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Oh good! He was happy again! Candace was smiling as she listened to his plan, giving a nod to each new point. That actually sounded really fun! "No swimming? I guess that's a good idea. Water's too cold in January, so we'll just sit." She didn't question his desire to not swim. It seemed perfectly reasonably to not want to go swimming during the winter. She was caught pleasantly off guard by the kiss, sighing happily and returning it.

"I'd really like that." Candace moved off Jerry to put her shoes back on, followed by her coat and finally her scarf. She then grabbed the bag she had brought with her, the gentle clinking of glass shifting beside glass could be heard as she did. "Let's head over to the kitchen and make some sandwiches then~."

"Hm? Oh, Jerry, don't be silly we can use my bag. It has enough room for some food." She told him with a chuckle, watching him grab the blanket from off his bed. Good memory! She almost forgot herself. It was good they bring a blanket of they intended on relaxing at the beach for a period of time. She reached out to carefully link arms with him as she led Jerry out of his room, closed the door behind them and then headed for the kitchen arm-in-arm with her man. "About time, huh? Better late than never, right?" She leaned over to rest her head against his shoulder as they walked, letting out a soft happy sigh. "It's been so long since I went on a date. I haven't been to the beach here yet, have you? Is it nice? Can we see or is there fog there, too?" Candace asked with eager curiosity. The closest she had gotten to the beach since coming to this island had been the front gates.

It was a nice walk to the kitchen, her mood at an all time high with her excitement for a real date with Jerry. Her wonderfully sweet boyfriend who she did not deserve. Though she did look around with quiet hope for some sign of the nice old lady who had been in the kitchen until...recently...

She wasn't there. No more cookies, no more decorations...sigh. She released Jerry and turned a smile up to him. "So what would you like? Doooo you follow the 'no pork' thing?" She didn't really know anything about Judaism, but she wanted to get this right.

Candace nodded and filed that tidbit of information away for future reference. "Good, because I love bacon in the morning~." She teased, grabbing a couple different fruits and sandwiches to bring along with them. At his confession she stopped and turned a look toward him that was a cross between surprise and pity. That was awkward. "...They don't know what they passed up." She said gently, flashing him a smile. "I'll never stand you up if I can help it, babe. I'd at least send you a text if something came up, you know?" She gave him a little nudge as she said this, her smile falling into a lazy smirk. "I'm also not a girl, I'm a woman. So I'm better than them by default." She said with no hidden amount of confidence, paying for their food and packing it all up in her bag.

"Hm...Jerry..did you still want to have that drink together, too? I...I'm not trying to start anything I just...I don't want you to feel like you have to hide it from me..." Candace was very cautious as she said this, biting nervously on her lip and watching him for his reaction. She was willing to compromise on the drinking issue until it was no longer an issue.

He was out? She was actually rather relieved to hear that. No more secret drinking. Candace chuckled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "That's okay. Actually I, um...I'll..I'll show you at the beach. Come on." Candace began to lead Jerry away, packing what he had gabbed into her bag and holding his hand. She wanted to get to the beach, and she wanted to do as little walking as possible. The sooner they got to the beach the sooner she could sit and the sooner her leg would stop hurting.

It wasn't that she was hurrying them along but she did dissuade Jerry from any distractions until she felt the sand underneath her feet. She squealed with delight and let go of Jerry to hurry ahead, purposely taking heavy steps to let herself sink and slide through the sand like a child. It had been so long since she had been to the beach! "Come on, Jerry~! Let's sit over here!" She pointed at a clear space of sand that wasn't too close to the water, waiting for him to come over and set down the blanket.

Once the blanket was set down and smoothed out Candace dropped onto it on her knees, putting the bag aside and reaching down to take off her boots. She kept the stockings on, though. "We've been here so long I barely notice the fog anymore. Besides," Candace tugged at Jerry to coax him down and then crawled to him, a hand on either side of the man's hips and sitting on her hands and knees as she brushed her lips against his with a lazy smile. "I thought you said I brighten the foggiest day anyway~." She was teasing, stealing a gentle kiss before sitting comfortably beside the man.

She dug into the bag right away, producing a sandwich first and offering it to Jerry. "Even with the fog though it's nice. Just listening to the water, smelling the salty air~. I'm glad you suggested this." She grabbed a sandwich for herself and snuggled close beside him, unwrapping it to take her first bite. A glance was cast down at her bag, noticing one of the glasses waiting ever so patiently for her to fill it with bourbon.

...Not yet. Make him eat first.

"Have you been down here before? This is my first time to the beach here."

Ohhh? She didn't know that! "I only ever saw the cornfields," Candace remarked with a full on, thick, heavy Southern accent. She almost sounded like a different woman entirely! Her normally controlled tone was let go for those two words, and she cleared her throat and looked away with flushed cheeks as she nibbled quietly at her sandwich. ********, did she really just do that? She didn't say anything more until he admitted he nearly drowned. Oh, well that was all good and dan--

...

What?!

"Y'almost what!?" Candace nearly choked on her sandwich, unable to get rid of the accent she was trying to hide in her shock. "Wh..wha..how did...huh?!" Why had he not told her?!

Overreact?! "Jerry I...I..." Overreact? He thought...her being worried was overreacting? Candace seemed to deflate a little as she thought that over, as well as listening to what he was explaining. Return to his..people? She frowned, falling quiet and just eating at her sandwich. He thought she would overreact? How could...why did he..?

Why did he keep hiding important things from her?

"I..I'm glad you're okay." She sad quietly, snuggling up close against Jerry before leaning over to rest her head on his lap. She finished her sandwich and made herself comfortable, a hand resting on his knee and rubbing it in a gentle motion. "I'm sorry just..that's quite a serious thing to drop on a woman without any kind of warning." Candace turned so she was lying on her back, her hand still rubbing his knee and thigh. "I'm glad you're safe."

Candace was happy to return the kiss, a hand reaching up to gently hold the back of his neck and keep him there a little while longer before letting him draw away and speak. "..Ohh, ok--that was why you were coughing? Ugh. I can't believe I didn't.." How could it have gotten by her like that?! She'd thought he had a cold! Candace reached up to play with his hair and sigh, smiling again and settling more comfortably. "I'm sorry if I worry too much. Apparently I can't help it."

She hummed quietly, tugging playfully on his scarf. "Can I have more kisses~?" Candace asked cheerfully, giving his knee a squeeze. "Oh!" She suddenly pushed up to rest her weight on her elbows, leaning up for a kiss anyway before she continued. "I wanted to ask you something! I know you said you're not exactly orthodox but..do you still celebrate the other holidays? Like...passover? I was thinking...instead of Easter, I'd like to do that with you if it's something you'd like." It would make up for the whole Christmas JOY and Hanukkah thing. Plus, it would be interesting to see what it was like.