Page 10 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

“It’s still your family’s shop though, right? Even though your parents had to close it, they still have the lease for it.”

“True.”

“Which means you could reopen it any time.”

“Also true.” Huh. She set the bowls in the sink, ran water in them. “As long as Mia hasn’t opened another fudge shop. I’m guessing they would only want one, at least in the beginning.”

“One.” Sadie smiled. “Wasn’t the whole reason you decided to move here and go to school was so that someday you could, and I quote, ‘eventually move back to the island and beat the pants off the Kelley family fudge shop’?”

“Also true.” Man, Sadie was on fire. “But then the shop closed, and I stayed.”

“And the only reason it hasn’t reopened since the pandemic ended is your mom’s arthritis. But you could do it. You could move home and bring your family’s legacy back to life.”

The words reverberated in Lily’s chest. A family legacy. Cody was reopening the family fishing business. Why shouldn’t she also have a piece of history? Why couldn’t she make her family just as proud as Cody made them?

Show them she could be serious and practical and successful.

Maybe this was how she did it.

“You sure you’re not trying to get rid of me?” She came back over, plopped down beside Sadie. “You’d rather have a roommate who will let you get away with your ugly colored furniture?”

“Absolutely. That’s my evil plan.” Sadie nudged her. “I want you to be happy. Imagine it. You could experiment to your heart’s content, no dull Oscar holding you back. You could put out all the best flavors. Elevate Hart Family Fudge higher than it’s ever been, even when your Grandpa Hart ran the shop.”

It sounded amazing. Better than amazing. To be back on the island, with her family…

To finally live up to Grandpa’s legacy.

Still. “I really hate leaving you.” And now her eyes burned. “Maybe…” She grabbed her friend’s hand. “If I did this, you could come with me. You can do copywriting from anywhere. Your Grandma Henrietta would love it.Iwould love it.”

Sadie squeezed, a sad smile taking over her face. “You know why I can’t do that.”

Lily sighed. It had been worth a shot. “I know. But maybe it’s time to visit again?”

“Maybe. But we’re not talking about me right now. We’re talking aboutyou, starting over. Taking control of your life and becoming the girl boss you were meant to be.”

Girl boss. Rather than giving inspiration, the words made Lily freeze. “Only one problem with that picture. I failed out of my program because of the business classes, remember? Econ, accounting, marketing. I don’t know the first thing about being a successful businesswoman.”

“Sure you do. The only reason you failed is because you were so focused on the creative part and got distracted from finishing your business assignments. But that doesn’t mean you didn’t absorb what you need to know.”

Hmm.

“And what you don’t know, you ask for help. Your mom ran that business by herself for years after your dad’s parents retired. Ask her for advice. Invest in a solid computer accounting program. I can even help with marketing when you’re ready. The business stuff, you can get help with that. You’ve already got the most necessary ingredient for success.”

“Chocolate?” Lily grinned in spite of herself.

“No, silly. You—and that creative brain of yours. You can do this. And if not, then what’s the worst that can happen?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I go home, make a fool of myself and fail miserably, becoming the laughingstock of the island? Again?”

Sadie rolled her eyes. “First of all, that’s not going to happen. But even if so, then at least you’d have tried.”

“Yeah.” Yeah. Hmm. That was true. If she could figure out some of the details—and if Mia hadn’t already chosen someone else to open a fudge shop on the island—then maybe. “It’s an open door, right?”

“Absolutely. The least you can do is peek your head through and see if it’s dark and scary or bright and sparkly on the other side.”

“You and your metaphors.”

“Can’t help it. It’s the writer in me.”

---