Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
He introduced Kate to Natalie, who was in charge of the shop for the day, then brought her upstairs to show her the apartment and get Mallow settled where she could be comfortable for the rest of the day.
“I know the place is small, and I haven’t had any time to fix it up.”
“It’s big enough, and it’s cute. You’ll make it look better once you’re not working all day, every day.”
He huffed. “You’re one to talk about that.”
She sighed. “I guess that’s true, but I’m so proud of you. And I see why you and Rhys fit together now.”
“So you’re no longer holding it against him that he needed time to get himself together?” Caleb asked.
“I still don’t like it, and he better not pull shit like that again, but I like him. You were right. He was worth waiting for.”
“Wait, did you just say I was right about something?”
“No.”
“Yes you did.”
“All right, just this once.”
Caleb grinned. “I won’t hold my breath for it to happen again.”
“I’m sure you won’t.”
Rhys put the finishing touches on their booth. Caleb wasn’t back yet, and he still had some time before the festival officially opened, so he went to look at the Driftwood Doughs booth. He wanted a chance to see what they’d decided to sell at the festival.
“Wow, you’ve got a huge selection,” he said as he looked over their pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies and the cute little cats decorated with royal icing, black ones but also white like Mallow and striped ones as well. They had pastries and muffins and even tiny little apple cakes covered in loads of delicious buttercream. They were going to do very well today.
“It’s the most we’ve ever brought,” Finn said. “Tessa insisted we’d still sell out.”
“Based on how many people are already here, I agree. Did you turn in your baked goods entry yet?”
“Yes.” Tessa held up crossed fingers.
“The cake is so good. I don’t know how you could lose.”
“Keep your fingers crossed anyway,” Finn said. “There are a lot of creative bakers in the region.”
That was true. Competition was always stiff at the festival. “I’d better get back to my booth.”
“All right,” Tessa said. “Let us know if you need any help.”
“You do the same.”
When he returned, Caleb was there alone. Kate had stayed at Cloud Nine to spend some time playing with Mallow and freshening up. She’d be back to see the booths in action and enjoy the festival in a little while.
“She likes you,” Caleb said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. She told me she did.”
“Thank goodness. I was so worried.”
“I know, but you did great.”
Rhys let out a sigh of relief. The hardest part of the day was already over.
Once the festival got going, he and Caleb hardly had any time to talk. There was a constant stream of customers, and their pumpkin chocolate chip latte was selling like crazy. Rhys wondered if they’d have to have someone from Cloud Nine bring them extra supplies. Even doing that, they might not make it until the end of the day.
“If the judges love this as much as our customers do, things will be great for us,” Caleb said when the line slowed enough that they weren’t both serving customers.
“Don’t get overconfident.” Rhys could deal with disappointment much better if he didn’t get his hopes up.
A few hours into the craziness, Natalie and Sam came to hold things down while Caleb and Rhys went to get lunch and see a few of the other booths.
The food trucks were set up in the grass parking lot across from the square, which was normally public parking for town visitors. They wandered around for a few minutes, looking at different food offerings, until Kate joined them. They let her pick what she wanted. She chose a food truck selling lobster rolls that turned out to be exceptionally buttery and delicious. Rhys managed to find them a picnic table by swooping in as a family gathered their things and left.
“So what do you think of the festival?” Caleb asked Kate after they’d all had a chance to take the edge off their hunger.
Kate sighed as she finished a bite of lobster roll. “I think this is probably the best festival I’ve ever been to. Not that I go to all that many. But if you two do more things like this, I’ll be coming up here for them too.”
“I’m so glad you’re enjoying it,” Rhys said. “I don’t really like crowds, but it’s always exciting for the town when Frostwick Harbor gets to host something like this.”
Kate smiled. “I couldn’t believe how good Tessa and Finn’s pastries are. I had doughnuts from Briarwood Orchard too. I was hoping to try a funnel cake too. I’m going to be stuffed when I head home.”
“Just walk around for a while, and you’ll make some room,” Caleb said.