Sweet Satisfaction

“Like your grandmother ?”

He nodded. “Yes, like her. Like your aunt. Like Georgia in my office. All of them. They see Harpers Point for what it used to be. And I see it for what I want it to be .”

“And what’s that? What do you see ?”

His brow furrowed. “A place where people can support a family. Grow old together .”

“And you think that’s somehow lost now ?”

He walked to the window, as a line of school children passed by on their way to the library .

“It’s not lost, but the rest of the world is moving faster than Harpers Point. It’s hard to keep jobs here. And without jobs, there go the families.” He turned to her. “But I didn’t come here to discuss the economic growth of the town with you .”

She smiled. “Oh no ?”

“No. I came for an entirely different reason .”

“And I thought you wanted to ask me to be a trusted advisor,” she teased .

Evan laughed. “Not this time. It’s something else .”

“And what’s that ?”

“I thought. Well, I was thinking. As mayor, you know I’m on the head boat for the flotilla. It’s a big deal for opening ceremonies.” His eyes locked on hers. “Would you like to be my date for the Christmas flotilla ?”

Cami almost choked on her coffee. “Date ?”

“I know we skipped right to the good part last week, but it doesn’t mean I can’t ask you on a date. Will you let me take you out ?”

She was almost speechless. And then the butterflies flittered deep in her stomach. She nodded before the words were out of her mouth. “Yes. I’d love to .”

The way he smiled almost took her breath away. “Good. You’ll want to wear something warm. It gets cold on the water .”

“I remember.” She sipped the coffee .

He walked back to the candy shop. “I have to get to City Hall. Georgia will start calling the fire department if I’m not in soon. And I’d hate to have our finest volunteers rush your shop .”

“Yeah, let’s not let that happen,” she chimed in .

She followed behind him .

“Thanks for the coffee .”

“Sure thing.” He turned for the door. “It smells good in here. Like it used to when your aunt ran it .”

“Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment .”

“It is one.” He winked, and her resistance almost completely melted into a puddle on the hardwood floor .

She sighed as Evan straightened his shoulders and disappeared along the sidewalk on his way to City Hall. There was more fudge to make, but for one second. For this one tiny moment, she wanted to be happy that there was a spark that had started to burn between her and Evan again. She didn’t know what would happen, or where it would take them, only there was no doubt the little flame was flickering .

Fourteen

Evan

E van turned on the football game and sat in the leather recliner in front of his TV. He didn’t know which he loved more: the massive flat screen or the plush chair. Sometimes it was just the stillness of the house that he relished. There was no one demanding answers. No one needed anything. And then there were days when he came home to an empty house and he knew this wasn’t how he envisioned his life at thirty .

He twisted the top off a beer brewed locally. He was glad there were other people his age still in Harpers Point interested in starting new businesses. Seth had started a small brew pub down on the waterside of town. He hoped to draw in the summer boaters, but it was hard to sell seasonal ales. He was trying for a Mistletoe-themed flavor this year. As soon as Evan’s feet were up, he heard the doorbell. He scowled, kicking the footplate on the recliner and sauntered to the front door .