Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
N ormally, church uplifted Lily. Reminded her that God was bigger than her problems.
But not today.
It wasn’t Pastor Arnie’s fault. He’d given a riveting sermon on the parable of the talents—the parts she’d heard, anyway. Her brain had crowded out the other parts, unable to settle, to quiet.
Even now, after service had ended, as she stood with her parents, who were talking with Cody and Mia at one end of their wooden pew, Lily should be finding pleasure in her day off.
She and Declan had mutually agreed they would close the shop on Sundays, at least until one of them won and could afford to hire someone to work limited Sunday hours.
Because nobody could work seven days a week without burning out.
Of course, it didn’t seem to matter how many days a week Declan Kelley worked.
He always came out on top, as judged even in church by the crowd of people surrounding him.
He stood like some anointed prophet on the other side of the small sanctuary, near the stained-glass window of Jesus with the lost lamb.
Someone slapped Declan on the back, and he grinned that thousand-watt smile of his. Laughed.
Lily huffed, and Mom turned toward her. “You okay?” She looked pretty today in a flowing skirt and blue sleeveless blouse, her hair down around her shoulders.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about going into the shop later and experimenting some more. Gotta find the perfect recipe.”
“Everyone knows you make amazing fudge. That reviewer didn’t know what he was talking about.”
Except, he had known. Lily had yet to tell Mom the real reason he’d spit out his fudge. She’d let everyone assume it was because his tastebuds just weren’t quite refined enough.
Only she knew the wretched truth.
But how had her fudge turned out so terribly? She knew fudge. It practically flowed in her veins.
Apparently, her over-salted veins.
“Thanks, Mom,” she said. “But there’s a bit more to it than that.”
Cody and Mia left, likely to grab her kids from the children’s classrooms in the building next door.
Dad turned from them, faced Lily. A gruff man with skin a bit brown and leathery from all his years in the sun, today his sharp gaze was softened by the powder blue polo he wore. “Listen to your mother, Lily.”
Lily’s eyes widened at her father, who didn’t speak unless he had something to really say. “Yes, sir.”
“I mean it.” He took a step closer, kissed her on the temple—a rare display of affection. “You can’t let that boy get you down.”
That boy. That’s all Declan had ever been to Dad.
He’d never known him like Lily had. Had never needed to know anything more than that Declan was a Kelley.
But he hadn’t seen how Declan had helped Lily.
How he’d lent her his professional expertise, even though it wouldn’t benefit him—might even hurt his chances at winning.
I think this family feud has gone on long enough.
“It’s not Declan. Dad?—”
But her father held up his hand. “You’re a Hart and that means you’re going to succeed.” Turning, he found Frank and Martha Kelley, who now stood by their son. As if expecting it, Frank met Dad’s stare—and both of them glared.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” Mom grabbed Dad’s arm. “We’re at church, Randall.”
“What? I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.” Rolling her eyes, Mom looked at Lily. “Mia and Cody are joining us for lunch. How about you?”
Lily shifted her purse from one shoulder to the other. “Thanks, but I think I’m going to head to the shop.”
Mom frowned, but nodded, patting Lily’s cheek. “Just don’t stay too long, all right? Everyone needs a day of rest. Sometimes the best ideas come when you’re resting.” She winked. “Surely you learned that in business school.”
The words landed like a punch.
Maybe Declan deserved the fudge shop after all.
As her parents left through the front, Lily headed for the back door.
She walked outside, the sunlight warming her skin.
A large Dutch elm tree spread its branches over the manicured lawn with its surrounding walking path.
Lily started to turn right, toward the concrete path that led to Jonathon Boulevard, but stopped when she heard her name being called from inside the church.
Well, she’d almost escaped.
Turning, she found Tara Chamberlain approaching.
Just like her daughter Jordi, the pastor’s wife was always the height of fashion, and today was no exception in her wide-leg trousers, silk blouse, beige kitten heels, and pearl hoop earrings.
“Hey, girl.” Arms outstretched for a hug, Tara offered her a smile.
“I was trying to get over and say hi before service started but you know how it is.”
“I don’t, actually,” Lily teased, accepting Tara’s hug. The woman smelled like lavender. “We can’t all be as popular as you.”
“Popular is one word.” Tara stepped down onto the sidewalk. “It’s mostly people wanting to complain about something either church-related or town-related.”
She smiled at that. “I saw Jeb’s in town?”
“Yes. Just for the weekend. He’s going hiking today with some of his buddies, and Arnie has a counseling session before he’ll head home. So.” Tara tilted her head with a sly smile. “Will you indulge me with a short walk around the green? It’s such a nice day.”
She didn’t fool Lily. “Did Mom ask you to check on me?”
“She might have mentioned you were having a rough time since that article released yesterday.”
Lily groaned. “It’s so embarrassing. And the worst part is, it’s true. My fudge was terrible.”
And somehow, without meaning to—because Tara was just that good—Lily spilled the whole story about Mr. Mercer’s visit. The aftermath too. “It really, truly tasted awful. I still don’t know what happened.”
In the distance, historic Fort Jonathon overlooked the lake, its limestone walls standing thick and strong.
Tara’s heels clicked on the sidewalk that meandered along the edges of the church’s property.
She stopped and looked at Lily, her eyebrows pinched together.
“Lily, you’re sure…well, I don’t want to suggest… Hmm.”
“What is it, Tara?”
“It’s only, you don’t think Declan sabotaged your fudge, right? I wouldn’t think him capable, but then again, your families have been fairly contentious over the years. Perhaps the pressure of the competition got to him?”
“No.” The answer came quick and sharp. “He wouldn’t do that.”
“You’re positive?”
“Yes.” Not a question in her mind. “This was my fault. I messed up. When Declan told me I was in the lead last week, I couldn’t believe it. Maybe I got distracted.” She sighed. “I’m not sure I’m really cut out to be a business owner.”
“Now hold on right there.” Tara pulled out her mom voice, though it was still soft and pliable, caring. “Just because you made a mistake doesn’t mean you throw everything away. You’re every bit as capable as Declan.”
“No, I’m not.”
Tara raised an eyebrow.
Aw, she’d already told her so much…“I failed out of business school because I was too focused on the creation process. I didn’t want to worry about the numbers, because the numbers were hard and I’m not naturally inclined toward them. But the numbers matter when you’re running a business.”
“They do. But they’re not everything. I’m guessing Declan is beginning to see that.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means you have something he doesn’t—a love for creation. A business isn’t ever going to succeed without true spirit and heart behind it.”
“Declan has heart. He cares about his grandma. Cares about his family’s legacy just like I care about mine.”
“And you also care about him.” A smile edged Tara’s lips. “Don’t try to deny it. It’s written all over your face.”
Once again, Lily groaned. “I don’t want to care.”
“And yet, you do. It’s why I asked you if you thought he was trying to sabotage you. Oh my, the defense.”
Lily laughed, incredulous. “You didn’t really think he was. You just wanted to see if I thought he was. To see if I…”
“Love him? Yes, dear.”
“Love?” Lily sputtered the word. “Ha! No. I tolerate him, sure. He’s easy on the eyes, I’ll admit. And he’s got a surprising amount of kindness in him. And he apologized for the past.”
“So far I’m not hearing a but .”
“But”—Lily said, with emphasis—“he’s leaving, Tara. And I don’t think, well, he’s never said he would want to be with me or anything like that. Plus, we’re competitors .” She stopped and placed her hands on her hips as she faced Tara. “That’s a lot of but s standing in our way.”
“True. There were a lot of buts standing in mine and Arnie’s way too. You know the story.”
Lily swallowed. “I do.” She knew how a girl named Tara Montgomery from a rich Bostonian family had visited Jonathon Island the summer after her high school graduation and met a poor seminary student named Arnie Chamberlain.
How they’d fallen for each other and, despite the disapproval of her family, she’d chosen him and a young marriage over the fancy college education her parents had planned for her.
“Then you know that when it comes to love, nothing is ever one-hundred-percent easy. It takes work and commitment.” Tara squeezed Lily’s arm. “But when two people decide it’s worth it, oh, honey, it’s worth it.”
What if…Oh, the thought weirdly filled her chest. No. No—that wasn’t…
Well, she’d been down that road of dreaming of a future with Declan Kelley, and look where that had gotten her. And this time she knew he’d abandon her, so…
“I appreciate that, Tara, but right now I have bigger problems. I don’t know how to come back from that article.” Her eyes started to burn. “I don’t know if I should even try.”