The Amish Baker's Rival

by Marie E. Bast

  Mary cocked her head at her friend. “How do you feel about that?”

  “It hurts if I let myself think about it. It hurts a lot. But the only reason it hurts is because I like him.”

  “Maybe you should ask him about your relationship and where it’s going.”

  Amanda headed for the door and stopped. “Because I’m scared of the answer.”

  “So you’re hoping that if you go out enough, you’ll grow on him?”

  “Jah, but it sounded better when I first thought of it.”

  Mary rushed across the kitchen and gave Amanda a hug. “Don’t get hurt.”

  “Nein, I’m tough, and in spite of the situation, we have a gut time together. Do you want to go with us?”

  “Danki, but I’ll catch up with you and Ethan in a little while.”

  Mary finished cleaning the kitchen then glanced at the clock. 5:45 p.m. It was almost time for them to read the names of the winners of the second round. The winners of each category would compete tomorrow for the grand prize.

  She gathered her bag, locked the front door of the store and stepped to the sidewalk just as Noah pulled his SUV up to the curb and rolled down the window. “Need a lift to the festival?”

  “Danki.” She opened the door and slid onto the seat. “How’s your grossdaddi?”

  “He’s got three cracked ribs. He can’t do much for the next six weeks, but he’ll heal. Are you excited about hearing who won?”

  “I’m nervous. Cynthia Návar, the chef from Chicago, won last year, and she’s here again this year.”

  “You’re a wonderful baker, Mary. Don’t let Cynthia intimidate you. Keep your eye on your goal. Don’t let anyone steal your vision.”

  “You’re right. Let’s change the subject. Who is going to do Thomas’s farming?”

  “Since you, Amanda and Jean do such a good job watching the store, I thought I could go out to the farm for a while each day and help. It’s the end of September, tourism will start to slow down, and that will give me time to help my grandpa. I thought sometimes Emily could come along and help grandma.”

  “Of course we can do that for you and Thomas.”

  Noah pulled up by the curb and stopped. “I’ll let you off here and go park.”

  Mary slid out of the vehicle and gazed at all the festivalgoers, tents, game booths, activities, and food wagons. There were more in attendance this year than ever before. Maybe the feuding and the increased prize for the baking contest had drawn more people. She pushed her way through the crowd and walked straight into Bishop Yoder.

  “Gut day, Mary.”

  A swarm of butterflies rampaged her stomach. “Hallo, Bishop. A wunderbaar festival, jah?”

  He nodded. “Mary, can I have a word with you?”

  “Of course. Is something wrong?”

  He walked her to the edge of the sidewalk. “Some members of the Gmay have contacted me regarding all this commotion about the feud between you and Noah Miller. It’s causing attention and drawing this huge crowd here to see who will win the prize of $20,000, a trophy and a trip to New York. You have made a spectacle of the Amish people. Your name appeared in the newspaper along with the mention of our Plain community. Only we don’t seem so Plain when you have all those fancy pastries in your bakery and on display in a contest. The Gmay has decided to forbid you to participate any further in this contest.”

  Mary gasped. “Bishop, they can’t do that.”

  Daed and Mamm, holding the twins, walked up behind the bishop and stood off to the side. “What’s going on here?” Daed asked, his gaze flinging from Mary to the bishop.

  “Your tochter will tell you, Caleb. It’s time she acted like she is Plain.” Bishop Yoder turned and stomped off down the sidewalk.

  Mary clutched her quilted bag and twisted the straps around her hand. Jah, she knew what the bishop meant. Not only did she have to give up the contest and maybe the chance to save the bakery, but he was expecting her to give up her relationship with Noah. She hadn’t wanted to admit it before, but she loved Noah.

  Chapter Twenty

  Mary walked beside her stiefmutter, delaying any lecture from Daed, as her gaze scanned the area for Noah.

  “What’s going on, Mary, why was the bishop so upset?” Sarah waved her hand in the direction of the bishop storming off then wrapped her arm back around Liza.

  Daed walked up on Mary’s other side. “What did you do? No doubt it has something to do with Noah. As soon as the festival is over, it’s time for you to move back to Sweet Delights. It should be ready to open in a couple of weeks.”

  Sarah nodded in agreement. “Mayor Conrad told us that this year the festival has broken an all-time attendance record. He said it’s because of the publicized feud between you and Noah, which was also the reason why they raised the prize money to $20,000. Is that what’s bothering the bishop?”

  Mary lowered her head as Sarah’s words galloped over her like a runaway horse. She gulped a breath. “Jah, but it sounds like the town should be thanking us.”

  “The town is praising you and Noah, but the bishop is upset with all the notoriety and attention a member is bringing to his Community. We are a Plain, quiet people. Having the news media say an Amish woman has an opportunity to win money, a trophy and a trip to New York City doesn’t sound Plain or quiet,” her vater chided.

  “You can’t accept a trophy. The bishop is looking out for our church,” Mamm softly chastised.

  “I know, it was never supposed to blow up into this big of a deal.” Mary threw her arms open and gestured to the park bursting with tents and festivalgoers.

  “What’s going on between you and the store owner?” Daed tilted his head toward Noah standing at the contest tent motioning for her to come over there.

  “Nothing. I work at his store. That’s all. You two are imagining things.” Mary slipped her arm around her mamm and pulled her over to the quilt tent.

  She walked beside mamm up and down aisles while Daed followed behind with Lena squirming in his arms wanting to get down.

  Mary turned to look at a quilt behind her and noticed Amanda and Ethan hurrying toward her.

  Amanda caught Mary’s arm. “Come, they are getting ready to read the names of the finalists.”

  “Ach, I didn’t realize the time.” She turned to Sarah. “They are going to read the names of the finalists. I’m going with Amanda to the contest tent.”

  Mamm nodded. “Go, we’ll see you there.”

  Mary followed Amanda and Ethan and as she approached the contest tent, she watched for a glimpse of Noah but couldn’t find him.

  Inside the contest tent, Amanda weaved her way through the throng of people to the front by the podium. Mary searched the faces of the crowd. Off in the corner, Noah stood talking to Cynthia Návar, the chef from Chicago.

  The loud speaker squawked. “Good afternoon, everyone, I’m Connie Goodnight. We are so pleased to see such a great turnout for our festival and participation in the baking contest. Just a refresher of the rules before I announce the names. It is mandatory that all three, category winners bake their final entry in front of the judges. They will evaluate and assign points on degree of difficulty, originality, presentation and taste.”

  Whispers and shuffling of feet sounded throughout the tent. Connie tapped on the microphone for quiet. “The names I read will be the finalists, who will meet tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at Lazy Susan’s. The contestants must bring everything they need to make their dessert. They will receive the use of the restaurant’s stoves, ovens and refrigerators. Good baking to you all and please hold your applause until all three names are announced. Category one, Mary Brenneman. Category two, Noah Miller. Category three, Cynthia Návar.”

  The tent erupted into applause.

  Amanda grabbed Mary and squeezed her in a hug. “You did it, but I knew you would.”

/>   Ethan patted her shoulder. “Congrats, Mary. You deserve it. I’ll be rooting for you.”

  “Danki, Ethan.” A rush of excitement soared through her, and tears clouded her vision as she blinked them away. She drew a choked breath. “I’m so excited I’m going back to the store right now to get my supplies ready to take to Lazy Susan’s. I don’t want to forget a thing.” I’ll deal with the bishop later.

  “Amanda and I’ll give you a ride back,” Ethan offered.

  “Danki but you two stay. It’s only a few blocks, and I want to walk off this energy and clear my head.”

  Mamm and Daed had waited for her by the tent opening. “Congratulations, honig. We are so happy for you.” Mamm patted her cheek.

  “Danki but the bishop isn’t. He said the Gmay has forbidden me from competing any further in the contest. What will they do if I continue?”

  Mamm looked at Daed, then leveled her gaze back on Mary. “He will probably discipline you. You may have to apologize in front of the congregation.”

  “Is that all?”

  Daed placed a hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “Mary, if the bishop has warned you, he will take action. If they find you in violation of a biblical teaching, you may have to go before the Gmay to confess or explain your behavior. Be careful, tochter, it’s a serious matter.”

  “I asked permission to enter, and the bishop said I could. Now that the news media has made a story out of Noah and me, and they printed my name in the paper, our community is upset. I can’t control that.”

  Sarah’s voice turned dire. “Mary, you need to talk to the bishop and the Gmay. They don’t like the attention that’s being given to the Plain community.”

  “Mamm, the final contest is tomorrow. There isn’t time to ask permission. Just because my name was mentioned in the newspaper, it doesn’t go against biblical teaching or the Ordnung. Gossiping and bringing false accusation against another member is also a biblical teaching.”

  “Be careful, Mary. You need to think about your actions.” Daed pressed his hand on Sarah’s back and guided her down the sidewalk. “We’ll see you at home.”

  “Congratulations, Mary.” Noah tapped her shoulder.

  She jerked and whirled around. “Jah, to you, too. We did it. I can hardly believe we made it into the final contest.” She caught control of her wavering voice.

  “Is everything all right?”

  “I—I’m not sure. The bishop told me our Gmay is concerned about all the publicity I’ve been receiving. They said it looks bad for the Plain community and have forbidden me to bake tomorrow.”

  Noah laughed. “Really, who is saying that? I was over at the Amish wood-crafting shop, and they told me business is booming with all the tourist and festivalgoers in town this week. They also said the Plain community bakery in the country is doing very well.”

  “Are you teasing me, Noah?”

  “No, that’s what they said. Did he say the names of those complaining?”

  “Nein, but I’ll ask next time and repeat what you told me.”

  “Are you going back to the bakery? I can give you a ride.” He motioned to his vehicle parked a few hundred feet away.

  “Danki, but I’m in enough trouble. Besides, I want to walk and think though this mess before I make a decision.” She crossed the street and headed down the sidewalk.

  Maybe someone was jealous of her chance to win $20,000. Jealousy and envy were also against biblical teachings.

  Mary unlocked the back door of the store and was surprised not to see Noah. She hung her bag and found his note. “I’ll let you work alone, and I’ll pack later. N.”

  She pulled a box out of the pantry for her supplies to take to Lazy Susan’s. As she practiced making a pie, she washed and placed each bowl, measuring spoon, whisk and ingredients in the box. She made a copy of her recipe and placed that in. When the pie cooled, she sat down, drew a deep breath and took a big bite... Perfect.

  * * *

  Mary grabbed her box out of Noah’s store on Saturday morning and hurried to Lazy Susan’s. After a sleepless night, she was running late and Amanda said Noah had already left for the restaurant.

  When she knocked, Simone opened the door and led her to the kitchen. Noah and Cynthia had already arrived and set up their workstations.

  Mary nodded as she passed them, following Simone to her area. She set her box down, and laid out all her utensils and ingredients on her station as Chef Simone André instructed.

  Simone watched the clock. “Five minutes, chefs.”

  Mary blotted her hands on her apron, drew a deep breath and prayed.

  “It’s ten o’clock. You have four hours. Go!” Simone yelled.

  Mary simmered fresh spices in apple juice, added the sugar, and thickened it. She made the crust, peeled and sliced the apples. She arranged them piled high in the shell then poured the spice mixture over top. She set the pie in the warmed oven and set the timer. While that baked, she made the caramel sauce. When the pie came out of the oven, she set it to cool then added the warm caramel sauce.

  Simone called a thirty-minute warning, then ten. “Stop. Please bring your desserts to the judges’ table in the restaurant area.”

  Mary led the way into the restaurant, set her dish down in front of the judges, took a step back and waited for Noah and Cynthia to follow suite.

  “Thank you, contestants, your jobs are done. You may go and enjoy the festival. The winner to the baking contest winner will be announced at four o’clock.” Simone smiled and waved her hand toward the door.

  Mary stepped out the door, her heart pounding like a sledgehammer, and drew a deep breath. “I’m glad that’s over.”

  Noah and Cynthia followed her out, stopped and heaved big sighs.

  “Would you two ladies like me to give you a ride back to the festival?” Noah’s gaze bounced from Mary to Cynthia.

  “Thank you, but my husband, Brian, is waiting for me.” Cynthia slipped her cell phone back in her pocket as she approached the car at the curb. She turned back to Mary and Noah. “See you at the announcement.”

  Noah fell into step beside Mary. “It seems we’re always together, and I get the impression your family doesn’t like it.”

  “I’m going to meet Amanda and Ethan at the festival, but I’ll walk. My family is protective of me. They don’t want to see me get hurt again by someone who doesn’t have my best interests at heart.”

  * * *

  Her words walloped Noah’s chest. He fought to take a deep breath. Seth had hurt Mary deeply, that was obvious. While she walked back to the festival, he hurried to the store and entered the backdoor to the kitchen. The steamy heat of fresh-baked peanut butter bars wafted through the air. “Mmm, the bars smell good.”

  Emily held up a plate. “They’re all ready for the contest. Jenny helped me.”

  “Well, sort of.” Jenny hugged her little sister. “Emily really knew what she was doing. I was impressed. Amanda and Mary did a great job of teaching our little girl how to bake.” Jenny beamed with pride.

  Emily set her plate down and covered it with plastic wrap. “Thanks for coming home, Jenny, to watch me compete in the contest, Noah, are you going over to the festival with Jenny and me?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it, little sister, but we need to get going.” Noah stopped at the checkout counter in the front of the store. “Jean, if I’m not back by six o’clock, go ahead and lock up.”

  She nodded. “Have fun.”

  At the park, Jenny excused herself to find friends, and Noah guided Emily to the judging tent and helped her register her entry. “Shall we walk around and come back later for the contest results?”

  “Yes, but I’m really nervous, Noah. All the other entries looked yummy.”

  But Emily forgot about her entry by the time they reached the first game booth. She tried to knock over bottles with a
tennis ball to win a prize. “I’m not a good ball thrower.”

  “I’m not either, Emily. I spend my time baking, not throwing a ball.”

  Noah followed his sister around the festival from booth to booth. At the next booth, she caught a plastic, floating duck and won a hair barrette. While she picked out her prize, Noah glanced at his watch. “Let’s hurry back to the judging tent and find chairs before they’re all gone.”

  They found their seats. Five minutes later, Noah watched Emily squirm around on her chair. She jumped up and stood then flopped back down. When Goodnight walked to the podium and tapped on the microphone, Noah grabbed Emily’s hand and squeezed. She glanced up at him and smiled. Their mom would have been so proud of her little girl so grown up and baking.

  “We will announce the three finalists’ names to the children’s bakeoff in no particular order. You can all come forward, but audience, please hold your applause until all the names are read.” Connie glanced at her paper. “Roger Ferguson, Summer Conway, Emily Miller.”

  Emily flew off the chair and ran to the front. Noah smiled and blotted a tear at the corner of his eye as the tent erupted into applause.

  Finally, Connie raised her hand for quiet. “Again, please hold your applause until all names and places have been read, they receive their certificates and first place gets their pink backpack. In third place, Summer Conway. Second place winner, Roger Ferguson. And first place winner, Emily Miller.”

  The tent roared with clapping and cheers. Noah jumped from his seat, pushed his way to the front, grabbed Emily and hugged her. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “Noah, I didn’t think I could do it! I would have been happy winning third place. I can’t believe I actually got first place. Now I want to start working for you in the bakery. I could make my peanut butter bars and cookies and—”

  “Slow down.” Noah laughed. “You can make a few things, but don’t forget you’re still in school.”