“I know, right?” Fiona said, laughing.
“You should take one of my brothers,” Isaac offered.
24
Owen
Ihad been planning on returning to work, but I ended up remaining in the studio the rest of the day. As soon as I tried to put Davy down, he threatened to scream. He also didn't want to come up to my office and color. He wanted to watch Holly cook; nothing else was acceptable. Therefore I was also going to be watching Holly cook.
With Davy out of the way, Holly seemed like she had the cake a little more under control. She was very patient with Andy and Henry, which was impressive, because the Svenssons did not inspire patience.
“That looks like a very intense cake,” I told her as she meticulously fitted a layer of baked cheesecake over a firm, red-colored custard.
“I might have been a little ambitious,” Holly admitted as she helped Henry pour in the next layer of cream cheese and whipped cream over the top. She jiggled the tall cake pan, her chest bouncing with the motion, and carefully carried each cake to the fridge.
“We're making the candied pomegranates, cranberries, and orange peels to go on top for decoration,” she explained to the boys. “Then I'll make ganache, and that's it! We'll have two beautiful cakes.”
I set Davy back on the counter, and he sort of helped dissolve the sugar in water while Holly sliced several oranges. Henry and Andy seeded a pomegranate as Holly boiled the orange peel.
“We have to boil it off and change the water a few times to remove the bitterness and cook the peel,” she explained, “before we actually candy it.”
The candied fruit was done by the time the last layer on the cakes had set. Holly poured the glossy chocolate ganache over the top of the cakes, and Davy helped sprinkle the candied fruit on top.
“We'll let this set in the fridge,” Holly said. “Now, let's clean up! It's important to make sure your station is nice and tidy and the baking equipment is clean.”
Watching Holly with the boys was stirring something in my cold heart. She was so wholesome and adorable with them.
You're going soft.
“The cakes should be ready now,” she said, glancing at the clock. The station was clean, and the boys were waiting excitedly for the cake reveal. Holly brought them separately from the fridge.
“That's a big cake,” I remarked as she set the second one carefully on a crystal cake platter.
“It's a whole ten inches,” she said, sticking her tongue out.
“Impressive.”
“How are you going to take it out?” Henry asked.
“Very carefully,” she said, running a dish towel under hot water and wringing it out. She pressed it quickly to the sides of the round metal cake mold.
“Everyone, cross your fingers,” she said and slowly slid the mold up.
“Wow!” the kids exclaimed. Davy applauded. The cake was impressive. It resembled a rock formation worn away by a river that revealed the layers of sediment. I didn't know how she had done it, but on several layers, there were cutouts of various fruits. For example, the orange custard layer had little orange fruit candy canes pressed against the side, and the grapefruit layer had thin slices of grapefruit stars.
“Just in time too,” she said as she put the finishing touches of sprigs of mint and other edible greenery around the cake.
Davy had enjoyed watching the cake being made, and he did not want to retire to the greenroom with the rest of the contestants. He sat in my lap as each of the contestants, with their groups of Svensson brothers, presented their desserts. Fiona's group had made a seven-layer Christmas cake. Somehow she had engineered it so that when she cut into it, there was a whole Christmas scene of Santa, Rudolph, and the elves.
Holly's, I felt, was the most impressive.
“I was a little worried when you said icebox cake,” Nick said as he took a forkful of the cake. “But this is so fruity and refreshing. I love the detail you put into it.”
Anu addressed the children. “Did you all have fun making it?” They nodded silently, a bit overwhelmed at being the center of attention. “This does seem like something you could actually do with children of all ages, not just something you could give them to eat.”
“Have you guys tried it?” Nick asked. They took a bite. I gave Davy a bite of mine.
“It's really good,” Henry said. “We should make this every day.” We all laughed.
