Founders of Mendel’s Confectioner’s Shoppe, Est. 1966, whose love story began in chocolate and lives on in every sweet creation. Their son, Frank Mendel, carries on their legacy with the same passion for artistry and heart that built this haven.
Eliza took a step back. Frank hadn’t just known Isadora—he was herson.
A slow grin crept across her face. Isadora had not only found love, but she’d built a life with someone who shared her passion for baking. She’d fallen for a chocolatier, and together, they’d had a son.
She wondered why Isadora never lifted the curse from the cottage on Drury Lane. Perhaps the memories of her first marriage were too heavy to face, and so she never returned to it. Perhaps she even tried to undo it, but didn’t know how.
Either way, Eliza couldn’t help but feel overjoyed. Finally, there was closure.
Getting a spark of resolve, Eliza stepped back inside and approached the counter. She pulledIsadora’s Memory Baking Cookbookout of her satchel and placed it on the counter in front of Frank. “I believe this belongs to you,” Eliza said. “Your motherwould want you to have it. She loved you more than you could ever imagine.”
Frank looked at the worn cover and then up to Eliza. Tears shimmered in his deep blue eyes, and for a split second, Eliza swore she was staring into Isadora’s. Suddenly, everything fit.
That’s when she saw the black and white photograph on the wall: the two shop founders, so happy and full of life. Isadora stood next to her husband, with one hand cradling her round belly and gleaming with a very large ring on her finger.
Guess Mendel’s Confectioner’s Shoppe paid well,Eliza thought, smiling.
Beside her, Henri gazed down at Isadora. He was tall and handsome, with dark hair and a strong jawline. He looked like a much younger version of Frank. He paid no mind to the camera, but only stared at Isadora, like she hung the stars and moon themselves.
“Thank you,” Frank said. “Please, take whatever you’d like from the shoppe.”
Eliza just smiled. “Actually, now that you mention it, I’d like to ask a favor. Would you mind if I used your recipe for Gingerbread Snap Dragons in my own bakery back home in London?”
After all, she knew the recipe by heart.
Lachlan and Puffcake were already outside by the time she arrived, her arms full of all the wrapped presents.
Opening the door, Lachlan took them from her, and placed them inside. When she tried to help, he was adamant that sheremain outside. He moved away from the door, and Eliza caught a glimpse of a wreath hanging there.
That was odd.
That wasn’t there before.
Lachlan came back outside, shutting the door behind him. “Before we go inside, I wanted to give you your present first. You ready?” he asked, brows lifted.
Eliza nodded.
He came over to her, grabbed her shoulders, and spun her around three times. The snow crunched beneath her boots and threatened to make her slip, but with the help of Lachlan steadying her, she stayed upright.
At last, he stopped her in the very same spot she’d been standing in before. The cottage was as it was before, sugar-laced piping on the roof, candy cane lights leading up to the front door, smoke billowing from the chimney.
The only thing different was the wreath. She looked at Lachlan, confused. He was holding a set of keys. “Well?” he jingled the keys. “What do you think?”
She blinked, looking between Lachlan and the set of spare keys. Surely, they were the spares. They couldn’t be …
“I bought it,” Lachlan filled her in.
Her hands flew to her mouth as she let out a screech. “What?How?” That was all she could get out.
Lachlan smiled. “For you. I was surprised when I saw the Sugar Plum Suites owner was in yesterday, but then again, it is holiday week, and it’s their busiest month out of the year. I went in and ended up making him the offer. It’s completely in your name, Snow. You can Airbnb it out and make a profit for your bakery, or you could move in here and grace Gingerbread Hollow with your baking all year-round. The only thing I ask is that every Christmas, this is where we’ll be. Together.”
Together. He’d said.Every Christmas.
And he was nowhere on the lease. He had no intention of screwing her over by ever trying to take this beloved place from her. She looked at the cottage.Hers.
She fell into his arms, tears streaming down her face as she kissed him. He hit a patch of ice, and the two of them went tumbling. The fluffy snow broke their landing, and she fell onto his chest in a flurry of giggles.
She kissed him again with every ounce of love and joy she could possibly convey to him. She felt like the Grinch; her heart only expanded more and more every time Lachlan was around.
