Page 81 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

“If you’re sure.”

They stacked the boxes and then set them against the back wall of the kitchen, ready for the hand-cart in the morning.

“That’s the last box.” Lily straightened, stretching her back. “Dinnertime.”

Mom looked around the shop. “Where are Declan’s boxes?”

“Remember? He’s coming in soon to finish making his batches and package everything up.”

“Right. You sure you don’t want to stay and help?”

Lily shook her head. “No, his parents insisted on helping him.”

“Those pesky parents.” Mom tsked, a smile on her face. “Always in the way.”

“Stop.” Looping an arm through Mom’s, she tugged her toward the alley door. “I couldn’t have done it without you today.”

“You’re much more capable than you give yourself credit for.”

“Thanks, Mom. Guess we’ll see tomorrow.”

But as she glanced at the boxes stacked high, holding her creations—expressions of her very soul—for the first time in a while, Lily didn’t feel like a failure. She felt like someone with the doors flung wide open, possibility and hope and success—and yes, even love—right at her fingertips.

Finally.

Ah, yes. Lily Hart wasfinallyon her way.

* * *

Declan’s nerves buzzed wildly when he stopped in at Martha’s on Main. The entire last month had come down to this.

The Friday night crowd was dwindling at this late hour, but neighbors still waved to him, welcoming him as if he’d never left the island. Could this really be home again? And did he really want that?

He wanted Lily, and he wanted to win Grandma’s house back for her—that was all he knew. And for now, that was enough.

Declan caught sight of his dad near the bar, chatting with an off-duty Police Chief York, and headed to look for Mom. He found her in the kitchen, black apron still thrown on and her graying hair pulled back. “Hey, Mom. Are you ready?”

Steam billowed around Mom as she stirred something on the cooktop. “I’m sorry, we got a rush right before closing and Jordi’s home sick, so your dad hopped in to help serve.” She nodded her head when Isaac swung through the doorway in his hoodie, chewing his gum, AirPods in. “Your brother offered to help you at the fudge shop while we take care of closing up here.”

Declan folded his arms over his chest. “He offered, or was volun-told?” The last thing he needed tonight was Isaac in his business. Ragging on him again.

Isaac pulled out an earbud. “I offered, of course. I care about this family too.”

Biting back a sarcastic remark, Declan shook his head. “It’s not necessary. I can handle it myself.” His parents had been insisting for two days that they help. Otherwise, he would have just worked with Lily to get all of their boxes ready together. Of course, she might cause a tiny bit of distraction, but Declan never minded her kind of distraction.

In fact, maybe he could call her now.

Except Isaac was already turning to him. “Let’s get going.”

“Seriously, you don’t have to help.”

“Too bad.”

“Have fun, guys,” Mom called as they headed for the door. “And Declan, be nice to your brother.”

Wow. Okay. “Sure.”

They headed into the night and crossed the street to the darkened fudge shop. When they entered the kitchen, it was still warm, and even though Lily wasn’t here, Declan sensed she had been. There was the telling scent of vanilla, the sink overflowing with dishes and a Post-It note saying she’d clean them later with a smiley face and a heart that made Declan grin. Besides all that, Lily had a few hundred boxes stacked, ready to go—a daunting reminder of all that Declan and Isaac still had to get through to reach the end of this horrible competition.

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