The Bake Off (7 page)

They’d
each been issued with two guest invitations for the ceremony and she quickly spotted Jay and Susan sitting in the front row and some colleagues from the library further back in the hall. Simon pointed out his sister to Nicola who gave them all a cheery wave.

While
Nicola chatted with Thomas, she saw Simon talking to Gemma who pointed out a group of her pupils from school sitting behind Simon’s sister.

Simon
said to Gemma, ‘I’d have thought to see your parents here from Leeds?’

Gemma’s
shoulders curled over her chest and she stared down at the floor. ‘Nah, they wouldn’t do that. It would mean they’d have to stay off the alcohol and drugs for the day,’ she muttered. ‘And that would be too much to ask of them. I’ve been in and out of care homes most of my childhood while they spent every penny of benefit on their addictions.’

‘Good
heavens,’ Simon exclaimed gently. ‘How awful…’

‘Sorry,
I shouldn’t have blurted all that out. It’s just when I saw your loved ones here to support you it made me feel bitter.’ She pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin. ‘I don’t usually think of them at all now and have put the past well and truly behind me.’

Awkwardly,
Simon patted her shoulder. ‘Well done. At least the children are rooting for you – you’re obviously their favourite teacher.’

David
strode onto the stage smiling and waving at the audience. The packed room full of people began to clap and the director and crewmen stood to the side of the stage while the camera was filming.

‘Afternoon,
everyone,’ he called out cheerfully. ‘Thank you all for coming along to the award ceremony for our first Bake Off competition. And I do hope you’ll all be watching it on TV when it’s shown next month.’

Nicola
looked at the back of David as he walked in front of them and decided there wasn’t one angle where he didn’t look good. He introduced the other ten contestants and made funny remarks about their attempts at puff pastry. Thomas held up his large hands to which the audience laughed loudly. He then told everyone how he’d been amazed at the high standards of baking in the competition and the director gesticulated at the audience to give the contestants another round of applause.

‘Now
I’d like to introduce our guest judge in the bake off – it’s Jessica Gallagher.’

Jessica
walked onto the stage smiling and carrying a large silver award while the whole audience clapped and cheered loudly. Placing the award on a small table she stood next to David and told everyone how good it was to be in the North East and how much she’d enjoyed judging the first ever bake off competition.

‘I’d
just like to read out some of the comments we’ve made about the three finalists because it’s been such a strong competition. David and I have been overwhelmed with such excellent bakes which, in turn, has made judging a difficult challenge,’ she said smiling at all three finalists. ‘Simon, your white chocolate and raspberry bread and butter pudding was a new twist on a traditional pudding which was very impressive.’

Simon’s
face flushed bright red when his sister raised her hands above her head and clapped loudly.

When
the noise subsided Jessica continued, ‘And Gemma, David thought the lavender cake with violet frosting was creative and bang-on trend.’

The
school children in the audience cheered and whistled while Gemma grinned back at them.

‘And
lastly, Nicola,’ Jessica said. ‘I thought the flavour in your Sicilian lemon tart was absolutely sublime.’

Another
huge round of applause made Nicola’s legs tremble. She remembered how euphoric she’d felt the last two times when she’d won, and prayed it would happen again because it would be even more special with Jay and Susan watching.

With
a dramatic flourish David gestured into the camera. ‘And now everyone, we will reveal the winner of the bake off.’

The
camera swung between Simon, Gemma and Nicola – as she held her breath. Her heart was hammering – she closed her eyes and prayed, please let it be me, please say my name, David. I want the award and the dinner date with you so much.

‘And
the winner is…’ he said.

Counting-down
music blared from the loudspeakers while everyone in the room stared at him in silence gripped with anticipation. Nicola couldn’t hold her breath any longer – oh please, she begged, just say my name.

‘It’s,
GEMMA
,’ he cried jubilantly.

The
whole of Nicola’s body seemed to crumble inside. Bitter disappointment flooded through her and she looked wildly at Simon who was standing with his mouth wide open in shock. She bit down hard on her bottom lip to stop tears filling her eyes – it was over, she moaned silently, she’d lost the bake off.

Simon
was slowly shaking his head and scratching his jaw while David and Jessica approached Gemma congratulating her and everyone in the room began to clap loudly with the schoolchildren chanting her name.

The
Winner and Loser of The Bake Off

Gemma purred, ‘I can’t believe it – I’m totally speechless.’

‘It’s fully deserved,’ David replied. ‘You’ve been consistently good in every round and obviously saved your show-stopping lavender cake to the final – which was clearly the best bake of the day.’

‘Congratulations,
my dear,’ Jessica said handing the silver award to Gemma.

She
took the award carefully in her hands and beamed at the children in the audience while they whooped and chanted her name. Two local press photographers asked her to step to the front of the stage and hold the award high above her head – which she did with a huge grin on her face. Then she was ushered down from the stage into the audience for more photographs with the schoolchildren around her.

‘That’s
going to make headlines in the newspapers tomorrow morning,’ Simon whispered in Nicola’s ear. ‘I can just see it now – local school teacher bakes the best cake…’

They’d
been asked to form a semicircle in front of David and Jessica.

Nicola
was standing in between Thomas and Simon. ‘I suppose so,’ she muttered sadly. She swallowed back the tears and squinted at Gemma wishing with all her heart it could have been her. And, she thought enviously, not only did she have the award but she had a night at the Savoy to look forward to with David.

David
was smiling at them all now and repeated his words about how amazingly well they’d all done then handed Simon a scroll and envelope for third prize.

Next,
he stood in front of Nicola and laid a hand against his breastbone. ‘We’ve awarded second prize to our local librarian for her delicious lemon tart. Sorry, Nicola, but Gemma just pipped you to the post this time,’ he crooned softly.

She
clenched her fists behind her back wanting to scream and shout at him – why, oh why, did you choose her? Was it because of the mishap with the flour or was her cake really so much better than my tart?

But
with everyone clapping when Jessica handed her a scroll and envelope, she knew there was no alternative but to accept it gratefully, swallow her pride and give everyone a big smile.

***

As they joined the audience at the back of the room for a glass of wine Susan and Jay hugged her and Simon introduced his sister.

‘Oh,
Mum, you aren’t too disappointed, are you?’ Jay asked with a worried frown. ‘I mean, second prize is still a great result.’

‘Nooo,’
she exclaimed putting her arm around his waist. ‘Of course I’m not. I’m more than delighted to have made runner-up.’

Susan
nodded and clinked her glass on the side of Nicola’s. ‘And you have been star baker for two weeks running. So I would say, if what David said about the high level of professional baking is true, you both did great just to get in the final.’

Nicola
looked at Simon and smiled sincerely. ‘Susan’s right. We both did really good…’

Simon
nodded. ‘Hmm, I know but I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall when they were tasting the bakes,’ he said cocking his head. ‘I simply cannot believe that lavender cake was better than your tart.’

Nicola
smiled gratefully and laid a hand on his arm. ‘Thanks. But I probably lost a few marks after my incident with the flour,’ she said, and then told them all how she’d managed to coat Jessica’s eyebrows with flour.

Jay
hooted, ‘Way to go, Mum.’

Susan
giggled, and Simon’s sister threw her head back and roared with laughter.

Jessica
approached the group quietly from behind. ‘Well,’ she said. ‘Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves in this corner.’

Nicola
swung around to greet her and introduced everyone. ‘I was just telling them about the flour. And once again, I must apologise to you, Jessica.’

Jessica
waved a dismissive hand. ‘No need. I just wanted to catch you before I left for my train,’ she said pointing to a small overnight case propped against the wall. ‘I wanted to tell you again, that I thought your lemon tart was truly amazing, and in my opinion should have won on the taste alone – which was divine.’

Jay’s
face was beaming and Susan had watery eyes. Nicola could feel her cheeks flush with pride as she thanked Jessica. To have this praise from her heroine was a heady experience – she wanted to squeal and jump up and down with happiness. But, she wondered, did it make up for not winning and having dinner with David.

Jessica
turned to leave the group but quietly leaned towards her ear and whispered, ‘And I do think the Savoy will be very overrated…’

Simon,
ignoring Jessica’s protests, took her arm and insisted upon carrying her case down the stairs and out to the taxi rank.

Most
of the audience had dwindled away and her friends had gone back to the library as she went with Susan in search of the ladies’ toilets.

***

Jessica’s comment was whirling around in her mind – did she mean the food at the Savoy was overrated or perhaps, she thought frowning, she meant David’s company would be overrated? When they left the hall she heard the familiar voices of David and Gemma in the corridor. Grabbing Susan’s arm she pulled them both back behind the wood-panelled door so they would be out of sight but could still hear their conversation.

Gemma
was standing with her back against the wall and David stood in front of her with an arm outstretched and his hand on the wall above her head. ‘That lavender cake was so special that I had to give you first prize and it was very exotic – just like you are,’ he crooned. ‘You’re such a babe magnet. I can’t wait to take you to the Savoy to congratulate you properly…’

Nicola’s
heart was hammering loudly in her chest and she could feel Susan’s arm shivering with excitement in the conspiracy. She poked her head around the door just in time to see Gemma duck out from under David’s arm and slither along the corridor muttering that the dinner wasn’t really necessary.

Nicola
was furious and dug her nails into the palms of her hands – she wasn’t sure who she hated more – David or Gemma. Holding Susan’s arm she lifted her chin and marched them both out into the corridor and along to the toilets. Vaguely, in the distance, she heard David calling her name but she didn’t stop until they got inside.

***

‘The bloody cheek of him!’ Susan exclaimed loudly. ‘What’s his game, then? Coming on to you for weeks and then because you don’t win – he’s crawling after the young girl?’

But
why didn’t I win, she thought gloomily sitting in the cubicle listening to Susan rant. Jessica had already said she would have given me first prize, therefore it had to be David who thought Gemma’s cake was the best. She couldn’t ever remember feeling so disappointed with herself – she’d lost the fight and young Gemma had waltzed off with the award and the man. Nicola nodded and agreed with everything Susan was saying while they washed their hands. She plastered the false smile back on her face and swallowed hard trying to hold back her tears – all she wanted now was to go home and lick her wounds.

***

When they arrived back in the hall, Jay left to join his friends then Susan bid her farewell just as Simon reappeared.

‘Come
and have a drink with me?’ he asked earnestly. ‘I’ve been chatting to Jessica and have news to tell you…’

‘Oh,
Simon, I’m bushed,’ she said but then saw his shoulders slump in disappointment and she relented. ‘Okay, then, just a quick one…’

They
left the hall together and went down the grand staircase and out onto the pavement. Suddenly, at the sound of heels on the wooden stairs they both turned to see Gemma running past them and out towards a young guy. Nicola thought he looked like a Greek god as Gemma kissed him full on the lips, jumped into his Mazda and they sped away from the roadside.

‘Ha!’
she snorted raising her eyebrows at Simon. ‘David isn’t going to get anywhere with her at the Savoy. After all the flirting he’s done – she actually has a boyfriend!’

‘Come
on, let’s get that gin and tonic – I think we deserve it.’

***

While Simon stood at the bar in the same pub they’d been in last week Nicola sighed gazing across at the table where she’d sat next to David. She remembered how he’d flirted with her and rubbed his leg against hers – how could she have misread those actions and got it so wrong, she thought gloomily.

Simon
joined her, handed her a glass and they both took big gulps. ‘I just wanted to tell you that reading between the lines from what Jessica told me – although she didn’t actually say the words – there was quite a bit of arguing and disagreement between her and David about the prizes.’

Nicola
leaned towards him eagerly. ‘Go on,’ she asked mystified.

Simon
paused. ‘Apparently, Jessica wanted to give your tart first prize, and then me and Gemma tied in second. And, if she’d really been pushed, she would have given my pudding second over the lavender cake because she thought the flavour profile was a little too sweet for her.’

‘Really?’
Nicola asked, digesting the information.

He
nodded and then grinned bashfully. ‘I can’t believe she actually liked my pudding that much.’

He
looks like a little boy, she thought, getting a good exam mark. ‘Well, I can,’ she said, feeling pleased that Simon had at last got some recognition. She took a deep breath. ‘So that means David definitely overruled Jessica’s decision?’

Simon
nodded gravely. ‘I think it proves David is the moron I’ve thought he was from day one. And he awarded the lavender cake first prize because he wants young Gemma on his arm to take to London…’

She
gasped with surprise at Simon’s reaction and then thought of what she’d seen in the corridor with Susan – she lowered her head and told him what they’d heard.

‘You
could contest the decision with the programme bosses or the director.’

She
shook her head. ‘Nah, I’ll just let it go. I couldn’t stand the aggravation.’

Imagining
Gemma hanging onto David’s arm in the Savoy, she puffed her cheeks and blustered. ‘There’s no way Gemma will be interested in him now she’s got herself that gorgeous hunk of a boyfriend – it bloody well serves David right!’

Simon
sat back in the chair, folded his arms and stared at her.

She
had become used to his mannerisms over the weeks and could tell he was mulling something over in his mind. ‘What?’ she asked tilting her head to one side. ‘What are you thinking about?’

‘I’m
trying to decide whether to tell you about Gemma and what I learnt earlier in the hall.’

She
leaned towards him. ‘Simon, you have to now,’ she implored patting the back of his left hand. For the first time she noticed there was a white band-mark on his brown, fourth finger where he’d obviously removed his wedding ring.

He
sipped his drink and told her about Gemma’s neglectful childhood and parents. ‘I think that’s why she seems desperate to please everyone all of the time. The poor thing must be starved of any type of affection and was clamouring for our attention.’

Nicola pressed her hands against her flaming cheeks and felt a cold shiver of shame and regret flood through her. She gulped, remembering the awful thoughts she’d had about Gemma and lowered her chin to her chest.

‘To
use one of Jay’s expressions – I feel crap,’ she muttered. ‘I haven’t been very nice to her, I’m afraid. In fact, I’ve behaved like a, well, like…’

She
was flustered, unable to think of a word to describe the unreasonable jealousy she’d conjured up against Gemma.

Simon
volunteered, ‘A rival?’ he said. ‘There’s nothing wrong in being competitive.’

She
smiled at him gratefully and relaxed back in her chair. He was without doubt one of the kindest men she’d ever known. Even when she was trying to admit her failings he was still making them sound reasonable and just.

But
she knew deep down that her treatment of Gemma had been shameful and when she thought about the girl’s terrible upbringing in comparison to the way she’d spoilt her own son it made her shudder. The only way she would feel better about this situation would be to try and make amends. ‘Maybe I could get Gemma’s number and ask her to my house for dinner,’ she said. ‘She could meet Jay, and although he’s younger than her – he could take her into Newcastle to the pubs and clubs where she might make more friends?’

Simon
nodded, ‘Good idea. But I do think David is to blame for much of this misunderstanding. I’ve known what type of man he is since the first time he walked into the kitchen. He’s shallow and conceited enough to think that any woman would fall at his feet. Which really, for a man of his age to chase after such a young girl, is nothing short of ridiculous. In fact, I think it’s quite sad in a way…’