A Cupcake to Die For

by Mary Jane Forbes

  “Babe, we both may be crazy, but I think we can do it. The Washingtons and you and I are a perfect team of unicorns.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “We are a fledgling troop, a startup business known as a unicorn. The term comes from a mythical creature, or in our case creatures, who are amazing, and very rare. Some unicorns make their dreams come true and build an empire. Others never make the leap to the other side. They crash and burn. Vaporize.”

  “Will we make it?” Star asked.

  “Star, I would never bet against you.”

  “And I would not bet against you, and with Jane Haliday’s help, I’d never bet against S&T Jackman Corporation,” she said beaming with confidence.

  Chapter 28

  THE AROMA OF COFFEE brewing tickled Star’s nose. Her eyelids remained closed savoring the moment. A moment that filled her very being with the love she felt for Tyler. Tyler would step into the bedroom any minute bringing her a mug of coffee. She let her mind meander over all that happened the day before. Remembering the last thing they talked about, her eyes flew open. They were going to form a company. S&T Jackman Corporation.

  Her stomach suddenly formed a knot. Such a big step.

  “Ah, Miss Bloom, you’re awake. Coffee in bed or at the kitchen island?”

  Patting the bed, she said, “Here, please. Ty, I can barely breathe.”

  “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he said setting the coffee on the nightstand. He slid onto the bed drawing her into his arms gently rubbing her back.

  She inhaled a long breath of air, held it, then slowly released through bowed lips.

  “That’s it. Two more,” Tyler said as he continued stroking her back.

  Breathing slowly as he instructed, her heart rate returned to normal. “Ty, I don’t like that panicky feeling.”

  “Are you okay now?”

  “Yes. I’m ready for that coffee. You’re spoiling me. Tell me again that we’re doing the right thing. The Washingtons. The Baker girl.”

  “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, too. But it feels right. Promise you’ll tell me if you have second thoughts about your inheritance. It’s a lot of money and big chunks will seem to fly out the window once Stuart gets started,” Tyler said.

  “Forming a company seems right. It’s really a wonderful extension of our marriage vows.”

  “Babe, tell Jane our business will be made up of three arms. The reality show, your kids’ cooking pilot to be a second reality show, and then a kid’s cookbook, a series. I see a book dedicated to some of the holidays—Fourth of July, Halloween, and Christmas for example. I’m going to have a lot of fun illustrating them. I hope you don’t mind my sitting in on the filming of the children cooking and saying priceless things, or, as they say in the business, their dialogue,” Tyler said with a chuckle.

  “Tyler, I love you so much,” Star said kissing his cheek.

  Tyler sighed. “I get the girl I love and a corporation. That’s quite a bundle. Now I feel a panic attack coming on. Call Jane. She’ll settle us down. She’ll tell us what she thinks. She’s not one to mince words.”

  - - -

  Star and Tyler padded out of the bedroom to the kitchen. Star called Jane relating what they were prepared to do to save The Baker Girl show and to jump-start a kids’ baking show in conjunction with a kids’ cookbook. They’d self publish if a traditional publisher didn’t sign them up.

  Star’s cell was on speaker as she and Tyler circled the kitchen island fielding Jane’s questions. Jane promised to be back to them in a few days with draft documents on how to bring S&T Jackman Corporation to a reality. They thanked Jane and before they knew it the call was over.

  Star jumped into Tyler’s arms. Laughing, he lifted her up, setting her on the island.

  “Ty, do you believe it? Jane’s calling her lawyer as we speak. He’ll draw up the documents, handle everything. We’ll be a corporation.”

  “I thought my heart would stop beating when you asked her what she thought of our ideas. I was sure she’d hung up,” Tyler said.

  “No, no, Mr. Jackman. Jane thought it was a capital idea. Capital like in money. Her words, ‘You have to spend money to make money child.’ Ty, when we get married I want to be Mrs. Star Jackman. But if it’s okay with you, I’d like to be Star Bloom in our business life.”

  Star waited. Maybe he wouldn’t like her to keep the name Bloom.

  “Splendid idea. I can still call you Miss Bloom. Deal?”

  “Deal. Now put my feet on the floor. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. You scramble the eggs. I’ll get the muffins and bacon. Is there any more coffee?”

  “Yes, my sweet,” Tyler said planting a kiss on her eager lips. “Now, let’s eat. We have things to do. I have to drive to Twentynine Palms. Wrap up that project and get back to you.”

  “Will you be gone long?”

  “Not a chance. A few days. I have a date circled in red on my calendar—the kids’ class on Saturday.”

  Chapter 29

  STOMPING ON THE GAS pedal, Tyler pushed his van to the speed limit plus ten. He tried to keep his focus on the road, straight, flat across the desert but without much success. Adrenalin coursed through his veins like a Mustang flying over the asphalt. He was wrapping up the Disney competition. No more Twentynine Palms. Then he was overcome with heat thinking of his blue-eyed angel, holding her in his arms. Fear then took hold at their huge leap of faith with the production of the Baker Girl. Finally he broke out in a broad grin at the thought of S&T Jackman Corporation and the three divisions of the business. He’d be back by Saturday to help Star, CeeCee, and Paul with the kids’ marathon baking class.

  He smacked the steering wheel. “I won’t let you down my Star-light. We can do this,” he shouted at the road ahead.

  Turning into the driveway of the team’s Twentynine Palms rental, he was relieved to see his teammates cars were parked under the carport leaving just enough room for his van except the back end. Grabbing his duffel bag he trotted up the walkway and bolted in the front door.

  Roxy was holding court dictating in no uncertain terms what Ben should be working on. He didn’t have the character’s voice the way Roxy thought it should be—high pitched, breathy, fast. At the sound of the door banging shut behind Tyler, their heads swiveled to see who dared to intrude.

  Roxy took the opportunity to give Tyler a warm hug which he quickly sidestepped heading to the kitchen. Returning with an icy bottle of water out of the fridge, twisting off the cap, he stood looking at his team.

  “Okay, guys and gal give me a status report. What did you hear from Paris and Hong Kong? Now that we’re back from that travel blitz, how do they fit with our film, or maybe they don’t? One at a time, please. Then I’ll share what I’ve been doing the last few days. Bottom line it for me. Where are we on the project and how do we wrap it up by Friday?”

  “Friday? This Friday? You’re joking, bro. No way,” Sam said.

  “I’m with Sam,” Ben said.

  “Are you deranged?” Roxy snapped. “We can’t finish by Friday. What happened to your brain in Hollywood? It’s that girl isn’t it?”

  “Hold your fire, Roxy. Yes, my plans have changed. And as I see it, Paris and Hong Kong have nothing to do with our project. It was a wild goose chase. They wanted a piece of the action, access to Disney without contributing one idea we can use,” Tyler said leaving the word Hollywood hanging in the air without a response.

  Tyler looked around at his teammate’s faces. One minute they were red. Furious at his suggestion they could wrap up by Friday. Now, their faces were white with dread. Their leader was right. The trip had been a bust, fun but producing nothing useful.

  In a calm voice, Tyler gave them the speech he had worked out in his mind as he drove to meet them.

  “The project needs a tweak here and there. There’s nothing that can’t be done in a couple of days. The film is good. You all know it’s good. No, it’s terrific. We could spend more time—
days, weeks, even months and it wouldn’t be any better. I say let’s watch it, beginning to end, shout out anything you want to change but only something that will add value. Then, Roxy, as our point person with the competition people, get in touch with the one in charge of the contest. No underling. Someone with decision authority. Tell him our entry is ready. Find out to whom, how, and where to send our submission.”

  The group was warming to the idea of being finished. Twentynine Palms was getting to be a bore. Only so many tacos, dips in the pool, and only so many all night sessions could one person take.

  “I won’t mind pulling up stakes in this frying-pan heat,” Ben said.

  Roxy shook her head. Their leader was bailing out, moving on. She only had a few more nights to change his mind. Loading up the last version of their short animated film from the flash drive, she hit PLAY. Things hadn’t turned out as she planned but she still had a card to play—selfies of Paul and Star.

  Chapter 30

  TEXT MESSAGES PROVED the best way of communicating between S&T. One, or the other, was in meetings. However much they wanted to talk to each other, they had to advance the task at hand. Star dashed between CeeCee and Paul Templeton discussing her hostess segments and planning the execution of the two-day shoot. She had several excursions dashing to the grocery store with the ever growing list of ingredients and utensils she needed for the kids’ cooking class on Saturday. She knew Tyler would feel pressure from his teammates as he drove them to finish the Disney competition by Friday.

  Wednesday, 12:04 p.m.

  Hi babe. Drove to 29 Palms record time. Miss U, Ty

  Wednesday, 12:07 p.m.

  Good. No speed ticket? Miss U 2, Miss U, S

  Wednesday, 6:04 p.m.

  Not yet. How go with CC, Paul? Luv, Ty

  Wednesday, 6:10 p.m.

  Went great! CC took charge of the script and work with Paul. MY PART DONE! Paul no splice/cut/add. Only film. Stuart hired someone for tomorrow, a sound and film editor. U tell team Fri last day? Luv U, S

  Wednesday, 6:29 a.m.

  Ah, done? Life of leisure? Yes told team. Shock and awe. I’m standing firm. Luv, Ty

  Wednesday, 7:32 p.m.

  Leisure? I think not. Will drop off check for the techy film splicer. He miraculously finished, last day in studio, ten hours. S&T is happening. Jane called. Incorporation docs ready for our review next week. I transferred 10K from savings to checking to tide us over until S&T is ready. Miss U, S

  Thursday, 3:35 a.m.

  I put Roxy in charge of submitting the animated story for Disney competition. Miss U like crazy, Ty

  Thursday, 3:40 a.m.

  That make her happy? S

  Thursday, 3:45 a.m.

  Nothing makes R happy. Being in charge helps. Stuart sending spreadsheets back/forth, tweaking production plan. Already making appointments with network contacts. Do you miss me? Ty

  Thursday, 10:52 a.m.

  Talked more with CC re plan for kid’s cookbook. We’ll be using class Saturday as a lab. What looks good on clips that Paul shoots. What looks dramatic, funny, showing real life how kids react. My biggest task – keep the kids excited so the last hour doesn’t fall flat. I’m grocery shopping—stocking the shelves and refrigerator in the kitchen studio, renting added kitchen equipment, hopefully red so it looks fun. Miss U? Are you kidding? I can’t wait for Friday. Will U be home for dinner? LU, S

  Thursday, 11:13 a.m.

  I think R has something up her sleeve. Ty

  Thursday, 11:16 a.m.

  Like what? S

  Thursday, 11:19 a.m.

  Rumors. I don’t know who she talks to. Someone at B-media. I luv U babe, Ty

  Thursday, 11:24 a.m.

  Paul acted funny the other day. Grabbed my arm like I was going to fall. He laughed, took a selfie of us, me holding on to him. He almost knocked me over. LU 2, S

  Thursday, 11:28 a.m.

  Be careful. No black eyes for my girl. Dinner? Not sure what time. Soon babe, kisses, Ty

  Thursday, 11:29 a.m.

  Quick note. Checking kitchen equipment at B-Media. Pans, etc. Tomorrow morning final shopping for supplies and dropping off at studio kitchen for Saturday marathon sessions. ME luv U, S

  Thursday, 12:30 p.m.

  LOVE YOU BACK. KISSES TOMORROW Ty

  Friday, 6:38 p.m.

  LEAVING 29 PALMS. HOME FOR DINNER!  Ty

  The week had been over-the-top hectic for S&T partners but Tyler made it home for dinner although not until after nine o’clock. They exchanged updates and crashed. Tomorrow was going to be a very long day but they were excited as they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  Chapter 31

  SATURDAY MORNING FOUR moms hustled into the kitchen studio with their kids in tow. The moms were ready for a day of excitement and fatigue. Was their child going to behave for six hours cooped up in a pretend kitchen inside a fortress of cement block? Bobby and Jenny Sue were happy to see each other while Brooke and Steven giggled helping each other put on the colorful bib aprons—solid yellow, blue, green, and red—tying them in back.

  Bobby tied Jenny Sue’s red apron and she his green as Star laid the first laminated recipe card at each chef’s station. The first hour included two breakfast items—Mango Banana Smoothie and Mexican Scrambled Eggs.

  In keeping with her role as director, helping Star with her commentary in the Baker Girl show, CeeCee guided Paul to the best position to capture the action. This freed Star to perform with the kids without directing the cameraman. Tyler sat perched in the tall director’s chair ready with pads of paper, pens, and pencils to capture the little chef’s at work. He was also ready to be a runner if the blue-eyed teacher needed him.

  Measuring the ingredients, the chefs managed to load up the red blender with chunks of mango and banana, milk, honey and a cup of ice cubes. Listening to the whir of the blender they watched eagerly for the smooth consistency. Star checked the benders then instructed the chefs to pour the smoothies into two glasses—one for their mom and one for themselves. The mothers happily accepted their little chef’s treat as Star handed out the second recipe card and a tray with ingredients for the scrambled eggs.

  First, she taught them how to say the name of the dish in Spanish—huevos mexicanos. Cracking the eggs into the bowl proved to be difficult for Steven. One of the eggs landed on the floor but Brooke ran to the refrigerator, snatched a fresh egg and saved the day. The chefs diced a tomato without losing a finger. Each station was equipped with a hotplate and a sauté pan. Under Star’s close supervision the hotplates were turned to low and the whisked egg mixture was poured into the pan. Bobby had difficulty pouring his, a few drops missing the pan, but Jenny Sue came to his rescue with a spatula.

  Paul captured the concentration on the children’s faces along with smiles as the mission was successful. Star walked back and forth checking on the eggs.

  “Stir occasionally, about four minutes everyone. Bravo, Steven. Your eggs look yummy.”

  Steven swung up his small hand for a high five from his pretty teacher.

  During the hour break between episodes, two of the moms left with their kids to go to a nearby park letting them run off pent-up energy. CeeCee and Bobby Knowles’ mom helped Star cleanup in preparation for the next episode. Jenny Sue and Bobby retreated to a corner playing video games on their tablets.

  - - -

  The second episode of the day was filmed without incident. Everyone knew what to expect and quickly got into the rhythm. Star handed out the recipe card—Chicken Tortilla wraps and Asian Noodle Salad. The children were fidgety to begin with but, after fortification eating the chicken wrap, they cooked the noodles and finished the salad like champs.

  As before two of the moms left with their kids to get some fresh air, leaving Star and CeeCee to clean up and prep for the final episode. Jenny Sue was tired and snuggled with a pillow on a blanket that CeeCee brought. Star took note of the worry lines creeping across CeeCee’s face. Bobby pulled a ch
air near Jenny Sue and continued to play a video game. Star with CeeCee’s help prepare for the final episode. CeeCee kept glancing over at her daughter who appeared to be sleeping comfortably. Was that a good thing or a warning of things to come?

  - - -

  The last episode featured a dinner entrée. Star passed out the recipe cards. This time the kids were to pick up the items from the refrigerator. Brooke and Steven ran, grabbed the red basket next to the fridge and loaded up with a bag of fresh cauliflower crumbles, an onion, a carrot, and a bag of cubed ham. Brooke held her basket first then Steven’s as he put the listed ingredients into the two baskets. Steven said his toes hurt. Brooke retorted it must be his Disney socks rolled loosely around his ankles, folded over his toes.

  Bobby pushed Jenny Sue’s wheelchair to the refrigerator and loaded two baskets as Jenny Sue called out the items.

  Back at their workstations, the kids followed the instructions on the cards. The onion and carrot went into the food processor. The chefs pulsed the machine breaking the vegetables into small bits. The final instruction was to combine all the ingredients into a large skillet along with two tablespoons of olive oil, and a small jar of roasted red pepper strips, stirring until heated through. That was it. There was a line at the bottom of the card—sour cream, ranch dressing, or other dressing may be stirred into the mixture before serving.

  Star kept an eye on her young chefs. This recipe was a final test in a way. Did they feel comfortable following the directions? Were they no longer intimidated using the food processor? Were they careful using the cooktop keeping the burner low so as to not to burn the food.