The Bake Off (4 page)

Suddenly,
she looked up to see David approaching her bench followed by the camera. Remembering the tape on the floor she shuffled her feet into the correct position while opening a bar of chocolate and took a deep breath, determined to look good while she was being filmed.

‘So,
Nicola. You’re making us a chocolate torte with a salted caramel sauce?’ David asked. ‘Can you explain to the viewers what chocolate you are using.’

‘Yes,’
she said smiling at him. ‘I find to achieve a rich chocolate flavour it’s best to use a high percentage of cocoa solids in the chocolate and the best I’ve ever found is this Lindt Excellence. It has 90% and is a very good quality.’

David
quizzed. ‘Hmm, and are you ever tempted to sneak a piece while you’re baking?’

She
began to break the bar into pieces and drop them into a heavy bottomed saucepan. ‘Oh, no,’ she giggled. ‘That wouldn’t be the mark of a serious baker…’

‘Okay
– well done,’ he said walking away and heading back towards the front of the room.

She
looked across at Simon, who winked at her in encouragement, while she placed the saucepan over a gentle heat. Adding the sugar and butter she began to stir occasionally until it was all melted and then with a hand whisk she stirred in the salt, flour and eggs, one by one until the mixture was smooth. She spooned the mixture into the tart tin and placed it carefully in a roasting tin of hot water, then making sure the water level was one centimetre below the top she slid it slowly into the oven.

It
was at this stage that she realised she didn’t have a timer on her bench and spotting one lying on the spare bench at the front of the room she walked towards it just as David and the camera had stopped in front of Gemma.

Nicola
set sixty minutes on the timer and then stood to the side making sure she was out of camera range to watch Gemma and David film. Instead of tying the long apron around her neck she noticed Gemma had only tied the apron around her waist which meant the halter neck top was visible to the viewers. Hmm, she mused, was this done on purpose? And if so, maybe simple sweet Gemma was much cleverer than she made herself out to be. She could of course, be hoping to find a new boyfriend when the programme was broadcast and aiming to draw attention to her obvious attributes.

While
they were filming, Gemma began to talk about her strawberry cupcake recipe and how she taught it to the children at school. Vigorously, she began to cream the butter and sugar together. ‘I want it to be light and fluffy,’ she smirked into the lens of the camera.

Nicola
watched in horror as David ogled and stared at Gemma’s breasts as they quivered and jiggled around with the action of the whisk. She too was captivated by the perfection and movement of them and then shook herself, incensed with resentment. David’s eyes seemed to be standing out on stalks as if he was in some type of trance and she noticed saliva collect in the corner of his mouth. She saw his Adam’s apple move up and down in his throat as he swallowed hard before he actually licked his lips in anticipation.

‘They’re
going to be absolutely delicious,’ he muttered, and angrily Nicola wondered if he meant the strawberry cupcakes or Gemma’s breasts.

This,
Nicola thought walking back to her bench, could be seen as a definite unfair advantage to the rest of the bakers. They’d been told that there would be an extra surprise judge at the final and she hoped that whoever it was would be female. Because even if she didn’t make it through, it would at least give the other bakers a fairer chance against Gemma’s glorious chest and legs.

The
camera stopped filming and David went straight to the older woman at the front. Gently, he put an arm along her shoulder and walked her towards the door where one of the crew took over and she disappeared out of the room. David explained to everyone that the lady had decided to drop out of the competition because she was suffering with a migraine and felt the pressure and tension was too much for her.

Nicola
nodded to herself in understanding and rubbed the back of neck – she knew how stressful it was becoming but at the same time she loved the challenge. As she reached for another saucepan, it dawned on her just how much she really wanted to win the bake off. Having to go home at this stage and not make it through to the final, she knew, would be dreadful.

David shouted into the camera, ‘BAKERS, YOU HAVE ONE HOUR LEFT.
’

Forcing
herself to concentrate Nicola weighed out the salt, brown sugar, whipped cream and butter to make her caramel sauce. She heard the director tell David that as they were now one contestant fewer he needed to return to her bench so once again she stood on the gaffer tape on the floor.

Before
he reached her with the camera she bent down to check her chocolate torte through the glass door of the oven and then popped back up surprising him with a big grin. They talked through the method while she made the sauce on the hob, whisking all the ingredients together and bringing the sauce to boil, then simmering, before lastly adding the vanilla essence. She hoped she was portraying a professional and capable impression to the viewers that would get her through to the final because it was all she could think about now. And, she thought excitedly, success would also mean being in David’s company for another week.

With
her chocolate torte cooling and the sauce ready she heard David call out, ‘BAKERS, YOU HAVE FIFTEEN MINUTES REMAINING.’

She
scattered cocoa powder on the top of the torte and placed it onto a round serving plate and then cut a triangular wedge cleanly with a sharp knife to examine the centre. She poured the sauce into a separate small glass bowl with a spoon and glanced across to Simon, who was carefully placing his pie onto a serving plate.

‘BAKERS,
YOUR TIME IS UP PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM YOUR PUDDINGS,’ David called and she breathed a sigh of relief, before carrying the torte and sauce down to the presentation table. She’d done her very best, she thought, joining the others on the line of stools and she could only pray it would be good enough for the final. It looked equally as good as Simon’s lemon meringue pie and Gemma’s strawberry cupcakes, she reasoned, but it was David’s opinion that counted.

David
began this time with her chocolate torte and salted caramel sauce. He lifted the wedge she’d cut and put it onto a small plate and then dolloped a spoonful of sauce onto the side. With a forkful of torte dipped in the sauce he put it into his mouth and chewed.

His
shoulders sank and he moaned in delight then grinned at Nicola. ‘The texture is compact and moist – just as it should be. And, although most people would serve a chocolate torte with cream, this really is quite delicious,’ he crooned. ‘The rich flavour of the dark, smooth chocolate and salted caramel blend perfectly together.’

Not
realising she’d been holding her breath she let it out slowly, sighing with relief while he moved onto Thomas and his gooseberry summer pudding. After tasting this he told Thomas the gooseberries had been overcooked and were too slushy which made the pudding wet but it had been a valiant attempt and the flavours were quite good.

In
Nicola’s opinion the appearance of Simon’s pie was perfect and if it tasted as good as it looked, she hoped David would give him a good review.

David
said, ‘The white meringue is perfectly peaked and the lemon filling has just the right amount of lemon to suit my palate, although some people might prefer more tang. My only comment about this bake is for the semi-final you could have been a little more creative and given it a twist with the addition of some other citrus, perhaps? Or used a different theme. But it is very good…’

‘And
now our cupcake girl,’ David said examining Gemma’s strawberry cakes arranged perfectly on the plate.

The
small paper cases were pink with white hearts and the top of each individual cake had a thick cream swirl with half a fresh strawberry in the side. Nicola had to be fair because they did look excellent but if she compared them to other cupcakes in bakers’ shops – she had seen more elaborate decorations. Maybe, she thought, trying to be charitable, Gemma was aiming for a plain and minimalistic appearance.

David
tasted one and raved, ‘They look so inviting – the texture of the light sponge is perfect. And eaten with the thick, smooth cream and the fresh strawberry, the flavour profile is delicious,’ he said, and then signalled to the director to cut filming.

‘I
just need to give this some extra time before I make a decision and place them in order,’ he said, and went back again to taste the torte, pie and cupcakes.

‘Okay,
I’m sorted,’ he said.

Nicola
took a deep breath digging her fingernails into the palms of her hands praying she’d make it to the final.

David
smiled. ‘This is getting harder because you guys are getting better but there are only three places for the final. So I’ll just say that I’m sorry, Thomas, but you won’t be going through to the final. You’ve done very well but on the day things didn’t quite go your way.’

Simon
was the first to commiserate with Thomas and shake his hand while Nicola squeezed his arm. She was overjoyed with happiness and grinned at Simon who would also be taking his place in the final along with Gemma.

David
interrupted them. ‘To put the last three in order, Simon, I’m awarding third place for your pie. And although there’s really very little to distinguish between the torte and cupcakes in flavour Gemma has used strawberries again which we had last week and the skill level required to make them is not as high as what is needed to make the chocolate torte – which is of course, entirely different to last week’s bakes. So without further ado, I’m going to award star
baker
for this week again to Nicola.’

‘Oh,
well done,’ Simon cried and began to clap loudly.

While
everyone gathered around Nicola again and she thanked them all profusely her mind was, what Jay often called, buzzing. She couldn’t ever remember feeling so alive, happy and proud of herself – to win two weeks in a row was more than she’d ever dreamt possible.

Gemma
gushed, ‘Congratulations, Nicola. The chocolate torte and sauce looks awesome!’

Nicola
felt slightly embarrassed. She wasn’t sure if she could have found it in herself to be so gracious if the result had been the other way around and answered, ‘Thank you, Gemma.’

With
filming over, David was more relaxed and invited them all to taste the bakes. Simon and Gemma went straight away to eat the chocolate torte and she tasted Simon’s lemon meringue pie. Loud exclamations of oohs and aahs came from everyone, and they declared that her torte was definitely the best bake on the table.

She
glowed under their praise. ‘And this pie is fabulous, Simon. It’s absolutely mouth-watering. This is my mum’s favourite pudding – you must give me the recipe.’

David
chomped on another cupcake. ‘It was a very close run thing and I’m pleased you all agree with my decision,’ he sighed heavily. ‘But now with the heat and such a long day’s filming I’m longing for an ice-cold gin and tonic. Anyone fancy joining me?’

Simon
and Thomas agreed immediately while Gemma declined claiming she had marking to do for a class next morning. Nicola was in two minds. She was desperate to get home and remove the Spanx knickers, which were now cruelly digging into her waist, but when she looked into David’s eyes she knew she couldn’t resist the temptation.

***

David insisted upon buying them all a drink at the bar and Nicola headed off to secure a table and four chairs. Music was playing in the busy pub with big groups of students celebrating and early evening shoppers stopping off for a drink. Simon and Thomas sat to her left and she placed her handbag on the chair to her right keeping the seat for David. Carrying the drinks on a tray he set them down on the table then plonked down next to her. Gratefully, they all took big gulps of the cold drinks.

‘Phew,
I needed that,’ David said rubbing his neck and moving his head from side to side. ‘I’ve been at it from six this morning.’

‘It’s
a shame Gemma couldn’t make it.’ Thomas muttered, to which they all nodded.

Although
she’d politely agreed with the others, she was glad Gemma wasn’t there to captivate the men with her chest and legs. She glanced sideways at David remembering the way he’d ogled Gemma. But surely, she thought, that couldn’t be classed as genuine interest in her? Wasn’t he was just like all the other men and TV crew who couldn’t take their eyes off such a beautiful young girl? Well, everyone except Simon, who had, she remembered wanted to cover her up with an apron.

While
Thomas and Simon struck up a conversation David turned to face her and smiled. ‘So, Ms Librarian, another win and notch on your belt.’

Her
heart thumped under his direct gaze and she looked into his eyes. ‘I can’t quite believe it,’ she said. ‘And to get into the final was way beyond my dreams…’