“Ah.” He nods. “I enjoy the numbers, but it feels like being locked up on the business side has left me confused about the actual store, like I’ve lost touch with it.”
“That happened to me a few years ago.”
“Really?” he asks. “What happened?”
“I was approached by a franchising company. They were impressed with the business model and our product. They wanted to see how we could go from a small, independent shop to growing our company to something more. Like you did. So, I put down the spatula and took a seat behind the desk. I realized quickly I was not happy about that and would rather not franchise if it meant not liking what I was doing. But it doesn’t seem like you hate the business side.”
“I don’t. I enjoy it. I like the challenge.”
“Did you enjoy working at the store when you were younger?”
“I’ve always enjoyed working at the store. But when I was younger, it was different. Palmer and Cooper were always being idiots on the main floor, scaring each other, hiding, and now that I think of it, making it fun. Mom and Dad would get so irritated with us, but then I was separated from their shenanigans when Dad started teaching me how to run the business.”
“Did he teach anyone else?”
Ford shakes his head.
“Huh, interesting.”
“Why is that interesting?” he asks, and, honestly, I can’t take him seriously in that getup.
“Because I have a sister, and my parents let us both learn about the business. Cheryl decided she wanted nothing to do with it and went off to do her own thing. Occasionally she’ll come to the store and help me ice cakes because she needs the creative release, but she’s a teacher, and it’s a job she finds so much more joy doing. But she had the choice, the chance to test things out.”
Cooper never got that chance.
Palmer didn’t either.
But from the look on Ford’s face, he’s not making the connection.
“Anyway,” I say, “I think you just need to find the passion for the company again.”
“I think you’re right.” He pats his chest. “Working on that passion. No better way to start than fly-fishing. Right?”
“Totally.” I chuckle. “Anyway, shall we get down to business? The real reason I sneaked onto the island with a bakery box?”
“Yes, of course. Please tell me: What’s the cake scheduled to be right now?”
“Currently, it’s lavender. I got a call from Palmer this morning.” When she called me, I did everything I could not to laugh. I knew Cooper was going to lose it if he found out. And it’s something I planned on telling him later—even though he said to keep the cake butterscotch, this is obviously more fun for me. The Chance siblings are a special kind of crazy.
But a crazy I enjoy.
“Does anyone know you’re here?”
I shake my head. “I’ve come completely undetected. Even threw on a baseball cap on the ferry, just to make sure.”
“Smart move,” Ford says, looking all too serious now. I honestly can’t take it. I tamp down the smirk that wants to make itself known from how ridiculous this entire situation is. “Okay, let’s see what you have.”
Opening the bakery box, I pick up the plate the inn provided for us and place five pieces of cake on it. A lavender, a butterscotch, a coffee, a chocolate, and, of course, a plain vanilla.
“Now, on the lavender and the vanilla, I had to use a plain buttercream, but those could always change. The chocolate has a raspberry buttercream, and then the coffee and butterscotch both have a fudge frosting.”
I hand him the plate, and he picks up his fork, using it to poke each piece of cake.
Well, hello, is he inspecting the crumb? Am I under culinary examination over here?
“I’m so done with this battling over the cake,” he says, still prodding away. “If I didn’t know my parents wanted a cake from you, I would just buy a pie and call it a day.”
“The pie, my nemesis.”
He laughs. “Not a fan of the pie?” He takes a bite of the chocolate cake, and his face remains neutral as he chews.
“Well, clearly it’s not a cake, so of course I’m not a fan. Pies try to take the glory on Thanksgiving, but let me ask you this, Ford—have you ever had a Thanksgiving cake?”
“Can’t say that I have.” He bites into the vanilla after taking a sip of water.
“Well, you are missing out. People like to boast about a pecan pie; well, try a pecan turtle cake on Thanksgiving. Life changing.”