Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Maybe I could go and buy another bag of it,” Grath suggested. “Are there any stores that sell it nearby?”
The judge’s frown deepened.
“I’m sorry but I’m afraid the rules clearly state you must bring all your own ingredients before the Bake-off. I can’t let you go running off to get new ingredients—you’ll have to make do with what you have.”
“But Mrs. Kranst—” Madeline began.
“No ifs, ands, or buts, Ms. Porter—the rules are the rules,” the judge said crisply. “And I would think you remember from taking my class so many years ago that I do not allow the cutting of corners or the bending of rules. Now excuse me, I need to check on the other contestants.”
And she walked away, her high heeled shoes clicking briskly on the wooden floor.
Madeline sagged with disappointment.
“Well, there goes that,” she said. “There’s no way I can make these cookies without powdered sugar—it’s practically the main ingredient!”
“Excuse me…” The female from table eight, came over, a hesitant look on her face. “Excuse me,” she said again. “I happen to have a whole lot of extra powdered sugar, if you’d like to borrow some.”
“Thanks,” Madeline said. “But I’m afraid I need a lot of it. Besides, isn’t it against the rules to use other people’s ingredients?”
“It’s against the rules to steal other people’s ingredients,” the girl said, shooting a look at Amanda, who was still innocently working on her own dough. She had added coloring to some of it and was cutting it into patterns and shapes with some sharp metal frames, Grath saw. “But it’s not against the rules to borrow some if the ingredient is offered freely—like I’m offering it to you,” she added, smiling at Madeline.
“Well…but I need so much of it.” Madeline still sounded doubtful. “I don’t want you to mess up your recipe.”
“Oh please—I’ve got a five-pound bag of the stuff and I only need a cup or two in order to make a glaze to drizzle over my almond orange shortbread,” the girl said.
“Well…if you’re sure,” Madeline said. “It’s awfully nice of you.”
“Please—don’t mention it!” the girl said. “I’m Shonda Smith, by the way. I was a year behind you in school,” she added.
“You were?” Madeline frowned and then her face cleared. “Oh yes—I remember! You were in the choir, right?”
“And you were in the band,” Shonda said, smiling delightedly, as she dipped out some of the fine white powdered sugar for herself and handed the rest of the bag to Madeline.
“You never told me you played an instrument, baby,” Grath remarked to Madeline.
“Oh—because it was ages ago. I played second chair piccolo,” Madeline said. “Shonda, this is Grath, my—”
“Her fiancé,” Grath finished smoothly for her, when she paused uncertainly. “Madeline and I are going to be Joined—what you humans call ‘getting married’—very soon.”
“Is that right?” Shonda scanned Madeline’s hands. “I don’t see a ring, though—did you take it off to make the cookies? If I were you, I’d keep it in my pocket—considering the way things keep walking off your table,” she added, casting another glance at Amanda.
“Oh, no ring yet,” Madeline said awkwardly.
“Because I haven’t picked it out yet,” Grath said quickly. “But I’m planning to very soon—after all, the holiday season is for gift giving, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is.” Shonda’s eyes sparkled. “Well, I hope you get her a ring that’s worthy of her.” And she nudged Madeline’s arm with her elbow and gave her a knowing wink.
Madeline smiled back.
“Well, thank you for the sugar—I’d better get going. My dough has to chill a little while before it can go in the oven.” She nodded at the large refrigeration unit which had been set up at the other side of the room.
“Get baking,” Shonda said, smiling. “Mine has to chill too, so I’d better do the same.”
The two females nodded and smiled at each other and both went back to their respective tasks.
Grath was glad that the powdered sugar incident had been resolved. He had been every bit as upset as Madeline—maybe more—when the important ingredient went missing. Again he wished he could search under table number ten where Amanda was working, but he was sure it would be against the rules of the contest. Anyway, Madeline had what she needed now to proceed so hopefully there would be no more problems.
And it didn’t seem there would be. Madeline had the dough mixed in no time. Then she covered the metal bowl it was in with plastic wrap and nodded at Grath.
“Come on—let’s get this to the freezer and let it chill for a while. And once it’s in, we’re going to stand there and guard it with our lives to be sure nothing happens to it!”
Grath agreed this was a sensible precaution, so he accompanied Madeline across the room where she put the ball dough safely into the freezer unit and shut the door firmly.