Page 99 of The Alpha and the Baker
“You don’t need it.” I meant it. With every round, my confidence grew. “Nobody has anything on your wellington.”
“I appreciate the support, but you are a bit biased.”
“Doesn’t mean he’s not right,” Felicia said, putting her arm around my mom’s shoulder. Warmth flooded through me. Anybody looking at us would likely assume that Felicia had known us for ages. I didn’t take her being so comfortable around my pack for granted. If anything, it was further proof that I really was dating the right person.
I held my mother’s hand the entire time, gently squeezing, and I wasn’t surprised when the feedback from the judges was all insanely positive. I did, however, wait until they were done judging the Ramirezes and had already walked away before I congratulated her verbally. Talking during our rival’s time would be crossing that petty line that I didn’t want to.
“See, I told you that you would kill it,” I murmured to her, giving her hand three more squeezes in quick succession. “Everybody loves your wellington.”
“Let’s not celebrate yet. They still have to announce the winner.”
“It’ll be you. Trust me.”
Sure enough, after approximately ten minutes: “And the winner of the savory round with a truly exceptional dish that might be one of the fanciest we’ve had in competition, is the beef wellington from team eight, the McCallisters!”
“See?” I cried, pulling her into a full-on hug. “I told you!” Maybe it was a little over the top, but it was mymom.My sweet, stalwart mother, who had been a loving and supportive spouse to my father and a guiding light for me.
“Goodness! I won the round! I really did!”
She sounded like she was on the verge of tears, so I hugged her harder. Man, I really had let the business of the day-to-day steal so much time away from us, hadn’t I? Silently, I resolved to do something special with her at least once a month, beyond taking her to a dinner in the city. Maybe we could sign up for cooking classes together? Or she could just teach me at her house. She was sad when I’d moved into my own cabin five years ago, so maybe it wouldn’t hurt to do those activities there.
I kept holding her all the way until she had to return to the kitchenette, then I dealt with the very eager crowd wanting a small part of the beef wellington. A lot of people asked if she made it for a restaurant or anything, and I tucked it into the back of my mind to ask Felicia if she’d want to work out a deal with my mother like she had with Letitia.
“And the winner of confection is team five! Making up for that soggy bottom pie round with truly brilliant matcha and strawberry lollipops.”
Huh, a bit disappointing, but that still left us at three, the Ramirez pack at one, and another team at one. We were solidly in the lead.
“Next up, I hope all you tasters still have an appetite because I’ve seen some real pretty dishes staying cool in our fridges. This is the tricky custard round!”
Oh boy.
I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Sal and his crew were about to pull out their flan, and that it was utterlydelicious.I honestly didn’t know if Polly’s custard buns would be able to beat that dish, but I crossed my fingers and hoped anyway.
“Shit, that does look good,” my mother whispered as she rejoined me at the table, and I had to do a double take. I really wasn’t used to her swearing.
“It tastes good too,” Felicia said with the slightest sigh, and my mother gave her such a betrayed look that I had to hide my grin behind my hand. “What? It’s true.”
“And how do you know it tastes good?”
“Easy there, Mom,” I warned gently. The last thing we needed was in-fighting on our own team. “She catered an event for them, and they gave her some to take home. I had it, too, and it was really good.”
I’d never seen my mother send me a look with so much confusion, but Felicia cut in before I could explain further.
“They’re actually quite nice, ya know. Abuelita Ramirez gave me a present when I left. She didn’t have to do that.”
“That’s just because you’re so likable,” my mother said stubbornly.
The older generations were a lot less removed from the beef between our two packs than mine was, or the young ones after me. “I’m sure they were?—”
“Not now, Mom,” I said firmly, acutely aware that Sal and his team could hear every word out of our mouths. “They were excellent hosts, and their flan is good. That’s the fact of the matter.”
She let out a little humph, but what surprised me was the incredibly happy expression Felicia sent me. I didn’t know quite why my words cheered her so much, but I was happy they did.
Thank you,she mouthed over my mother’s head. I didn’t reply back, but I did shoot her a wink, which made her smilewider. At least she was in a good mood, which was a good thing, because neither of us were surprised when it was time for the judges’ next ruling.
“And the winner of the custard round is team nine with their truly incredible flan!”
Shit.
