“No, you can’t.” Grant nodded in agreement. “But Dina can’t hurt you or us anymore. She has no more power over us. We’ve made our peace with the past and are about to start a new chapter of our lives together. You go in there and knock ’em dead. And I promise you, babe, I will be here cheering you on.”
Shari smiled. “Okay, okay.” She reached for his hand and together they walked back into the studio.
* * *
Once inside the studio, the cameraman was right there again, nipping at Shari’s heels. “Mrs. Robinson,” the producer said approaching behind the camera, “you do realize we’re in the middle of a live show here.”
“I realize that,” Shari returned. “But you do realize that I am here to represent Lillian’s Bakery in a bake-off, not so my personal life can be fodder for your show.” Shari winked at Grant and then walked back onto the studio floor.
Her family instantly swarmed her inside the studio and started with a barrage of questions. “Are you okay?” “What happened earlier?” “Is there anything we can do?”
Shari was surprised they weren’t berating her for walking off during the middle of the competition. But it certainly wasn’t her fault that the slimy producer was trying to use her relationships to gain better ratings. She raised her hands. “I’m fine. I’m fine. Grant and I talked.” She turned to her husband at her side. “Had a long talk and everything is great. Better than that, actually.” She beamed up at her husband. “So...I guess the question is...is this competition still going on?”
“They went to a commercial break, which included a long spot by one of the sponsors of the show, but we’re due up in minutes,” Belinda replied.
Her father came toward her and grasped both her hands in his large calloused ones. “If you’re still up to it, baby girl.”
“Your father is right,” Grandma Lillian said. “I had no idea that the bad blood between you and Dina went so deep. If I had known, I would never have put us in this competition.”
“Grandma, this isn’t your fault,” Shari responded to her grandmother’s obvious guilt at the turn of events. “A lot had gone unsaid between me, Dina and Grant all these years. There was lot of hurt, anger and betrayal. And it wasn’t solved today, but at least it’s off my chest.”
The host, Brandon, came toward the Drayson family. “I’m sorry, but we can’t stall any longer. If Lillian’s intends to continue with the competition and not forfeit the win to Brown Sugar Bakery, we need you back on set.”
“We’re not forfeiting,” Shari said defiantly. “We’re in this to win it. C’mon, troops.” She started toward the stage, but noticed her family didn’t budge.
“Are you sure about this, Shari?” Carter inquired. “Because as much as we want to win this, we don’t want to cause you any more pain.”
“And you’re not. I’m not a victim. I’m capable of taking care of myself. Now, let’s go.” She urged Carter, Belinda, Drake, Monica and Malik forward. “The clock is ticking.”
Chapter 14
Seconds later, they were back on set. Shari glanced across the kitchen set at Dina. Their eyes connected for the merest of seconds. Shari didn’t see the animosity she’d previously seen, but she did see Dina’s fighting spirit. She wasn’t going down without a fight, but that was okay with Shari because she was ready to give her one.
The cakes that they’d taken out of the oven before the previous break had cooled sufficiently in the freezer thanks to the nearly half hour it had taken for them to reconvene. Shari, Belinda and Monica went about frosting the cakes and getting them ready for Carter’s bedazzled American flags, stars, dog tags and medals made of fondant and covered with sparkly dust.
“Thirty minutes,” Brandon called out.
“C’mon, guys,” Shari said as they started covering the cakes with the fondant, “we’ve got to move it. We’re running out of time.”
The Drayson grandchildren and Malik worked together tiering the cakes up to their four-foot height and decorating each layer. The craftsman had done a wonderful job of creating the display that would house their work of art. The four-tiered display jutted out in four directions and housed a giant aircraft, submarine and tank to show the different branches of the military. Red, white and blue were prominent colors in the display, but not too overwhelming.
Shari glanced over at Brown Sugar Bakery. They, too, had done a great job of incorporating the American military theme with large soldiers of the different branches on their display. She couldn’t tell what kind of cake Dina had made, but she was sure it would be a showstopper.
“Five minutes,” Brandon called out.
Shari hustled around the display, making sure every piece was centered and every decoration was executed perfectly.
“Looks good, doesn’t it?” she said, standing back for a second to admire what they’d created.
“It looks great, sis,” Monica replied. “Despite all the drama, you really came through.”
“Thanks, kid.” Shari gave her a quick squeeze and then leaned over to fix a fondant piece on the display that had come loose. “Perfect!”
“Time!” Brandon yelled out. “Contestants, step away from your displays.”
Belinda, Carter, Drake and Malik joined Shari and Monica near the center of the kitchen where Dina and her team had also assembled.
The host walked over to the contestants. “After a week of competition, after numerous rounds of showing your versatility in a bake-off around the world, it comes down to one final evaluation from the judges. Which bakery can deliver the entire package of taste, presentation and creativity in an amazing display? We’ll find out after the break.”
The cameras stopped rolling.
“Wow! That was intense.” Malik was the first one to speak.
“That was more than intense,” Shari replied. “I don’t think I have a name for it.”
“I do. It’s sadistic torture that producers use on contestants,” Carter replied. “See just how much we can throw at a bakery before they crack. I mean really, a week’s worth of competition? Usually the show is one episode.”
“Well, they did say they wanted the best of the best,” Belinda added. “And they were looking to see what bakery would crack under the pressure.”
“And I nearly did,” Shari said. “Crack under pressure, that is.”
“But you came through in the end and that’s all that matters,” Drake said, coming over to her and grabbing her shoulders in a firm squeeze. “You’re made of tough Drayson stock.”
“Why, Drake, is that a compliment?” Shari asked with a hint of sarcasm.
Drake frowned. “I know I don’t give them to you that often, Shari, but you know I love you, right?”
“Hmm...” Shari paused as if she didn’t know the answer. When Drake guffawed, she finally responded. “I do, but it’s nice to hear it once in a while.”
“Well, I do,” Drake replied. “Love you, that is. And no matter what happens today, you were a great leader.”
Shari smiled. “Thank you.”
“We’re back in one minute,” the director stated.
Shari looked up to find Grant in the audience holding up a sign that read GO SHARI. Where in the heck had he gotten that poster? She didn’t have time to ponder because the cameras began rolling again and the director was putting his hands up with the countdown.
* * *
The host, Brandon, walked over to Brown Sugar Bakery’s team first and asked, “So how do you think you did?”
“I think we did a great job,” Dina said. “I had a hard-working team here.” She high-fived the two members of her staff and the You Take the Cake helpers. “We created a masterpiece. I think Lillian’s will find this isn’t a slam dunk after all and that they’ve got some serious competition for the crown as You Take the Cake champion.�
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Brandon came over to the Lillian’s Bakery team. He walked over to Shari first. “Shari, you took the lead today in the competition. Any particular reason?”
Shari gave an honest answer. “I’m not an over-the-top person. What you see is what you get. I wanted to show that sometimes the person you underestimate can be the same person to wow the socks off you. I wanted to be that person today.”
“Do you think you were successful?” he inquired.
“I know so,” Shari said, confidently facing the camera. “I had the entire Drayson family with me.” She walked toward her cousins and Malik. “The most skilled bakers, right here in the trenches with me. We created a signature work of art that you would be hard-pressed to duplicate.”
“Well, you’ve heard it, folks,” Brandon said as he turned back to the camera. “Both bakers think they have the winning recipe. Let’s hear from the judges.”
The camera followed Brandon to the judges’ table, and the director came forward to both teams advising them to relax in the green room while the judges deliberated.
As Shari was leaving the set, the producer walked toward her. “Mrs. Robinson, about earlier...”
Shari put her hand up to his face. “Save it for someone who wants to hear it,” she said and sashayed toward her family in the audience.
“Pick up your jaw,” Carter said, laughing at the director. “You wouldn’t want any flies to get in.”
* * *
“You guys were wonderful!” Grandma Lillian said when the rest of the family joined the Drayson contestants in the green room. “Win or lose, I couldn’t have been prouder of you.”
“Don’t count us out, Grandma,” Shari said. “We haven’t had the last word yet.” When she saw Grant behind her, she jumped in his arms and pulled his mouth to hers.
Belinda smiled at the newlyweds’ display of affection. “Shari’s right. Did you see what we accomplished?” She pointed to the towering American cake they’d created. “No matter what Dina did, she can’t top that.”
“That’s my baby,” Malik said, throwing his arms around Belinda and embracing her.
“Oh, Christ, not you, too,” Drake said. Shari could tell he’d had about all the lovey-dovey he could take on this trip. He was a bachelor for life and didn’t want or need a significant other.
“Don’t knock it,” Carter said, laughing from his side. “If Lorraine was here, I’d be doing the exact same thing.”
* * *
Grant pulled Shari away from her family to a private corner of the studio. “You did a phenomenal job out there,” he gushed. “I’m so proud of you, Shari.”
“Thanks, honey.” She beamed from ear to ear. “I don’t know if it was clearing the air with Dina and getting everything I’d held in all these years off my chest or whether it was the fact that we declared our love for each other, but whatever it was, I felt such clarity out there on stage, a sense of purpose, a sense of fulfillment that I haven’t felt...well, since Andre was born.”
“What was that like?” Grant asked. They’d never discussed how things had been for Shari when she had Andre.
“Childbirth?” Shari chuckled, glancing at her husband. “I don’t think you want to know about the fourteen hours of labor your son put me through.”
“No, no.” Grant shook his head. He didn’t need to know the gory details. “What was it like holding our son in your arms for the first time? What was it like knowing you’d brought a new life into the world?”
Tears filled Shari’s eyes. “It was marvelous,” she replied. “It was the most amazing feeling I’ve ever had in my life. And overwhelming.”
“How so?”
“Well, seeing him for the first time I was filled with such joy. I didn’t know it was possible to love another human being as much as I loved Andre and at that same time feel fiercely protective of him. But there was also fear. Knowing I was responsible for this little life—” Shari held both her hands together in a bowl shape “—who fit in my hands. I didn’t know how I was going to take care of him, being a single mother and all, but I did.”
“You never have to worry about that ever again,” Grant said fiercely, “because I will play a major role in our children’s lives from the time of conception until they’re old and gray.”
Shari leaned over and kissed him. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
* * *
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Brandon said as he faced the audience and the cameras, “after much deliberation, the judges have reached a decision. Contestants, can you come forward, please.”
Dina and her team and Shari and the Drayson family walked to the middle of the set.
“After a long, hard battle, there’s one team whose display the judges feel is a step above the other and whose cake the judges couldn’t resist. And the winner is...Lillian’s Bakery!”
Balloons and confetti streamed down from the ceiling at the announcement. Brandon walked over to Shari. “As the winner of You Take the Cake’s Cake Around the World week, Lillian’s Bakery wins $100,000.” The host handed her a large cardboard check in that amount.
“Thank you, thank you.” Shari was ecstatic and smiling from ear to ear. She’d delivered. She’d carried her team, her family to victory. The entire Drayson family came forward to help hold up the cardboard check as the cameras faded to black.
Monica, Carter, Belinda, Malik and Drake all leaned in for a big group hug to celebrate their win and although Shari was on cloud nine, she looked over at Dina from across the room. She looked defeated and alone as she packed up her belongings with her team.
Slowly, Shari disengaged herself from the group and walked over to Dina.
Dina looked surprised to see her. “Come to gloat?” she inquired.
“Quite the opposite.” Shari held out her hand. “I came to say, good fight. You had us against the ropes.”
Dina looked at Shari’s hand for several moments and Shari thought she wasn’t going to accept her gesture, but then Dina shook her hand. “But you guys won fair and square. Your cake was better. Perhaps I should have stayed at Lillian’s longer and perfected my technique.”
Shari frowned.
“I meant it as joke,” Dina said with derisive laugh. “I appreciate you coming over here, especially after today’s catfight.”
Shari shrugged. “Let today be the end of all the bitterness and anger, Dina. Let’s agree that we all—you, me and Grant—made mistakes in the past. Let’s make a clean break.”
Dina paused as if thinking about Shari’s request. “I think you’re right. It’s time to let go of the past and let bygones be bygones. I wish you and Grant lots of happiness.”
“I wish you the same,” Shari said and turned and walked away. She was excited for what lay ahead with Grant, but somewhere in the far corners of heart, she was sorry to say goodbye to someone she’d once called a friend.
Chapter 15
“We’re late.” Shari shifted uncomfortably in her seat as they drove up to the Drayson estate in Glenville Heights for a family dinner. The entire family had returned from the trip to Los Angeles almost two weeks ago, but Shari and Grant had stayed longer because Grant had surprised her with a honeymoon to Hawaii. They’d been on the island of Maui for well over a week and had just returned the previous day and found out they’d been summoned.
“Didn’t you say you’re always late thanks to our son back there?” Grant asked from the driver’s seat.
“I know,” she said, “but today is different. I think Grandma Lillian is going to announce who’s going to take over Lillian’s Bakery.”
“You really think so? I mean, it’s so soon after the competition.”
“She has to be,” Shari responded. “Why else would she make it mandatory that all family members attend the dinner?�
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Grant shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
Fifteen minutes later, Grant’s Mercedes Benz pulled into the estate, but they had to park farther down the drive, thanks to the number of cars already present.
“Looks like everyone’s already here,” Shari said as he pulled Andre from the car seat.
“Don’t worry so much,” Grant replied as he grabbed the bottle of wine he’d brought as an accompaniment for dinner.
When they opened the door, the party was already in full swing. Monica opened the door. “We were wondering where you guys were,” she commented.
“Thanks to this one—” Grant pointed to Andre who was sitting on top of his shoulder “—we had a slight delay.”
“Blame it on my nephew.” Monica laughed. “C’mon in.”
She led them to the living room where the family had assembled. Her grandmother and grandfather were in their favorite spot, their love seat big enough for two. Her parents, Dwight and Lisa, were seated on a sofa, where Monica joined them. Her aunt Daisy and uncle Matt were adjacent on another sofa. Drake, Belinda and Malik were all standing nearby, while her uncle Devon and Carter and his fiancée, Lorraine, were standing near the fireplace.
Shari and Grant joined her parents by the couch. Shari bent down and brushed a kiss across her mother’s cheek and squeezed her father’s shoulder. He smiled up at her and Grant and reached for Andre on Grant’s shoulders. Andre settled into his grandparent’s lap and Shari sat on the arm of the sofa. Being the first Drayson great-grandchild, he was spoiled rotten, Shari knew, but once Belinda and Malik or Carter and Lorraine started a family, he was going to have to share his grandparents’ attention. But that was just fine with her, because Shari knew that she and Grant would provide Andre with all the love and attention he would ever need.
* * *
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