Chapter 3
It was a horrible day when Candace woke up one morning and found Mrs. McAllister in bed, lying still as a statue and looking pale as a ghost. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to wake the old woman up, but Mrs. McAllister wouldn't budge. She was dead. Three days later, a young woman came to the house with two men and told Candace she had to leave. They were Mrs. McAllister's children. The young woman said they were looking to sell the house, which meant Candace couldn't live there anymore. Candace didn't want to leave, but had no other choice. She packed her suitcase and walked down to the park and sat down on a bench and lowered her face into her hands and started to cry.
Walter was talking a stroll through the park when he spotted Candace crying on the bench. He sat down beside her and asked what was wrong. Candace looked at him with tears in her eyes and explained that she was evicted from Mrs. McAllister's house because her children were looking to sell the house.
"I don't care that I don't have a place to live anymore, but Mrs. McAllister was more to me than just an old woman, Walter. She was my friend. Her children don't even care that she's dead. All they care about is money."
Walter wrapped his arms around Candace and hugged her as she wept, sharing in her sadness. "I'm so sorry, Candace", he said. He knew how much Mrs. McAllister meant to Candace and would surely miss her, too.
"I know, it's horrible", Candace agreed, sniffling. "I just don't know what to do now that she's gone. I suppose I could go live in a cheap motel for a while."
Walter felt sorry for Candace and didn't think she should go through a tough time alone. "Well, why don't you come live with me?" Walter suggested. "I have a spare room you could live in, free of charge."
Candace looked at him, surprised. "Walter, I couldn't."
"Why not? You'd be welcomed and not have to worry about finding a new place to live. I don't have anybody living with me except the cat."
"You have a cat?"
"Yes. She gets jealous very easily, but I don't think she would mind if you came and lived with us. Why, I'd be honored to have you stay in my home. If you say yes, that is. What do you say, Candace?"
The young witch thought long and hard about this. If she went to live with Walter, there would definitely be pros and cons in the future. She would still have to hide her secret from him, but, it seemed like her only option.
"Well?" Walter asked her.
Candace looked at him and agreed, "All right, I accept.'
Walter smiled. "Excellent! May I take your suitcase for you?"
"Thank you."
Walter took Candace home with him and showed her into the living room. There was a white cat sleeping on a chair.
"That's my cat, Jelly Bean", said Walter. "Let me show you where you're going to be sleeping." He showed Candace upstairs and into the spare bedroom. "Here we are. I know it doesn't look like much, but-"
"Oh, it's fine", said Candace. "It's just about what I expected."
"I'll leave you to get settled in."
Walter left Candace alone and went downstairs to start preparing a small dinner for the two of them. Candace hung up her clothes in the closet and hid her spell book under her pillow, not wanting Walter to see it.
Later that night, Walter and Candace retreated into the living room and shared a cup of hot chocolate as they listened to a radio program. Candace paid little attention to it and sipped quietly from her mug, looking sad.
"Is something wrong, Candace?" Walter asked her.
"I guess I'm still thinking about Mrs. McAllister", Candace answered. "I miss her terribly."
"You know, the last time I spoke with Mrs. McAllister, she told me you were like a daughter to her. She loved having you around better than any of her three children. They never appreciated anything she did for them."
"Yes, I know. Do you remember the day you met her?"
"Yes, she came down to the store to see you one day and asked for a box of hard candy. You offered to pay for her, but she insisted on paying herself. She wasn't one for charity."
"No, but she was very hospitable."
"Yes. Now, speaking of the candy store-"
"Ah, yes. I suppose you want to discuss more candy ideas with me?"
"No, not tonight", said Walter. "Actually, I was thinking about keeping it closed for a while, just until after the funeral. I know you're still mourning over the loss of Mrs. McAllister, and I want you to take all the time you need."
Candace smiled softly and told him, "Thank you, Mr. Wonka. You're such a kind and understand gentleman. I wish more men were like you."
"I'm flattered to hear that, but how many more times must I ask you to call me Walter, Miss Smith?"
"At least one more time, sir."
"Fair enough."
Candace set her mug down and stood up and said, "Thank you for dinner and the hot chocolate, Walter. And now, if you don't mind, I would very much like to go to bed."
"Very well. Good night, Candace."
"Good night, Walter."
Candace went up the stairs to the bathroom to brush her teeth, then went into the spare bedroom and put on her nightdress and got into bed and went to sleep, thankful to have a roof over her head.
After the funeral, Candace went back to work at the candy store again. She ate lunch with Walter each day and went for a stroll through the park with him on days when the store wasn't opened. During her stay with him, Candace cleaned house for Walter and learned to how to cook and prepare meals. One night, she baked a chocolate cake for dessert, Walter's favorite, all without using any magic. Walter grew to love her each day, but Candace was still forced to hide her secret from him. If Walter ever found out she was a witch, Candace would never forgive herself.