“Two years?” She stepped up next to him at the stove.
“Yeah, but you’re a natural. I know I can teach you better than I was taught.”
She hoped so, because if this didn’t turn out, she was going to be in a real pinch to make another cake in time to deliver.
For the next hour they worked on making the sugar glass shoulder-to-shoulder. He imparted every tip he’d learned, and he was right—it was surprisingly easier than she’d expected, at least with his help. He even showed her some tricks with coloring the mixture and pulling the sugar to give it an even more realistic texture.
As she used a set of tongs to pull the sugar, he reached around her and guided her hands. His gentle touch caught her off-guard. She tried to push aside the old feelings that were rushing back and focus on the task, but it wasn’t easy.
The longer they experimented, the easier it became, and the banter she’d always loved between them came back too.
“Wouldn’t it be neat if we could really get it to look like a real splash? Almost 3D?” She placed a finger against her lips.
“I know that look. You’re getting ready to come up with something really good.”
She mused. “I think the hot sugar would stick on heavy foil wrap or we could shape a mold to get that rounded splash look.”
“I’ve got an idea. I’ve never done it, but I’ve heard of it. Do you have some balloons?”
“I do.” She retrieved a bag of twisting balloons from the cabinet. “Pick your color.”
“Red for me. Pink for you.”
“He remembers,” she said softly.
He leaned in close and whispered into her ear, “Believe me. I haven’t forgotten a thing.”
She flinched, turning toward him, and his lips were so close to hers. Don’t kiss me. Her heart turned over in response, and darn if her hand wasn’t shaking. Her brain was saying no, but in the moment it might have been so nice. Stay focused.
She pushed the balloon over the nozzle, hoping Andrew wouldn’t notice her trembling and get the wrong idea.
He filled the balloon and tugged the end to tie the knot, then filled one more and tied the two together, making a circle smaller than the size of the cake, but big enough for the sculpted fish to jump through.
“That’s what’ll keep the hot sugar from bursting the balloons when we pour the mixture over it to form the rounded splash.” He looked up and made a funny face. “Hopefully.”
She grabbed a bottle of coconut oil. “Might as well hedge all of our bets. Maybe this will help keep it from sticking.” She poured a generous amount over the water balloon.
“Good idea.”
She capped the oil bottle and set it aside. “This is turning into a science project. All we’re missing is those goofy goggles like we had to wear in lab class.”
“I hated those things, but you were pretty cute in them.” He helped her at the stove until they got the mixture just right. “Want to do the honors?”
“Let me watch and learn,” she said. “What’s plan B if it doesn’t work?”
“It’ll work.” He took the pan of hot, sticky sugar and splashed it all at one time into the center of the circle they’d made with the balloons.
The thick mess clung to the balloon and dripped over the rounded shape.
“I honestly can’t believe this is going to work.” There’d been a time when they’d spend all day creating in the kitchen. She’d almost forgotten how much fun that was.
“Be ready to be amazed. It’s going to look awesome.”
“Meanwhile, I’ll do what I do best.” She removed the cake from the fish molds and covered it in sculpting chocolate. It didn’t take her long to carve the fins and scales into the chocolate. She’d done these dozens of times. Then she took the drab brown fish over to the table where her airbrush was hooked up. In just a few minutes she was set and airbrushing layers of edible colors. First base colors of browns and greens, then on to the shimmering colors that would make the fish really come alive.
“It looks like taxidermy instead of cake,” he said. “Nobody’s going to want to eat it.”
“That’s what I’m going for.” Looks too good to eat was her favorite compliment.
“Rusty is going to love this. I love it.” Andrew sat down on the stool right next to her. “I forgot how much I enjoy watching you work. Better than TV. I have to admit, even if we hadn’t done the glass work, that fish is an amazing topper.”
“Are you worried the splash isn’t going to work?”
“Not at all.”
“Time will tell,” she said with a smirk. Tilting her head to one side, she stole a slanted glance his way.
“It always does.” He leaned in closer.
His breath was warm on her neck. Quickly she re-coiled the airbrush hose and stepped to the other counter, putting some distance between them. This was fun, but that was all it could be.
“Umm.” Andrew jumped up from the stool. “Why don’t we work on those cattails you mentioned?” He stayed where he was and started another batch of sugar glass, this time in a goldish-green. “Here, take over.”
She stirred and watched the temperature like he’d taught her. “You’re right. This is easy once you understand the timing of it all. I think the key is how much time you have to work with it before it gets past the pliant stage. It would have taken me forever to figure that out. I love this.”
“I knew you would.” His hand grazed hers again.
She sucked in a quick breath just as the timer went off on the oven. She gave him a quick smile and zipped over to the oven to get the cakes out.
“I’ll get those.” He grabbed the oven door.
“Okay, thanks.”
“You try your hand at some sugar
