Page 64 of Hers to Marry
Chapter 19
Six Months Later
New York City
Kat walked out of the network studios and shivered at the onslaught of the brisk January air, but she wasn’t cold. Underneath her ankle-length, coupe-colored down winter jacket, she was as warm as the bakery’s kitchen back home. Today had gone incredibly well for her first on-camera experience. So much so that the executive producers couldn’t wait to get her back to Springfield to start filming her cooking segment.
Her very own cooking show!
She thought she would’ve been more nervous, but as soon as she picked up her custom wooden spoon, engraved with her name and title “Chef,” all the lights and people and cameras faded, and she just imagined the viewers who couldn’t wait to try one of her desserts.
And breakfasts, lunches, and a few dinners too.
Her six-week apprenticeship had propelled her past desserts and sweets into other meals, and it had opened up a level of creativity Kat never knew existed. The apprenticeship turned into months, and she took the time to learn from Chef LeBleu, perfect her craft, and gain new experiences.
And Susie had been right.
Her agent pulled her aside this morning and dropped the words “three-book deal” for cookbooks that Kat could now fill with more than just desserts. Not only would she have a television show, she could write cookbooks, and with the bakery Drew had bought her—
Drew…
She had tried to forget him. LeBleu had kept her so busy that her heart had finally begun to heal, and she felt confident she was in a place where she could return home and start fresh. Susie had said the wedding had broken down at the last minute, but Drew had moved to London within days after Kat had flown to New York. Kat hadn’t heard back from Parker regarding their wedding, and it was probably for the best. Kat wished them well.
Her car’s driver tipped his hat to her and opened the door to the second seat. Kat was really going to miss LeBleu’s standard of living, but her agent claimed she could get the network to pay for a chauffeured car to drive Kat to and from the network in Springfield. Kat thought she’d feel a little bit snobbish after all this luxury, but it hadn’t settled in yet.
“Kat!”
Kat about-faced, and her jaw dropped. “Parker?”
Parker’s driver closed her door, and Parker came forward with her arms outstretched. She engulfed Kat in a fierce hug. “I can’t believe it! What are the odds?”
“What are you doing here?” Kat breathed. She wouldn’t look around for Drew. It would be too soon to see her friend’s husband. She didn’t want to experience any negative emotions after being on such a high.
And the guilt would eat at her. Thankfully, Susie kept an eye on the place, and they had been discussing renovation ideas and authoring a plan for when Kat did return to town.
Instead, she focused on her friend’s perfectly done up face, her stylish ruby-colored hooded jacket and the black-heeled boots Kat was sure she saw in the window at Sachs for a thousand dollars. Parker looked every bit a vice president of a prestigious company.
“I’m here for a quick meeting with one of our satellite offices,” Parker said. “Since the merger, we’ve considered moving our Boston offices to New York and making this satellite office the new headquarters.”
“How long are you in town for?”
“A few days. Do you have time to catch up?” She looked at the black town car and her eyes widened. “Is this yours? What were you doing at the network?”
Kat grinned from ear to ear. “I’m getting my own cooking show, and I was meeting with a few of the producers to go over notes.”
With the dropping of Parker’s jaw came her entire head. “How…in…the…”
Kat laughed. “Susie. My boss at the bakery? She reached out to Chef LeBleu on Instagram.
“The dessert guy? Ilovehis Insta.”
“That’s him. He came to town, liked my desserts, and I’ve been here for the last sixmonthsdoing an apprenticeship with him. He had a deal set up with the network to bring in a new chef for a show in Springfield. He hopes that market will take over the Midwest.”
Parker shook her head. “Wow. Just…wow, girl. That is amazing. I am really stunned right now. So that’s what happened to you. Drew said you left the bakery and wouldn’t do our wedding.”
Kat gave her an apologetic smile. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I…I tried to reach you to explain—”
“He might’ve mentioned that, I can’t remember. Oh, I’ve been super busy with this merger. I haven’t had a chance to do anything, trust me. Not even get married.” She laughed heartily.
