“It’s cool! It’s just, uh, it’s hard to explain,” Cierra began, unsure herself why she was having such a tempered response. At the moment, Cierra had felt an impulse to explain to the girl that it was the Instagram persona of herself that was doing everything the right way — the authentic version was just as lost as her. But that didn’t make any sense, either, since it was the same woman.
The rest of the lunch was fun, and they began heading back as the temperature cooled to a livable environment. Mia hailed a cab back to the Upper West Side, but Cierra got an ice cream and sat in Madison Park, with a perfect view of the Flatiron Building.
I hope I can get myself figured out soon, like you.
The college girl’s words kept repeating in Cierra’s mind. She had nothing figured out. For the second time, she got passed up for an opportunity she so desperately wanted. But the more she sat with the girl’s words, the more she envisioned herself looking at her life like some distant observer, not someone with an insider’s view of her rampant inner monologue. She had a lovely apartment: nothing to boast about inArchitectural Digest, but it was charming, and it was hers. And she did like her job, and she had supportive friends and a loving family. Maybe she didn’t have everything she wanted all at the same time, but as she sat with her ice cream in the park, a momentary lightness came over her.
The Lawsons summoned Cierra for some light meal prep and a last-minute rundown before the Sincha Summit in North Carolina, just four days away. Based on the lack of change in her boss’s behavior toward her, she gathered Erik had stuck to his promise of secrecy, which filled her with ease. She had been atthe residence since morning, and for the first time since before the Catskills trip, things felt relatively back to normal.
Erik was there visiting, and they chatted for half an hour about various life stuff. He even did some work alongside Elliot at the breakfast nook, which was comforting. She had missed his company. And aside from the general buzz ahead of the event, the energy was right. It was like Zelda’s personal tiny army were all at their stations, puttering about waiting for orders but enjoying the mundane peace in the meantime. The last event of the summer. It was all coming to an end.
While a mix of golden beets, carrots, and yams were roasting, Cierra chatted with Elliot and Erik.
“So, any plans after work?” Elliot asked.
“My family is in town right now, so I’m having them over for dinner.”
“That’s a lot of cooking for one night,” Erik remarked. “Do they normally come into the city?”
“Not too often, but my mom loves her quarterly Broadway show, so we usually use that as a reason to see each other. Tonight though, I’m definitely ordering takeout. My sister, Lisa, her wife, Jess, and Julian are coming as well.”
“Julian?” Elliot asked.
“Cierra’s boyfriend,” Erik stated.
“How come I never heard about Julian?”
Erik chuckled at his brother’s nosiness, happy not to be the subject of his curiosity for once.
“Is this the first time he’s meeting the family?” Elliot asked.
Erik raised a brow, and with gritted teeth, Cierra nodded her head. Before Elliot could launch into the questions game, Cierra changed the subject and asked about whether he’d ever been to North Carolina before, when her phone buzzed. Upon seeing the sender, she went quiet.
“Everything all right?” Elliot asked with a hint of concern.
Cierra wasn’t sure about the answer to that question. It was an email from the Food Network — maybe they were sending an automated formal rejection. Her vision blurred, with the only visible image in focus being her phone.
“I think so. Sorry, just need to read this email . . .” she replied.
Dear Cierra,
Congratulations! We have selected you for the casting call. Apologies for the late notification. This season was especially competitive, and our producers needed extra time to deliberate.
For more information . . .
Cierra’s brown eyes flashed wide open; virtually all the air left her chest.
She had made it to the next round. She was going to the final casting call this time.
Cierra read it again, just to make sure she wasn’t misreading anything, but there it was, in black and white. She had a shot, a second chance at her dream.
With her mouth agape, she looked at Erik and Elliot incredulously. “I got accepted for the casting call forPlated.The producer just emailed me. I . . . I . . .” But before she could finish, Elliot and Erik both cheered. Elliot was the first to come over and offer a hug.
“Cierra, that’s amazing news! Oh my god, how incredible? Just think, Erik, we’re going to know a celebrity chef,” he said as Erik followed suit. Cierra and he shared an earnest hug, all awkwardness forgotten in the joy of the moment. “Zelda! Get down here!” Elliot called.
“I know you worked your ass off on the application,” Erik said, smile wide and proud. “If they see even half the woman wedo, there’s no way they’ll pass up an opportunity to have you on the show.”
“I second that,” Elliot said cheerily.
