“Can’t say, but it was good timing. This year’s special Valentine’s Day edition has some major sponsors, and the prize money has doubled. We’ll film all of the episodes up until the finale. The finale will be filmed in front of a live studio audience on Valentine’s Day. First time we’ve ever done that. It’s brilliant, if I do say so myself. All the episodes will air on Valentine’s Day. Back to back. A full day of programming and interviews with the contestants.”

She wasn’t sure she’d heard half of that. All that was echoing in her brain was, Martin Schlipshel is in my bakery! “Call me Martin.”

“Is there anyone who might be expecting to spend Valentine’s Day with you whom we need to find a way to get to New York?”

Her laugh was almost too loud. “No. No plans on Valentine’s Day other than baking, and my team here can handle all of that.”

“Surprising. You’re such a lovely and smart woman,” Martin said.

That was awkward. As if being alone on Valentine’s Day wasn’t bad enough, announcing it kind of sucked. It was like he was looking for her big flaw. “Thank you,” she said, trying to sound polite.

“The network is so excited about this. We’ll be choosing the winner of the one-hundred-thousand-dollar prize before a live audience.”

“One hundred…thousand?”

Martin waved his hands in the air. “You’re in the big time now, lady. Enjoy every minute of it. I’ll let Jennifer go through all the details with you.”

Sara raised her tongs in the air like a dancing lobster in front of the pastry case. “What can I get for you? Everything was just baked this morning.”

Martin rubbed his hand across his chin as he stared into the case. “Do you have any of the four-layer caramel and coffee cake with mascarpone?” He smacked his lips. “I haven’t stopped thinking about it, and I had the mail-order one. I can only imagine how good it’ll be fresh.”

“You don’t have to imagine.” Sarah pulled the cake out of the case and sliced a generous piece, serving it up on a china dessert plate. “Coffee? Milk?”

“Coffee would be delightful. We’ll just tuck ourselves in that corner over there to keep things on the down-low,” Martin said.

As Kelly led Jennifer over to her office to get the papers signed, she watched Martin, long and lanky, scurry like a giant rat to the corner to devour his cake. It was almost comical.

And all this before seven in the morning. TGIF for sure.

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Andrew climbed out of bed and wandered out to the kitchen for water. Mom had left a note on the counter.

I’m playing bridge this morning.

Be back before lunch.

So glad you’re here.

Love, Mom