by Sheryl Berk
“Some things never change, I guess,” Kylie said, shaking her head. “You two will always disagree.”
“It’s called having strong opinions,” Rodney replied. “And it’s one of the reasons I love Ms. Dubois. She challenges me!”
Juliette blushed. “Aw, I love you too. We can get married in London if it means that much to you.”
“No, no, no,” Rodney countered. “You’re right. The Chateau is magical. Canada it is.”
“Guys, guys!” Jack suddenly interrupted. “Can we talk about this later? Bring out the rest of the cupcakes. I’m still hungry.”
The weeks flew by, and Jenna continued visiting Dulce and the other dogs at Rescue Rover as often as Leo or Marisol would drive her to Danbury. But there was so much to be done in such a short amount of time for the wedding: invitations, dress fittings, floral arrangements, even finding someone to officiate the ceremony.
“What about this one?” Gabby suggested, showing her mother a wedding chapel she had googled on her phone. “It’s called Viva Las Vegas—and instead of limos, we ride to the ceremony in pink Cadillacs!”
“Dios mío!” her mother said, looking at the photo. “That is not for me! My mami is coming all the way from Ecuador. I want una ceremonia de la boda that is less—how do you say it?” She tried to find the right word in English.
“Tacky? Obnoxious? Disgusting?” Jenna offered.
“I think your mother is trying to say she wants our wedding ceremony to be dignified,” Leo said. “Whatever she wants is okay by me. Although I agree, Gabby—that pink Caddy rocks.”
It was Kylie’s suggestion to contact the hotel about using their kitchen to bake the wedding cupcakes.
“We’re all set,” Jenna told the girls. “We arrive Saturday at two p.m., and we can hit the kitchen by four. The concierge says there’s a small one that they use for event catering, and it’s all ours for as long as we need it. We just email them a list of ingredients and they’ll stock them.”
“How long is it going to take us?” asked Delaney. “That’s a ton of cupcakes.”
Sadie raised her hand. “Let me do the math—I need some practice before my algebra test next week.” She jotted down the figures. “We know we have to bake fourteen dozen cupcakes—plus the giant one on the top tier…”
“And the oven will hold four dozen at a time,” Jenna explained.
“So we can bake four dozen every thirty minutes if we get crackin’ on the batter,” Sadie continued. “So we’ll need at least two hours to get all those cupcakes baked.”
“Figure in another fifteen minutes per batch to cool and at least another hour to frost them,” Lexi said. “I’ll also need at least an hour to decorate the giant cupcake—I want a Cornelli lace pattern on the sides and carnations on top. Delaney can handle the fondant monogram while I pipe.”
“And the giant cupcake will take over an hour to bake through,” Kylie reminded her. “Remember last time when we made that giant Christmas tree cupcake for my dad’s holiday office party, and it was mushy in the middle?”
“It wasn’t mushy,” Delaney defended her creation. “It was just a little overly moist…”
Sadie held up her sheet filled with calculations. “We’re looking at six hours to be safe for baking and decorating. I don’t see how we can do it any faster.”
“Which means it will be ten p.m. before we even can start building the tower.” Jenna sighed. “It’s gonna be a long, long night.”
•••
The cupcake club was used to pulling all-nighters—especially on holidays and for special occasions. Kylie made sure that every single one of the Easter orders were delivered on the Friday before Easter.
“Let’s get hoppin’,” she said, packing up dozens of cupcakes for the Golden Spoon’s order. “I promised Mr. Ludwig we’d deliver no later than five p.m.”
“These are so adorable,” Delaney said, admiring the V.I.Peeps cupcakes they’d made with marshmallow chicks on top. “Mr. Ludwig is going to love these.”
“I like the little lambs Lexi made out of mini marshmallows,” Sadie said. “This is our best Easter yet.”
“And our busiest,” Kylie reminded them. “As soon as your brothers get back with the last batch of orders for delivery, there are twenty more that need to go out.”
Jenna was glad that things were so hectic. It kept her mind off leaving tomorrow for Las Vegas.
“You must be so excited,” Delaney said. “I am—and it’s not even my mom getting married.”
“I don’t want to think about it,” Jenna said. She popped a mini marshmallow in her mouth. “So some-bunny change the subject.”
“How about this,” Kylie said, waving an order form in her hands. “We just got an emergency email from Principal Fontina. She wants a dozen Easter cat cupcakes for her Sunday brunch party.”
“Easter cats? Who ever heard of Easter cats?” Lexi said. “I’ve heard of bunnies, chicks, and lambs…but cats?”
“She’s the principal—don’t argue with her!” Sadie said. “If she wants Easter monkeys, give ’em to her! I’m barely passing math—I need all the brownie points I can get.”
“You mean cupcake points.” Kylie corrected her. “We can do some cute little kitties with pastel bows and put them on top of our basic Easter dozen.”
“I guess she’s a cat person,” Jenna shrugged. “I’m a dog person myself.” Thinking about Dulce alone on Easter morning made her sad. She would have gone and brought the puppy a little pupcake and a bunny chew toy if it weren’t for the stupid wedding.
“Mom, we have a Cupcake 911!” Kylie called from the kitchen. Her mother was on deadline writing an article for a magazine—something about the latest bagless vacuum cleaners and how they were better for the environment.
“Kylie, I told you—I’m chained to my desk this afternoon,” her mom answered.
“But we have to get these over to Principal Fontina.”
“No can do, honey,” her mom said. “I’ve got five hundred more words to write, and I’ve run out of ways to describe dirt and dust.”
“My bros are both out on orders, and my dad is on a contracting job,” Sadie said. “So we don’t have any cars.”
“Ugh,” Jenna said. “I think I know someone we can call…”
•••
Ten minutes later, Leo rang the Carsons’ doorbell. “Cupcake Delivery Man at your service,” he said, standing at attention. “You bake it…I bring it. Where to?”
“Blakely Elementary…and step on it,” Jenna said, placing the cupcakes in the trunk. She and Sadie piled into the backseat.
“Thanks so much for saving us, Mr. Winters,” Sadie said. “I know Principal Fontina will be very grateful. Hopefully grateful enough to overlook my last test score for my report card…”
“It’s Leo…and you’re welcome,” he said, hitting the gas pedal. “Hold on, girls. I’ll have you there in a jiffy.”
“Jiffy?” Sadie whispered to Jenna.
“Don’t ask.” Jenna slumped in her seat. “He’s weird.”
When they arrived at Blakely, Principal Fontina had her coat on and was waiting at the door to leave. “Here ya go!” Sadie said, handing the box to her. “Just what you asked for: a dozen Easter cat cupcakes.”
“Easter cat? Whoever heard of an Easter cat?” their principal said. “I emailed Kylie for a dozen Easter hat cupcakes. You know…like people wear in the Easter Parade?”
Jenna took out a printout of the email and double-checked it. “Nope. You wrote Easter cats—as in meow, meow.” She showed the principal the paper.
“I hate typing on this new phone,” Principal Fontina sighed. “I’m always making typos. I know it’s my fault, but how am I supposed to serve Easter cat cupcakes for dessert Sunday?”
“Well,” Jenna improvised, “you can say they’re the ‘pu
rrfect’ treat for Easter?”
Principal Fontina mulled it over. “That’s very clever…”
“And why not serve them with a side of ‘mousemallow’ topping…” Jenna continued.
“Brilliant!” Principal Fontina replied, taking the box and hurrying on her way. “I can’t wait to see my guests’ faces.”
•••
When they got back in the car, Sadie hugged Jenna. “Did anyone ever tell you you’re a genius?” she said. “You seriously saved our butts. I was afraid she’d make us stay after school for messing up her order.”
“Did she like the cupcakes?” Leo asked.
“Like them? She loved them!” Sadie replied. “Thanks to Jenna’s quick thinking.”
Jenna wished she could come up with an equally brilliant solution to get her mother to cancel the wedding. But it was no use: Leo was determined.
“Now that all your Easter orders are delivered, you girls can relax and get ready for la boda del año—the wedding of the year!” he said.
Jenna had never seen anything like Las Vegas. On the “strip” where all the hotels were located, everything was all flashing lights and video screens advertising everything from circus shows, roller coasters, and star-studded concerts to all-you-can-eat buffets. Each hotel had a different theme and was modeled after a different place: Paris, New York, Egypt, even Caesar’s Palace.
But the Venice Hotel looked like something out of a fairy tale. As she strolled through the lobby, Jenna noticed the soaring arches, towering columns, breathtaking artwork, and elaborate gold sculptures. The ceiling of the resort was painted to look like the sky, complete with fluffy white clouds and cherubs. In the center of the main palazzo was a replica of the Grand Canal with gondolas gliding on the water.
“Wow.” She whistled through her teeth. “This place is amazing.”
“It feels like we’re in a different world,” Kylie exclaimed. “Look at all the cafes—and the jugglers and artists.”
Delaney grabbed Jenna’s mother around the waist and hugged her. “Thank you,” she squealed. “Thank you for getting married here. I feel like Alice in Wonderland!”
Ms. Medina and Leo went to check in, leaving Marisol and Gabby in charge.
“All of you stay with me,” Marisol commanded. “That means you, Manny…” He was already trying to figure out how to sneak into the casino filled with lights and noise. A security guard stopped him in his tracks.
“See this sign? No one allowed under twenty-one,” the guard said.
Manny scratched his chin. “I’m in kindergarten. I don’t read,” he replied.
The guard chuckled. “Well, then I’ll just make it real easy for you. Anywhere you see this uniform…you don’t go.”
Manny nodded, but Jenna knew it would take a lot more than that to keep her mischievous little brother away from the clanking slot machines. The casino looked like a giant video arcade.
“Manny, if you want to be in the wedding, you have to behave yourself,” she instructed. “No wandering off, comprende?”
Of course, that didn’t apply to the PLC girls who had already taken off with Gabby to explore the hotel’s palazzo. Lexi perched herself on a stool so she could watch an artisan sculpt a bust. “I can’t believe how amazing his technique is,” she whispered, watching him chisel away at the lump of plaster to create an image of a woman.
“Do me next! Do me next!” Ricky shouted.
Gabby caught him by the hand. “That would require sitting still—which you never do,” she said.
“I wanna go swimming in the pool!” Ricky suddenly shouted, spying a giant water fountain.
“Dios mío! It’s not a pool…it’s a fountain!” Gabby cried, chasing after him before he could leap into the water.
“I think they think this hotel is an amusement park,” Jenna sighed. “Maybe you can take them to the real pool on the roof and keep them out of trouble?”
Gabby pouted. “What about me? When do I get to shop and walk around? How come I have to babysit?”
Jenna’s face grew stern. “Because I’m the one who has to do all the baking for Mami’s wedding. Would you rather be slaving over a hot oven for six hours?”
Gabby thought it over. “Fine. You win. Marisol and I will take the Terror Twins.” She glanced over at Ricky, who was trying to fish coins out of the fountain. Manny had caught up to him and was holding his brother’s ankles so he wouldn’t fall in.
“No!” Gabby and Marisol screamed, then called behind them, “Jenna, you owe us!”
Kylie was also anxious to rein in her PLC mates and get them focused on the job at hand. “We’ll have lots of time to check the place out after we finish the cupcakes,” she pleaded. “Guys? Please?”
Sadie was fascinated by a stilt walker roaming the “streets” of Venice. “I’ve never seen someone that tall,” she said. “We could sure use you for the Blakely Bears basketball team.”
Delaney was equally mesmerized, but by the gondoliers singing Italian songs as they paddled the long, narrow boats through the canal. “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore!” they sang.
Jenna knew exactly how to get everyone’s attention. She placed two fingers between her teeth and blew a deafening whistle. Lexi, Delaney, and Sadie all jumped.
“Escúchame, listen up!” she said. “My mami is getting married in the morning. We’ll have plenty of time to check the place out after we get the cupcakes baked and decorated.”
“She’s right,” Kylie said. “Let’s find the concierge and get to the kitchen.”
They wandered back through the lobby where they found a man impeccably dressed in a black suit and red tie. “Excuse me,” Jenna began. “We’re Peace, Love, and Cupcakes, and we have permission from the catering manager to use one of your kitchens.”
No sooner had she gotten the words out than a voice behind her barged in. “Excuse me, did you say you’re bakers? Lordy, I’m in luck!”
Jenna spun around and had to blink twice to make sure she wasn’t imagining the figure in front of her. He was dressed in a gold lamé jumpsuit covered in sequins and wore long sideburns and sunglasses.
“I know you!” Delaney cried. “You’re the King of Rock and Roll! You’re Elvis!”
“In the flesh.” The man bowed deeply. “Thank you very much.”
“You mean, he’s an Elvis impersonator,” Jenna corrected her. “They’re all over Vegas. Come on, guys, we have to get baking.”
“Wait! Please!” Elvis insisted. “It’s my hundredth show here at the hotel and I need a cake,” he pleaded with the girls. “I’ve called every bakery in Vegas, and no one can do it on such short notice. I was just coming to the concierge to ask for his help, and lo and behold, you girls came along! Now is that destiny or what?”
“What,” Jenna grumped.
Lexi was curious: “A cake should be pretty easy to find. Why would everyone tell you no?”
“Because it has to be the King’s favorite flavor: peanut butter banana.”
Kylie nodded. “Yup, I can see how that could be a problem. Not just any baker can do PBB.”
“And it needs to serve my entire audience at tonight’s show,” Elvis added. “All 250 of them.”
Jenna tugged on Kylie’s arm. “The kitchen’s this way. Let’s go. Sorry, Elvis, can’t help you. Adios!”
As Jenna turned to leave, Elvis started singing. A crowd gathered around them, and they were trapped. “I’m all shook up! Uh-huh, yeah!” he sang, shaking his hips.
“He’s pretty good,” Delaney said. “I’m impressed.”
“And it would be kind of fun to do Elvis cupcakes,” Lexi added. “It’s very Vegas.”
Kylie put it to a vote. “All in favor of helping out the King?” Kylie said. She, Sadie, Delaney, and Lexi raised their hands. Only Jenna was against it.
“I’ll pay you double what you normally charge per cupcake,” Elvis insisted.
“Did you hear that? Double!” Sadie whispered.
“I can make some fondant records, guitars, and musical notes—maybe even blue suede shoes—to put on top of the cupcakes,” Lexi said. “It’ll be okay, Jenna. We can divide the work up between us.”
Kylie left it up to Jenna. “What do you say?”
“Fine…I give up!” Jenna said. “You win, Elvis. We’ll deliver 250 cupcakes to your show tonight.” She handed him a PLC business card.
“Thank you, thank you very much,” Elvis replied. “You ladies better rock and roll if you want to make my eight p.m. performance.”
The kitchen was huge and fancy—just like the rest of the Venice Hotel. There were an industrial mixer, an enormous commercial oven, and tons of baking supplies—everything Jenna had asked the catering manager to get them. But it took the girls over an hour just to hunt down all the ingredients they needed and get them organized.
“I never thought I’d miss my mami’s tiny kitchen,” Jenna said, climbing on a step stool to search for salt in a cabinet. “At least I know where everything is. This is way too big and way too confusing.”
Sadie walked around, checking things off on their list. “We have condensed milk, evaporated milk, and coconut milk—that’s the tres leches.”
“I’m worried about the butter and sugar,” Jenna said. “With all we need for the Elvis order, we might run short.”
Kylie did a quick tally. “I’m more worried about how many bananas we need for the King’s cupcakes.”
Jenna shook her head: this was a disaster—and she couldn’t even blame it on Manny and Ricky. “I think Lexi, Sadie, and Delaney should start on the batters while Kylie and I go borrow some supplies from a few of the restaurants in the hotel.”
