guess you're stuck with me for a while. But if you don't have the room, I could just--"

"Nonsense!" Emma cut him off. "You'll insult me if you stay somewhere else."

Over her shoulder, his father gave him a stern warning look, but Caden pretended not to notice.

Caden smiled as he reached over and gave his mother's hand a gentle squeeze. "I love you, Mom."

A broad smile spread across her face. "I love you, too, son." She thought for a moment and then added, "I'm glad you decided to come."

Caden smiled. "Did you doubt that I would?"

His mother tilted her head to the side. "Let's just say that I know you're a busy man."

Guilt filled his chest at her words. He guessed that it had been too long since they had seen each other. "Well, I'm here now. And Mom, I don't want you making a big fuss this year." In the past, his mother had gone all out for Christmas dinner and decorations, too.

Emma chuckled. "You know me well, don't you?" She sighed. "But I'm afraid I won't be able to make a big fuss this year."

Caden suddenly had a brilliant idea. "Hey! Why don't you let me do the cooking this year?"

Noah laughed. "You can cook now?"

"I have to eat somehow." Caden chuckled. "If I didn't learn how to cook, it'd get pretty expensive eating out all the time."

Emma patted his hand. "That it would."

Caden nodded to the man who had just put a tree into the back of a van. "So, how many people do you have working for you now?"

"Four," Emma replied. "Your father and I just aren't what we used to be."

The man was wearing a flannel shirt and had short blonde hair and beard. He seemed a bit older than the typical teenager that would have been working there.

Noah nodded toward the man. "That's Dan Reed. He started helping us this year." He shrugged. "He's a veteran. Navy, too."

"His wife left him high and dry." Emma leaned in conspiratorially. "It's a shame, if you ask me. Dan's a good man."

"Now, Emma, that's none of our business," Noah interjected. "He's a good worker. Been taking over more responsibility lately. He manages the place for us when I take Mom home." His father nodded toward the little white shack on the lot, fixed up to look like a cabin, complete with a front porch. "See that shed there?"

A crease formed between Caden's eyes. "Isn't that the one that was in our backyard at the house?"

His father nodded. "I had it brought up here and Dan helped me fix it up. He lives there and watches the place for us at night."

Emma reached over and gave Caden's arm a gentle squeeze. "If you don't mind, I think I'm ready to go home now."

"Sure thing, Mom." Caden rose to his feet. "But just to let you know, I have a date tonight."

Her eyebrows rose almost into her hairline. "On your first night back?"

Caden chuckled. "I'm afraid so."

"Figures." Noah rose to his feet, preoccupied as he scanned the lot.

A customer pulled in and parked. "Dad, I'll get this one. Why don't you take Mom home and I'll take care of everything here?"

"No need. You're here to visit, not to work." Noah hurried quicker than Caden would have thought possible over to the customer. Dan watched him in surprise, along with two other workers.

"What's up with Dad?" Caden offered his mother his arm.

Emma sighed. "Oh, don't mind him. He's just a bit tired is all. He gets grumpy when he gets tired."

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