Page 90 of Babies at Coconuts

Chapter 63

As the cakes cooled, Cheri’s stomach growled. Realizing she had missed lunch, she made a cucumber, tomato, and hummus sandwich. Deciding the heaping sink full of dishes could wait, she tore several pieces of fresh mint into a glass pitcher and added cold water. To escape the heat of the kitchen, she stepped onto the deck and kicked off her shoes. A cool breeze blew her hair across her face. Leaning against an orange and brown striped lounge chair while devouring her sandwich, she sipped the fresh, minty water and stared longingly at Crystal Lake. As usual, it was filled with jet skis, pontoon boats, sport yachts, and fishing boats. Also as usual, she never seemed to have lake time, nor downtime, for that matter.

Setting her plate on the table, she studied a man and his son who sat in a bass boat. They were fishing near her unused dock. The little boy cast a line into the water as his father struggled with a large fish wriggling on the end. The weight made his fishing pole arch. The idyllic sight was so stark from anything in New York City that she couldn’t look away. Making a mental note to either get a boat or learn to fish, Cheri giggled. Who am I kidding? I’m just getting used to driving a car.

After watching the father and son for several minutes, Cheri crossed her wooden deck and stuck her finger inside her clay pots overflowing with red geraniums. The flowers had begun to shrivel and the dirt was dry and hard. Uncoiling the garden hose, she filled the pots, bringing the geraniums back to life. Impulsively, she leaned over and sipped water out of the hose. H2O dripped down her chin and the front of her shirt. She stared at her spa-like mint water in the pitcher and smiled. Sorry, fancy mint water. I prefer refreshing, cold water out of the hose.

She could only imagine how horrified her rich mom would be if she saw her grown daughter drinking out of a lowly garden hose. After all, who knows what must have crawled inside? Almost in spite of her upbringing, she took another protracted sip, held her arms out to the side, and twirled like a kid. I almost feel like the child I was never allowed to be.

Being a Van Buren in New York City didn’t exactly bode well for playing outdoors. There was Central Park, but the paparazzi nearly always ruined the handful of outings she had attempted with her parents.

After one more sip, she sprayed cold water on her feet, sat down, and propped them on the railing to dry.

After her break, she stepped back inside and glanced at the clock. I need to improve my decorating speed.

Cheri cleaned several mixing bowls to make batter for more cakes. Deciding she needed mood music, she found a jazz station. The instrumental saxophone calmed her. She studied her favorite Pinterest photos for inspiration, glanced at her already-decorated cakes on the counter, and planned a strategy.

After a few epic fails, Cheri created another wedding dress-shaped cake by cutting wedge-shaped indentions in the sides. This cake resembled a voluptuous, Marilyn-Monroe-like lacy wedding dress. It stood more upright than the first cake with the pooled hem, but like the first, took too long.

She studied the cake from all sides. Maybe it needs a pop of color. It definitely needs to be simplified. She photographed the cake, front and back, to show Suzy. At the very least, one of her brides might request it in the future when timing wasn’t an issue.

Resetting the buzzer, Cheri mixed and poured more batter into pans. Once the cakes cooled, she iced the yellow tiers with lemon buttercream frosting, then piped edible green ivy along the top and sides. She finished her creation with rolled fondant purple clematis, trailing from top to bottom. Standing back, Cheri examined the striking color combination and stopped the timer. Nineteen minutes. That’s my best time yet.

One more. I’ve got to make one more. After searching Pinterest again, she turned her iPad off, determined to create her own design. She was a chef. A caterer. Besides, her head was already too full of other people’s creations.

After opening cupboards and drawers, she chose square baking pans to try the modern cake, deciding it could also be considered retro. Fishing through the cabinets, she found her last clean bowl. Quickly adding the ingredients to make more chocolate ganache, she alternated the chocolate and buttercream icing on the square cake layers. Working fast, she decorated the tiers with geometric shapes. The end result reminded her of a sixties go-go dancer wearing white go-go boots and “walking” up the side. Wet with sweat but excited, she checked the clock. Eighteen minutes. I’m ready.

All I have to do is improve my time by a minute or two. I’ve got this. Wiping her hands on her apron, Cheri untied it and crumpled it on the counter.

Kicking off her shoes, she flopped onto a kitchen chair, and checked her phone. She noticed a text from Alex about meeting at Coconuts. I’m too tired to drive to Crystal City. She replied that she was practicing for the Bridal Bonanza cake competition and reminded them to add the event to their calendar. Suzy responded, saying she had a booth reserved and would be there with wedding bells on. Alex and Hope both replied they’d be in the audience to cheer her on and would have a drink on her behalf at Coconuts tonight.

I’m so happy I finally have girlfriends. They won’t care whether I win or lose this competition. But I care . . .

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