Chapter 12 #2
“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 was finally on 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.
“Tell me what to do,” Isaac said, washing his hands.
“There’s something I don’t hear every day.” Declan stepped up to the sink and scrubbed.
“Haha, funny man.” Isaac dried his hands and passed the towel off to Declan. “Seriously, though. I know I was a jerk last week, but I’m here to do everything I can to help out. To give you that edge.”
It wasn’t exactly an apology, but it was probably as close to peacemaking as they were going to get. And it would all go much more quickly with a partner. If it couldn’t be Lily, then maybe Isaac would do. “All right. I need to make a few more batches of fudge and box up what I’ve already made.”
Declan flicked on an old radio in the corner and, while classic rock filled the kitchen, together, they set to work.
Pulling the ingredients, heating the copper pot, and creating fudge—the Kelley recipes, but made the Hart way, exactly as Lily had taught him.
Isaac didn’t need to know that, of course.
They’d made some good progress when Declan snatched a few water bottles from the fridge and tossed one to his brother. “Thanks for your help. This is actually coming along well.”
“You sound surprised.” Amusement clear on his face, Isaac popped open the water and took a swig.
“I mean, you’re not always the most diligent worker.” Declan tried to add teasing to his voice, but maybe there was too much truth to it for it to really be considered a joke.
Thankfully, Isaac laughed. “That’s fair. I just gotta have the right motivation, I guess.”
“And bussing tables at Mom’s restaurant isn’t enough motivation?”
“Nah, that place will sink or swim with or without me.” Isaac downed the rest of his water, smashing the plastic down onto the countertop before tossing the compressed bottle into the trash. “But you…this place…you need me.”
“Do I, though?”
Isaac gestured toward the fudge they’d piled up in the middle of the three tables—sixty pounds of new candy, nearly ready to be cut and boxed. “Think you could have done all this so quickly by yourself?”
“All right, sure. You’ve been helpful.”
Isaac nodded and pulled another piece of gum from his pocket.
“Look, I know we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, but I care about the family as much as you do.
” His fingers worked to unwrap the yellow gum.
“I want to see the family succeed. And your success here, it matters. Not just for Grandma, but for the family legacy.”
“I know. It’s a lot of pressure, though.” Declan’s eyes flicked toward Isaac. What would his brother think of his confession? “So your help really does mean something.”
“Not that Mom and Dad will ever see it. But that’s okay. As long as Grandma gets her house.” Shrugging, Isaac moved for the slicer, but Declan held up a hand to stop him.
“Now, wait. Seriously. I’ll be sure to tell Mom and Dad how great you’re doing here.
” Because maybe his brother really did want to change.
Maybe he just needed someone to believe in him, the way Lily had believed in Declan.
“You’ve got a lot of talent—way too much to waste.
Maybe if we win, you can come work here. ”
Isaac raised an eyebrow. “You’d want me to head up the fudge shop when you go back to Chicago?”
Declan cleared his throat. “Well?—”
“Ah, I see. You might not be going back to Chicago, now, huh?” Looking away, his much-too-perceptive brother started slicing fudge.
“I’m not sure what I’m planning to do.” Declan grabbed a handful of boxes Lily had left unassembled on the counter and started popping them open.
“But yeah, I don’t know. Maybe, if I win this competition, you could split your time between Martha’s on Main and the fudge shop.
If you wanted to.” It was a huge olive branch, and one Declan wasn’t sure he should offer.
But this was his brother. He was family.
“You’ve got what it takes. And yeah, maybe you’ll fall like I did, but maybe you’ll learn from my mistakes too. ”
“Oh, I have.” Isaac rolled his eyes, the twitch of a smile on his face.
But it wasn’t a sneer—it was almost like camaraderie.
When was the last time his brother had actually felt like a friend?
Probably not since grade school. The six-year gap between them had started to feel so wide then.
But now? If Declan stayed, maybe this was yet another relationship he could work on mending. “And there have been a lot.”
“I know, right? But I’m serious, man. Think about it.”
“Aw, now you’re just going soft on me. What happened to the big brother who was ready to pummel me at dinner last week?”
“He’s still here in case you step out of line again, because you deserved that.”
“Yeah, guess I did. I should know better than to insult your girl.”
Maybe his brother said it to rile Declan, but the truth was, Lily was his girl—and tomorrow, he’d be declaring it to his family. What did telling Isaac one day early matter? “Yes, you should.”
Instead of some smart remark, Isaac just kept slicing fudge, chomping away at his gum. They settled into a rhythm, working to box up the fudge while Bon Jovi sang about livin’ on a prayer.
Finally, Isaac looked up at him. “You said if we win. Do you think we will?” He set the slicer down, leaned back against the counter, arms crossed.
“Do you think Grandma is going to lose her house? And are we really going to lose this shop to the Harts? No disrespect to your girl, but that would be really embarrassing for the family legacy.”
Declan ran a hand through his hair. “Honestly? I don’t know. I think Lily might have an edge. But at this point, I’ve done all I can do.”
“Hmm.” Frowning, Isaac circled back to the fudge, slipping slices into boxes that Declan had prepared. “And you really think that Mom and Dad will be okay with you dating the woman who took Grandma’s house from her? Who took our legacy away?”
“Look, I know it’s hard to understand, but none of this is Lily’s fault. It’s not mine, either. We’ve just been victims of our circumstances, but we don’t want to be anymore. We’re going to forge a different path for our families. End this feud.”
Isaac whistled. “Pretty tall order.”
“Tell me about it.”
“And what happens if Mom and Dad never accept Lily? What if her parents never accept you? You gonna go all Romeo and Juliet on us?”
Declan elbowed Isaac as he handed him another box. “Don’t you wish.”
“Solo heir to the Kelley throne does have a nice ring to it.” Isaac waggled his eyebrows. “But seriously, man. Have you really thought about the consequences of this? I know, I’m the last one to talk, but I’m just looking out for you. For all of us.”
“It’s nothing I haven’t already considered, believe me. But I’m just hoping that time will buffer the hostility.”
“I hope so too, for all our sakes. Especially Grandma.”
Maybe his brother didn’t mean it, but his words were an ice pick, twisting in Declan’s heart.
By the time they poured the final batch of fudge onto the marble table, Isaac had taken over paddling it into shape. He’d insisted on cutting it and boxing it.
Declan’s phone buzzed, and Isaac looked up from the table. “Go ahead and take that. I can finish up.”
Lily’s name popped up on the screen. “It’s okay. I can call her back.”
“Just go, man.” Isaac waved him off. “There isn’t much more to do here, and I’ll finish up—cut these, wash the dishes. Leave me the key and I’ll lock up.”
He glanced down at his phone again. Maybe there was time for a quick meetup with Lily, just to say a proper goodnight. “You sure?”
“Absolutely. Like you said—you’ve done all you can do, and you’ve got a big day tomorrow. Let me take care of the rest.”
Huh. Well, if this wasn’t the biggest seismic shift in the world. “All right. Thanks, man.” Declan tossed his keys to Isaac.
“No problem. And tell Lily I say hey.”
Declan blinked at his brother for a moment, looking for signs of sarcasm, but they weren’t there. Isaac just kept on working.
If Isaac could accept Lily, if he could make such a one-eighty, then maybe the rest of Declan’s family could too.