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my daddy. He’s busy with work and can’t come home to tuck me in bed.’ She leaned close and whispered. ‘Mommy doesn’t sing like Daddy. He makes funny voices.’
    ‘I…um…’ Jackson glanced at Candi, chatting with a tall, dark-haired woman. Her eyes held the same sadness as the little girl’s. A broken marriage? What the heck could he say? ‘I’m sure your daddy will visit soon.’
    Clarice scrunched up her face. ‘Daddy had to get another job because he didn’t have enough cars. Now he comes home late. Mommy is sad and cries a lot.’ Tears filled her pretty green eyes. ‘If you bring my daddy some cars, he can come home like he used to.’
    Jackson didn’t quite understand, other than her father obviously worked two jobs and came home late. He didn’t know what to say. Should he lie and break her heart? Or tell her the truth and break her heart? ‘I’ll try my best.’ He forced a smile.
    Clarice hugged him and scurried to join her mother.
    Steve patted Jackson’s back as he rose from the chair. ‘The children loved you.’
    ‘I guess.’ Jackson sighed heavily as the little girl walked toward the door. She turned and wiggled her fingers. He waved back.
    ‘See, I told you the children wouldn’t bite.’ Candi beamed. ‘You were great. But then, I knew you would be.’
    ‘I miss that,’ Jackson said. ‘You always had faith in me, more than anyone.’ He clasped her cheeks and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Candi dropped the red rope in her hand. Steve’seyes almost bulged from their sockets. Jackson winked. ‘I’m a bit tired. Would you mind if I headed out for a while?’
    ‘Um…sure. Santa’s off the clock for the day, anyway.’ Candi’s response came out as a whisper.
    ‘Great.’ Jackson gently squeezed her hand. ‘I had fun working with you, Steve.’ He slapped the reindeer’s back. ‘Same time tomorrow?’
    Jackson slung the Santa sack over his shoulder and started toward the bakery room. He turned to glance at the customers still wandering the shop. They all wore smiles, but their eyes told another story, just like Clarice and her mother. There was a heavy weight sitting on his chest — Jackson knew that Clarice’s family wasn’t the only one suffering the economy’s tight grip.

Chapter Six
    Candi cranked the volume on the CD player and Christmas carols drowned out the worry in her head. She didn’t want to think about Jackson anymore. She’d spent the past few hours pondering nothing but him and the way their short-lived kiss left her trembling. Not to mention the questions from Steve and Virginia.
    Jackson’s mood had suddenly changed after the last child departed the shop. Something happened, and now his whereabouts were unknown. Candi had left the shop and headed for the inn hoping to check on him, only to find he had disappeared.
    When she returned business was slow, and with only an hour before closing she sent Virginia and Steve home. Candi needed to clear her thoughts. Her emotions had been running wild since Jackson’s return. Her willpower to keep her distance had quickly diminished last night. Then today, his tenderness with the children had broken down the wall she’d constructed around her heart.
    Damn, why didn’t she just sign the divorce papers and let Jackson leave? Did she really think she could be around him without rekindling her dreams of their wedding night? He didn’t even remember what happened. Why torture herself?
    With the cookies for the carollers decorated, bagged, and dropped off at the hall where they were gathering, Candi placed the ingredients for the chocolate bark on the counter. She chopped the chocolate into pieces and dropped them into the double boiler, stirring constantly. The filling added, she poured the mixture onto waxed paper to cool.
    Next on her list was a chocolate cake and crimped candy ribbons. Elvis’ version of Santa Claus Is Back In Town crooned from the speakers. Candi sang the chorus and danced around the