“Thirty minutes left. Start bringing it home.”

She and Randy started stacking the completed pieces. Everything fit right into place. The open Tiffany blue box was the perfect cake topper.

“Ten minutes.”

She and Randy made a slow walk around the finished cake.

“It looks great,” he said.

“I’m really happy with it. The edible glass diamond is perfect.” She tapped the tag to shift it a millimeter. The words in red, Will You Marry Me?, made her heart stutter. If someone ever asked her to get married with something as elaborate as this, she’d break down in joyous tears.

Martin announced, “One minute.”

“I’m satisfied.” She took a step back from the counter, and Randy took her hand and raised it in the air.

“Time’s up!”

She and Randy turned toward each other and high-fived with both hands.

A moment later, the LIVE light went out, and Brenda came in to get them. “You two worked great. It was like you’d been baking together forever.”

“She’s a great talent. I learned a few things,” Randy said.

“Thank you.”

Brenda said, “This is where you and Randy will say goodbye. We’ll be taking you back to get freshened up, then to hair and makeup while the judges deliberate.”

“Oh, gosh. Randy, thank you so much. I appreciate everything you did. You went the extra mile. That ring box is so perfect.”

“You’re so welcome. You know my girlfriend is going to expect a cake like that from me now.”

“Sorry.”

“No. Thank you, and thanks for letting me be a part of it. I just got my fifteen minutes of fame. My mom is in the audience.”

“No way!”

“Yep. I’m going to go sit with her and watch to see who wins.” He raised his crossed fingers. “I hope everything you ever wanted comes true for you.”

He turned and left, and she felt lonely for a moment. She wished her mom was in the audience too. Or Sara. Someone.

“That’s so sweet,” Kelly said. “I’m so glad for him.”

Brenda hugged her. “I’ve got something sweet that came over your phone earlier for you. I think it’ll add to this perfect moment.”

“From Sara?”

“Sort of.” Brenda handed Kelly’s phone to her. There were two pictures, one right behind the other. The first was a postcard of the New York skyline at night, the other a note from Andrew on the reverse side. “That was so sweet.”

“Is this the same Andrew on your call list? The one we went to dinner with?”

She nodded.

“Seemed like a nice reunion from what I could tell at dinner the other night.”

“It was, and I’d give anything to be sharing this experience with him. There’s a lot of history there. Not all of it good.”