15
Amidst a leaking roof, a dead and now new oven, cake testing, and a trip to Paris in the works—they all suddenly took a back seat to the town council meeting.
Tonight was the night. Haven’s versus Donut Heaven. The chain donut factory had peppered their social media with discounts and deals, pictures of a clean kitchen and front counter with the employees beaming their happiness to work for “the Heaven.” But Chloe had been inside a Donut Heaven years ago and well, she’d just say the other H word was more like it. It was a hot mess.
Robin had been posting all sorts of fun things on Haven’s social media feeds. Their own discounts and deals, pictures of Sam behind the counter, and pictures of the various savory and sweet treats they had to offer. Little by little, she posted images from Haven’s early beginnings to now. She’d raided the old leather scrapbook for the early images. Chloe loved the black and white pictures of families sitting at the counter and in the booths on Saturday mornings, the kids eating donuts and drinking chocolate milk while their parents sloshed down coffee, read the paper, and caught up on the small town’s goings on. Then Robin posted a video of Laura Kate with blue frosting everywhere, and the thing went viral with over a million likes. For once, Chloe appreciated her assistant’s messiness.
They’d been so fixed on the town council meeting, she had yet to tell Sam about Paris. But what was there to tell?
“My mother-in-law called, and she wants to see me. I know I need to go. It will be closure for all of us.”
She’d booked her ticket for early next week and worked on a schedule for the staff. Laura Kate would be in charge of all the baking. This would test her skills, but Chloe had no choice. Unless Sam-her-boss forbade her to go. Then she’d appeal to Sam-her-boyfriend. She’d told Mom about everything over pie at Ella’s.
“You must go. I’ll be fine. I don’t have any appointments while you’re gone.” Mom told her it was the right thing to do, to at least see Jean-Marc’s final gift. Chloe just had to tell her boss and boyfriend.
In the kitchen, Sam was putting on his apron.
“It’s not time for your shift.” She started to kiss him, then paused when she saw a shadow behind his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Our social media posts are paying off. We need the business and the support for the meeting. I came in early to help.” He tied the apron belt around his narrow waist. “The Haven’s merchandise my assistant ordered is in the office. We’ll hand out the hats and T-shirts to our supporters at the town council meeting. The mugs and tumblers are for sale here.”
“Don’t know why Bob and Donna didn’t think of merchandise long ago.” Tell him about Paris. “Do, um, you think we’re ready for tonight?”
“We have the town and history on our side. Haven’s is the anchor to First Avenue. What would the town, the street be without us?”
“Exactly.” She reached for a cloth to wipe down the table.
“Chloe,” he said softly, peering too close. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, sure.” Smile. “Why? Are you? Weren’t you talking to your agent soon?”
“Yeah, but…” Sam shrugged off his answer. “We’re still waiting.”
So, they both had secrets. She’d leave it for now. No use going into the council meeting distracted by relationship issues. If indeed there were issues. Yet, what surprise did Jean-Marc have for her in Paris? Should she invite Sam along? Or was this between her and her in-laws?
A little before seven p.m., Chloe and Sam tugged on their Haven’s T-shirts and hats, gathered the boxes of donuts to share at the meeting, and headed out with Ruby. Apparently all the tweeting and posting had worked. City hall was so jammed they could barely get in the door.
“Pardon me, coming through, Haven’s proprietor here,” Sam said.
Chloe followed closely, only to run smack into him when he stopped short. She looked around him to see Sam’s dad, Frank Hardy, huddled with a group of executive-looking folks wearing Donut Heaven pullovers.
“Frank? Dad,” Sam said.
“Son, hello.” Frank walked toward his son. “I hate that you’re finding out this way, but you never called me back.”
“Find out what?”
“I’m buying the Donut Heaven franchise. I’m the one bringing them in.”
Chloe shrank back, just in case pieces of Sam’s exploding head landed on her donut box. No use wasting perfectly good pastries.
Dad. Frank. Behind Donut Heaven. It had never occurred to him Frank’s need to talk had to do with this.
“You do know Rick and I own Haven’s,” Sam said in a low whisper, the heat of the crowded room stinging his skin.
“I found out about a month ago, but not because you told me. If you had, I’d have warned you I started the Donut Heaven deal over a year ago.”
“So, what do we do?”
