Epilogue
T he last two weeks had been a dream.
Who knew that the thrill of taking over the business operations of a fudge shop would be on par with making multi-million-dollar mergers and acquisitions in the big city?
Though Lily had a lot to do with it.
Yes, working with the woman he loved—in a town that had nurtured and grown them both up—had given Declan a greater sense of purpose than ever.
But it wasn’t enough.
Not until he made Lily his for good and gave her the desires of her heart.
He was starting to doubt the wisdom of pulling double shifts, though.
Hammering out details in the fudge shop office all day, then sneaking down to the Quinn livery just south of Blueberry Hill Park in the evenings, working in secret alongside Cody to retrofit the Harts’ old Volkswagen van—the one that Lily’s great-grandparents had brought with them to Jonathon Island more than seventy years ago when they’d first opened the fudge shop.
Vehicles may not be allowed on the island anymore, but this one would be parked on Main Street. At least, that was Declan’s plan.
It could all blow up in his face.
It might not.
But there was a certain peace in giving the results to God.
Cody stepped back from the van-turned-food truck, a heat gun in his hand. “I think that’ll do it.” He started to wind up the gun’s cord.
Declan studied Cody’s application of the vinyl wrap he’d ordered. Not surprisingly, it was flawless. “Great job, man.”
“All in a day’s work.” Squatting on the ground—which was littered with old bits of hay—Cody placed the heat gun back in his toolbox. “You think my sister has any idea?”
“I hope not. I’ve tried to keep it a surprise.”
“I gotta admit. When you first suggested turning our family’s old van into a food truck so Lily would have a place to sell her ice cream too, I thought you were crazy. But it’s turned out well.”
“I’m hoping it’ll be a nice marriage of her love for fudge and ice cream.”
“Marriage, huh?” Cody grinned as he snapped his toolbox shut. “Nice choice of words.”
“Shut up.” Declan gave him a friendly shove before his hand went to his pocket on instinct. For over a week now, he’d been carrying the ring in his pocket, unsure when he’d give it to her. For someone who liked to have everything planned, he sure was flying by the seat of his pants on this one.
But he wanted the moment when he asked Lily to be his wife to be perfect.
Or at least perfect for them.
The wooden door to the livery opened, bringing cracks of dusty light streaming in from Blueberry Boulevard.
Mom and Nancy Hart stepped inside pushing a cart filled with ice cream containers.
Now that was a sight he’d never thought he’d see—a Kelley and a Hart working together for a common purpose.
His whole family might not be ready to come around just yet, but this was a good start.
“We’ve got the ice cream,” Mom said, wiping her hands on the back of her jeans. “Is the van ready? The festivities are going to start soon.”
Since the Main Street Festival had gone so well, Dani had decided at the last minute to do a Labor Day evening arts and crafts festival in the park, complete with fireworks later tonight. Lily was there setting up the fudge shop booth now, probably wondering where Declan was.
“It’s as ready as it’ll ever be.” And there was nothing like cutting it so close. He pulled a phone from his pocket, dialed Asher’s number, told him they were ready, then hung up. “All right, let’s get the ice cream loaded in.”
“Unfortunately, there are quite a few of Lily’s recipes that I don’t know,” Nancy said. “But I was able to sneak some copies of the ones she’d written down.”
“I’m sure it’ll be great,” Mom said.
Nancy smiled at her tentatively. Mom smiled back.
Declan rubbed the spot over his heart, then set to work loading the ice cream containers inside the freezer drawer they’d custom fit for the truck.
Finally, it was ready. Nancy and Cody slipped out and headed for the festival.
Meanwhile, Asher arrived and started hitching up the horses to the van—a sanctioned way to get the vehicle from one place to the other.
“It looks great, honey.” Mom patted his back. “She’s going to love it.”
“Yeah?” He slipped an arm around her shoulder. “Thanks, Mom. I just wish Dad…”
“Give him time. He’s trying. Just this morning, he saw Randy Hart outside the fudge shop and didn’t outright glare at him. That’s real progress.”
Groaning, Declan shook his head. “A little slow if you ask me.”
“Nobody said change happened quickly. It takes longer than a few weeks for old habits to die. But Lily’s willingness to give Grandma her house went a long way in healing old wounds.” She paused. “Besides, I have a feeling once there’s a wedding on the horizon, he’ll get on board pretty quickly.”
Declan’s eyes widened “How did you know?”
“Oh, don’t insult my intelligence.” Mom tapped her nose. “I can smell these things.”
“ These things being gossip?”
“Now I’m really insulted,” Mom teased. “All right, I’d better get to my booth. I’ll see you over there?”
“Yep, we’ll be there shortly.”
Mom headed out, and then it was just Declan and Asher. The other man stayed mostly silent except when speaking in low murmurs to the horses. Finally, he turned. “Ready?”
Was he? Declan rubbed his hands together. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Declan opened up the livery doors and Asher whistled and flicked the reins from his place on the cart behind the horses. The horses trotted slowly out onto the road, pulling the food truck behind it. The yellow and purple glittery swirls of the words Lily’s Ice Cream shone and sparkled.
After shutting the livery doors again, Declan jumped on board with Asher and they made their way slowly up the street toward the park, where a banner swept across the entrance welcoming visitors to the Jonathon Island Labor Day Celebration.
The clip clop of the horses’ hooves was soon drowned out by the din of voices and upbeat tunes of Coldplay resounding from speakers someone had set up.
Children squealed at the sight of the horses, which Asher expertly maneuvered onto the park’s pathway. Declan hopped off, politely ushering people off the sidewalk so they could make their way toward the opening beside the fudge shop booth—the one Dani had arranged for in advance.
She appeared from the crowd, grinning at him. “Just a little more that way, around the curve, toward the playground. That’s where you’ll find her.” Leaning closer, she grabbed Declan’s arm. “It looks amazing. She’s going to flip.”
“In a good way, I hope.”
“Definitely.”
Asher and Declan slowly led the horses toward the end of the line of booths.
They passed Mia’s artwork booth, where she and Cody both flashed huge grins and thumbs-up.
When gliding past Patrick’s booth, Declan took in the delicious smells of burgers and nachos—and ignored his uncle’s stare.
Yet another family member who needed to come around.
Finally, the booth—and the woman—he’d been looking for came into view as they rounded a corner.
Dressed in that same yellow dress she’d worn to the wedding when he’d first started to fall in love with her again, Lily spoke to a mom and young daughter, handing them samples of fudge and laughing at something they’d said.
She was beautiful. Radiant.
As the mom and daughter skipped happily away, Lily glanced up, and even from here, he could hear her gasp. Then she was rounding the booth, sprinting toward him, meeting them halfway. She grabbed Declan’s hand. “What is this?”
“It’s a food truck.”
Asher halted the horses right there in the middle of the path, in front of Jemma’s glassblowing and Grace’s maritime booths.
Declan led her around to the side of the truck. “See, that part folds down into a counter, and then you just pop up the roof there, and voila! Food truck.”
“Wait.” Her mouth flopped open. “Is this my family’s old Volkswagen?”
“It is.”
“How did you…” She turned to him, eyes filling with tears. “Lily’s Ice Cream? This is mine?”
“It’s yours, if you want it. I thought we’d park it on the west side of the fudge shop. We can bring it out for festivals like this too. A piece of history along with your new creations.” He licked his lips. “Do you like it?”
“Declan, I love it!” She threw her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. Her lips tasted like chocolate and something exotic he couldn’t quite identify. Probably some new ingredient for her fudge. “How did you do this?”
“With some help from both of our families.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“I didn’t think…I mean, I’d hoped they’d…”
“I know.” He kissed the tip of her nose, risking a glance back at Asher, who sat patiently waiting for them to finish their public display.
“Come on. Let’s get this set up. Then I can tell you more about something my mom said—a way to bring our families even more together.
” He pressed his fingertips against his pocket, feeling the outline of the ring there.
Yes, his plans were going to come to fruition one way or another. And the sooner, the better.
“I want to know. Tell me now.”
He shook his head, laughing. “We’ve kept Asher waiting long enough.”
Lily swooped her head to the side, looking over Declan’s shoulder. “You don’t mind, do you, Ash?”
The man grunted, pulling his ball cap lower. “Well…”
“Be right back, man. As for you.” He looked at Lily. “Come here, then.” Declan pulled her out of Asher’s way, behind the trunk of a large tree, where they were alone—if alone meant an entire town watching and waiting around the corner.
Grinning, Lily slid her hands into his hair, leaving a blazing trail of heat up his back and a dizziness in his brain. “So what’s this about your mom’s idea for how to bring our families together?” Her eyebrows waggled.
“You’re impossible, you know that?”
“Why, thank you.” She pulsed her fingertips against his scalp. “Now tell me.”