chocolate was better than the hot chocolate that Sage does at Copper Mountain Chocolates.”
There was some playful booing and the crowd erupted into laughter, puffs of dragon breath misting into the air everywhere. Viv saw Clem standing toward the back waving two sets of crossed fingers at her with a big grin and she smiled.
“So a competition was launched, which has been running for a few weeks now. There’s the popular vote and everyone’s been casting their ballot for that at Delish and those votes have now been tallied.” He patted the right side of his chest over his jacket indicating he had the result secreted on his person. “And then there’s been actual judging of the hot chocolate by the professionally trained taste buds belonging to Edwin from the Graff and we can’t thank him enough for his time tonight.”
There were cheers and whistles for Edwin who smiled and waved.
“He’ll be up soon to let us know the winner of the best hot chocolate but now for the popular vote.” He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Despite knowing she wasn’t going to win, Viv held her breath while he read. Nodding to himself, he announced, “By a…” he frowned “…surprisingly narrow margin, Copper Mountain Chocolates has taken out the popular vote.”
The crowd erupted into cheers and Viv who was taking a beat or two to recover from the surprisingly narrow margin part expelled a breath. The result was hardly surprising and she stuck out her hand crossing in front of the mayor and she and Sage made a big show of shaking as they grinned at each other. “Well done,” Viv said over the whooping.
“It sounds like it was close,” Sage said, “so well done to you!”
“Okay, okay,” the mayor said, hushing everyone. “Moving on to the best hot chocolate category. Edwin, would you like to reveal the winner?”
Edwin stepped forward and Viv was surprised by the sudden loud thud of her heart and the butterflies doing the cha-cha in her stomach. She knew her hot chocolate was the best but still…everybody’s tastes were individual. She glanced out and found Reuben who was smiling at her with a serenity that oozed confidence. He’d told her this morning that she was going to win and her heart went thunk again and the butterflies settled.
“Both hot chocolate A and hot chocolate B were of superior quality,” Edwin said graciously with his strange French-infused Boston accent as he bowed slightly at Viv and Sage.
The test had been conducted in a blind fashion with both classic hot chocolates being poured in generic cups and labeled—one A, one B. Neither Viv, Sage nor Edwin had known which drink belonged to which shop, nor had Viv and Sage been allowed to be present while they were being tasted. It had all taken place in a side tent about fifteen minutes ago and the only person who knew which hot chocolate was which was the mayor who had personally supervised the proceedings.
“There can only be one winner, however,” Edwin continued, “and for its sharpness of taste and its velvety consistency I judge hot chocolate B as the best out of the two.”
“Thank you,” the mayor said and reached into his jacket again pulling out two envelopes this time.
He turned them around to show the assembly that one had A written on the front, one had B and the whole crowd seemed to lean in as he handed the B envelope over to Edwin and asked him to make the announcement. The butterflies kicked off again and Viv flicked another glance at Reuben who was still watching her with that calm assurance.
Edwin seemed to take an age opening the envelope as everyone waited with bated breath to find out which chocolate shop was named inside and could therefore claim the crown. Finally, it was done and he pulled out the piece of paper. “It’s Delish.” And he held it up for everyone to see.
Much to Viv’s surprise there was a whole lot of hooting and hollering for her win, too. People clapped and cheered, grinning at her happily and the mayor patted her on the back and said, “Well done.”
Clem cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, “Woot! Go, Viv!”
Reuben placed two hands over his heart and smiled at her like they were the only two people in town—in the world—and everything narrowed down to them for a beat or two. No people or noise or envelopes. Just them.