Page 107 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

“Oh. Okay.” Lily forced a smile. “Um, well, congrats. Everything looks great. Guess you can open up Monday, then. Unless you’re leaving?” He’d mentioned once that he might hire his cousin Olive to run the shop when he left for Chicago, but that had been before…

Now she had no clue what his plans were.

“I am planning to leave, yes.” He looked away, seemed to straighten as he blew out a breath. Then he faced her again. “But before I go, I wanted to say how sorry I am.”

“For what?”

He huffed. “For a lot of things. But mostly that I didn’t listen to you. That I didn’t see things from your perspective. That I chose my family over you—again.”

Now it was her turn to glance away, staring at the yellow and brown swirls in the granite countertop beside the sink.

He continued. “I want you to know that I really didn’t have any idea about this, but after you left the night of the festival…” His voice broke.

Her gaze snapped back up to him. “What happened?”

“Isaac admitted that hedidsabotage you. And not just with the pipes. With other things, including slipping some bad fudge into your sampler box for Kent Mercer.”

“What?”

“I know. I’m so, so sorry. Almost as soon as I found out—though I’m ashamed to say it wasn’t sooner—I went to the town council. Told them everything.”

Her head spun. “And your family was okay with that?”

“No. They were furious.”

Lily paced. He’d gone against his family’s wishes? “So what does this mean, then? What did the council say?”

“Unfortunately, they didn’t think there was enough evidence since Isaac only admitted it to me.”

“Oh.” She halted, slumping against the counter. For just a moment, she’d hoped…

“But, Lil.” Declan moved closer, placing the folder on the counter in front of her. He flipped it open, pointed to the paper on top. “It doesn’t matter. I’m giving it to you. Here’s the lease agreement, sublet to you. And here are the keys, and a copy of my own business plan in case that will help you.” His brow dipped as he flipped to the last document in the folder. “And the lease to my grandma’s house, if you want it. It’s yours by rights.”

“Declan. No.” She pulled the paper from the folder and placed it in his hands. “I told you. I’d never take it from her.”

“Thank you, Lily.” Swallowing hard, he looked away. “My family really doesn’t deserve your mercy, not after they tried to cheat you.”

All of the implications from their conversation—from what was happening right now—swirled in Lily’s brain. “I’m assuming they’re against this. Will that be a problem?”

He shook his head and flipped his attention back to hers, his gaze intense. “I double checked, but the contract was in my name only. Theirs isn’t mentioned anywhere. So while they’re not very happy with me right now, and they don’t fully understand my reasons, they don’t have a say.” Picking up the folder, he held it out to her. “The shop is yours, as it always should have been.”

Her mouth opened, closed. This was the last thing she’d expected when she’d arrived here this morning. Her family’s fudge shop, safe. Their legacy, continuing. “Thank you, Declan. Really.”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Well, I’ll get out of your hair. I’ve got to get home and pack. I need to leave early in the morning, and my whole family is gathering tonight for dinner. So.” His head tilted. “I really am sorry, Lily. But I know you’re going to make this a huge success. And I wish you all the best.”

His words burrowed into her heart, made a home there. “You’re really leaving?” she whispered.

“Yes. But before I did, I wanted you to know that I heard you. That I…”

“Chose me.”

He nodded. “And I’d do it again. I’m only sorry it’s not enough. That I didn’t do it right away. That I didn’t see a world in which I could have my family’s respect and your love. I’m not sure I’ll ever really forgive myself for that.”

Oh, Declan. She set the file folder on the counter and stepped toward him. “We both made mistakes, you know. I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean what I said. You’re more than just a Kelley. You’re your own man, and who you are is someone I will root for always, no matter what you do.”

He just stared at her, both of them frozen between the swirl ofwhat ifs. Then he snatched her hand, looking down at it engulfed in his. “Thank you, Lily. That means more than you’ll ever know.” Then he gave it a squeeze, dropped it, and started to back away.

“Declan,” she blurted.

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