The Spring of Candy Apples (A Sweet Seasons Novel) Read online

  She recognized one of the reporters from KTLA, which did nothing to calm her nerves. Somehow knowing who one of the reporters was just made it that much more real. Someone handed her a cup of water, and she drank it, more because it gave her something to do than because she was thirsty.

  She caught a glimpse of John Hanson as a makeup woman checked his hair and straightened his microphone.

  “Someone needs to remember to breathe,” a familiar voice said in her ear.

  Candace looked over her shoulder. Josh was bent down, arm on the back of her chair.

  “Breathe,” she said, reminding herself to do so. Then she tilted her head upward and looked into Josh’s eyes and promptly forgot again. She began to feel warm, and she blushed.

  “Okay, we’re live in two,” one of the cameramen shouted.

  Candace shook herself and turned back to face the cameras. They suddenly seemed a lot less scary than continuing to look at Josh. She stared at the KTLA reporter as the woman stepped in front of the camera.

  Then they were on the air.

  “I’m here at The Zone where today marks a very special day, not only for the park, but also for some very lucky referees. Today is the fifteenth anniversary of the park’s opening.”

  Just another thing I’m the last to know, Candace thought to herself.

  “And they’re taking Zone-style celebrations to a whole new level. Here at The Zone, season ticket holders are in for a year of fun and surprises. Here with me to explain some of this is the park’s founder, John Hanson. John, what can you tell us about what you’ve got planned for this year?”

  “Well, we’re excited to introduce some new rides and merchandise. Our biggest innovation is Player Stats. Now, season ticket holders have the chance to swipe their tickets at different rides and special events and get their own customized stats and trading cards.”

  “Sounds pretty amazing!”

  “We’re always working on new ways of making the game better for our players here at The Zone. This is just one of many new things we’re unveiling this year.”

  “Guess I’ll have to renew my season ticket,” the reporter said.

  “Already taken care of,” John said, handing her a card. “And here’s your initial trading card.”

  “It looks better than I do,” the reporter joked. “Now, let’s meet some other Zone celebrities. John who do we have with us?”

  John turned and indicated Candace and the four other referees. “These five referees are the final nominees for The Zone scholarship. Each of them has designed a potential new ride and earned the esteem of their colleagues. The winner receives a full scholarship to Florida Coast where they will study one of the disciplines conducive to becoming a Game Master.”

  “Let’s meet the finalists,” the reporter said, moving toward Candace. “Tell us a little bit about yourself and your ride.”

  “My name is Candace Thompson. I really don’t feel like I belong here, but I’m grateful to be considered. My ride idea is called Balloon Races. It’s from a sketch I made, and a friend entered me in the contest.”

  “Sounds like quite a friend.”

  “Yes, he is,” Candace said, starting to blush again.

  The reporter moved on to the guy sitting next to Candace, and it was all she could do not to sag in relief. A couple minutes later the reporter signed off, and the cameras shut down.

  “You were awesome!” Josh said, reappearing behind her.

  “I’m shaking,” Candace commented, staring at her own trembling fingers in fascination.

  “No one could tell.”

  “Thank you, Josh. It was really cool of you to enter me in the contest.”

  “See, I knew you’d see it my way sooner or later,” he joked.

  “Wonderful job, everyone!” John Hanson said, beaming at everyone.

  Breathe. Just breathe.

  “This year the winner will be announced at the conclusion of Talent Show,” he continued.

  Great. Something more to be nervous about on that day. That was so not what she needed. She turned to Josh, eager to change the subject.

  “So, I’m behind on all the special anniversary stuff apparently,” Candace said.

  “You know, there is a referee website. You can keep up with everything there,” Josh said.

  “Oh great, I’ve worked here nearly a year and this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

  “Who on earth handled your orientation?” Josh asked.

  “All I remember was that he seemed psycho, and he moved really fast for being that overweight.”

  Josh laughed. “Should have known. Remind me, and one of these days I’ll give you the full tour.”

  “I’d like that,” Candace said.

  “Candace, that was so cool!” Sue said, walking over.

  “Thanks!” Candace said, standing to hug her. “I was so nervous.”

  “I couldn’t tell,” Mark said appearing next to Josh.

  “You guys are sweet,” Candace said.

  “Hi, I’m Sue,” Sue said, offering her hand to Mark.

  He shook it and seemed only to have eyes for her. “Check.”

  “Your name’s Check?”

  “No, it’s Mark.”

  “Mark. Good to meet you, Mark.”

  “You too.”

  Candace rolled her eyes. What was the deal? Everyone she knew was falling in love and finding their soul mate at The Zone. Why hadn’t that worked out for her?

  “Candace.”

  “Yes?” she said, turning to Josh.

  “Let’s get out of here and get some pizza.”

  “You’re buying.”

  “Totally,” he said with a grin.

  “Seriously, what is the big secret?” Candace asked.

  “Come on, you know my big secret,” Josh said.

  “Not that secret. The other one. You know, the one that has to do with Talent Show?”

  “Oh, that secret. You mean you want me to betray the trust of my fellow Kowabunga refs and tell you what we’re planning?”

  “Well, when you put it that way . . . yes.”

  “No!” he laughed. “I did hear rumors though about a certain group and cup stacking?”

  She stuck her tongue out at him.

  “So it is true! Well, it’s certainly . . . unique.”

  “Don’t knock it. I bet we can beat whatever your group has cooked up.”

  “Do I hear the start of another bet?” Josh asked.

  “You’re on.”

  “Same terms as before?”

  “Loser buys pizza for the winner’s team,” Candace affirmed.

  They shook on it.

  “Now will you please tell me what your talent is?”

  “You’re just going to have to wait and see it with everyone else.”

  “You are so mean to me.”

  Their pizza arrived and they dug in. After a minute Josh looked at her thoughtfully. “So, have you had a chance to talk to Kurt?”

  Candace shook her head. “I don’t like the way we left things. I’d like some closure, you know, find out what he thought went wrong.”

  “So, what’s the problem?”

  “Part of me really doesn’t want to know,” she admitted.

  “Whatever it was, it couldn’t have been anything you did,” Josh said, leaning toward her.

  “I don’t know. I’m sure I could have been a better girlfriend.”

  “He could have been a better boyfriend.”

  “I guess it goes both ways. It’s just weird. Everyone around me seems to be falling in love.”

  “Ah, you noticed the Sue-Checkmark sparks too?”

  “More like fireworks.”

  Josh shrugged. “It’s spring. Everyone’s falling in love.”

  “At least Tamara and James had the decency to fall in love during the winter.”

  Josh grinned. “Roger and Becca probably fell in love over the summer.”

  “That’s true.”

  “So really
Sue and Mark are the only offenders.”

  Candace laughed. “Not necessarily the word I would have chosen, but I guess you’re right.”

  “It’s okay, Candace. I know there’s a guy somewhere who’s perfect for you.”

  For some reason she couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eyes while she nodded.

  Candace swallowed hard as she stared at the letter in her hand. It was the moment of truth. The return address identified the letter as coming from UCLA. She and Tamara had both applied there. It had been her backup college choice for so long she had begun to think of it at some point as her primary choice.

  What if they don’t want me? she wondered. What will I do?

  She took a deep breath and tore it open. The page was crowded with type, and her eyes blurred as she tried to pick out a word that would tell her at a glance if the news was good or bad.

  She wiped a hand across her eyes and struggled to bring the words into focus. Inform. That was a neutral word. It could mean anything. Unfortunately. Her stomach did a flip-flop. That was definitely a bad word. Then her eyes saw pleased. A good word if ever there was one.

  We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted . . .

  She shrieked at the top of her lungs, and her parents came running from the kitchen.

  “I got into UCLA!”

  Suddenly they were all hugging and jumping up and down. It was five minutes before Candace actually read the rest of the letter. Unfortunately turned out to be Unfortunately, we cannot offer you a scholarship at this time. That was okay. Her parents had already agreed to pick up the tab for college in-state with out-of-state negotiable.

  “Congratulations,” her mom said finally.

  “Well, the backup plan is firmly in place,” her dad said with a smile. “Not that I ever doubted it for a minute.”

  Candace had, but she was too embarrassed to admit it.

  “Are you going to call Tamara?” her dad asked.

  “You have to tell Josh too,” her mom said.

  “Okay, I’ll make some calls,” Candace said.

  She gave her parents one more hug before dashing upstairs. She called Tamara first.

  “Hello?”

  “Tam, guess what!” Candace squealed.

  “I have no clue, but I’m guessing it’s good.”

  “I got into UCLA!”

  “Congratulations, I knew you would.”

  “Thanks. Have you heard anything yet?”

  “Not yet,” Tamara admitted.

  “Oh,” Candace said, suddenly feeling worried for her friend. Then again it was Tamara. Anything she wanted she got. There was no way she wasn’t getting in. “Well, you’ll probably get yours in a couple of days.”

  “They send those things out in waves over several weeks,” Tamara said.

  “That’s right. Plus, I turned my application in before you did.”

  “Totally. No worries,” Tamara said, her voice breezy. “I did get my acceptance letter from Loyola today.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful! That’s a good school.”

  “Yeah, but I’m going to UCLA. Maybe we can room together,” Tamara said, getting excited.

  “Yeah, if I go to UCLA. Totally.”

  “If? When did UCLA become an if?” Tamara asked.

  “Oh, well, if I end up winning the scholarship, I guess I’ll be going to Florida Coast.”

  There was a long pause on the other end, and for a second Candace thought they had been disconnected.

  “Tam?”

  “You know I’m not cool with that, right?”

  “With what?” Candace asked even though she could guess the answer.

  “Florida. I’m not cool with you going to college on the opposite coast.”

  Candace bit her lip. It was a fight she’d been hoping to avoid . . . possibly forever. “Tam, can we cross that bridge when we get to it?”

  “Yeah,” Tam said with a sigh.

  “Cool.”

  “Okay, go tell the rest of the world the good news.”

  “You too.”

  Candace hung up and then dialed Josh.

  “Yes, Candace?” he answered the phone.

  “You know, you’re supposed to say ‘hi’ first,” she teased.

  “My way is faster. What’s up?”

  “I got my acceptance letter to UCLA.”

  “Congratulations. At least they recognize what they’re going to be missing when you go to Florida Coast.”

  “Josh, the only way I’m going to Florida Coast is if I get the scholarship.”

  “Which I think you will.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I’m not holding my breath.”

  “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t tell you,” Josh said.

  “I promise. So, have you gotten any letters yet?”

  “I got the Florida Coast acceptance letter a few minutes ago.”

  “Awesome!”

  “Yup.”

  “So, which ones are you waiting on?”

  “None, that’s the only one I applied to,” he said.

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.”

  “Well, I guess there’s no decision-making for you at this point.”

  “Nope, already sweated all that out.”

  “Must be nice.”

  “More like anticlimactic, but it’s cool. When you know what you want, that’s all you need.”

  “I guess that’s true,” she admitted.

  “So, Florida Coast and UCLA. Where else did you apply?” he asked.

  “UC San Diego and UC Irvine.”

  “Have a UC fixation?” he teased.

  “My folks promised to pay for any school in-state.”

  “Then you should have gone for Stanford.”

  She laughed. “I’m not a genius, and I don’t have perfect grades. Somehow I think Stanford’s beyond my reach.”

  “That’s the difference between you and me.”

  “Stanford’s not out of your reach?”

  “I think you can achieve anything you want, and you just don’t know it yet.”

  “Oh. Thank you,” Candace said.

  It was nice that Josh thought so highly of her, but it was also deeply intimidating. She didn’t want to let him down. Somehow his believing in her made her want to try harder, do more, and be better. It was an awesome responsibility.

  “You’re welcome,” he said.

  It was weird, but there was a moment when she could swear he understood everything that she had been thinking. She smiled.

  “Okay, go make your calls, and I’ll make my calls.”

  “We should celebrate,” she said.

  “I’m all for that. Unfortunately not tonight. I’m practicing with my team.”

  Candace sighed. “Foiled by the talent show.”

  “Just get used to saying that,” he teased. “How about Friday?”

  “My Friday is yours,” she said.

  “Awesome, I’m going to hold you to that.”

  6

  Candace, Sue, Pete, Traci, and Corinne were gathered around Sue’s dining table. Josh’s constant goading about the talent show had taken its toll, and Candace had pushed for practice for their team. It was their first practice, and she had fully expected it to go badly . . . just not as badly as it was actually going.

  On the table they had five sets of stacking cups. They each stood at their own station as Corinne tried to show them for the fiftieth time how to stack them quickly into simple pyramids. Even Sue was getting frustrated and looked like she was about two seconds from exploding.

  “Okay, forget all the other cups, just take three cups,” Corinne said. “Put two of them upside down touching each other and balance the third one on top.”

  Each of them did as instructed. For once they all balanced, and Candace lifted her hands away nervously from her little pyramid. “Victory!” she joked.

  “Good,” Corinne said. “Now take hold of the top cup and push it down and to
the right until it stacks on top of the right base cup.”

  Pete, Sue, and Candace succeeded. Traci’s cups ended up on the floor. She flopped down beside them. “I give,” she wailed.

  “We’ve made progress,” Candace said, trying to be optimistic.

  “I think we should pick a different talent,” Corinne sighed.

  “We don’t have any other talent; we’ve established that,” Pete said.

  Sue burst out laughing. “We’re in serious trouble.”

  Candace sat down next to Traci. “At least we each managed a pyramid. That’s progress.”

  “We’re going to need a whole lot more than that to keep from getting laughed off the stage,” Pete said.

  “Is it too late to reconsider the acting thing?” Sue asked. “I know Candace has been rehearsing to be in Man of La Mancha. Maybe we could all act out a scene or sing a song or something.”

  “Who are you playing?” Pete asked.

  “Aldonza.”

  “The lead, that’s cool,” Traci said.

  “It’s scary,” Candace admitted.

  “Why?” Corinne asked.

  “I don’t want to make a fool of myself on stage in front of thousands of people, some of whom I know.”

  “I’m confused. Are we talking about Man of La Mancha or the talent show?” Sue quipped.

  “Yes,” Candace said. “They both freak me out.”

  “I don’t get that,” Traci said.

  “You don’t get stage fright?” Pete asked.

  “No, I get that generally, but I don’t get Candace. I mean, you’re constantly in the limelight in some way. Aren’t you used to it?”

  Candace laughed. “Believe it or not, I was never anywhere near a light, lime or otherwise, until I started working at The Zone. The last year has been crazy. I’m not sure how I keep ending up on stages or front and center, but it sure isn’t getting any easier.”

  “I’d love to be in your shoes,” Corinne said wistfully.

  “Seriously?” Candace asked.

  The other girl nodded.

  A couple months before, Candace would have offered to switch places with her. Now, though, things were changing. Just because she was scared stiff to be in the spotlight, didn’t mean she was ready to give it up. Even that scared her, but it had to be progress. She’d had enough people lecture her about not hiding in the shadows, she had started to think there was something to it.

  Maybe Josh was right. Maybe she would win the scholarship. It would certainly track with the way her life had been going. Florida Coast seemed like a world away from her life and her comfort zone. But everything that had happened to her in the last year had been pushing her from that comfort zone. She was beginning to think that God was trying to tell her something.