Was it one ofthecandy canes?
“Zoe? What are you doing out in the cold?”
She jerked upright. “I, uh, was walking to my car when I spotted this on the ground.” She held up the peppermint candy. “It’s one of those candy canes someone leaves around town.”
“What does it say?”
“I haven’t looked yet.” She glanced down and held the message part straight. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
“From Luke, when the angel appeared to Mary.”
She broke into a smile. “That’s right. It’s always been one of my favorite verses.”
“I’m glad you found it.” Donovan rubbed his bare hands then blew into them. “Have a good night, and drive safe. It’s going to be icy still.”
“I will.”
As he gathered the other trash, the encounter with Zoe stuck with him. She’d begun attending about five years ago, but he didn’t know her well. Although friendly, she kept to herself and connected more with the ladies twice her age than those in her own demographic. He’d heard through the grapevine that she was a widow, and he assumed that somehow accounted for the unusual connections she made.
But something didn’t add up. Why would she have left through the back door to go to her car? The parking lot covered several acres on the opposite side of the church, and no parking was available where she’d been headed.
Then she’d fumbled on her words when he’d asked an innocent question.
Could she be the benefactor?
The candy canes did start appearing five years ago—Zoe’s first Christmas in Nativity.
Curiosity latched onto him and wouldn’t let go. His gut instinct said Zoe was the mystery person.
But why would she risk distributing any on church property while a dozen people remained on the premises?
More questions than answers flew through his mind. He needed a plan.
He knew from past years that a fresh batch of candy canes was distributed around town every night between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Would it be weird to follow her home and see where she stopped? He’d have to hurry to catch up to her. Pursing his lips, he shook his head. That might be taking it too far.
However, if he made an educated guess about where she might go tonight, and they both happened to show up, that would be a different story.
