Page 91 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

Ouch. While the words were technically true, hearing them like this…

Words stuck in Declan’s throat.

“I do think someone needs to mention the rules,” Mom said. “It’s unfortunate what happened with her fudge—I get that. But rules are rules. I think the numbers need to be examined in light of that.”

It didn’t take a single one of Declan’s business skills to calculate out the winner. Without today’s ice cream sales, he’d have Lily beat.

And he was right back at the beginning, wasn’t he? Family versus Lily.

Rules versus rebel.

“What’s it going to be, son?”

ChapterFourteen

Hopefully Declan would get Lily’s text to meet up here at the fudge shop, because they needed to talk—and she didn’t want to wait until tomorrow to assure him that his grandma’s house would remain hers.

She’d tried snagging him at the park, but he and his family had been embroiled in what looked like a serious conversation—Frank especially looked none too happy—so Lily and her family had returned to breaking down her booth and then back to the fudge shop to make sure there wasn’t anything else that needed doing.

Correction:herfudge shop.

She’d really done it.

She’dwon.

A thrill traveled up her spine as she tucked an ice cream container into the kitchen freezer. Thankfully, other than the hole in the ceiling and some damaged cabinets under the countertops, the kitchen looked repairable. Dad and Cody had gotten the fans here quickly enough and the heat of the day had helped to dry out the water on the floor.

The door swung open, and her brother and parents came in, each carrying more pieces from the booth. They’d been in the middle of breaking it all down when Dani had called them to the park.

“You can just prop the canopy up in the storeroom.” Lily closed the freezer.

Cody nodded. “We’ll put it with the table.” He and Dad went through the side kitchen door toward the hallway.

Mom set a stack of empty ice cream vats on the counter next to the sink. “Do you want me to wash these now?”

Lily looked at the clock. “It’s getting late, and it’s been a long day. I can do them tomorrow.”

“You don’t want this mess to sit until morning.”

“It’ll be okay. I still can’t believe it’s finally over.”

“You deserve this—you’re the exact right person to carry on the Hart tradition,” Mom said.

“Lily? Tradition?” Cody laughed as he and Dad came back in.

“You know what your mother means,” Dad grunted. But for once, even he was smiling.

Mom laughed. “Yes, not the literal tradition—though, of course, you can always crack out those recipes too.” Winking, Mom lifted the lever on the faucet.

Nothing happened.

“The plumbing—I forgot, Declan turned the water off because of the leak.”

Cody examined the hole in the ceiling from below. “We’ll need to get in and fix up the pipes, make sure there’s no residual moisture that will mold. Dad, you want to help with that next week?”

“Sure. I can round up a few of the guys to help. Mac is dying for something to do with his free time. Retirement has him bored stiff.”

“I’d love to have the work done quickly so I can open up ASAP and enjoy the rest of the season,” Lily said.

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