Papa’s Sweet Shop was the grand finale of the day. Peter knew that the sweet shop would be outrageous. It was his idea, after all, to have a piece of Maple Town and Honeyville in his very own town.
Peter worked diligently on the details with Papa. Papa wanted everything to be an awe-inspiring surprise. Peter remembered in the beginning stages when he had heard the heartbreaking whispers of his parents talking about the damage done by Goaltan. Now, everything was really going to be okay.
The building was bigger than the original Papa’s Sweet Shop, standing two stories instead of one. The sweet shop looked scrumptious, with replica candies and treats ornamenting the chocolaty colored building.
Papa squeezed Peter’s shoulders and whispered in his ear, “We get to go inside first before anyone else!”
Peter and Lina raced inside. Papa closed the doors behind them, pulling on the peppermint handles and pointing out the sign from the old shop, a reminder that Goaltan’s plans had failed. No one spoke.
The floors were reminiscent of the ones in Maple Town, resembling shimmering iridescent candy wrappers. There was an orange twisty slide that started on the second floor. In the center of the shop there was a crystal rock candy elevator. Every table was a larger replica of the open special delivery box; the flaps of the box made up the table top. The center of the table top was a glowing light covered by glass.
“Do you like it, Peter?” Papa asked.
Peter hugged his grandpa. “Like it? I more than like it. I more than love it! There are no words!”
Peter turned his attention to the back wall. “Hover cars!”
“Climb aboard,” Papa said.
Peter and Lina entered the car doors and slid in on opposite sides of a table. An electronic voice said, “Please fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the wild treats from the sweetest place you’ll ever eat, Papa’s Sweet Shop!” Lina repeated the slogan, practically singing it. A glove compartment was marked “MENUS.” Peter pulled out a menu printed to look like a road map.
There was a special section of the menu marked “Candonite Delights.” The items included Satisfying Spinach Pie, Vegetating Veggie Soup served with a side of Corny Corn Soufflé, Amazing Avocado Gazpacho, and a few more would-be Candonite favorites.
“Just in case our friends are ever in the neighborhood again,” Papa said. He winked and pushed his glasses back on the bridge of his nose. Papa told them that Peter’s dad, Mr. Rupert, and even Lina’s mother would be working there.
“Really?” Peter and Lina said excitedly.
On the top floor, a wooden hostess podium with menus on both sides was directly in front of them. Words carved into the wood to appear like lightening had struck the podium read “Weather Extremes at Papa’s.”
Papa led the children to the frosted glass door on the right. As soon as he opened it, frigid air touched their skin. Papa went over to a long rack full of multiple-sized fur-lined coats that all had a Papa’s Sweet Shop logo on them. He pulled off one for each child and one for himself.
“This is wild!” Lina said.
“It is 24 degrees in here,” Papa said. “We only serve hot treats to keep you toasty. Like Hit the Spot Hot Chocolate, Piping Pudding, and Molten Lava Cake!”
Each ice table had a centerpiece, an ice sculpture carved into an appropriate sugary confection. The walls and the counter where everything was prepared were also ice. Lights representing icicles hung from the ceiling. The showpiece of the room was the ice slide. Peter and Lina took turns going down it before they had to move on to the last room.
“This is the room you can warm up in,” Papa said. “It is kept at 84 degrees and we only serve cold treats to keep you nice and cool.”
This room had all the fixings of a charming summer’s day at the park. Large sun-like ceiling lights circulated the warm air. The paved walkway led straight to a counter designed as part of an ice cream truck. There were picnic tables, real live trees and flower beds to add to the summertime feel of the whole place. In the center of the park there was a water fountain with an enormous ice cream sundae sculpted out of stone.
“This is so awesome! I can’t believe it!” Peter exclaimed.
Papa winked. “You should be able to believe almost anything after the things you have seen, Peter. We better get downstairs now before Nana has to come looking for us.”
Friends, family, kids from school, everyone from miles around must have come to the party. Peter was cheerless when it ended. He wanted the night to go on forever. Peter’s excitement was rejuvenated when he remembered what would be happening at the end of his night.
Peter reached into his pocket and pulled out the angel figurine that Henry had given him before facing Goaltan. Peter had tried to return it to Mr. Rupert, but Mr. Rupert asked if it was alright if they made an even swap, Peter’s soldier action figure for the figurine. Mr. Rupert said that the soldier added color to the collection and it was a nice reminder of the day his life changed for the better. He placed the angel carefully on top of the cash register. There it would remain.
It was time to go. Instead of heading toward the door, Papa headed toward the elevator and started walking with Nana. He looked back over his shoulder and said, “Come along, everyone. I want to show you something.”
Peter and his family, Lina and her family, Mr. Rupert and his son and daughter-in-law all piled into the elevator. Papa took a key out of his pocket. Once the doors closed, he picked up the phone and said, “Home Sweet Home.” A second later a small plaque that read “Emergency Phone” opened up like a mailbox and a keyhole appeared. Papa stuck his key inside and turned. A secret room! What else could there be? Peter thought.
When the doors opened, Peter recognized one thing immediately: Nana and Papa’s floral couch. It was a home—Nana and Papa’s home.
“Dad, what is this?” Peter’s father inquired.
“Your mom and I thought it would be nice to close up shop and be home. I always thought of my sweet shop as my second home. Now it can truly be home. We sold our old house to a lovely young couple who are expecting twins.” Papa smiled, slyly pointing to Buddy and Lisa who were smiling guiltily.
“Twins? Double grandtastic! I can’t believe it! Y’all are sly ones.” Mr. Rupert bent toward Lisa’s pregnant belly and said to his grandbabies, “We are goin’ to have loads of fun!”
It was finally time for what Peter had been eagerly awaiting all night, months actually. Nana saved her Honeyville story and promised to tell it in its full glory after the grand opening of Papa’s Sweet Shop. She said it would make the night that much more special. At first, Peter didn’t like the idea of waiting. After some consideration, he knew the anticipation of hearing Nana’s story would be like waiting for his birthday. Tonight, the waiting was finally over and his biggest gift would be unwrapped.