Page 5 of Sweet Summertide

The guests were easy to please and seemed happy to learn how to melt chocolate properly. They filled moulds with the creamy mixture and snacked on some fruit, drizzled with the mouth-watering remnants. The afternoon passed quickly, and the satisfied guests departed the kitchen.

Alfonso spent his afternoon tossing pots and pans around. His cooking style was chaotic and messy compared to Theodor’s. Theodor took the time, even in its smallest measure, to clean as he went along. Chocolate was a feisty enough ingredient to work with and required a care and attention to detail that Theodor’s brain was well suited to handle. He liked things to be orderly. Clean. Predictable.

In the thread of desiring precision, a career in law was an obvious choice, but so was his love for the chemistry and art of chocolate. He took his time and prepared the dozens of truffles, bars, and morsels for the festival, while Alfonso worked on thedinner offerings. Each dish included chocolate as a featured ingredient.

“I’m here to help,” Grant, the resort’s manager, said as he walked into the kitchen. “What can I do?”

Theodor bumped elbows with the man, as his hands were busy working a silicon mould off what he hoped would be a big hit with the guests: a rose shaped truffle. “Nice to see you again,” Theodor said.

“I was not surprised when our Alfonso gave me the news that you planned to make the Cove your new home. And I can’t tell you how excited we, here at the Foundry, are to be working with you again,” Grant said.

“I’m glad to be out of the city, that’s for sure.” He sucked in a deep breath of fresh air. “I appreciate the help, but I’m actually just waiting for these to set-up properly before arranging them all,” Theodor said as he finished the batch in his hands. “Actually, I think I’ll get cleaned up in the meantime. I still smell like train, you know?”

“Why don’t I show you to your cabin,” Grant said.

Theodor removed his white coat and hung it on a hook beside the door before throwing his small bag over his shoulder. “I’ll be back in a little, Alfonso,” he shouted into the kitchen. Alfonso’s arm protruded through the door-flaps of the walk-in cooler and waved him off.

“How’s the weather been up here this spring?” Theodore asked Grant as they walked out the front door.

“Much dryer than last year,” Grant chuckled, “but we’ve had enough rain to keep the lake looking good. It should be a fun summer with all the water sports and activities we can do.”

It had been ages since Theodor had been in any body of water other than a pool. Looking past the wide lawn and scattered cabins, the afternoon sun illuminated each tiny ripple and waveon the lake’s surface, and he hoped he could find time to take a dip. “Which one’s mine?”

Grant pointed to the square lodge nearest to the short dock and patted Theodor’s shoulder with his other hand.

Theodor took a step from the concrete pad outside the Harbour House doors to the gravel path and was snatched back. A golf cart screamed around from the far side of the building and the driver pulled it up right where Theodor’s foot had landed only a second earlier. The older man, with white hair, tidy and combed behind his ears, and a warm smile shifted to park and came around to Grant with his hand extended.

“Thanks for bringing this around,” Grant said. “I have some things to check on up the hill after I drop Theodor at his cabin.”

“I could have just walked, you know?” Theodor said and shook the old man’s rough hands.

“Pa. It’s nice to meet you,” the man said. “I’ve never met a real chocolatier before. My wife, Carol, can’t wait for your shop to open.”

Theodore was surprised he had a fan already. “How do you know?—”

“Small town. Everyone knows everything about everyone,” Grant said and hopped in the front seat while laughing. “Now let’s go.”

Theodor nodded at Pa and joined Grant in the golf cart, ready to finally get cleaned up for the evening and ready to see the woman from the train again.

CHAPTER 3

Sittingin Millie’s passenger seat, Holly fluffed the chiffon layers of her skirt. After the train ride, she needed a shower and a new outfit. She had changed out of her blue, floral, day dress and slipped into a shorter, pink frock for the evening. Opening the visor mirror, she checked her lipstick and straightened the bow at the crown of her head.

“Are you sure this isn’t too much?” she asked her friend.

“Holly …” Millie pulled the car around the Foundry’s circular drive and parked in front of the large barn doors before answering. She took Holly by her shoulders. “You are spectacular, as always. Plus, you have nothing to worry about. This is just the Foundry, not the Ritz.”

“It’s not the location I’m worried about.”

“Whoever this Teddy is, I’m sure he’s wonderful. Alfonso mentioned he was picking up a guest chef from Elizabethtown today. If Alfonso likes him, I’m certain he’s a good man.”

“That’s also not what I’m worried about,” Holly said and, in her mind, played back her interaction with Teddy. He had seemed so into her, and even touched her hands most unexpectedly. “Just tell me one thing.”

“I heard someone bought that empty storefront across the street from you,” Millie said.

Holly shook the confusion from her thoughts. “What?”

“You told me to tell you one thing. That’s my one thing.”

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