Free The Bake Off by Susan Willis Page B

sister.
    ‘Oh, Mum, you aren’t too disappointed, are you?’ Jay asked with a worried frown. ‘I mean, second prize is still a great result.’
    ‘Nooo,’ she exclaimed putting her arm around his waist. ‘Of course I’m not. I’m more than delighted to have made runner-up.’
    Susan nodded and clinked her glass on the side of Nicola’s. ‘And you have been star baker for two weeks running. So I would say, if what David said about the high level of professional baking is true, you both did great just to get in the final.’
    Nicola looked at Simon and smiled sincerely. ‘Susan’s right. We both did really good…’
    Simon nodded. ‘Hmm, I know but I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall when they were tasting the bakes,’ he said cocking his head. ‘I simply cannot believe that lavender cake was better than your tart.’
    Nicola smiled gratefully and laid a hand on his arm. ‘Thanks. But I probably lost a few marks after my incident with the flour,’ she said, and then told them all how she’d managed to coat Jessica’s eyebrows with flour.
    Jay hooted, ‘Way to go, Mum.’
    Susan giggled, and Simon’s sister threw her head back and roared with laughter.
    Jessica approached the group quietly from behind. ‘Well,’ she said. ‘Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves in this corner.’
    Nicola swung around to greet her and introduced everyone. ‘I was just telling them about the flour. And once again, I must apologise to you, Jessica.’
    Jessica waved a dismissive hand. ‘No need. I just wanted to catch you before I left for my train,’ she said pointing to a small overnight case propped against the wall. ‘I wanted to tell you again, that I thought your lemon tart was truly amazing, and in my opinion should have won on the taste alone – which was divine.’
    Jay’s face was beaming and Susan had watery eyes. Nicola could feel her cheeks flush with pride as she thanked Jessica. To have this praise from her heroine was a heady experience – she wanted to squeal and jump up and down with happiness. But, she wondered, did it make up for not winning and having dinner with David.
    Jessica turned to leave the group but quietly leaned towards her ear and whispered, ‘And I do think the Savoy will be very overrated…’
    Simon, ignoring Jessica’s protests, took her arm and insisted upon carrying her case down the stairs and out to the taxi rank.
    Most of the audience had dwindled away and her friends had gone back to the library as she went with Susan in search of the ladies’ toilets.
    ***
    Jessica’s comment was whirling around in her mind – did she mean the food at the Savoy was overrated or perhaps, she thought frowning, she meant David’s company would be overrated? When they left the hall she heard the familiar voices of David and Gemma in the corridor. Grabbing Susan’s arm she pulled them both back behind the wood-panelled door so they would be out of sight but could still hear their conversation.
    Gemma was standing with her back against the wall and David stood in front of her with an arm outstretched and his hand on the wall above her head. ‘That lavender cake was so special that I had to give you first prize and it was very exotic – just like you are,’ he crooned. ‘You’re such a babe magnet. I can’t wait to take you to the Savoy to congratulate you properly…’
    Nicola’s heart was hammering loudly in her chest and she could feel Susan’s arm shivering with excitement in the conspiracy. She poked her head around the door just in time to see Gemma duck out from under David’s arm and slither along the corridor muttering that the dinner wasn’t really necessary.
    Nicola was furious and dug her nails into the palms of her hands – she wasn’t sure who she hated more – David or Gemma. Holding Susan’s arm she lifted her chin and marched them both out into the corridor and along to the toilets. Vaguely, in the distance, she heard David calling her name