Page 90 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

Declan blew out a breath.

“Okay, I know that this past month has been an exciting time for our chocolatiers. Is that what I call you? Fudge-tiers?” Dani asked. She looked from Lily to Declan before continuing. “Whatever you’re called, we’ve all enjoyed the fruits of your labors. I can’t imagine a tastier competition. But now, we face the final verdict. Which one of these two have won the right to own and operate the Jonathon Island fudge shop? The final tallies and winner have been provided to us by our local banker, Mr. Jim Michaelson.” She pulled an envelope from her back pocket and waved it in the air. “I’m so nervous for you both. Okay. I know, you’re nervous too, right?

Lily looked unnaturally pale. Declan wanted to reach across, comfort her.

But there in the front row stood his parents. Grandma, her hand clutching the edge of her sweater.

Declan’s stomach twisted.

“Drumroll, please,” Dani continued.

The crowd whistled and hollered and began patting hands against legs to create an appropriate sound effect. Dani struggled to get the envelope open.

Declan looked over at Lily, who tried to give him a smile, but it fell flat.

Dani slid the card from the envelope. “Here we have it. The winner of the Fudge Wars competition and recipient of the fudge shop on Main and the house on Poppy Place…Oh, my goodness—Lily Hart! Congratulations!”

Lily’s hands flew to her mouth.

Whistles. Applause. Declan clapped. Lily’s gaze met his, so many questions in them. He hoped in his own she found the answers.

He was proud of her. He loved her. She’d worked hard, and she deserved every bit of praise to go with it.

Cody, Nancy, and Randy, along with several other friends, swarmed her, and she disappeared behind a swath of hugs.

Dad stepped into view in front of Declan, a steely glare carved deep into the lines of his face.

Seeing the joy on Lily’s face, seeing her rightly secure her family’s fudge shop…he just wished it hadn’t come at the price of letting down his family. Losing Grandma’s house.

“This can’t be,” Dad said, stepping closer. His jaw flexed and his fists balled until he lifted one, with his finger pointed. “She must have cheated somehow. Did you give her an edge? Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you held her hand this morning. How’d she trick you again?”

Declan’s mouth fell open. “Seriously, Dad? Lily earned this all on her own. Our relationship has nothing to do with it.”

“Oh, it’s arelationshipnow, is it?”

“You two are making a scene,” Mom hissed from behind Dad. There was a deep crease in her brow. “But really, Declan, how could you have fallen for a Hartagain? We warned you about this. And we all know what happened last time. I didn’t think you’d be so foolish.”

“This has nothing to do with that.” His eyes flicked toward Grandma’s retreating back. Apparently this was all too much for her, because Brandon was leading her away, his arm wrapped around her, supporting her.

Aw, Grandma.

Declan’s hand gripped the back of his neck.

“I can’t believe, with all your fancy degrees, that you lost,” Dad ground out. “Clearly, you weren’t on your game.”

Isaac took the spot next to Dad, red splotches across his face visible in the light cast from the park’s lamplight. “How did she win? She wasn’t even selling fudge.”

“She couldn’t—it was destroyed.”

“Wait—those receipts weren’t for fudge?” Dad said.

“The rules were specific,” Mom said. “It was whoever sells the mostfudge.”

“You’re right. They were.” Dad lifted his head, swiveling to look around. “Where’s Patrick?”

“Don’t do that.” Declan tried to step in front of Dad, but Dad shouldered his way around him.

Then he stopped, turned, and poked Declan in the chest. “Don’t do what? Save the family legacy? Do what you weren’t able to do?”

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