Page 18 of Claiming Candy

“I am,” I confirm.

“Good,” he says before saying something to someone in the background. “I’ll see you soon, Candy. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I say before hanging up.

The scenery becomes more familiar as we continue to drive. After a few minutes, I realize we’re on the way to the shelter. That doesn’t seem right, though. Why would Ethan go to the shelter? He might not have outright said it, but I know he doesn’t care about it as much as I do.

Still, we take roads that are now familiar to me. There isn’t a doubt in my mind where we’re going. The only place in this direction other than the dump is the homeless shelter, and I’m confident that he wouldn’t be asking me to join him at a landfill.

Sure enough, when the car finally comes to a stop, we’re at the shelter. Although, there’s something different about it. For one thing, there aren’t residents walking around outside like there usually are. Instead, there are men who look like they might be construction workers going in and out.

“What’s going on?” I ask the driver, leaning forward and trying to get a better idea of what’s happening.

“I think if I told you, that would ruin the surprise,” he says as he gets out of the car and walks over to my door to let me out. “Ethan’s inside.”

“Okay, thank you,” I say, buzzing with something that feels significant.

I lead myself into the shelter, the place that I called home for nearly a year. Inside, there’s still a significant lack of residents. There isn’t even anyone at the front desk. If it weren’t for the laborers shuffling around the place, it’d be a ghost town in here.

Once I get over the initial shock of the lack of people, I realize why all of the construction workers are here. Some of them are hauling out old, disgusting pieces of the wall while others are bringing in new materials. I try to wrap my mind around what’s happening, but it just doesn’t connect. This place isn’t closing, not on Christmas, and Ethan wanted me to meet him here. I don’t understand where the money to get this work done came from.

As I’m frozen in place, a hand lands on my shoulder. I jump slightly, whipping around to see who’s touching me. I’m greeted by Ethan’s smiling face. He’s wearing old sweats that are stained with dirt and paint.

“I’m glad you made it,” he says, pulling me toward him to kiss me sweetly. “Merry Christmas, Candy.”

“Merry Christmas,” I reply with a grin on my face. I glance around the lobby of the shelter before turning back to him. “What’s going on?”

“It’s your Christmas gift,” Ethan says, looking a little nervous. “After I saw you helping out yesterday, I asked the front desk what needed to be done. The biggest issue was money, so I talked to my accountant and arranged for the work to be done.”

“Wow,” I say, my mind running a mile a minute with that information. I’d seen the cost estimates for repair, and even though I know Ethan is rich, it’s hard to fathom just handing over that kind of money. “But… how’d you get all of these people to help out on Christmas? And where is everybody?”

“I’m paying them three times as much as they usually charge to come in today,” he says with a shrug. “I had enough people volunteer that everyone’s able to take shifts. No one will be missing too much time with their families. We’ll be able to finish almost everything today, I think.”

“Really?” I say as I begin to wonder if I’m dreaming. This seems way too good to be true. I can’t believe he would do this for me, for the shelter.

“Uh huh,” he confirms, squeezing my waist like he can tell that I can’t believe this moment is real. “Some of the shelter’s old residents are here helping out right now, getting paid of course. The rest of them, I imagine, are getting moved into their homes.”

“Homes?” I say, getting whiplash for what feels like the hundredth time since waking up this morning. “You…”

“I wasn’t able to buy everyone houses,” he says, and I think I detect genuine regret. Was he really planning on buying houses for everyone that was in the shelter? “But, I set everyone up with a house or an apartment. They’ve all been paid through for the year.”

“I–” I start, my brain completely blanking. I don’t think I’m wired for getting this much good news all at once. “That’s amazing. Thank you, Ethan. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

He plants a quick kiss on my lips before gesturing around the room.

“It’s the least I could do,” he says with a shrug, glancing at the people leaving with debris. I realize that I do recognize some of the people. True to his word, shelter residents are here helping with the renovation. “I haven’t gotten everyone placed at jobs yet, but it’s Christmas. All of that will be settled once all the offices open back up again.”

I’m struck silent. This is all too much for me to process. It’s more than I could even dream about. Maybe I could allow myself to want one of these grand gestures, but all of this? The fact that he’s done it all is the only way I know that I’m not dreaming.

“Hey, you okay?” Ethan asks, leaning down to make eye contact with me. “You look like you’re far away.”

“I’m okay,” I say, blinking rapidly and feeling wetness dripping down my cheeks. When did I start crying? “I just… I really can’t believe you did all this for me.”

“Well, I knew that you were worried about the work that needed done here,” he says, scratching the back of his neck. “And when I was thinking about what I could get you for Christmas, I realized that you’d probably rather I spend whatever I’d spend on you on everyone else.”

The breath leaves my lungs. This man knows me better than anyone else ever has. In the last few days, he’s accepted my love of Christmas and seen me for who I am. No longer does his declaration that he wants to marry me feel rushed. We’re perfect for each other.

“Ethan, it’s perfect. Truly the best gift anyone has ever given me. I love you so much,” I say, tears still streaming down my face. He reaches down to brush them away, pulling me into a crushing embrace and muttering how much he loves in my ear so only I can hear.Heis the greatest gift of my crazy, messy, beautiful life.

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