A bit speechless, Cierra locked eyes with Erik, and she felt grateful that he was there for this moment.
Zelda walked into the kitchen area with worried eyes. “What’s happened? Is everyone all right?”
“Yes, dear. Everything is fine. It’s good news! Our Cierra here is well on her way to becoming America’s next celebrity chef.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Zelda said, more curious than congratulatory.
“Remember that application she was working on weeks ago? For the cooking show?” Erik started.
“Sure, sure,” Zelda replied.
“Well . . .” Erik said, looking at Cierra suggestively.
“I won’t be a celebrity chef, they’re exaggerating, but I will be going to the final casting call forPlated”
“Oh,” Zelda said, somewhat taken aback. “Cierra, this is big. This calls for champagne!” she cried, heading to the wine fridge before anyone could object. She reappeared two minutes later with four flutes and a cold bottle of Veuve that was sweating with anticipation. Zelda extended the bottle to Cierra. “Please, do the honors?”
Cierra grinned at her boss. Of all moments, she was happy to share this one with the Lawsons. After all, they were just as much a part of her success as anyone else.
“Hold on, let me get a video of this,” Elliot started. After a few moments of fidgeting with his phone, Erik intervened.
“Bro, let me get this,” he said before taking charge, pointing the mini circular lens at Cierra and pressing the red button.
“All right, Cierra, tell us what you’re celebrating.”
Nervously, she looked at him and explained the email that had just come through.
“Any message you want to send to all the fans at home watching?”
Cierra dithered while Elliot and Zelda smiled at each other.
“Oh, God, um . . . I guess just keep an open mind?”
“That’s it? C’mon, I know you have more to say than that.”
Tapping her foot, Cierra thought harder. “Okay, my message is this. I’m so honored and excited to get the chance to audition for the final round. But even if I don’t get it, I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
After Erik set down the phone, the foursome all cheered. Cierra was so caught up in the celebratory moment she lost track of the time. It was almost six, her family and Julian were all going to be at her apartment in an hour, and she still had carrot smudges on her shirt. Cleaning up as fast as she could, she said her goodbyes just twenty minutes later and flew out the door.
“Good luck tonight,” Erik called out, smiling softly, perhaps a little sadly, but still seeming to mean every word.
“Thanks,” Cierra replied, leaving the Lawsons to face her own family moment.
Back at her apartment, Cierra only had twenty minutes to get ready until her family arrived promptly on time, as per usual. Cierra asked Lisa if they could stop by a nearby wine store to pick up a couple of bottles to buy herself an extra ten minutes.
She surveyed her railroad apartment, and, to her delight, realized it was in fairly good shape. Now that she lived alone, she had gotten more meticulous about everyday cleaning. Other than putting away some jackets and clothes accumulated on the everything-chair, her place was ready to go.
Changing out of her work outfit and into a casual floral print dress took just a second. And although she had wanted to do something different with her hair, she threw it up into a messy bun with bangs, which didn’t look half bad. In the living room,which also served as the dining room, she gathered some dining chairs around the coffee table across from the couch.
While lighting a candle, the buzzer of her apartment squawked in alarm.
“Hello! Come on up,” she called into the speaker.
“Well, hello to you, too,” said a male voice on the other end of the sound system.
When Cierra opened the door to Julian, she automatically relaxed a little and was grateful to have a few private moments with him before the others arrived. And while pouring him a glass of wine, giving him the run-down of her family, Cierra wanted to share her big news.
Julian was perched on the couch in beige khaki shorts and a short-sleeve button shirt. The fabric was a mix of red, orange, and brown tones, bringing out his tan. He was looking out the window, sipping his drink, before turning around after sensing Cierra’s gaze on him.
