Chocolate Goodies Read Online Free

speakerphone while she slipped on her robe.
    “I’m not going to keep you, but I promised Grace that I’d call you tonight. She wants to know if you’re coming over on Saturday for Cinnamon’s birthday party.”
    Coco smiled at the mention of her niece’s name. “Ofcourse I’ll be there. Cinna’s going to be the big five. I can’t miss that.”
    He gave her the time and location of the party, and then they ended the call.
    Coco slipped on a pair of pajamas, then stretched out on the sofa in the sitting room to watch some television before she called it a night. She always watched the news before going to bed.
    She frowned. A couple of teenage wannabe gangbangers had attacked a woman, who’d later had a heart attack. She was in the hospital in critical condition.
    Coco thought about the types of teens hanging out at D-Unit and felt a growing concern for Ransom. It was admirable how much he wanted to help them, but did those boys really want help? Did they want a better life, and were they willing to work toward it? She wasn’t sure, and with all the gang activity spreading, she couldn’t help being skeptical.
    Her brothers were always after her to stop prejudging before she had all the facts. She didn’t have any children, so her only connection was through her friend’s children and her niece, who was only four, soon to be five. The only teens that frequented her shop usually came with their parents.
    “You can’t save the world, Ransom,” she whispered.

Chapter 3
    C oco caught a glimpse of Ransom as he crossed the street with two of his students the next day. She eased over to the window, observing the teenagers. They were dressed in baggy pants and long T-shirts. They looked like thugs to her, but it was clear that Ransom saw something else.
    He was talking and laughing with them as if they were all friends. If they were such good kids, then why were they suspended in the first place? Coco wondered.
    “I hope Michael knows what he is doing,” she whispered, as her mind traveled back to what she’d heard on the news last night. She fervently hoped that her brother wouldn’t come to regret his decision.
    She considered calling their father, but didn’t want to upset Michael. He was running the factory, and would be furious with her if she involved their dad.
    Her assistant manager, Valencia, arrived and walked to the back to clock in for work.
    Coco hid her shock when Ransom entered the shop a few minutes later. Smiling, she greeted him cheerfully. “How are you, Ransom?”
    “I’m good,” he responded, taking a seat at the bar. “I figured since we’re neighbors, I should come check out the chocolate here. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this place.”
    “So you’re coming to see if it lives up to the reviews, huh?”
    He met her gaze. “Something like that.”
    She cleared her throat. “So, how do your students feel about having to work in the factory with Michael?”
    “They were actually excited about working with him. I also have one working two doors down at the restaurant, and another at the grocery store.”
    She frowned. That was not what she’d expected him to say. “Really? They wanted to do it?”
    “Yeah, they were eager to work in the factory. I suspect more out of curiosity than anything,” Ransom answered. “To be honest, I was surprised Mr. Chou agreed to let me send a kid over. I half expected him to nix the idea.”
    “He’s a nice man and the father of eight, so he must really love children. I know he does a lot in the community.”
    “I’d heard that,” Ransom told her. “That’s why I went to talk to him.”
    “I know you probably think I’m a snob or something because I refused,” Coco stated, folding her arms across her chest. “But I’m really not.”
    “To be honest, I did think that,” Ransom admitted. “But now that I’m seeing this place from the inside, I can tell that you cater to a certain type of customer.”
    “It’s not only