44
Jack
The tension was high in the studio when I walked in with the other judges. Chloe looked angry; she was wearing a glove on one hand and seemed to be favoring it.
I wanted to smooth the tight look on her face. But she and the other contestants were whisked off to the holding room, leaving Hartleigh remaining. It seemed she would go first. She smoothed down her apron, staring at me as her hands lingered on her body.
"For our esteemed judges," she said, "I made a cranberry and chocolate tart."
I didn't even want to eat her food. I broke it into pieces and moved them around on my plate, hoping the camera would have enough footage. Hartleigh looked annoyed when she saw I wasn't even tasting her dessert.
"If you're going to make a tart," Anu said after taking a bite, "remember that it's one of those things that’s deceptively simple. Everything, the pastry, the filling, everything has to be perfect. Unfortunately, this falls flat."
"You should ask Chloe for some tips on pastry," Nick said. "Even though it wasn't even her dessert, that pie crust she made for that apple cranberry pie—you remember that, Anu—that was some of the best pastry I've ever had."
After that statement, Hartleigh looked steaming mad.
"Chloe," she muttered and stomped out before the judges could finish the critique.
"All, right then," Nick said after a moment. "Next contestant."
Nina was next with a cranberry chocolate cake with candied almond sorbet.
"You would impress anyone with this," Anu told her.
"Thank you," she said.
"Though it's tasty," Nick told her, "I think the presentation could be better."
They had similar comments for Chloe.
"I'm glad you didn't burn yourself too badly," Anu said. "Unfortunately, it's part of life as a chef. I have scars from some very bad burns."
"I was planning something else," Chloe explained.
"I think that's why your dessert isn't quite there," Nick said.
"You were able to finish, which shows a level of professionalism," Anu said. "And it's a fine dessert. However, it's not spectacular."
I was still reeling from learning she had been burned.
Maria presented last, and it was clear that she was the winner in Anu's and Nick's eyes. She had made a variety of churros with little dipping sauces.
"It's festive and fun and feels like something you would do with friends and family," Nick said.
"I agree," Anu told her. "It feels casual but still has a nice presentation. These churros are cooked perfectly."
I caught Chloe after we finished taping.
"You burned yourself?" I asked her. "Let me see your hand." I took it gently and eased the glove off. She winced.
"Does it hurt?" I asked her. I didn't want to touch it.
"Maria gave me aloe vera," Chloe said. "I think it's helping."
"I am going to take you to the emergency room," I told her. "You need to see a doctor."
She scoffed. "I am made of sturdy Midwestern stock. We don't go to doctors."
