Sweet Heat

by Zuri Day

  Glancing at her reflection in a glass pane, Naomi noticed her stomach preceding her and adjusted the jumpsuit across her expansive middle. The hope was that her girls would keep the focus from the breast up and her big booty would keep others checking her out from the hips down. Either way, it was too late for her to change her mind. The contest was beginning in less than an hour and she didn’t have anything else to wear, so best to throw a jacket of confidence over the fat-rolls-revealing one-piece and keep it moving. She entered the large room filled with contestants and scanned the crowd. Her eyes fell on Marvin, holding court as usual, with a mostly female audience who were all cracking up.

  Naomi walked over. “Hey, everybody!” She slapped Marvin on the back. “What’s so funny?”

  “The guy and his nicknames,” Tat said, a moniker given by Marvin because of several tattoos she sported. “It’s crazy how they’re so spot-on.”

  Naomi cocked her head. “What’s my nickname?” She knew he wouldn’t share the personal one he’d given her.

  “You know your name, girl. Juicy!”

  The reaction ranged from gasps to guffaws. Naomi was stunned; the way Marvin looked at her when he said it made the big girl who’d criticized her reflection minutes ago feel all kinds of sexy.

  “Why are y’all tripping? What’s the problem? Okay, wait. I’m using it as you would about something interesting or exciting, like a juicy story. Spicy like those potato strips that helped us win last week.”

  “Oh,” Tat said.

  Naomi was impressed. She hadn’t thought of any of those meanings, and from the parts of her anatomy Marvin usually squeezed when he said it, Naomi knew those weren’t always the definitions on his mind.

  “Not that she isn’t the other kind of juicy, too.”

  Naomi did a little shimmy and a pivot turn. Marvin followed suit. Soon they were striking poses. Clapping and catcalling from those around them ensued. Other contestants joined in. A couple producers took notice and soon a cameraman was filming the impromptu dance session. There was only one person who seemed to not be enjoying the camaraderie as much as the others. No one noticed. Host Ted Reynolds stepped to the microphone and soon the remaining contestants were counting off to be divided into groups of four for a team competition, after which two groups would go home. It would be the largest elimination yet, the final preliminary round when the twenty contestants who remained would be whittled down to the ten finalists going head-to-head for the championship. It would be filmed for television and broadcast over the Labor Day weekend on Chow TV.

  Naomi prayed that she’d get on the same team as Marvin, but that didn’t happen. He ended up working with Tat and a couple others that had become friends over the past three weeks. Naomi ended up with Airhead, so named by Marvin because Jeremy Evans believed he was God’s gift to kitchens all over the world. He downplayed Marvin’s talents—along with almost everyone else’s—and was clearly unhappy with Naomi in his group. The challenge was to create a complete meal containing a protein, a vegetable, and a starch. They were given ten minutes to plan and thirty-five minutes to execute. Disagreement was immediate and vigorous. Believing everyone else would choose meat as their protein, Jeremy wanted to go the vegan or vegetarian route to set them apart.

  “That will set us apart alright,” Naomi countered, almost before he’d finished the sentence. “We will no longer be a part of this competition. I say we go with either chicken or beef.”

  “Or we could do pasta with a mushroom sauce. I think going a different route than everyone else is genius, and if we’ve got dried mushrooms in the pantry they’re a great source of protein.”

  “What about lentils?” someone else said, suggesting a curried Indian dish would stand out.

  After a couple more suggestions, Naomi had had enough. “Guys! We only have ten minutes to come up with a menu and five have already gone by. Let’s take the top ideas to a vote.”

  She wasn’t surprised when Jeremy’s vegetarian idea won out. Clearly some of the contestants had drunk his egotistical Kool-Aid. The next question was how to round out the pasta dish.

  Good luck with that.

  Then, seemingly out of the blue, an idea popped into Naomi’s head. “I’ll make some type of bread, a roll that can get down in thirty minutes.”

  Jeremy immediately shot her down. “No, we’ve already got a starch with the pasta.”

  “Did that sound like a question? Because it wasn’t.”

  Naomi didn’t wait for anyone’s approval. She spun around and headed for the pantry, in search of yeast.

  Almost an hour later, the four groups stood in front of the judges. Naomi’s heart fluctuated from her throat to her toes. The situation just got real. Two groups were going home. Marvin was in a different group. A strong one with several contestants who’d won individual challenges. After today, half of the cooks in this room would no longer be here. She didn’t want to be one of them. They announced the winners. To no one’s surprise, Marvin’s group was one of the top two teams. Naomi’s group on the bottom.

  If I go home behind a mushroom . . .

  Marvin’s group won. They’d gone classic, a beef Wellington (Tat’s idea) where they stuffed the vegetable choice—creamed spinach—inside the pastry (Marvin’s idea). The other group landed on top because of their daring comfort-food choice—chicken and dumplings—a simple dish they’d elevated to haute cuisine. Naomi wanted to take a piece of raw steak in one hand, a chicken leg in the other, and box Jeremy’s ears. When addressing the losing teams and asking what went wrong, Jeremy spoke for their team and threw Naomi under an Amtrak train. She was the only one who’d opposed him, but he cleverly left out that fact. According to Jeremy, they’d lost because she wasn’t a team player, had gone against the others’ wishes, and made a roll when everyone else felt the fresh herb, lemon, and Parmesan topping he’d wanted her to make would have brought the freshness and acidic quality the judges felt their dish had lacked. That she’d not heard any mention of this topping was a fact the judges would never know. After three weeks of fighting, the loss had taken Naomi’s energy and zapped her will. It had been a good run, but you had to know when it was over. Some of these contestants owned restaurants. Naomi wasn’t even a professional, just a woman who liked food, with a grandmother who knew how to cook it and passed the knowledge on to her. She was lucky to have gotten this far. While the thought made her misty-eyed, Naomi tried to take comfort in that. She could feel Marvin’s eyes on her but refused to look over. One look of compassion, pity, disappointment, or anything similar and she’d very likely break into a Celie-saying-goodbye-to-Nettie ugly cry. Me and you us will never part . . . !

  Ted’s countenance was somber as he took the mike. “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this is a doozy and a really sad day because some amazing chefs and cooks are going home. But from the beginning we knew that was inevitable. There can only be one winner, and when we return after the holiday, there will only be ten of you here competing in the finals that will be filmed for television. At this point, it is clear that winning involves more than great cooking skills. It also involves a little strategy, and a lot of luck. Today some of you, all excellent chefs, were just unlucky.” He paused dramatically before adding, “But I’ve got news.”

  Naomi’s head shot up. He’d delivered those words in a way that held promise. Maybe only one group was being eliminated. Could it be that she’d get another shot at a new life?

  Jesus, given that it’s been so long since I’ve been to Your house, I know I’m coming to You way more and asking far more than I have a right. But if there’s any way . . .

  Naomi’s prayer was interrupted as the gasps, screams, and applause died down and Ted continued. “For two contestants, one from each losing team, your luck will continue. Because there is a component of this contest that we never shared with you, a surprise save. The judges will take a few minutes to deliberate and come back with the names of two people they feel have what it takes to win it all.
Those two people will join the other . . .”

  Naomi tuned out after that. She watched as a couple people patted Jeremy on the back. One whispered into his ear, and Jeremy nodded. She didn’t have to be close by to know what was being said. They knew what she knew. Jeremy would be staying. Naomi wouldn’t have been surprised if the judges had come up with the rule just to let him back in the game.

  “. . . first person who gets a second chance is . . . Naomi Carson!”

  If someone asked her how it felt to be shocked with a cattle prod, Naomi would have been able to tell them. She hadn’t heard correctly. There were three syllables in both Jeremy and Naomi. Somehow she’d transposed her name over his. No way would they—

  “Naomi!” Ted yelled. “Are you here?”

  The sound pulled her out of complete paralysis. But she was still dumbfounded, and it showed. “Huh?”

  “You’d better get down here, girl, and claim your spot!”

  She wasn’t hearing things. Ted had actually called her name. She was still in the contest. She danced and shouted her way to the front, where Ted stood next to the judges.

  Ted put an arm around her. “You had us worried for a minute, Naomi. We thought you were maybe going to decline the invitation to stay.”

  “I couldn’t believe you called my name.”

  A movement caught her eye. She and others watched as a totally peeved Jeremy marched out of the room. A few others followed behind him. Ted and the judges observed but said nothing. Instead he focused back on Naomi.

  “Judges, tell us why you decided to save Naomi.”

  One of the judges raised his hand. “I owned a food truck for seven years. It takes more than being able to cook. It’s also about being able to connect with people. Make them feel good. But you have to be able to cook, too. Naomi, that was one of the lightest, tastiest, most well executed yeast rolls I’ve ever put in my mouth.”

  Reactions to Naomi getting the save were mixed, but there was a group who clearly thought Jeremy should be there instead of her. She tried to ignore the haters and was on her way to hang out with Marvin when one of them approached her. But nothing or nobody could wipe the smile off Naomi’s face.

  “Hey, Naomi.”

  “Hi, Abbey.” The smile she gave Abbey was sincere.

  “I guess congratulations are in order.”

  “Thank you!”

  “You were lucky to get that save today.”

  “I know. I couldn’t believe it.”

  “Neither could anyone else. Everyone knew Jeremy should have been the one saved from your team. I must say that I was one of them. He co-owns a successful restaurant and is an incredible chef.”

  “Maybe the judges thought he didn’t need a successful restaurant and a food truck.”

  “That was not for the judges to decide. It was not a fair decision.”

  Naomi’s smile faded. She wished she’d texted Marvin because they were almost to the exit and he was nowhere in sight. She hung back, hoping Abbey would continue out the door. She didn’t.

  “Waiting on Marvin?”

  What’s it to you? Naomi so wanted to say that, but it wasn’t wise to offend anyone at this stage of the game. “Yes.”

  “You two got the fun going earlier today. Are you dating?”

  “We’re just friends. Marvin gets along with everybody.”

  “Yes, he’s really special. Glad to hear you’re just pals. He and I couldn’t date when he was in school, so I’m happy we’re getting close now.”

  Naomi tried to channel the cool, calm, and collected woman who’d handled Charlotte like a pro, but it had been a long, nerve-racking day.

  Maybe if I don’t say anything she’ll just leave.

  Naomi nodded and pulled out her phone.

  “It’s been great to reconnect with him. We don’t get a lot of time together right now but . . .”

  Naomi was concentrating so hard on not reacting that she scrolled her phone without seeing a thing. There were only two goals. Don’t say anything. Don’t look up.

  “There is a late night here and there. The day you guys won with the bacon-stuffed hamburger? He invited me over to the Soul Spot and made a really special one to put between my buns.”

  Naomi’s head slowly came up. “Oh, really.”

  “Yes. That was probably too much information.”

  “What, that he cooked you a hamburger?” Suddenly motor mouth had no gas. “Or did something else happen? Not that it’s my business.”

  “It is rather personal, but . . .”

  “But what? You obviously want me to know, so why don’t you just come out and tell me what happened?”

  “Yes, Abbey . . .”

  Naomi turned toward the sound and smiled. She glanced at a stone-faced Abbey, who looked more shocked than Naomi did earlier after being saved. Marvin’s expression was hard to read. Neither had heard him approach.

  “I want to hear what you have to say, too, Abbey. Why don’t you tell both of us what happened?”

  23

  The next time Marvin saw Denzel he was going to tell the brother to hand over the Oscar. Because the calm exterior covering up the anger over what he just heard was worthy of an award.

  “Hey, Marvin,” Naomi said, walking toward him. “Where were you hiding?”

  “I was talking to a few folk. Hanging out.” He answered Naomi but looked at Abbey, and didn’t say another word.

  Abbey took a tentative step forward. “That’s what we were just saying, weren’t we, Naomi. That Marvin gets along with everyone.”

  Marvin emitted a chuckle that held no humor. “That’s not the part I heard.”

  “What did you hear?”

  “You were talking about food. Hamburgers.”

  “Oh, right. Enjoying that delicious burger you made for me when I came over to the Soul Spot.”

  “I’ve been to the spot a few times,” Naomi said. “But never by special invitation.”

  “You don’t need a special invitation to eat at what’s basically a diner. Don’t need a reservation either.”

  “But Abbey got one.” Marvin saw a twinkle in Naomi’s eye as she looked at his former teacher. “Didn’t you?”

  “I don’t remember exactly how it happened, whether he suggested it or I did. But it was a great night. It’s been wonderful getting to know Marvin better. We didn’t get that chance when he was in school.”

  “But you’re getting it now.” Naomi turned to Marvin. “She said the two of you were dating.”

  “I did not say that,” Abbey countered.

  “Oh, right. You said that—”

  “I heard what she said. Not everything, but I heard enough to know that there was creative storytelling happening. Abbey, I don’t know what’s going on with you, or why you seemed to all of a sudden develop some kind of special interest in me. I don’t remember you being this attentive when I was in school.

  “Listen, I’ve tried to be nice. I’ve tried to say this nicely. I don’t like hurting feelings. But this illusion you’ve got going that there is or can ever be anything between you and me has got to stop. It’s going to end today. I respect you as one of my former teachers, just like I respect every other teacher that I’ve ever had, from kindergarten on up.”

  He heard Naomi snicker, had meant that last bit to be funny, but remembering that Abbey’s obsession was no laughing matter, he held a straight face. “I don’t have any romantic feelings for you. I’m not trying to get with you. I’m not trying to flirt with you. When I’m nice, like when I use a nickname or whatever, it’s what I do with everybody. You can ask the other contestants. I have nicknames for all of them. If there is something I’ve done to make you think I like you or that I’m trying to get with you, I apologize because that is not the case. I don’t hate you, at all. But I don’t like you the way you want me to. I don’t want to date you. I don’t want you as a girlfriend—”

  “Stop! That’s enough. You’ve said enough.”

  Marvin an
d Naomi watched a clearly angry Abbey storm toward the door and push it open. Even on springs it nearly hit the wall.

  Marvin heaved a sigh. “Dang, man. I feel bad. I didn’t want to do that.”

  “You had no choice. She’s been after you since day one, and no matter what you said or how many times you said it, she didn’t get the message. Plus, she was straight-out lying on you. You heard her say that you invited her to your restaurant and then tried to make it sound like there was more to the meeting than what actually happened. That’s not cool. If she can lie about that, she can lie about anything.”

  “Still, I don’t like to make anyone feel bad. It’s done though, so let’s be done with it and talk about that bullet you dodged today.”

  “Right?!”

  “You should have seen your face.” Marvin did an exaggerated version of a shell-shocked Naomi and began cracking up. “Me? What? Oh my God!”

  “Shut up!” Naomi tried to punch his shoulder, but Marvin dodged the hit and walked toward the exit. “I did not sound like that!”

  They continued talking in the casual, joking manner that had marked their relationship from the beginning. Marvin told her he was happy she was still in the competition because he wanted to be the one who beat her. Naomi countered that she was glad to have been saved just so she could take him down. They’d just reached the corner across from the parking lot when he felt Naomi’s mood change.