“I know that. Your sister sent in a photo of your kitchen when she entered you in the competition. I took care of that, Hannah. I checked with your friend Sally Laughlin at the Lake Eden Inn, and she has enough room in her kitchen for four baking stations. That’s only if you win the hometown challenge, of course. The other four contestants all have large restaurants in their home cities, so it’s not a problem for them.”
The frown remained on Hannah’s face. “Doesn’t that put me at a disadvantage?”
“Not at all. The Lake Eden Inn can hold as many people as the other four restaurants. If you win, it won’t be a problem at all.”
“Oh . . . good.”
“We’re all set then? I can send you the travel arrangements and you’ll be here on the tenth?”
Hannah blinked twice, trying to clear her thoughts. “Yes. That’ll be fine with . . . oh, no!”
“What was the oh, no! for?”
“My wedding! It’s scheduled for Sunday, the eighteenth!”
“That’s not a problem. The contest will be over by then. And . . .” Eric paused for a moment. “This is just off the top of my head, but maybe we can find a way to incorporate part of your wedding into the Dessert Chef Competition.”
Hannah was genuinely puzzled. “How could you do that?”
“If you win the hometown challenge, we’ll be in Lake Eden. And we might just stick around to film it. You’re having a reception at a local place, aren’t you?”
“Yes. At the Lake Eden Inn.”
“Perfect! Let us think about that for a couple of days and see what we can come up with. This could really bump up the ratings. Everyone loves a wedding. And everyone will love you as a bride-to-be. You’ll definitely have the viewer vote. That much is for sure.”
“There’s a popular vote in addition to the judges’ decisions?”
“No, but that’s what keeps people watching. And that’s what we want . . . viewers.”
“Oh, yes. Of course you do. Ratings are everything . . . right?”
“Right.” Eric chuckled again. “All right, Hannah. It was nice talking to you. My secretary will get back to you in the next couple of days with the travel arrangements. I’ve got her working on it right now. You do know that you can bring an assistant chef with you for the competition, don’t you?”
“Yes. It was in the letter I received that told me I was a contestant. There was also a copy of the rules.”
“Do you know who your assistant will be?”
“Yes, I do. My assistant is Michelle Swensen. She’s my youngest sister.”
“Good. The audience enjoys getting to know our chefs’ family members. Your sister isn’t under eighteen, is she?”
“No, she turned twenty-one this past year.”
“Good. The reason I asked is because we have to make special provisions for anyone under the age of eighteen on the set.”
“I see,” Hannah said, even though she didn’t.
“Now that I think about it, your wedding will make a perfect ending to our competition. We were afraid we’d run short after one of the contestants dropped out for personal reasons. Is your sister one of the bridesmaids?”
“Yes, she is. And so is my other sister, Andrea.”
“Wonderful! It was too late to add another new contestant so the more bodies we can film, the better.”
Hannah winced slightly. Bodies obviously meant something different to Eric than it meant to her!
“Have you decided which desserts you’ll be baking for the competition?”
“No, not yet.”
“That’s all right. You have some time. As long as you give us a list of the ingredients you’ll need when you get to New York, it’ll be fine.”
Hannah came close to groaning out loud. She hadn’t done any preparation for the competition. “When do you need my list?”
“When you get off the plane in New York.”
“All right. I’ll have my list ready for you.”
“Good. That’s all then, Hannah. We’ll send your itinerary and your plane reservations in the next few days. We’re going to put you up at the Westin in the Theater District.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Hannah said, and she meant it. Michelle would be thrilled to be in New York’s Theater District.
“We’re all set then. Good luck in the competition, Hannah. I’m looking forward to meeting you and your sister.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting you, too. Thank you, Eric.”
Hannah said good-bye and hung up the phone. When she turned to face Lisa, there was a frown on her face. If she won the hometown challenge, they might show her wedding on television! Could Delores and her sisters get everything ready in time? And would the fact that the wedding might be televised throw Delores into a tizzy?
Lisa looked up from her stirring. When she saw Hannah’s expression, she looked concerned. “What’s the matter, Hannah?”
“It’s the Food Channel competition. They moved up the date. I have to be in New York by the tenth!”
“But how about the wedding?”
“They said the competition would be over by then and my wedding can go on as planned. And they’re thinking about televising it!”
“Oh boy! You’d better tell your mother right away! It may make a difference in what she plans.”