Chapter 26 #2
I pipe the final decorations, my hands refusing to stop shaking. Blue sugar crystals scatter across the countertop as I rush to finish the last detail of my design.
Three minutes… Two... One final swirl of buttercream…
“Time!” Theo and Judy call in sync with one another.
“Bakers, step away from your cakes!”
I drop the piping bag onto the counter, hands raised in surrender, and stumble back a step, my chest heaving with adrenaline.
None of us says anything as we make exhausted eye contact and offer wobbly smile to one another.
Alex runs a hand through his hair, leaving a streak of flour through his dark waves. Diane crosses her arms, studying her own creation with quiet satisfaction.
And me? I just stare, unblinking.
Somehow, against all the odds stacked against me, I finished my bake—and it might just be the most beautiful cake I’ve ever made.
?????????
Three enormous showstopper cakes tower above the table in the center of the judging platform, each one elaborate and decadent in its own way. The designs sparkle under the studio lights, frosting perfectly piped, colors vibrant and bold against the patriotic backdrop of the lawn outside.
Guests return to their seats, waiting for the judges.
Garrett folds his hands behind his back and steps forward, his voice calm but carrying easily across the hushed crowd. “You’ve all created remarkable finale showstoppers.”
Magnolia nods in agreement. “Now it’s time for judging.”
My stomach instantly flips. This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. If I’m being honest with myself, I’m not ready for it.
Theo claps his hands together once. “Alright, folks—let’s see what you’ve got!”
“Taylor, would you like to begin?” Judy gestures toward the center table, where our cakes now sit elevated like edible monuments.
Oh—Oh, God no. I don’t want to go first.
I swallow hard and step forward, trying to summon as much confidence as I can. Up close, my cake looks even bigger than it did while I was building it.
Four tiers wrapped in soft ivory buttercream, each layer decorated with delicate piping and bursts of red and blue sugar flowers. Thin gold accents shimmer along the edges like sunlight catching on glass.
I stare at it in awe—I actually made this. My heart bursts with pride. It’s everything I hoped it would be. And then some.
Garrett clears his throat, breaking through my satisfied thoughts. Pulling my attention back to where it belongs. “Tell us about your cake.”
I fold my hands together, hoping they don’t shake too visibly.
“This is a vanilla bean sponge layered with strawberry compote and mascarpone cream,” I explain, working hard to control my breathing as my chest rises and falls rapidly.
“Each tier represents a different summer flavor profile. You have strawberry, blueberry, lemon, and honey.”
Magnolia tilts her head as she studies the design. “And the inspiration? What does this tell us about you?”
“This is a love letter to my hometown. Summer festivals, family barbecues—the kind of celebrations where everyone brings something special from home.”
As I explain, I look out across the sea of people gathered here together in support. The crowd is full of moms and dads, brothers and sisters, cousins and best friends. People I’ve just met but can’t picture my life without.
A single tear slips down my cheek, and I swat it away with a gentle laugh. “Some people might say that it’s too simple. But it’s not. These kind of moments are the memories that weave us all together.”
The judges and hosts listen intently, each of them responding to my words in their own way.
“So basically, it’s the perfect Fourth of July cake.” Theo teases, breaking the tension with his deadpan delivery and I love him for it.
“Exactly.”
Garrett slices carefully into the bottom tier, revealing the clean layers inside.
The silence is deafening as he lifts the fork and takes a bite, chewing with so much restraint I want to hide my face behind my hands.
Magnolia tastes next, her expression thoughtful.
Theo and Judy follow, despite having no say in who wins the competition. Their delighted reaction makes my heart leap.
Seconds stretch into what feels like hours. And the waiting is the worst part. Nervous energy prickles over my skin until, at last, Garrett nods and points at my dish with his fork.
“The sponge is beautifully baked. It’s light and moist, and has excellent structure.”
Relief floods my senses so rapidly it makes me dizzy. I almost collapse under the weight of it.
Magnolia smiles warmly. “Your flavors are always so bright and balanced. This is no exception. Your mascarpone cream is velvety smooth, and it works beautifully with the fruit.”
I bounce on my toes as I listen to their feedback, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that not only am I here in the finale, but that my final bake is landing so well.
“And this thing looks incredible! You nailed the celebration theme,” Theo says with a grin.
Judy beams. “It’s joyful in the best way.”
My chest swells a little more. I brought everything that I’ve learned to this challenge, but I also brought the memory of Gran. This one was for her.
Garrett sets down his fork.
“The only note I’d give is that the honey tier is slightly sweeter than the others. But overall…” He points a finger at my cake. “Excellent work.”
My heart somersaults behind my ribs.
Thanking the judges with a dip of my head, I step back into line with Alex and Diane.
Garrett nods once before turning. “Alex.”
Alex steps forward, confident and self-assured as always. And this time, he should be. His cake is breathtaking.
Tall, architectural tiers cascade downward in shades of deep amber and forest green. Delicate sugar work shaped like maple leaves curl around the structure. The entire design feels elegant and restrained—like something out of a luxury pastry shop window. But it’s also so uniquely him.
I close my eyes, picturing a little boy version of Alex running through the forest, hiding in the trees. Learning about himself and what he’s capable of away from his father’s overwhelming criticism.
Garrett studies it closely. “This is absolutely stunning.”
“Thank you.” Alex inclines his head in deference.
“Tell us about it.”
“Like Taylor’s, it’s inspired by where I grew up.” He clears his throat. “For my showstopper, you have a maple spice sponge layered with brown sugar butter cream and apple compote.”
Magnolia’s eyebrows lift. “That sounds lovely.”
Garrett slices into the cake, revealing flawless, identical layers. “The technique here is exceptional.”
“Oh yeah, that’s good.” Theo lets out a low whistle while Judy nods enthusiastically, waiting her turn to take a bite.
“These flavors are incredibly sophisticated.” Magnolia studies the design again. “And the design is something totally unexpected from you.”
Alex’s shoulders relax as Garrett sets down his fork. “This is the work of a highly trained baker.”
Alex gives a small nod, but Garrett continues.
“I would have liked to see just a touch more risk in the flavor profile. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautifully executed. But very safe for a baker of your caliber.”
Disappointment flashes but he recovers quickly, offering the judges a solemn, respectful nod. “Understood.”
Magnolia turns to the final cake and Diane steps forward with a hopeful smile playing on her lips. Her cake is absolutely extraordinary.
Five tiers of delicate pastel buttercream rise in a spiral toward the sky. Intricate sugar flowers cascade down the sides like a waterfall. Tiny edible fireworks burst across the top tier in shimmering gold and silver.
Garrett circles the cake, examining every detail. “This is incredibly ambitious for a competition show like this, with the time that we gave you.”
Diane smiles faintly, nodding once. “I wanted to go big.”
Theo laughs. “Well, you definitely did that.”
Garrett slices carefully into the lowest tier. Inside, the layers are immaculate. I was proud of how even my layers were but Diane’s set the standard.
He takes a bite, then immediately reaches for another.
Magnolia’s eyes widen in delight as she chews her bite of cake longer than necessary, savoring every second of it.
Judy covers her mouth with her hand mumbling between her fingers, “Oh, wow. Diane…”
My stomach sinks just a little at their reaction. I steal a glance at Alex, and his eyes are trained upward, slightly glazed.
Garrett finally sets down his fork. “The flavors here are extraordinary.”
“Every element in your cake complements the next. I genuinely don’t know how you pulled this off.” Magnolia praises.
Diane shrugs lightly. “Lots of practice.”
Garrett steps back, folding his hands behind his back again. “All three of you should be incredibly proud of what you’ve accomplished here tonight.”
“Now comes the hard part.” Theo nods and Judy’s face falls. She looks paler than usual, like she might be sick.
“We need to deliberate.” Magnolia declares.
My pulse races again as the judges step away from the table, reconvening at the far end of the tent.
Guests have been arriving throughout the day in clusters, voices rising in excited bursts.
Family and friends mingle with the eliminated contestants like a reunion unfolding across the lawn.
We drift out to join them, stepping into the hum of conversation and movement as we wait for the judges to deliberate.
Kara stands near the dessert table, talking animatedly with my mom, both of them holding drinks and laughing. My chest fills with something warm and a little overwhelming.
All summer, we’ve been baking inside that tent, sweating through challenges and whispering encouragement to one another over the whir of mixers when we could. And now everyone is here to watch how it ends.
Cameras are literally everywhere, and I’d be lying if I said this amount of attention didn’t trigger my gag reflex.
Tripods line the edges of the lawn. Operators move quietly through the crowd, lenses already trained toward the platform stage. Microphones hang overhead like curious little birds.
Near the center of the platform stage sits a velvet-covered pedestal. And on top of it—my breath catches—the platinum rolling pin trophy gleams in the fading sunlight.
I glance toward the tent and catch sight of Alex stepping out, searching the crowd. He pauses when he sees the setup, too. His shoulders go still for a moment like the weight of it all has finally landed on him.
Our eyes lock across the crowd.
Julian calls to him from where he sits with a formidable group, fully decked out in business suits and designer sunglasses. As he approaches their table, he pauses to glance back at me over his shoulder and gifts me with a wide, dazzling smile.
Deliberation doesn’t take as long as I’d hoped it would. All four of our judges and hosts take their position on the small stage. Magnolia discreetly wipes a hand under her eye, possibly wiping away a tear. I wouldn’t blame her for crying.
This whole situation has been a lot.
Garrett steps forward, taking a dramatic pause and letting his signature scowl slide over the audience before he speaks.
“Thank you all for coming out to celebrate our final three bakers here in the tent,” He pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing. “They have all worked extremely hard, and it’s my absolute pleasure to announce our star baker.”
I don’t feel the wind, nor the SoCal heat pressing against my skin. I don’t hear the murmur of the crowd or any of the production noise in the background.
Each second stretches into minutes, my gaze finding and holding Alex’s while we stand suspended in this moment together.
Garrett looks at Diane…
Then Alex…
And finally, me.
My pulse pounds in my ears and the entire lawn has gone silent, holding its breath in wait. “The winner of Season One of America’s Next Great Baker is…”