Read The Summer of Cotton Candy for Free Online Page A

tree.
    “Now you just lie down and get some rest. I’ll be back to check on you.”
    Candace lay down and shut her eyes. She tried not to think about what had happened, but instead thought about meeting Tamara for dinner at Rigatoni’s. She was supposed to get off at nine and meet Tamara at their favorite Italian restaurant at nine fifteen. She knew it would be cutting it close, but Rigatoni’s was only a couple of blocks from the park. The park was going to be open until eleven, and she was glad she wasn’t stuck there that late. Then again, she was injured, so maybe that meant she could go early. Within minutes she was asleep.

     
    “Dear, are you okay?” It was the nurse’s voice, and Candace could feel her shaking her shoulder.
    Candace sat up groggily. “What time is it?” she asked.
    “It’s almost eleven. The park’s about to close. Do you feel well enough to get home by yourself, or do you need me to have someone take you home?”
    Candace sat straight up. “Eleven? Tamara!”
    She thanked the concerned-looking nurse before stumbling out of bed. She headed for the Locker Room, where she had stowed her purse and cell phone. Once she had them, she flipped open her cell and saw that she had six missed calls, all from Tamara.
    She groaned and dialed her number.
    “Hey, Tam, where are you?” Candace asked when Tamara picked up.
    There was a long pause on the other end. “Well, I’ll tell you where I’m
not
. I’m not eating dinner at Rigatoni’s by myself because I finished eating dinner there
by myself
over an hour ago.”
    Candace winced. “I am so sorry. My cart went crazy and the railroad guy tried to kill me, and I’ve been in the infirmary.”
    “Are you okay?” Tamara asked.
    “Yes, I think so.”
    “I am still mad at you,” Tamara admitted.
    “I’m sorry. I can’t have my cell phone on me in the park, and when I got hurt they took me straight to the nurse.”
    “Well, I guess that’s not your fault.”
    “Do you forgive me?”
    “Yes, but I’m still mad.”
    “That’s okay,” Candace said.
    “I left you messages.”
    “I saw, but I haven’t listened to them yet. I called you first.”
    “Well, don’t listen to the sixth one.”
    “Okay.”
    “Come to think of it, not the fourth one either.”
    “Okay.”
    “In fact, just erase them all.”
    “Consider it done.”
    “Okay.”
    “So, are we good?” Candace asked.
    “Yeah, we’re good. We can go have some ice cream,” Tamara suggested.
    “But I haven’t had dinner yet,” Candace protested.
    “In that case you’ll have a banana split,” Tamara said.
    “Fair enough.”
    Twenty minutes later, seated across from Tamara at Big D’s ice cream shop, Candace still felt awful. They gave their orders to the waitress and Candace began to sip her water, waiting for Tamara to speak first.
    “I told you this was going to happen,” she finally said.
    “I know,” Candace answered.
    “It’s going to be like this all summer.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Then quit,” Tamara said. “This is so not worth it.”
    “I can’t.”
    Tamara held up a hand. “Your expenses are covered.”
    “Come on, Tam, you can’t support me the rest of my life,” Candace protested.
    Tamara looked like she was about to contradict her, so Candace hurried on. “And even if you could, I wouldn’t want you to. Sooner or later I’m going to have to get a job. Sure, this one has its problems, but I think I need to give it more than two days. I mean, sooner or later I’ll get the hang of it.”
    “If this is about that guy, then just give him your phone number.”
    Candace could feel herself starting to get angry. Tamara didn’t understand, and she didn’t seem to want to try to either. “This is not about a guy. This is about my life and my future. How am I going to live in the real world if I can’t handle one stupid summer job?”
    Tamara studied her for a moment before saying, “You sound like your mother.”
    “Well, as much as