Lilac Lane (Chesapeake Shores #14)(83)

“It’s the same at my bookstore,” Shanna said.

“And at the quilt shop,” Heather added. “In fact, I had an idea. To be sure that all of these people show up for the actual competition and participate in the tastings, why don’t we come up with the tokens or coupons or whatever we’re going to use and start selling them in advance in all the shops?”

Luke’s expression brightened. “I know I could sell a lot at the pub. All of our customers, even the ones just visiting town, are excited about it. They’ve gotten into the spirit of the competition because they’ve met both Kiera and Bryan. And some know the other chefs who are participating, too. They might well be drawn back for the festival.”

“Fantastic,” Nell enthused. “Shanna, could you look into getting something printed, either tokens or coupons, whatever the printer can come up with. Use your powers of persuasion to see if they’ll give us a discount.”

“Of course,” Shanna said at once. “Mack might even be able to do them at the newspaper. I know he’d donate them.”

“Of course he would,” Bree said. “He’ll do anything for Gram. If need be, we can put cousin Susie on the case. He hasn’t been able to deny her anything since the day they got married. And now that they’ve adopted their little girl, he just wanders around in a happy daze all the time.”

Nell nodded, pleased with the enthusiasm she was hearing. “Luke, how many chefs were you able to persuade to participate?”

“Counting Bryan, we have ten from around the region, including Baltimore and Washington—and Bryan even recruited an old culinary school friend who has a restaurant in northern Virginia. The entire region will be well represented and their customers might be lured here to support them. It’s a much better response than I’d hoped for. I thought that would be enough for the first year,” Luke reported.

“Excellent,” Nell said. “And publicity? How’s that coming?”

“I’ve posted the list on the festival website, the town’s site, the pub’s website, and Mack has put it in the upcoming events section on his newspaper website, too,” Luke told them. “We probably have at least two or three challengers for every one of the professionals.”

Nell chuckled at his enthusiasm. For a man who’d been reluctant to get involved, he’d done very nicely. “You’ve done good work, Luke.”

“That’s not all,” he said. “I talked to an appliance store about hooking up stoves that day in return for a sponsorship listing in all the advertising. They’re in and will even donate a couple of the high-end models for a silent auction. We’ll have a huge tent on the green with the stoves around the perimeter so people can watch the cooking. The tasting tables will be just outside along with the jars for casting votes. I think it’s all coming together.”

He sat back, grinning as the others applauded.

“Don’t be so smug,” Bree taunted. “Next year, we’ll just put you in charge of all of it. You’re proving to be a worthy successor to Gram.”

His grin faltered at that. “No way. This is a one-time thing for me.”

“We’ll see,” Bree said. She turned to Kiera. “Kiera, have you been testing your recipe? We’ll all come by the cottage one night if you want to try it out on us.”

Kiera looked startled, as if she’d been only half listening. “To be honest I hadn’t thought of practicing. I’ve been making my Irish stew all my life.”

“It might not hurt to do a run-through, though,” Bree said. “When was the last time you made it for hundreds of people?”

Kiera blinked. There was no mistaking the sudden panic in her eyes. “Hundreds of people? I thought there were only a few judges.”

“We did talk about that,” Nell acknowledged quickly, “but then we decided it would be more fun if everyone had a chance to vote for their favorite.”

“And if Gram has anything to say about it, the crowds will be double or triple past years’,” Luke said. “She’s promoting this thing all over the region. I heard it on a Baltimore radio station the other day. To be sure, we’ll only be giving each person a small sample, but it will add up before the day is done.”

“Oh dear,” Kiera whispered. “Do the others know this?”

“Bryan does,” Luke said. “He was there when the announcement came on, but he’s used to cooking for a crowd. He took it in stride.”

Kiera drew in a deep breath. “Then I suppose I’d better be prepared,” she said stoically. “Bree, everyone, would one night next week work? I’m off on Tuesday.”

“Then Tuesday it is,” Bree said readily. “Everybody in?”

“I’ll be there,” Heather said eagerly. “I’m dying to see if I’m getting any better at detecting the spices in things. Yours may differ from what Bryan uses.”

“But there will be no discussion of that in front of Kiera,” Nell said sternly. “Or in front of Bryan. That would amount to giving away insider information.”

“Not a word,” Heather promised.

“I’ll be there, too,” Shanna said.

“What about me?” Luke asked. “Aren’t I invited?”