Free Chocolate Goodies by Jacquelin Thomas Page B

with you.”
    Awkwardly, she cleared her throat. “Daddy, I think there’s something you should know.”
    His body seemed to tense up. “What is it, sweetheart?”
    “I think Ransom might be Uncle Prescott’s son.”
    Her father’s expression remained blank. “Why do you say that?”
    “Lots of reasons,” Coco replied. “For one thing, his name is Ransom, and he looks a lot like them. I didn’t realize it until we were going through the photo albums.”
    “We? Ransom was with you?” her father asked.
    Coco nodded.
    “How did he respond?”
    “We didn’t talk about it, Daddy. I’m not sure he’s figured it out yet, but he will eventually. All he knows is that his father was separated when he got involved with Ransom’s mother, and then he decided he wanted to be with his wife and kids, so he broke off the relationship, not knowing that she was carrying his child.”
    Coco eyed her father. He didn’t seem too surprised by what she was telling him. “You already knew this, didn’t you?”
    “I suspected it when I met him,” he admitted. “Prescott told me about the woman. Her name was Robina Winters. He cared for her, but it was Amanda he loved. When your young man told me his name was Ransom Winters, I knew.”
    “So what do we do?” Coco asked.
    “Nothing,” her father stated. “If Ransom is seeking answers, let him be the one to find them. You don’t need to stir up trouble—it will find its way all on its own. Trust me on that.”
    “Are you telling me that I shouldn’t tell Ransom that my best friend is his sister?”
    “Coco, you don’t say a word. If he’s looking for them, he will find them. You stay out of this, because it could all blow up in your face.”
    She only half listened as she struggled with her conscience. Coco felt as if she was betraying all of them by withholding this information. She knew that Elle would want to know if she had another brother walking around somewhere. Coco knew that Ransom wanted to meet his siblings.
    “Sweetheart, I hope you’re listening to me,” her father said.
    She couldn’t help frowning in response. “I heard you, Daddy. I just wish I didn’t know any of this. I hate being in the middle of this situation.”
    “Then take yourself out of it,” her father advised. “And Coco, stay out of it. It’s best all around.”
    She stirred uneasily in her chair, hoping against hope that her father was right.
     
    “Okay, to make dark chocolate, you need chocolate liquor, sugar and vanilla,” Coco announced as she and Ransom walked through the factory. She had come over to check on an order that was about to be shipped.
    Ransom had tagged along with her so that he couldcheck on Benjamin. He and Coco were deep into a conversation on the chocolate-making process.
    “The ingredients are mixed together and kneaded until well blended,” she explained.
    “You’re so comfortable in this environment, but you panic in the kitchen,” Ransom noted.
    “I spent a big part of my life in this factory, but not much time in the kitchen preparing meals,” Coco responded.
    “You really are a good cook. You just don’t give yourself enough credit.”
    She hugged him. “That’s my baby.”
    “So is this the same way you make milk chocolate?” Ransom asked.
    “You know what? I’m going to let Benjamin answer that for you.”
    “Mr. Winters, it’s like this. To make milk chocolate, the milk and sugar are mixed together and then blended with chocolate liquor.”
    “So what is your job?” Ransom asked.
    “After everything is mixed, it comes through this machine right here,” he said, pointing to a series of heavy rollers. “I make sure that the mixture travels through here smoothly. It can take up to seven days to finish this process.”
    Ransom seemed impressed.
    “Do you remember what this process is called?” Coco asked Benjamin.
    “Conching,” he answered with a smile.
    “You’re doing a great job,” she told him.
    “My grades are up,