“We can have rounds,” Dax said. “We have taste testing to narrow down the entries. We can get the town involved in that part. That shows them that we really want to be a part of the community, and it gets them invested in the company and the new things we’re doing.”
Whitney was smiling more genuinely now. “So we have all of the entries put to a taste test by the people of Appleby.” She nodded. “I like that. We can have people send entries in from wherever they are, but we have community judges narrow things down.”
“Then the top ten get flown in then,” Ollie said, picking up the thread. “We bring them to Appleby, put them up at the B and B, make it a whole event.”
“And,” Whitney said, “we have special judges for the final rounds.”
“Like the mayor or something? Maybe your grandmother?” Aiden suggested. “That would show she was happy with the transition and was giving it her blessing.”
Whitney nodded slowly. “That’s not a bad idea. Maybe she can be the very final judge. Like when we get down to the last two or three?” She grimaced slightly. “She has some dementia. I don’t know how much she’ll really understand about it all. But if we give her two desserts and ask which she likes the best, she’ll be able to pick. Just having her involved in all of the final few rounds might be a lot.”
Aiden nodded, a sympathetic look on his face. “I’m sorry.”
She smiled. “She’s still healthy and has some really good days.” She looked at Dax. “She’s really excited about her new apartment at Sunny Orchard.”
Dax grinned. “Having her there will be huge for us.”
“She’s moving into your nursing home?” Grant asked.
“Yep. She’s going to have one of the first deluxe suites when they’re finished.”
Grant actually felt a surge of pride when he saw the work his friend was doing and how excited Dax was about it. Dax had found a fabulous way to apply his love for fun and willingness to go over the top and try new things. If anyone was going to try new programs for enriching the lives of people living in nursing homes, it would be Dax.
“That’s really great,” Grant said sincerely. “Good for both of you.”
Dax and Whitney shared a smile.
“Until then,” Whitney said, “Grandma and I are living together in her house.” She laughed lightly again. “She doesn’t need twenty-four-hour care but shouldn’t be totally alone either. So it’s working out, but it can be… interesting. But yes, I’m sure she’d think it was fun to be involved.”
“If you think she should be the final judge, how should we handle the prior rounds?” Ollie asked. “We could put together a community panel. Or maybe a group of employees.”
“Well…” Whitney bit her bottom lip.
Aiden lifted a brow. “What are you thinking?”
“You might hate this idea,” she said hesitantly.
“Lay it on us,” Ollie encouraged. He loved brainstorming.
“Well… we could play up the Hot Cakes name by having hot guys be the judges,” she said, her cheeks getting pink. “I know that’s gimmicky, but it would draw an audience, I promise you. We could show everything online too, and I’m sure we’d have people watching. We find, I don’t know, a handful, of young, good-looking, charming guys. We make sure everyone knows who they are.” She looked around. “With the right guys, it could be a big hit.”
Ollie was sitting forward in his chair now. “What if we make the contest three days? We bring those ten finalists in. We have a big event space, a stage, the whole bit.”
“Oh, the hot-guy judges could each make one of the finalist’s dessert submissions,” Whitney said. “We could set it up so it’s like a little cooking show. Women love men who can cook.”
Dax was nodding. “We could do a bachelor auction. The women bid on the guys, and the date includes the dessert that guy makes and maybe wine or coffee at some location around town.”
Grant caught Aiden’s eye. Wow. Whitney was sitting between Ollie and Dax. All three of them were leaning in, talking excitedly, the ideas bouncing around and growing as they went.
The last thing they needed was a third person who dreamed big and was willing to go over the top.
Still, he couldn’t help but grin. The tension in Whitney had completely relaxed, and she was clearly in her element. He had to wonder how much creativity she’d been able