Page 38 of Things We Need to Say (Second Chance Love Stories #2)

Jay was finally close to finding out if he was going to make it to the banquet.

It was the last day of the head-to-head part of the competition where he was cooking the pork and apple dishes he’d presented in the earlier heats.

Today was the day when everything he’d done would either pay off or be for nothing.

His hands were shaking and he knew he’d have to get them under control if he was going to stand any chance of not messing up the intricate work that was needed for the perfect presentation of his dessert.

This morning had gone well with his pork dish, but there was so much that could go wrong with the intricate apple dessert that his stepfather had disapproved of.

Jay took a few deep breaths. It was incredibly hot in the kitchen today, which would affect the outcome if he wasn’t careful.

He would just have to keep his nerve, not make any silly mistakes through panic, and pray.

Scaling it up for the number of guests at the banquet would be a completely different matter, but he couldn’t begin to think that far ahead.

If things didn’t go right today, he wouldn’t even get that far.

And then they were cooking. Jay tried to fix his focus purely on the food, doing his best to ignore the distracting thoughts in his head. He needed to get the chocolate tempered and into the moulds to set before moving on to the mousse and the ice cream.

But at his first attempt, the chocolate split in the heat so he had to start again.

As he told himself not to panic, the second attempt turned out much better and it was a relief to get the moulds into the blast chiller.

Not wanting to push his luck, he had made more moulds than he needed, just in case any cracked when he tried to get them out.

But now he was behind with the mousse and, in an effort to claw back some time, he added the cream too quickly.

When he tasted it, he realised it was too grainy and not something he could use.

Before he started to make a fresh batch, he set it to chill anyway — as a last resort if he needed it.

He powered through the second batch and then concentrated on making the raspberry ice cream followed by the biscuit layer.

Then came the tricky task of releasing the chocolate from the moulds.

His hands were shaking so much that the first two cracked.

He had to force himself to calm down and start again.

Eventually, with the required number of moulds, he filled and sealed them and put them back into the chiller.

Then with ten minutes left, and the cases still to be sprayed apple green, he remembered that he hadn’t yet prepared the toffee sauce.

He measured the ingredients out as quickly as possible, then placed the cream, butter and sugar in a pan and gently brought it up to the right temperature.

Thankfully it didn’t burn and his first attempt produced a lovely sticky and shiny sauce.

Next, he grabbed the apple moulds from the chiller and began spraying them.

His hands were shaking so much, his first couple of attempts weren’t as neat as he would have liked, but he carried on, hoping he would have time to give them another coat at the end.

He pushed on and managed to have everything plated up just as time was up.

Jay leaned against the bench. He was shaking from head to foot.

That was close. There was nothing left but the judging now and, if it wasn’t enough to get through, at least he knew he’d done his best. If anything it was a relief just to get to the end.

The competitors moved back to the waiting area.

Chloe sat next to him. ‘How did you find that?’ she whispered.

She was so close to him that his first instinct was to reach out and hug her.

He stopped himself just in time. That would not be appropriate, but he felt like he’d known her for much longer than he actually had.

He supposed that was because their experience in this competition had been so intense.

‘Terrifying. I didn’t think I was going to finish and I made so many mistakes.’

‘Me too.’ She sighed. ‘Ah, well, what’s done is done.’

Chen sat on the other side of Jay. He looked as though he was about to burst into tears.

‘You okay?’ Jay asked gently.

Chen shook his head. ‘No, I really messed up. I’ve never made that dish so badly. There’s no way I’m getting through.’

‘You just have to hope it’s not as bad as you think. Any of us could be knocked out at this stage.’ But Chen was usually so calm and collected that Jay feared for him.

‘I’ll be devastated if I go out at this stage. I’d really hoped that this was going to be a stepping stone to something better.’

‘I remember you told the judges you’re working in a restaurant in Chinatown.’

‘Yes, cooking the same old dishes day after day. The food we cook isn’t even authentically Chinese.’

‘You’ve got a lot of talent,’ Jay tried to reassure him. ‘You wouldn’t have got this far in the competition if you hadn’t.’

‘Yes, I suppose so,’ Chen agreed, but he didn’t look as though he believed him.

‘Even if you don’t go through, there’s nothing stopping you from looking for a better job. You just need to believe in yourself.’

Chen nodded. ‘Yes, that’s what’s being in this competition was about. I’ve always lacked confidence.’

‘You should be proud of yourself.’

Chen smiled. ‘Thanks, Jay. Those are wise words and I’ll remember them.’

Finally they were called back to the kitchen. Jay’s stomach was churning like a washing machine, and his mouth was so dry he could barely swallow.

‘Once again,’ Angela said, ‘You’ve all made our job very difficult.’

‘If it was down to us, then all eight of you would be cooking at the banquet,’ Philip continued.

‘But unfortunately we can only put four of you through,’ Angela said. ‘So let us put you out of your misery.’

‘Cooking the starter will be Alan from the red team.’ Philip paused.

‘Cooking the fish course will be . . . Chloe.’

Chloe gasped with joy and Jay grinned at her. He was delighted that she had made it and at least one member of the blue team was through to the banquet.

‘Cooking the main is...’ Philip looked at them all. ‘Rav.’

Rav bowed his head solemnly, but again Jay was thrilled for him. But now came the scary bit. Would he too be going through to the banquet or would he be going home?’

‘And cooking the final dish of the banquet...’ Angela paused dramatically until Jay thought he couldn’t bear it any longer. ‘Will be Jay!’

Jay gasped. In the last few moments, he had convinced himself he’d be going home.

If it wasn’t for Rav clapping him on the back he’d have thought he’d misheard Angela.

He glanced over to Chen and his heart sank.

He looked as though he was about to burst into tears as he realised he was out of the competition.

Jay wanted to commiserate with him, but there wasn’t time.

‘Our sincerest commiserations to all of you who haven’t made it through to the banquet, but please go away with the knowledge that you are all very talented chefs.’

The four unlucky chefs wished them all luck and trooped out of the kitchen.

Jay tried to give Chen a reassuring smile, and hoped he would see him later.

But if not, he would definitely keep in touch with him.

Then there was just the four of them and the judges.

He wasn’t sure who had made the first move, but suddenly all four chefs were huddled together in a group hug.

‘I think this calls for champagne.’ Angela produced a tray of glasses and a bottle, which Philip opened.

Jay was shaking with relief. He’d actually made it through to the banquet.

And he was going to be cooking for one hundred people, showcasing the food of the region.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this happy.

When the champagne was finished, they made their way to the changing rooms. Jay retrieved his phone from his locker to let everyone know his good news.

Emma picked up his call on the third ring.

‘I wasn’t sure whether to phone you at work.’

‘No, it’s fine. I’ve been so nervous waiting to hear. So, tell me then, did you... ?’

‘Yes, I got through. I’m actually cooking at the banquet.’

‘Oh, Jay! I’m so delighted for you. Which dish will you be cooking?’

‘Dessert.’

Emma laughed. ‘I told you that dish was a winner.’

‘You did, so thank you for having faith in both it and me!’

‘I’ll have finished work in an hour. Shall we go out and celebrate?’

‘Actually, I’ve already had a couple of glasses of champagne. As you can imagine, everyone is thrilled. Both Chloe and Rav got through as well, so we were thinking of leaving our cars here overnight and going for a proper drink.’

‘Oh, right... Well, yes, I can see why you’d want to do that. Do you want me to cook something for us later?’

‘No, don’t worry. We’ll probably eat out. Me and you can celebrate tomorrow.’

‘I’m on an early shift tomorrow and then I’m working for Liz in the evening.’

‘Oh, yes, I’d forgotten about that. Maybe the day after, then?’

‘Sure. Have a nice evening.’

Jay frowned as the call ended suddenly. Thinking it was poor reception, he went off to get changed.

* * *

Emma’s hand was trembling as she ended the call and put her phone down on her desk.

‘Are you all right?’ Jane asked. ‘You’ve gone very pale.’

Emma looked up. ‘Yes, I’m fine, thanks. That was my boyfriend, Jay.’

‘The one that’s in the competition?’

‘Yes, that’s right. Sorry to take a personal call, but he was phoning to let me know that he’s made it through to the banquet.’

‘That’s wonderful news. So why are you looking so disappointed?’

Emma shook her head. ‘It’s nothing. I’m just being silly.’

Jane came across and sat on the edge of her desk. ‘I doubt you are. You’re a very bright young woman.’

Emma shrugged. ‘No, I am being silly. I was hoping he’d want to celebrate with me tonight, but he’d rather go out with his new friends from the competition. He didn’t even ask if I’d like to join them.’

‘Um, I can see your point. But I imagine people form bonds very quickly in that kind of situation. All that adrenaline. I suppose you’ll just have to be patient and see what happens.’

‘I suppose I will.’ But in her heart, she wasn’t convinced.

She was walking through Reception at the end of her shift when Nick called her name.

‘Hi, Nick,’ she said. She’d been doing her best to avoid him recently, not wanting to encourage his attention, but after speaking to Jay she was just happy to see someone who actually looked pleased to see her.

‘A bunch of us are going for a drink in the Lord Nelson. Care to join us?’

Emma thought back to the times she had gone out with them before. How much she’d enjoyed their camaraderie. What did she have to lose? The alternative was going home to pizza, an empty flat and a box set.

‘Yes, why not? What time are you going over?’

‘Some of the crowd are already in there. I’ve just got to get changed and then I’ll be good to go.’

‘I’ll meet you over there, then,’ she said. She didn’t particularly want to walk there with him. People might begin to talk. But her evening was starting to look up and she was determined to enjoy it. Life had been far too serious recently.

* * *

She was on her second glass of wine and seated next to Jenny who worked in HR when Nick said, ‘So, Jen, got any goss for us?’

Jenny smiled. ‘You know I can’t tell you anything. I don’t know why you keep asking.’

‘Because I’m nosey,’ Nick said, quite unashamedly.

‘Nosey Nick,’ Jen said and laughed.

‘Well, I did hear on the grapevine that Heather has resigned.’

‘Jumped before she was pushed more like,’ Brian the bar manager said. Emma suddenly felt sick.

‘I hope it’s nothing to do with me,’ she said.

‘I think the way she treated you was certainly a trigger,’ Jen said. ‘Faye was fit to burst and made a complaint about her.’

‘If you ask me, she’s been getting away with doing very little of anything for years. It was bound to catch up with her eventually,’ Nick added.

Jen smiled. ‘Well, Nick, you seem to know all the details already, so you don’t need me to fill you in.’

‘So, she has resigned, then?’

‘I can neither confirm nor deny,’ Jen said. ‘Now, Nick, I think it’s your round, isn’t it?’

Nick groaned and got up. Emma declined another drink. She was already feeling light-headed, having not eaten since lunchtime. She had a long day ahead of her tomorrow and she didn’t want to wake up with a hangover.

Jen patted her hand. ‘Don’t look so worried. Nick was right — she’d had it coming for a long time. It’s about time she got her comeuppance.’

‘All the same, I can’t help feeling sorry for her.’

Jen snorted. ‘Really? Why? I thought you’d be glad to be rid of her.’

‘Oh, I am. Life is so much better at work now that Faye is my line manager. But I can’t get my head around why Heather behaved like that and I do feel a bit sorry for her.’

‘It’s admirable that you feel any sympathy for her, but I wouldn’t waste your emotions. Anyway, while Nick’s at the bar, I just wanted to say something, between you and me.’

‘Sounds ominous.’

‘No, not really. It’s just that I’ve seen the way he looks at you and I know you’re already in a relationship.’

‘Yes, I am.’

‘It’s just that he can be a little, um... how can I put it? Intense at times. Just be on your guard if you’re not interested in him.’

Emma nodded. Jen had only summed up what she’d already thought. ‘Thanks for the warning, and just for the record, no, I’m not interested.’

‘What are you two looking so serious about?’ Nick asked as he brought the drinks back to the table. ‘It’s Friday night, the start of the weekend.’

‘It may be the start of the weekend for you,’ Emma replied, trying to deflect him. ‘But I’ve got a full shift tomorrow and then in the evening I’m serving at a function for my friend Liz.’

‘All work and no play,’ Nick said.

‘Are you saying I’m dull?’ Emma asked in mock horror.

‘No, of course not!’

‘Well, I hope you’ve got Sunday off,’ Jen said.

‘I have.’

‘Then you’ll have to make sure you do something nice and relaxing, or you’ll suffer from complete burnout.’

‘Yes, I will,’ Emma said.

But Sunday all depended on what Jay was doing.

Taking a final sip of her drink, Emma made a decision.

If Jay wanted to spend time with her then that would be great, but, if not, she wasn’t going to sit around the flat moping on her day off.

She’d take herself into town and treat herself to something nice in the shops or go to the cinema.

Life was too short to be at the beck and call of Jay Williams, and whether or not he had time for her.