When class dismissed a few minutes before three on Friday afternoon, Candy leapt up from her seat and shoved her journal of notes into her backpack. If she hurried, she would catch the early bus and make it to the house before Daks got home.
“Candice, can I speak to you?” Professor Bryant caught her before she could get away.
Rolling her eyes, then removing her disdain from her features before she turned to face him, the young woman managed a pleasant tone. “Sure, what can I do for your?”
Watching as the majority of the class made a hasty exit, he held up a page covered in red marks. “I have some bad news,” he said quietly, “but I’m willing to work with you on this if you can give it a redo this weekend.”
Accepting her work and staring at the notations, she sighed. “I’ve really been trying, Dr. Bryant.”
“I know you have, and you’ve made a great deal of progress,” he nodded as he spoke, free to use a normal tone as they had been left alone in the lecture hall. “Candice, you get an A for effort. That’s why I’m giving you a second chance on this one. Give it a rework and drop it by my office on Monday; I’ll consider it when I’m grading the final exam.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied through pursed lips. “But, if I choose not to, how will it affect my grade in the class?”
“You’ll probably end up with a D,” he replied, tossing his pack over his shoulder and sidling towards the door. “You can do this, Candy. I have confidence in you; I can’t wait to see your revisions.”
“Ok,” she sniffed, tucking the page in her own bag and zipping it up as he walked away at full stride. Damn it, she thought to herself as she pumped her short legs in quick steps, only to see the bus pull away from the stop well before she could get there.
It would be an hour before the next one came around, so she turned towards the library instead, and spent the next thirty minutes working on the paper. She would have to study for her finals that weekend, so getting this new task out of the way before she went home was probably a good idea, even if she hated not being there when Daks arrived at the house.
Shortly before five, Candy finally made it, trudging through short drifts of snow that had accumulated during the day. She had been thankful it had been light, and not a repeat of the blizzard that had delayed her wedding last year; there might be a white Christmas ahead, but at least it would be a tame one.
Stomping her feet a few times on the back porch, she entered the kitchen and paused to enjoy the aroma of simmering stew. “Wow, that smells nice,” she mumbled, lifting the lid and giving the giant pot a stir.
She could hear her son babbling in the other room, and made her way to the door while removing her coat and scarf. Seated on the floor in the center of the giant rug, he pretended to drive his truck and put out an invisible fire. Beside him, Caroline positioned the police car and made siren noises before giggling contentedly.
“Here, Caro’,” Dakota instructed, pointing out the desired location.
Moving the toy to obey his command, the blonde continued to smile, and the story unfolded for a few more minutes before Daks noticed his mother hovering over them. “Mom,” he squealed, leaping to his feet to give her a hug. “Caro’ fires truck,” he beamed.
“I see,” Candy laughed, happy he had enjoyed his afternoon. “Where’s mom?” she inquired, turning her attention to the blonde as she got to her feet.
“She went to lie down about three,” Caroline informed her. “I’m afraid she might be coming down with something. I put on the stew, hoping something warm and filling might help.” Her crystal blue orbs twinkled with concern.
Seeing her distress, Candy grew tense. Pushing the urge to rush into her mother’s bedroom aside, she purposely slowed her movements as she placed her coat and other winter protection on her hooks at the back door. Then, stepping quietly, she entered her mother’s space, noting the darkness of the room. Switching on a small lamp next to the bed, she felt her mother’s cheek; burning up. “Mom,” she pushed at her gently, giving her a small shake. “Mom, I think you have a fever. Did you take anything for it?”
“No,” Lanelle replied, stirring slightly, but not making any real effort to get out of the bed. “I’m so tired.”
“Let me get you something to drink and a few tablets. I think you’re getting a cold, and you know how dangerous that can be,” Candy stated firmly. Back in the kitchen, she located her mother’s preferred cold remedy and punched a few of the gel tabs out of the foil pack.
“Is she ill?” Caroline inquired while giving the meal a stir and adjusting the burner a small amount.
“I think she’s coming down with something, yes. She’s susceptible to pneumonia, so we need to keep it under control; otherwise, we’ll be at the ER by Sunday,” Candy replied. Filling a glass with water, and a second with orange juice, she took them both and the medication in to her mother. “Here you go,” she said cheerily, placing everything on the nightstand and helping her mother to sit up in her bed.
While she tended to the older woman, Gary arrived home and made his boisterous entrance. Candy smiled at Dakota’s excited calls, then said softly, “Do you want to join us for dinner, mom? Or should I bring a tray and sit in here with you?”
“I’ll come out there,” Lanelle agreed, having taken the pills and finished off the glass of water. “Bring the juice, would you?” she asked as she got to her feet. Pulling the handmade blanket off the foot of the bed, she dragged it behind her as she crossed the threshold and took her favorite seat next to her door.
Setting the glass on the table before her, Candy dropped the blanket lovingly across her mother’s shoulders. “I’ll get you a bowl,” she whispered, noting that Caroline had taken care of Daks and Gary had gone to wash up.
A few minutes later, everyone had been served, and spoons clinked as they enjoyed the delicious meal. “Well, I have to rewrite a paper this weekend; and I need to study for those finals next week,” Candy announced between bites.
“I’m taking the weekend off,” Gerald replied. “I’m sick of work,” he tacked on with a chuckle.
“You two can rest up and study; I’ll take care of the meals and keep an eye on Dakota,” Caroline informed them with a full grin.
Candice nodded her approval; the other woman had obviously settled into her new role easily, and even appeared to be enjoying herself, which was a good thing. Tom had been unable to make room in his schedule for their meeting as they had planned, so at the rate they were going, the young blonde might be hiding at their house for months before they could get things worked out and she would be free to return to her old life.
“I’ll study tomorrow,” Candy smiled, giving her mother’s shoulder a pat. “Tonight, let’s take it easy together. Ring the Christmas bells and enjoy each other’s company for a few hours.”
Lifting his glass in a mock toast, Gary agreed, “I’ll put some music on when we’ve finished eating, and then we can decide if we want to light the fire.”
“Oh, I would love a fire!” Caroline squealed, then flushed. “Sorry, I’m probably overstepping my bounds as the help.”
“Nonsense,” Gary chided, giving his wife a wink. “Candy loves the fire, and it looks like Lanelle could use it this evening,” he observed, eyeing his mother-in-law’s pale features. “We’ll make a full evening of it, and stop thinking less of yourself; you’re becoming a part of this family, Caroline.”
Candy would have argued, but there would have been little point. Besides, the four days the other woman had been there, things had gotten a little easier on her with each one. If they didn’t get rid of her soon, she would be completely spoiled and would probably be sad to see her go in the end.