How Sweet It Is (26 page)

Not actually seeing Brad over the past
several days, however, did stress her out. She toyed with the idea
of going to his house, but wondered what she would say. “Hello,
Brad. Thank for the money, baby. Let’s work things out.” No, it
sounded too much like she was motivated by cold, hard cash.

Thinking about the painting,
flooring, the accounts and ordering system Brad had helped her with
made her feel wistful—until she grew annoyed again that he hadn’t
come to see her.
What kind of guy goes
broke on your behalf and then practically disappears? Infuriating
man!

Deciding to try out her new understanding of
faith, she gave her relationship with Brad to the Lord, entrusting
it to His care. If He went to the effort to get them together in a
foreign country, surely He had a plan to help them work out this
latest obstacle. Either that or she’d march over to Brad’s house
and clobber him until he relented and kissed her.

Her employees seemed to
sense her wayward mood. Stephan kept making loud comments about her
‘French temper’ and Minnie rushed around the shop trying to keep
up, but Delphine’s plans for the
chocolaterie
were coming along
beautifully.

****

At last the eve of the grand
opening arrived. Aside from a few last minute touches she’d do in
the morning, Delphine had to admit the
Chez
Chocolates
exceeded her wildest dreams.
After Minnie and Stephan made their tired goodbyes, she stayed for
a bit, trying to see how it would appear through the customer’s
eyes.

Her shop indeed appeared intimate—even a
little decadent with the romantic, lush blue color on the walls,
highlighted by framed art prints of sepia-toned French chocolate
products from the turn of the century and photos of her
candy-making pedigree. Recessed lighting highlighted the glass
cases, which held row upon row of dark, semi-sweet, and milk
chocolate varieties. A side table also held an array of boxed
chocolates, a size for every taste and budget. All the packaging
had been done in pale blue and silver colors to complement the
décor.

It had been Brad’s idea to add a coffee bar,
along with tables and chairs and a bookcase with an eclectic
collection of titles to encourage customers to linger. The five
mismatched antiqued tables were positioned next to the windows. She
wondered if the grand opening would be a success, if those tables
would be filled with customers. Tomorrow she planned to add flowers
to heighten the festivity of the occasion.

When she thought about all she’d been through
to get to this moment, tears pricked the back of her eyes.

Thank you, Lord, for your
faithfulness and helping me bring this about. Please also help me
to honor You in this business and be a testimony of Your love to
those around me
.

When she felt satisfied all was in readiness,
Delphine turned off all the lights and locked up. Out in the balmy
evening air, she took a deep breath.

She had just one last task.

She called Stephan. “Would you mind coming by
my place and picking me up early in the morning? There’s something
I’d like to do before I open.”

Stephan responded with alacrity. “Minnie and
I will be there with bells on. You just name the time.”

****

“Bradley, are you listening to me? This came
for you today.”

Brad turned around from the stairway, his
hand resting on the handrail and saw his mother holding out a card.
The envelope was a pretty blue color, similar, he thought suddenly,
to the wall color of Delphine’s shop. Brad sat down on the steps
and tore it open. He drew out a stiff card of the same color.

Welcome to Chez Chocolates
Grand Opening Friday, August sixteenth at eleven am. Your presence
is requested
.

Scribbled at the bottom,
Brad read:
Directions will be supplied
tomorrow
.

He drew his brows together. Why would he need
directions?

“What’s it say, dear?”

He looked over at his mom and smiled. “It’s
an invitation to Delphine’s grand opening.”

“Oh, really? You’re going, right?”

“We’re all invited, Mom.” He glanced down at
the card in his hands and wondered if he should tell her about his
insecurity regarding Delphine. The notion she might reject him
weighed heavily on his mind. He was still going to propose, but his
grim determination lacked the romantic flair he’d always
imagined.

She better say
yes
.

Brad discarded the idea of talking to his mom
about it and sagged back against the step of the staircase.
Besides, she’d probably make another remark about him blowing it
with Delphine.

And she’d probably be right.

Twenty

Delphine was a nervous wreck the following
morning after returning from her errand with her employees. Not
only was today the shop’s grand opening, she also hoped Brad would
be there. If he didn’t show, she knew she’d be certifiable.

Why is he avoiding me? I
cashed the check just like he wanted. He can’t be upset about
that!
Worries flitted like crazed
butterflies in her head.

Delphine shoved the thoughts away. She needed
all her mental faculties to get through the day. After that, if he
still hadn’t shown up, she’d give him a call. Beyond that, she
didn’t want to think.

As she dressed, her hands shook a little.
Striving for a formal, yet romantic look to her dress, she donned a
sheer white poet’s blouse worn with a white camisole underneath,
coupled with a black velvet skirt. Black high-heeled shoes
completed the outfit. She swept her hair up into a loose chignon,
leaving several strands down to frame her face.

Delphine regarded her reflection in the
mirror, thinking back to just a few months ago when her only hope
was a life of barely making ends meet. Now she had the real
opportunity to make a good living doing something she enjoyed. The
only problem was that so many things could go wrong.

She closed her eyes.
Positive mental attitude, missie!
Besides, she’d dedicated it all to the Lord. With
His help, she knew she could walk through the good and the
bad.
Right, God?
She smiled wryly and grabbed her purse.

Minnie and Stephan picked her up and drove
her to the shop. Their enthusiasm nearly eclipsed hers, and they
chattered with excitement as they made final preparations for the
grand opening.

She also noticed that Stephan’s gaze grew
soft whenever they rested on Minnie. Delphine hoped he was being
good to her.

Their romance made her even
more wistful and melancholy for Brad.
Please let him be there today. I need him!

After they arrived, she went next door and
picked up several pastel blue, green, and silver floral
arrangements from the florist, along with matching balloon
bouquets. Once they were placed about the shop, she checked each
and every tray of chocolates to make sure they were properly
displayed. Next, she double-checked to make sure she had enough
change in the till and enough blue bags for purchases. Even her
employees were subject to a last minute inspection. Their blue
shirts and black slacks worn with white aprons complemented the
over all décor.

“We look good, huh Boss?”

Delphine smiled at Stephan. “Yes,
indeed.”

Minnie punched his arm. “Don’t primp.”

He winked at her, and her teasing attitude
melted under a deep blush.

Delphine laughed and shook
her head. Gazing around the
chocolaterie
, and seeing everything in
readiness, she suddenly, desperately missed her father. She wished
this day didn’t have to be tempered by grief.

Papa, I know you’d be proud
of me. I miss you so
. She closed her
eyes.
And Maman, too
.

She took a cleansing breath and glanced at
the clock. Only an hour to go.

Brad, where are you?

****

Brad kissed his mom on the
cheek and went quickly out the door before she could ask him where
he planned to go. She’d wonder why he was leaving early for
Chez Chocolates
grand
opening and ask an inordinate amount of questions.

Then he stopped.

On the porch at his feet sat a pale blue bag
with sparkly blue tissue paper peeking out of the top. He bent down
to pick it up. Inside he found a blue foil wrapped chocolate. Only
one place he knew of featured blue-wrapped candies. He opened it
and popped it in his mouth. Chocolate cream. Pure bliss.

He walked toward his Jetta and found another
bag on the roof of the car. So this is what she meant by
directions. A tingle of excitement skittered up his spine. This
could only be a good sign.

Once he was out on the road, he wondered if
he’d see any more. Where would she put them? Brad had his answer at
the end of the block. Hanging from a street sign was another bag
with tissue paper. He got out and retrieved it, ignoring the
disgruntled honk of another car behind him.

While he chewed on a chocolate caramel, his
gaze scanned the area around him as he drove out from his
neighborhood. A glint of blue caught his attention. This time the
bag sat on top of a phone booth near town. Brad had to wait a full
five minutes for a parking spot so he could obtain the candy.

Soon he had to merge onto the freeway to get
to Glendale. If Delphine valued his life, she wouldn’t put any
candy along the barriers for him to find. When he exited and turned
toward downtown Glendale, he let out a whoop of exultation. On top
of an electrical box near a traffic signal, he spotted another bag.
Six blocks to go.

By the time he found a parking spot near the
shop, he’d found four more bags filled with candies—and he ate
every single one. Brad reached for the car door handle, but stopped
as an idea came to him.

Spying the blue foil wrappers overflowing the
cup holder in the console between the seats, he picked one up and
grinned.

****

Delphine glanced at her watch. Nearly time
for the opening. The newspaper reporter had arrived on schedule.
She took him around the shop, describing her skills, experiences,
commitment to quality, and even her special line of organic
chocolates.

She and her employees posed for several
pictures he requested, Stephan mugging for the camera in a
disgraceful way. All the while, Delphine wondered if Brad would
show up. Her stomach lurched and her heart palpitated in her chest.
If he doesn’t get here soon, I’ll have an anxiety attack!

While the reporter
interviewed Minnie and Stephan, Delphine heard a light tap on the
door. Her pulse jumped when she saw the shadow of a person at the
door.
It better be Brad!

She walked over and peeked behind the shade
and let out a huge sigh of relief. Brad stood glancing at his
watch. Swallowing, she quickly pulled up the shades and unlocked
the door.

“You’re here!” she breathed as she stepped
aside to let him in, drinking in the sight of him. He wore black
slacks with a blue shirt, unwittingly echoing what her employees
wore, although his garments were much more stylish. The color of
his shirt enhanced the intensity of his eyes—and it had been way
too long since she’d looked into those eyes.

Brad pointed at his shirt. “Do you know how
hard it is to find clothing in an Oceania color?” He glanced at
Stephan and Minnie, and his eyes widened. “Hey, how’d that happen?”
He wiggled his brows. “Must be some kind of chocolate vibe I’m in
on.”

Delphine clasped her hands in front of her to
stop from wringing them in agitation. “Thank you for coming.”

His gaze roamed around the space, pausing in
the case packed full of trays of chocolates before returning to
her. “You’ve been busy.” He lowered his voice. “Everything looks
great. You look great. I’ve missed you, Delphine.”

Vaguely aware of the curious looks from
Minnie and Stephan, she could only stare at him—and at the dark
smudges on his lips. She stifled an impulse to giggle. “I see you
found my candy,” she said softly.

He gave her a self-satisfied grin. “Yep. The
realest chocolate I’ve ever tasted.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

Delphine noticed Brad’s face turn a bright
shade of red. He licked his lips, suddenly seeming unsure of
himself. Swallowing, he took her hand in his.

“Do you really love me, Delphine?”

Surprised by his question, she put her other
hand on his chest, feeling his wildly thumping heart beneath her
fingers. “Of course I do,” she whispered.

“Did you cash the check?”

She nodded, finally understanding a little
why it was so important to him. “But I haven’t spent the money yet.
I wanted to talk that over with you first.”

The set of Brad’s shoulders eased and he
smiled. “Okay.” He took a deep breath. “Now, tell me you love me in
French. I’ve noticed you speak in French when you experience
extremes of emotion.”

“You can say that again,” Stephan quipped.
Minnie loudly hushed him.

Delphine wondered at the
sense of calm that stole over her. She stepped closer and smoothed
down his shirt collar. “
Je
t’aime
, Brad.”

Brad closed his eyes and sighed, tempting her
to laugh at his dramatics. He opened his eyes and looked down at
her, his expression tender. “Zhuh tame, too, Delphine.” He put his
hand in his pocket and pulled a blue object out. “I have something
for you.”