Dad shook his head, but he was smiling. He stabbed a piece of celery with his fork. “Nope, not a holiday special.”
Wyatt felt a thrum of anticipation. “What then?”
“A new show,” Dad said. “A limited first season of twelve episodes, with options to expand on that if it’s picked up for a second season.”
“Wow!” Justin’s mouth fell open.
“I haven’t said yes,” Dad said.
Lettie made a face. “Why not?”
“Because it involves traveling,” Dad said. “They want to call it Home Recipes. Instead of just me cooking, it’d be me going around the world and visiting chefs who are at the top of their game in their own kitchens, and seeing what they cook for their families. Like not the fancy restaurant stuff, but their favorite home recipes.”
“That’s, um—” Justin looked suddenly anxious. “How long would you be away?”
Dad shot him a worried look. “Twelve weeks.”
“Oh,” said Justin, and a silence fell over the table.
“It’s a big opportunity,” Dad said. “But I told them I needed to speak to my family first.”
Wyatt and Lettie watched for Justin’s reaction.
“It’s a big opportunity,” Justin echoed at last, setting his fork down. “And I think you should go for it.”
“Are you sure?” Dad asked softly.
“Yes.” Justin sounded more certain now. “You’ve worked so hard toward this and I think you should give it a shot. I mean, I’ll miss you like crazy when you’re filming, but Del, you’re gonna beamazing!”
“Thank you, babe.” Dad smiled, looking both proud and relieved. He drew a deep breath and let it out again. “Okay, so there’s one other thing too.”
Justin raised his eyebrows. “If you say you’re really filming for twelve months, I take back everything I just said.”
“No, it’s nothing like that,” Dad promised him. He looked at Wyatt. “I want to take Wy with me.”
Wyatt’s stomach clenched and flipped at the same time. “What?”
“They’re looking at getting Alain Donadieu on the show,” Dad said.
The name didn’t mean anything to Justin or Lettie going by their blank looks, but Wyatt knew it. Alain Donadieu was one of the world’s most famous pâtissiers. Famously creative, famously wealthy, and famously temperamental. Wannabe pastry chefs would sell their souls to the devil for the chance to meet him.
“He’s a pâtissier in Paris,” Dad explained. “Well, he’sthepâtissier in Paris. I’ve met him before and he’s an interesting guy, but I got the chance to talk to him yesterday about the show, and I mentioned Wyatt, and he said he’s willing to meet with him.” He turned his gaze on Wyatt. “And he said if you’re good enough, he can find a place for you in his kitchen.”
Wyatt felt suddenly sick.
Dad mistook his expression. “You’re more than good enough, Wy. You’re incredible.”
Wyatt managed a shaky smile.
“What do you say?” Dad asked softly.
Wyatt had always been the good kid. The easy one. The one that didn’t cause trouble or push back. He didn’t want Dad or Justin to be disappointed in him. And, more than that, he didn’t want them to know just how scared he was of the idea of leaving Oak Glen—of leavinghomebehind. He didn’t want them to know just how much he was still a frightened little boy inside. He wanted them to be proud of him, not feel like they had to coddle him. He’d never corrected them when they told people he wanted to be a pastry chef, because hehadwanted that once, and when he’d told them that it’d made them both so happy. And because Lettie was only sixteen and knew exactly what she wanted to do, and because Harper was twenty-two and she was already out in the world doing what she wanted, and Wyatt knew just how lacking he was. Lacking and scared and ashamed of it, because he was surrounded by nothing but love and support.
He forced his smile wider. “Wow. That sounds amazing, Dad.”
And Dad’s smile in return was so proud it made him want to cry.
* * * *
