CHAPTER TWELVE: THE SCORES
The judges took longer than expected to finalize the results.
Ethan and Nina returned to their station, where only two hand pies remained.
The rest had been served to the judges and the audience tasting panel.
Becca sat on a stool beside Maya and rearranged a damaged sugar petal with a pair of tweezers.
Ron offered everyone coffee from a large thermos.
Sal and Donna discussed whether their pastry could have used another minute in the oven.
After the tense anniversary segment, the ordinary conversation felt like a reward.
Priya finally stepped onto the platform with the sealed results.
“Thank you for an extraordinary final,” she began.
“The judging scores were close, and the tasting panel was especially enthusiastic.”
She announced third place for Jules and her lemon custard.
The crowd cheered as Jules accepted a ribbon and grinned at her grandfather.
Second place went to Becca and Maya for their chocolate tart with handmade sugar flowers.
Maya burst into tears and nearly dropped the trophy.
Ethan clapped until his hands hurt.
Then Priya opened the final card.
“The winner of this year’s Golden Oven is Ethan Cole.”
For a second, he thought he had misheard.
Nina screamed his name and shoved him toward the stage.
He walked forward in a daze while the audience stood and applauded.
Priya handed him a heavy copper trophy and asked whether he wanted to say anything.
Ethan looked toward his sister.
“I wouldn’t be standing here without Nina,” he said.
“And I know she will remind me about the left side of my crust for the rest of my life.
”
The audience laughed.
He looked across the room at Inez and Pilar.
“I also learned something today about how many people stand behind a single recipe.”
“I hope we remember their names.”
He handed the microphone back before he could become sentimental.
As he stepped down, Vincent approached with a public smile and offered his hand.
“Congratulations, Ethan.”
“Thank you.”
“A well-deserved result.”
“The judges seemed to think so.”
Vincent lowered his voice.
“You could have avoided all the unpleasantness.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You could have printed Rosa’s name.”
Vincent’s smile slipped.
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“It usually is when somebody has already made the packaging.”
Ethan walked past him to Nina.
He did not need to win that conversation.
On the way out, Carol met him beside the back doors.
She had changed out of her purple raincoat and wore a plain gray cardigan.
“You won,” she said.
“I did.”
“I am glad.”
She hesitated.
“I went to the hardware store this afternoon.”
“Why?”
“I bought a replacement for the cracked garden fitting your plumber couldn’t repair today.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“You planning to install it yourself?”
“Absolutely not.”
They both laughed.
Carol handed him a receipt and the plumber’s business card.
“He said he’ll come Monday if you call.”
Ethan accepted them.
“Thank you.”
“And I understand if you want me to stay off your property.”
He considered the question.
“I want you to ask before coming over.”
“I can do that.”
“And I want the axe to stay in your shed.”
“It will.”
Carol glanced at the trophy.
“Your mother would have been proud.”
Ethan looked down at the copper cup.
“She would have asked whether I saved any pie.”
Carol smiled.
“Did you?”
“Two pieces.”
“Then she taught you well.”
