Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania (26 page)

But looks could be deceiving. And Jasper knew better than anyone how well this old adage applied to all of Sadie’s desserts. The amazing talent God had given her for recipes, cooking, and even restaurant management did not make up for what she had not been blessed with—the ability to create a tasty, truly delicious dessert.

As Jasper stood staring at the display, he marveled at mankind’s constant attempt to strive beyond the abundance they already possessed.

When was it enough? When could they learn to be happy with what they had and stop worrying about what they didn’t? He sighed and turned away, his eyes seeking out Sadie’s form as she bent in consultation with Lucinda Lowell. She had pasted a satisfied smile on her features, but it didn’t serve to conceal the tension he recognized in her tightly squared shoulders and rigid posture.

He chewed his lower lip with worry, wondering how they were going to get through the day. As he stood there working at his lip and digging his hands into his jeans, Dmitri suddenly appeared beside him.

Jasper shifted a little to look at Dmitri’s face and saw that his gaze had also focused on Sadie. The same concern Jasper felt now radiated from Dmitri’s interested blue eyes.

“Is she going to be all right?” he asked, his tone filled with distress.

Jasper was moved by the other man’s worry. “I don’t know,” Jasper admitted after a moment. “I guess it’ll depend on how the day goes.”

Dmitri considered something for a moment. “She tries too hard, doesn’t she?”

The observation startled Jasper for some reason. He studied Sadie’s smooth but tense movements on the other side of the room. “Yeah,” he softly acknowledged. “Something like that.”

With a shake, Jasper drew himself back to the man in front of him. “So, you’ve got your entry all registered and ready?” he asked, longing for a change of topic.

Dmitri nodded, easily shifting the conversation. “It is a chocolate ganache and ginger tart topped with poached pears.”

Jasper raised his eyebrows at how easily those words spun off Dmitri’s tongue. Dmitri had apparently done this before. Suddenly Sadie’s paranoia over the Russian as possible competition didn’t seem so far-fetched.

“It begins with a cocoa-and-crumb base for the tart shell, followed by the ginger-and-ganache filling,” Dmitri explained. “Pears poached in cinnamon and wine are served on top.”

Jasper’s mouth watered at the mere thought of it. This was clearly something he had to see. Besides, his convenience-store cup of coffee had long since failed to satisfy his empty stomach. Not that Dmitri would give him a taste, but just seeing such deliciousness might be enough.

“Mind if I take a look?” he asked as casually as if he were popping the hood of a Chevy.

Dmitri didn’t need to be asked twice. He steered Jasper toward his table, where the two stared in childlike delight at the inspiring sight of Dmitri’s tart. After laying eyes on it, Jasper knew he’d never be able to refer to the like as “pie” ever again.

As Dmitri enthusiastically began to run through the steps he had taken to create this gorgeous delicacy, Jasper couldn’t help smiling at his excitement. Other than Sadie and the occasional acquaintance of hers whom he had met, he had never seen anyone who gushed over food like Dmitri did. He suddenly found it very sad that Sadie hadn’t learned to like Dmitri. They had a deep appreciation of food in common at heart.

As if summoning her with this thought, Sadie suddenly appeared at his side, bobbing up with unnatural ease.

“So,” she announced by way of greeting.

Jasper recognized the sparks shooting from her eyes and realized, once again too late, that by hanging out with Dmitri he had committed the blackest of sins.

“Sadie, it’s nice to see you.” Dmitri smiled with warmth—although it wasn’t enough to melt the ice wall Sadie forced between them.

“Mmm,” she weakly responded. A very long, very awkward pause stretched between the three until she belatedly added, “You too.”

Jasper stifled a groan. Sadie began to rock back and forth slightly on her feet. It reminded Jasper of an action Kylie took when she was about to work him over for something she wanted.

“Is that your entry?” Sadie gestured with her chin to the decadent delight resting on the table before them.

Dmitri nodded. “Chocolate ganache and ginger tart topped with poached pears.”

Jasper could have sworn Sadie’s coloring flushed to almost purple.

“Mmm-huh. I see.”

Ever the gentlemen, Dmitri offered, “I noticed your own entry. It looks lovely. A chocolate mousse with berry compote?”

Jasper noticed Sadie’s teeth grinding together from the corner of his eyes.

Her jaw was clenched so tight she lisped her reply. “Yeth, thath’s right.”

By now, it was obvious that nothing Dmitri could say would thaw the awkwardness between them. With a regretful smile, her competitor said, “Well, best of luck to you. Excuse me while I go have a word with Miss Lowell.”

Sadie’s plastic smile remained in place until Dmitri’s back was turned. She then transformed from forced politeness to narrowed eyes, straight lips, and sagging shoulders.

“Chocolate ganache and ginger tart topped with poached pears? Now why didn’t I think of that?”

Jasper remained silent, hoping to be momentarily forgotten…but he had no such luck. Sadie turned on him with an accusing glare.

“How
could
you?”

“We were only talking,” Jasper responded with his hands held up in defense.

“Put your hands down,” she commanded. He obeyed.

“This is
Dmitri Velichko
we’re talking about! You
know
how I feel about him!” she chastised.

Jasper sighed. “Yes, I know
how
you feel about him. I’m just not quite sure I understand
why
.”

She sputtered. “What—you—why?
That man
—” She pointed a finger, but Jasper slapped it down, afraid she would make a scene. “He’s my
competition
, Jasper! They say he’s opening up a restaurant
right across the street
from mine!”

“Have you asked him about it?”

For whatever reason, surprise or fury, this question dropped her into silence.

“Well, have you?” Jasper pressed. When she remained silent, he continued. “Maybe you should talk it over with him before you sentence him to the gallows.”

Sadie appeared to be working up a decent retort when Kylie appeared, chattering happily about ponies and rainbows and all things decent and light in the world. She was speaking at such a high rate of speed that Jasper could barely understand a word of it, other than when she attached herself to his legs and demanded, “Lift Kylie! Lift!”

He picked her up and she carried on with her story, lips green from a lollipop’s remains and fingers sticky with candy.

“…and then maybe Mommy can too!”

“Maybe Mommy can what?” Sadie distractedly questioned her daughter, finally pulling her gaze from the tantalizing perfection of Dmitri’s dessert.

“Ride the ponies,” Mac filled in as he sauntered up. “We found the pony rides as they were setting up for the day. They gave this little horsewoman”—he gestured to Kylie, who beamed at this appellation—“the first ride of the day for free.”

“And a lollipop,” Kylie added, rather unnecessarily. “After the people eat Mommy’s dessert, maybe Mommy can have a ride too!”

Sadie had shifted her attention to the room at large and was scanning it desperately, most likely for the arrival of the judges. “Mommy’s got a very busy day ahead of her,” she murmured.

“But, Mommy,” Kylie protested, “they’ll give you a lollipop too!”

Sadie now focused on her daughter, who was sticking out her lower lip in a very precious, very sulky display of disapproval.

“There’s plenty of time before the judging starts,” Jasper pointed out. “Why don’t you go now?”

“Yes, Mommy, yes!” Kylie inserted her own feelings on the subject.

Sadie hesitated. “But when the judges arrive…,” she trailed off meekly.

“When the judges arrive, you can’t do anything but stand there and wring your hands anyway, so you might as well be happily occupied,” he suggested. Shifting Kylie to his other side, he leaned over to whisper in Sadie’s ear, “Besides, Kylie’s been really patient during the past few weeks, and you haven’t spent much time with her lately.”

Before she could ask, Jasper offered, “I’ll keep an eye on your entry until you get back.”

With no more excuses to prevent her, Sadie held out her arms and Jasper deposited a happy Kylie into them. Then he and Mac stood together and watched her carry Kylie out of the building, presumably off to the pony rides. Their heads were next to the other’s in animated discussion. It was the first time Jasper had seen Sadie really smile in weeks. He hoped it wouldn’t be the last for weeks to come.

Mac cleared his throat once Sadie was gone.

“Whose entry is that?” he asked, clearly impressed by the tempting display before them.

“Dmitri Velichko’s,” Jasper answered. “Chocolate ganache and ginger tart topped with poached pears.”

“Uh-oh,” Mac said.

“Yeah,” Jasper replied. “I know.”

Mac turned his back on the mouthwatering tart. “I don’t suppose you’ve had a chance to tell Sadie your news, have you?”

Jasper scuffed his boots along the floor. “Nope.”

“Oh,” Mac responded.

Jasper thought he might as well have said “Uh-oh,” like he had in reference to Dmitri’s tart.

“The right time hasn’t come up,” Jasper defended himself. “Between this stupid dessert contest and watching Kylie and making sure everything’s running smoothly at the restaurant…”

Mac didn’t say anything.

“I will,” Jasper reassured the older man, for his own sake more than Mac’s. “Soon. I will soon. Who knows? Maybe she’ll win the competition and she’ll be in such a good mood when I tell her, she’ll actually be happy… .”

Mac’s expression indicated what he thought of the likelihood of this scenario. Jasper frowned.

“Yeah. That’s what I thought you’d say.”

As the morning wore on, a large crowd gathered in the church and on the grounds. People overflowed the kitchen and gymnasium, where the Cocoa Cook-Off and talent competition were slated to take place, and dozens more made their way through the outdoor venues, taking in pony rides, balloon making, carnival games, ministry expositions, funnel cakes, and french fries. By the time Sadie and Kylie had indulged in two pony rides, an army of balloon animals, a round at “Throw the Ball in the Bucket,” and a funnel cake, the chocolate competition was rapidly approaching.

Sadie found herself growing queasy, and it became harder and harder to concentrate on Kylie’s steady stream of chatter. They greeted dozens of friends and acquaintances, but more than anything, Sadie wished Jasper would show up and reassure her frazzled nerves.

Grudgingly promising Kylie a cone of cotton candy for later in the afternoon, she at last herded her daughter back toward the church gymnasium, where it seemed as though most of the town had turned out to watch the Cocoa Cook-Off.

Mac stood by her display and waved her over with a smile when he saw her nearby. She nearly sobbed with relief at his encouraging grin, and for the first time in years, she felt like throwing herself into her father’s embrace and crying on his shoulder. She had forgotten how much the strain and pressure of competition weighed on a person.

Kylie let go of her hand, raced through the crowd, and vaulted herself into her grandfather’s outstretched arms. Sadie swallowed back a lump of emotion. She remembered doing that a very long time ago when Mac would ride back into town for a visit. She’d hear his old Harley in the drive, fly out of the house, and be in his arms almost before he could turn off the ignition.

She had been happy in those moments, and she hadn’t needed anything else to make her feel worthwhile.

Why did she need something else now, years later, when contentment should have been secure at last? A lot of different things would pass through her life. When would any of them become enough? What was “enough” exactly?

This thought was cut off as Sadie pushed through the mingling crowds and arrived at her table just as Jasper reached it as well.

Her heart thudded with relief. “There you are.” With her current emotional state, it sounded far more accusatory than she wished.

“Sorry. I got tied up by Dwayne,” he explained. Dwayne Roop was the principal of Agape Christian Academy—and therefore Jasper’s boss. “But I also ran into Lucinda. She just finished registering the last contestant.”

He relayed the final instructions from Lucinda, rubbed Sadie’s back in reassurance, and planted a kiss on her temple…and then there was no more time for encouragement, as the Cocoa Cook-Off competition got underway.

The judges moved from table to table, sniffing, tasting, writing on their clipboards, sniffing and tasting some more. Sadie thought the select group of church board members were really taking the dramatics to extremes and couldn’t help but wonder how many late-night competitions on the Food Network they’d watched to lead up to this day.

When the judges reached Smith and Jones’s table, Sadie cringed. The two elderly women had joined forces to create a Reese’s peanut butter cup pie, which looked much fancier than it sounded. She had to give it to them; their replacement of mascarpone cheese in place of the plain old cream cheese called for in the recipe, along with their spiced nut graham cracker crust, was a brilliant strategy. The panel’s satisfied expression as they tasted the results indicated that it had been the right move. Who knew that Smith and Jones could be such formidable competitors? Sadie ground her teeth together in distress.