Free Icing on the Cake by Sheryl Berk Page A

native to Ecuador.” She showed her friends a large, white and purple blossom with intricate fringe petals. “That would cover each cupcake and look really pretty.”
    â€œ Sí, ” Jenna said. “I saw those in Ecuador. “They’re called the passion flower because they give off passion fruit. That would be perfect for a wedding.”
    â€œWe could do a passion fruit buttercream under the fondant,” Sadie added. “That would be delicious with the tres leches cake.”
    Kylie looked at the clock on the oven. “Guys, I don’t want to scare you, but we have only three hours ’til we have to be dressed and ready for photos in the garden.”
    â€œMove! Move!” Jenna shouted. “Sadie and Kylie, you’re on the buttercream; Lexi and Delaney, you do the granadillas, and I’ll scrape off the mess on all these cupcakes!” They set the kitchen table up like an assembly line in a factory: Jenna scraped; Sadie spread on a thin layer of buttercream; Lexi and Delaney decorated. Kylie stood at the end and stacked each cupcake on the tower tiers. “Keep it comin,’” she called. “Only about 150 more to go!”
    â€œ Qué desastre! ” Jenna panted, scraping the cupcakes as fast as she could with a flat knife. “What a mess!”
    It took them two hours, but by 7:30 a.m., all of the cupcakes were done except the giant one on top.
    â€œLet’s cover it in white fondant and figure out what to place on top as a decoration,” Lexi said.
    Delaney rolled the gum paste smooth and thin, and Kylie helped her lower it gently over the cupcake.
    â€œIt’s a big blank cupcake,” Jenna said. “Now what?”
    â€œI’m thinking! I’m thinking!” Lexi replied, frazzled. “I was going to do the monogram on a white chocolate plaque, but that would melt in the heat.”
    â€œWe can’t just have a big white cupcake—it’ll look awful in pictures,” Delaney said.
    â€œPictures! Delaney, that’s it! You’re a genius!” Jenna cried.
    She dug in her purse and pulled out the wedding invitation with a photo of her mother and Leo on it.
    â€œWhat won’t melt in the heat? A sculpture! You watched that artist sculpt a figure in the palazzo yesterday that was amazing. Let’s go find him and see if he’ll do one of my mom and Leo fast!”
    â€œThat’s brilliant,” Lexi said. “We can put a dowel through the center of the cupcake to support it on top, and it will be an amazing keepsake for your mom and stepdad.”
    Jenna and Kylie were already out the door, racing through the Venice streets in search of the Italian sculptor. They found him setting up his wares on a table next to the gondola ride.
    â€œSir! Sir!” Jenna cried. “Can you come with me—and bring your tools and some plaster? We need you to sculpt a bride and groom for a wedding cake!”
    â€œ Che cosa? ” the man asked.
    â€œOh, no!” Jenna replied. “Do you speak English? Habla español? ”
    â€œ Non capisco ,” the man tried to explain.
    â€œI don’t speak Italian, but I’m pretty sure that means, ‘I have no idea what you are saying,’” Kylie said.
    â€œWait! I know someone who does speak Italian!” Jenna said. “Stay here!” she told the artist. “Don’t move!”
    She raced upstairs to the penthouse bridal suite and banged on the door. “Leo, Leo! Come quick! We need you!” she shouted.
    Leo came to the door, already in his tuxedo. “What’s up, Jenna? Everything okay? Your mom went to get ready with your sisters and brothers…”
    â€œThat’s great—we don’t want them to see,” Kylie added.
    â€œSee what?” Leo asked.
    Jenna grabbed his hand. “Don’t ask questions. Just come with us!” They ran back to the artist who looked frightened that