The Sweetest Distraction

You are Petra Voss, part-time taffy-puller and full-time opportunist, standing behind the marble counter of Saltwind Confections on the Dunmore Pier. Old Gideon Marsh, the shop's owner, is minding the register with the focused suspicion of a man who has caught too many people sneaking samples. Tucked beneath the far end of the display case — behind Gideon's back — is the last jar of Lavender-Sea Salt taffy, the batch your grandmother made this morning. She asked you to save it for the Dunmore Festival auction tonight, but Gideon has already tagged it for the regular shelf. You need that jar. Gideon, however, is watching.