The Winter of Candy Canes (A Sweet Seasons Novel) Read Free Page A

vaguely when she had become an “adult.” She was only seventeen, and that didn't qualify her as an adult anywhere else in the world.
    “Rule number two. Remember to keep smiling. It's what we do here at The Zone. It also helps diffuse tense situations and gets people to relax. Grumpy elves lead to cranky children and impatient parents. No one wants that.”
    Kurt flashed a giant smile as an example, and Candace noted that most people instantly smiled back.
    “Rule number three. You're also representing Santa. Don't make him look bad. Christmas time at The Zone should make happy memories for the children who come here.”
    Heads were bobbing all around the room. Candace wasn't the only one who had come to see Santa at the theme park when she was younger.
    “Rule number four. No one gets candy canes until after they've seen Santa. This means they sugar up on their way out, and Santa doesn't get candy stuck in his beard and blame us for providing poor elf service.”
    Candace thought of Becca and wondered if there'd ever been any incidents with her friend and the candy canes.
    Becca's sugar-hyped exploits in the park seemed to be legion in number and epic in scale.
    “And the most important rule in The Zone is … ?” Kurt asked, cupping his hand behind his ear.
    “Let players play,” Candace chorused with everyone else.
    “Excellent. Good luck to you all. I'll debrief the survivors on the other side.”
    “Thank you, Kurt,” Janet said as he moved to sit on the floor next to Candace.
    “You were great,” Candace gushed, “although now I'm terrified.”
    “Then I did my job,” he said.
    Elves began to scatter to different costumers as the fittings began. Candace stood slowly, savoring the moments alone with Kurt. “That story about the referee who got trampled — is that true?” she asked, suspiciously.
    He grinned. “I have no idea. They told me that story last year, and it scared the daylights out of me.”
    “Just another urban legend you're promoting?” she teased.
    “You know me.”
    She smiled, but there was something else on her mind. “I've got a question for you.”
    “What?”
    “I was just wondering, if you don't have any plans, would you like to come have Thanksgiving with my family?”
    He hesitated.
    “It's not like there'll be a spotlight on you or anything,” Candace hastened to say. “There are always loads of people. I think Mom's expecting thirty this year.”
    He nodded slowly. “Yeah, okay. Thanks.”
    “So, you'll be there?” she asked.
    “I'm working until one that day.”
    “Dinner's at two.”
    “Then I'll be there,” he said.
    “Great!” she said, a little more enthusiastically than she had meant to. While she was excited at the idea of spending Thanksgiving with him, her parents had really pushed for it. Still, with so many people around, it wasn't like they could put Kurt in the hot seat.
    “Candy!” Janet called.
    Ready to be transformed into an elf, she ran over to Janet.
    Fortunately, when she tried it on, her costume seemed to fit just right. Candace turned in front of the mirror. She was wearing a glitter-covered green dress that ended a couple inches above her knees along with red tights and green pointed-toe shoes. It was by far the best uniform she'd had while working at The Zone.
    “Will I be wearing a hat?” she asked Janet.
    The woman shook her head. “Boys wear hats; girls wear these,” she said, handing Candace a wreath of glittery green holly.
    “Cool.”
    “It should look really nice with your red hair. You're all set for Christmas,” Janet said.
    “Thanks.”
    “And in case the temperature drops too low, we have these green velvet coats lined with white fake fur,” Janet said, showing her one.
    “At least I'll look festive,” she said, turning once more in front of the mirror.
    “There you are!”
    Candace turned and saw Martha, one of the supervisors, bustling toward her.
    “Hey, Martha!” Candace said, giving the older woman a