“It’ll end and you’ll win.” Michelle sounded very sure of herself. “Just try to stay calm. The judges are getting ready to give the results to the announcer.”
As they watched, the announcer took center stage. “I’ll read the results from lowest to highest,” he said. “In fifth place is Chef Gloria Berkeley.”
There was applause from the audience as Gloria took the stage to receive her fifth place medal.”
“In fourth place is Chef Brooke Jackman.”
Hannah and Michelle applauded as Brooke came up to the announcer to receive her fourth place medal.”
“In third place is Chef Loren Berringer,” the announcer stated, and there was applause as Loren went forward to receive his third place medal.”
“And now . . . an unprecedented event has occurred. Never in the history of our Food Channel Chef competitions, have our judges had such a difficult decision. Although our top two contestants have tied for first place in tonight’s challenge, only one of them can be crowned as Food Channel’s Top Dessert Chef.”
The audience was silent. Everyone seemed to be holding their collective breath, and Hannah realized that she was also not breathing.
“Would Chef Rodney Paloma’s team and Miss Hannah Swensen’s team please join me during our commercial break while the judges make a final tally of the scores?”
Michelle nudged Hannah. “Breathe!”
Hannah managed to draw a shocked breath as she turned to Michelle.
“Smile, Hannah! I did the math last night. I’m sure you won the grand prize.”
“But . . .” Hannah took another breath. “Are you sure? You almost flunked algebra!”
“That was only because I was dating Doug Kreske, and I never bothered to study. Maybe I can’t deal with imaginary numbers and quadratic equations, but I can add up scores. You’re the winner, Hannah! I’ll stake my whole bank account on it!”
“Then you must be overdrawn again,” Hannah said with a laugh that served to relax her, and she wasn’t quite as nervous as she’d been before.
Michelle pushed her forward. “Get up there, Hannah! Rodney’s already hogging the spotlight.”
Hannah walked up to join Rodney. The die was cast, the tally was done, what would be would be, and many other fatalistic phrases danced through her head while she waited for the results.
The announcer turned to the contestants to give them a smile. “We’re back, folks!” And Helene Stone walked up to hand him the tally sheet for the grand prize.
“The judges have spoken,” the announcer intoned. “The grand prize winner of the Food Channel Dessert Chef Competition is . . . Miss Hannah Swensen!”
It took Hannah a moment to react. She simply couldn’t believe her good fortune. Her smile was still frozen in place as the audience applauded, and Rodney shook her hand.
“How does it feel to win the Food Channel Dessert Chef Competition?” the announcer asked her.
“I . . . I can’t believe it!” Hannah told him. “I never expected to win. I’m not even a real chef!”
“You are now!” the announcer said, presenting her with the trophy. “Are you going to put this on the mantel at The Cookie Jar?”
Hannah couldn’t help it. She laughed. And then she began to smile. “We don’t have a mantel at The Cookie Jar,” she said. “We don’t even have a fireplace. But I’m going to put this wonderful trophy behind the counter in the center of our display jars of cookies.”
“Are you going to take it with you on your honeymoon?” the announcer asked her.
“I might, but we’re not going to have a honeymoon. We’re going to take the weekend off, but both of us will be back at work on Monday morning.”
“Oh, no you won’t!” the announcer said, and there was a smile on his face. “We’ve cleared it with your groom’s employer, and your partner and your sisters are going to make sure that The Cookie Jar runs smoothly while you and Ross go on your Food Channel honeymoon.”
Hannah just stared at him. “Our . . . Food Channel honeymoon?”
“That’s right, Hannah. Not only are we going to film your wedding and reception for our viewers, we’re also going to send you on a ten-day honeymoon cruise to the Mexican Riviera, all expenses paid. What do you have to say about that?”
“I . . . I don’t know what to say. Except . . . thank you!”
The camera moved away to show the judges, who were all smiling at her.
When the show was over, Hannah joined Michelle, who looked just as amazed as she was. “You didn’t know about the honeymoon?” Hannah asked her.
“No! If I’d known, I would have told you. You did beautifully, Hannah. Everyone could see how surprised and happy you were.”
Hannah smiled, but she knew she still wore the startled expression of a rookie pitcher who’d just managed to throw a no-hitter.
“How do you feel?” Michelle asked her.
“Grateful, happy, and . . . exhausted. Let’s go home, Michelle. I think I’m on overload, and all I really want to do is go to bed and cuddle with Moishe until I go to sleep.”