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)
When they finished their late lunch, it was time to go relieve Sam and Natalie, so Kate took Caleb’s suggestion.
The rest of the afternoon was just as busy as the early hours had been. The lines nearly overwhelmed Rhys and Caleb at times, but somehow, they managed to keep going until it was time to shut down the booths and gather for awards announcements.
Rhys was vibrating with tension as he and Caleb walked toward the podium, where the mayor would give out the ribbons. Kate joined them, and so did all their friends. Everyone was eager to find out if Driftwood Doughs and Rhys and Caleb’s combined efforts would win.
The first prize awarded was for apple treats. The Johnsons, a couple who owned a farm just outside of Frostwick Harbor, won with their cinnamon caramel apples. Rhys and all his friends cheered loudly.
The general baked goods category was next. Rhys wasn’t at all surprised when Tessa and Finn took first place.
Several announcements later, it was finally time for the beverage contest. Rhys worried he might pass out from the stress as the mayor opened the envelope that would reveal the winner. He held one of Caleb’s hands, and Kate held the other.
The mayor cleared his throat. “The winner of Best Fall Beverage is Cloud Nine and Frost + Foam.”
Caleb, Kate, and all their friends cheered immediately, but it took Rhys a moment to process that they’d actually won. Just as he did, Caleb hugged him, lifting him off his feet and spinning him around. When Caleb set him on the ground, Tessa pulled him into a hug, followed by his friends and then Kate. They’d really won. Combining their skills had been the right thing to do.
Several people from town, including Agnes and Mrs. Murphy, made their way over to congratulate them. All of them raved about how much they’d enjoyed their entry. Rhys could barely process it all. He just nodded and said thank you again and again, as the world seemed to swirl around him.
Frostwick Harbor residents took over half of the prizes that day. Agnes had to be over the moon. Her push to do their best had really worked.
“We really did it,” Rhys said to Caleb as they walked back to their booth.
“We did. I knew we would.”
“Working together was the best choice I could have made.” Rhys wanted to kiss him, but that would need to wait.
“I’m so glad you changed your mind about it.”
Slowly, the crowd dispersed as festival guests headed off to dinner or back home, and everyone with a booth began to pack up for the night and figure out what supplies they’d need to do this all again the next day.
Rhys and Caleb took their ribbon and placed it carefully in one of the boxes they were packing up. The next day, they would display it proudly on the front of their booth.
“We’d better have a lot of pumpkin puree and chocolate ready for tomorrow.”
“We will,” Caleb said. “I made tons. I knew I could use it in the shop if it didn’t sell here.”
“I think we’re going to need it all.”
“Me too,” Caleb said.
Kate had stayed behind to say goodbye to Tessa and the other people she’d met, but she hurried over so they could say goodbye to them. “This has been the best day. I wish we’d known about this festival years ago.”
Caleb nodded. “You’ll have to come back next year.”
“I’m already planning on it. I hate that I have to leave, but I do need to get back.”
He studied her for a moment. “Are you sure you’re not too tired to drive?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll be fine.”
“All right, but be careful, and let me know when you get there.”
“I’m the older sister. It’s my job to worry about you.”
“Kate.”
“I’ll let you know when I’m home safe, and I’ll let Mom know, too, because she’ll call if I don’t. She’s loving all the pictures I’ve sent.”
Caleb grinned. “She texted me too. She can’t wait to meet Rhys.”
Rhys’s heart rate skyrocketed. “I… um… I’m not sure—”
“We’ll give it a little while,” Caleb said. “I won’t push you right into that, but if you can handle Kate, you’ll be fine with Mom.”
Kate hugged them both and insisted they didn’t need to walk her to her car. She’d been thrilled about the luxury of finding easy parking within walking distance, which was funny, considering this would be the most difficult weekend of the year to park in Frostwick Harbor.
In the center of the square, some town council members were already working on starting the bonfire that was a tradition for Saturday night during festival weekend, but Rhys had been around people long enough. He didn’t want to stay for the bonfire, but he also didn’t want to deny Caleb the chance.
They took the things they’d packed up back to Cloud Nine and checked on Mallow. Rhys wanted to pull Caleb into his bedroom, but instead, he said, “Do you want to go back and talk to people and see the bonfire?”