Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

Madison arrived at the hotel at eight forty-five Sunday morning and met Gabe and their sous chefs in the ballroom. She and Gabe wished each other luck. Then they filmed a short segment with Francine welcoming them to the final round.

When that was done, they were sent to the market with a generous budget to pick up their ingredients. They had only thirty minutes at the store, and it was a challenge to get everything she needed in that amount of time, but she was happy she'd spent so much time on her grocery list, because she didn't want to get back to the kitchen and discover she'd forgotten something important.

She didn't speak to Gabe at the market, and once they returned to the hotel kitchen, it was down to business. As soon as she started to prep, her nerves eased. There were cameras around, but she forgot about them as she concentrated on what she was doing.

When they started cooking in earnest, more cameras arrived, and the last thirty minutes of cooking were being livestreamed into the ballroom for an audience of fifty plus people as well as the five judges who would determine the winner.

As time was winding down, several judges made their way through the kitchen, asking them each about their menus. She hated having to take time to speak to them, but thankfully they kept their questions to a minimum, and she hoped she didn't sound completely incoherent in her answers.

Some of their questions made her doubt her choices, but it was too late to make any changes. While she hadn't caved completely to Larry's request that she replicate the dishes on her menu at La Marée, she had decided to make one of the most popular entrées, a roasted duck, as well as a dessert featuring a fresh berry crumble.

She had no other real ideas for dessert, anyway, and she thought the crumble would be delicious and something she wouldn't screw up. The appetizer would be something she didn't serve at the restaurant, but she thought would be a great starter for the duck, and her other main dish would be the perfect roast chicken with vegetables. It was risky to make something so traditional and so simple, but she knew if she could pull it off, it would be a winner.

As the kitchen heated up, she could smell the peppers Gabe was roasting and knew that his menu would be very different from hers. But different didn't mean bad or good. It would just depend on what the judges preferred.

Gabe also seemed to be working in a rhythm with Jacob. They didn't talk a lot, but when they did, they seemed to be on the same page. She was in sync with Lyssa as well and was feeling pretty good about where they were. But the last twenty minutes, her hands started to shake as everything she did was being filmed. She had to start over on the plating of her appetizer because the plates weren't good enough. But she finally got it done and was happy enough with the result.

When the buzzer went off for the first course, she and Gabe met at the doorway.

"Good luck," he said again, giving her a warm smile.

"You, too."

They headed into the ballroom to cheers and applause. Larry and her parents were in the front row. Gabe's family was seated just a few seats away from them. She was happy to see Gabe's grandmother and mother, as well as his sister and brother. They were all cheering wildly for Gabe, while her family was politely clapping.

She was happy to turn away from the audience and walk up to the table where the five judges would taste their food. In addition to Francine and two judges from the other rounds, there were two new, highly renowned, award-winning chefs on the panel that she would have to impress.

After they each described their dish, they returned to the kitchen to cook their first entrée. The duck was a dish she made every single night at the restaurant, so she could do it in her sleep, but small things kept going wrong. She burned her sauce and had to remake it, very aware again that every little mistake was being caught on camera, and her boss was watching her screw up.

Finally, she pulled it together and headed back into the ballroom to present her dish.

As she walked out with Gabe, she caught a glimpse of his plate, which smelled amazing and was very colorful. His beef was served with a bright-yellow Aji Amarillo sauce, over a sweet plantain purée and an array of colorful roasted vegetables.

While her plate was sophisticated, his was more rustic, but maybe slightly more appealing than hers. She hoped her flavors were more on point than his, but she wasn't sure.

"Looks good," he murmured.

"Yours looks even better," she said.

"We'll see what the judges have to say."

They entered the dining room to more applause, and she felt even less confident talking about her duck dish, knowing what Gabe had put out for this course.

Then it was time to move on to the third course, which was her roast chicken with truffle potato purée and fragrant, earthy vegetables. She'd never been able to make this dish the way her mentor in Paris had made it, but hopefully tonight she would come closer than she ever had. Either way, it was her personal obsession, and if she could do it well, she could at least be proud of the dish, no matter what happened.

Thirty minutes later, they delivered their third course to the judges. This time she spoke with passion and confidence because the chicken was exactly as she'd imagined it.

Gabe had made pan-seared seabass on a coconut-based polenta, with a mango papaya salsa garnished with bright bell peppers. It looked good, and she had a feeling the taste would match the appearance. She had never seen him cook like this, but he was pulling out all the stops, swinging for the fences, and so was she.

Their final course was dessert, and she thought her berry crumble with freshly made ice cream was good, but she didn't think it would knock anyone's socks off. Gabe offered a tres leches cake with a guava sauce, and she was shocked he'd actually had time and the skills to make a cake. The man was full of surprises.

When they'd delivered their final plates to the judges, they went back into the kitchen and celebrated the finish with their sous chefs and a glass of champagne.

After their sous chefs left to change clothes for the final judgment, she tasted some of Gabe's food, and he tasted some of hers.

"We both killed it," Gabe said with a smile. "Especially you with the roast chicken. Wow. I couldn't see how that was going to be as good as it is."

She gave him a happy grin. "I'm glad I made you a believer. You outdid yourself, Gabe. I had no idea you could cook like this, and your plates were magnificent."

"They were better than I thought they might be. I have to admit Jacob helped with that."

"Well, I had help, too, so that's fair. And the plate is not the food."

"I think it's going to be close," he said. "Are you nervous?"

"Not anymore. I feel relieved it's over…whatever happens."

"I saw your boss out there. I assume the man next to him was your father."

"And my mother was on my father's other side. I saw your family, too. They must be so proud of you."

"I'm sure they are, but I think we should be proud of ourselves." He raised his glass. "Let's drink to us, to one hell of a day of good cooking."

She clinked her glass against his. "I have to admit you inspired me, Gabe. You made me better."

"Same here," he said, meeting her gaze. "You pushed me to go big, Madison. I knew that was the only way I'd have a chance against you."

She was moved by his belief in her, and there were so many things she wanted to say to him, but the production coordinator came into the kitchen and told them the judges had made their decision. It was time to find out who was the winner.

When they reentered the ballroom, everyone was on their feet clapping, and it felt amazing and overwhelming.

As soon as they faced the judges, her nerves tightened. This was it. The end of a long competition, and it would only be worth it for one of them.

Francine gave them a beaming smile. "I think all of us would agree that was one of the best meals we've ever had. Truly exceptional work. Gabe, you took us to Venezuela. You showed us where you come from and how special and wonderful the food from that region is. But more than that, you made it your own."

Applause followed her words. Then she turned to Madison. "Madison, your menu was sophisticated and complex, but you also showed us how to take something classic and simple like a roast chicken and make it exceptional. I have never tasted a roasted chicken that good in my life, and I know that opinion is shared by my fellow judges."

She swelled with pride that at least they'd liked the chicken.

"It was a very difficult decision," Francine added. "It really came down to one course by a very small margin. You both made our job extremely difficult."

She held her breath as Francine paused for what felt like an eternity. Then she said, "The winner of the San Diego Cook-Off is Gabe Herrera."

Applause and cries of joy followed the announcement. She turned to Gabe, seeing the shock and happiness in his dark-brown eyes. "Congratulations," she said, giving him a hug.

He whispered in her ear, "I thought it was going to be you."

"I didn't," she whispered back as they pulled apart.

The judges came to congratulate Gabe as well as her. She was touched by how much they'd liked her chicken and also her appetizer, but Gabe had won the dessert round and also the second round with his beef. The only reason he'd taken it all was because her duck was a little underdone, and she'd known that. She'd messed up her timing, and she'd screwed up the one dish she made every single day, her restaurant dish. She had no idea what the judges had told the audience while they were eating her duck, but it probably hadn't been good.

When the judges and her fellow chefs, who had all come back for the finals, finished congratulating her, she made her way to her parents and to Larry.

"You did good," her mom said, giving her a hug.

"I'm sorry I didn't win."

"Your duck was underdone," her father said shortly, disbelief in his gaze. "If it had been cooked properly, you would have won. I don't know how you screwed that up."

"I messed up the timing."

"You were so busy in the kitchen," her mom said. "It's no wonder you made a tiny mistake, but it was still good. And the judges loved your chicken. You always wanted to make that the way your teacher made it in Paris. I think you did that."

"I think so, too," she said, exchanging a smile with her mom.

Her smile faded with her father's next words.

"Why would you make a dish that's not on your menu?" he asked in bewilderment. "And how can you mess up the one dish you actually make every night?"

"It was disappointing that your mistake was with the duck," Larry agreed.

"I regret that, but mistakes happen," she said evenly.

"They can be costly," Larry said heavily.

"I'd like to put the roast chicken on the menu," she said. "After this, I know we'll get customers asking for it."

"Well, they certainly won't be asking for the duck. But the chicken doesn't really fit our menu."

"It fits perfectly," she argued. "And I've wanted to put it on the menu from the beginning."

"Why don't we talk about this later?" her mother suggested. "I know you've been cooking all day, Madison, but we have reservations for dinner at the Terrace in an hour. Why don't you come?"

Going out with the three of them was the last thing she wanted to do, especially after seeing how disappointed both Larry and her father were. She could see Gabe being hugged and kissed by his family and knew that even if he hadn't won, that would have still been their response. But that was his life, and this was hers.

"I'm exhausted," she said. "I'm sorry, but I just need to go home."

"We hardly ever see you anymore," her mother said with disappointment. "We leave tomorrow morning. Please come, at least for a drink. I won't take no for an answer."

"All right," she said, knowing it meant a lot to her mother. "I'll come for a drink."

"Perfect. Do you want to come with us? We have a car."

"No. I'll drive myself. I just need to say a few goodbyes, and then I'll join you."

As they walked away, she was surprised to see Lexie and Emmalyn walking toward her. They each gave her a big hug of congratulations.

"I didn't know you were here," she said.

"We were in the back. It was a nail-biting few hours wondering which one of you was going to win. Sorry it wasn't you," Lexie said with compassion in her gaze.

"If it couldn't be me, I'm glad it was Gabe," she replied.

"Watching you and Gabe work in the kitchen was fun," Emmalyn said. "We just wished we could have tasted all the dishes, especially your roast chicken. The judges raved about that."

"I'm happy to make it for you sometime."

"I'm sure the last thing you want to do right now is cook," Lexie said.

"You're right about that," she said with a laugh. "I'm actually meeting my parents and my boss for dinner."

"I hope they're taking you somewhere great. But I can't imagine you getting better food than what you served," Emmalyn said.

"That's sweet of you to say. I feel so lucky to have moved into Ocean Shores. Everyone is so supportive. And while I know you probably came to support Gabe?—"

"Not true," Lexie interrupted. "We came to support both of you."

"I appreciate that."

"Where did Gabe go?" Emmalyn asked, looking around the room. "We were going to say congratulations, but I don't see him anymore."

She pointed to the far side of the room where Gabe and his family were talking to Georgia Marks and some other individuals who were probably with the Culinary Network. "He's over there, but I think he's busy."

"We'll catch him at home," Lexie said. "I need to get back."

"Congrats again," Emmalyn said.

As they left, she debated whether she wanted to go over and say hello to Gabe's family, but with the television producers there, she didn't want anyone to think she was trying to get in on Gabe's win, so she headed into the kitchen to get her things. She'd just packed up her knives and exchanged her flats for heels when Gabe came running into the kitchen.

"Thank God you're still here," he said, throwing his arms around her. "I'm so sorry, Madison."

"Don't be sorry, be happy. You won. You deserved it," she said as she gave him a hug. "You did a fantastic job, Gabe. Every course was perfect."

"They had to be to win. Listen I want to celebrate with you. Georgia and some others from the Culinary Network are taking me out, and I want you to come with us. I want them to meet you."

She immediately shook her head. "No. This is your night, Gabe. They want the winner, and that's you."

"We're both winners."

He was trying to make her feel better, and she appreciated the gesture, but there was only one winner, and it wasn't her. "I can't come. I have to meet my parents and Larry. Go have fun. I'm really happy for you." She didn't know why her eyes suddenly teared up, but she didn't want him to think she was sad, so she forced a bright smile on her face. "But since you won all the cash, I expect you to take me out to dinner one night very soon so I can help you spend it."

"You're on."

"I need to go."

"Me, too." He hugged her again and gave her a kiss. "This is the end of the competition, but it's not the end of us."

She wasn't sure that was true. It looked like Gabe would get all kinds of offers after this. She had no idea where his life would go or where he would end up. Nor did she have any idea where her life would go if Larry decided to fire her. But she wasn't going to think about that now.

When she got to the Terrace Bar and Restaurant, which was a stunning property right on the ocean in San Diego, she found her mother seated alone at a table in the bar, sipping a glass of wine.

"Hi, Mom." She took a seat at the table, noting the empty chairs. "Where's Dad and Larry?"

"They ran into some business acquaintances." She tipped her head to the right of the bar where Larry and her father were talking to two other men.

"I'm surprised they left you here all alone."

"I told them I was fine, and I'm glad I have a minute to speak with you. I'm so proud of you, Madison. I've seen you cook before but watching you do it in that kitchen under all that pressure, with those cameras on you, was mind-boggling. Then you had to talk in front of the judges, and that went well, too."

"I've come a long way since the second grade," she said lightly.

"I was hoping that memory would have faded by now."

"It's dimmer. And I really appreciate your support, Mom."

"I know your father is always hard on you."

"He hates losers," she said pragmatically. "And that's what I was today."

"He doesn't hate you; he loves you. You're his daughter."

"It's okay, Mom. You don't have to try to make it better. I know I disappoint him."

"Everyone disappoints him. He disappoints himself. Your father wants so badly for everyone he loves to succeed, and he thinks that tough love is the way to make that happen."

She gave her mother a smile. "I think you've given me this same speech at least ten times in my life."

"Maybe you still need to hear it."

"I'm an adult. I don't need Dad's approval anymore. I made myself proud tonight, and I feel good about what I did. I made one mistake and that was enough to give Gabe the win, but he deserved it. He cooked a fantastic meal."

"The two of you seemed very friendly."

"We've gotten to know each other during the competition, and also outside of it. He lives in my apartment building."

"I had no idea. What a coincidence." Her mother paused. "Larry said he almost hired Gabe when he first decided to open a restaurant in Oceanside."

"I heard that, too. Maybe he should have hired Gabe."

"Don't say that. You're so talented."

"I am talented, but I'm tired of trying to convince people to believe in me. If Larry gave me the job because he wanted to do a favor for Dad, and he's disappointed now, then he should make a change."

Her mother frowned at her words. "You can't quit, Madison."

"I'm not quitting. But I won't live in fear. I can't run a restaurant with threats of being fired hanging over my head. Maybe that inspires some people to work harder, but it doesn't do that for me."

"Well, don't get ahead of yourself. I think Larry and your dad were a little disappointed you came in second, but you still made it to the final two. You're getting tons of press. The episodes will be on television and the Internet. You're making a name for yourself. And I have no doubt about your ability to get to the top of your field."

Her mother's words meant a lot, and she was beginning to wonder why she'd always given her mother's opinions less weight than those of her father. "Thank you," she said. "I mean that. You've always been my cheerleader."

"Sometimes, I cheered too softly," her mother said with a guilty gleam in her eyes. "I've always been someone who wanted to keep the peace. I don't think that was good for you."

It hadn't been good for her, but now that she was an adult it was easier to understand and forgive.

"You did your best, Mom. And I'm glad you came down this weekend." She let out a tired sigh. "Would you mind very much if I left? I don't think I can take any more constructive criticism from Dad or Larry. I'm exhausted. I just want to go home and put on my sweats and sit on the couch."

"That doesn't sound like much of a celebration."

"It's what I need right now."

"Then you should go. But don't be a stranger, okay? I know the restaurant keeps you busy but come home once in a while. Or maybe we could meet somewhere for a spa day sometime. We can get your sister to join us."

"Sure," she said, not as excited about having her sister come along.

"You know, Madison, life isn't that much easier for your siblings," her mother said. "I've had to give them the same talk about your dad that I've given you."

She gave her mother a doubtful look. "But they always win. They're super successful. And they achieve in areas that Dad respects."

"They don't always win, and they feel pressure, too. Sometimes, they're jealous of you. Out of the three of you, you're the one who is really living out her passion."

She was shocked by her mother's words. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Well, I guess I never saw it that way. But I do want to cook with joy and passion. This competition made me realize a lot of things about myself and my goals. Meeting the other chefs, seeing them cook, hearing them talk about food, what it means to them, what it means to me…it's given me a perspective I didn't have before."

"Even when you lose, you can learn," her mother said.

"I've done a lot of losing and a lot of learning," she said. "But having won a few rounds in this competition, I'm starting to understand what it feels like to win, and I don't just mean a trophy. I need to figure out how to be successful and true to myself." She leaned over and hugged her mom, then got to her feet. "Say goodbye to Dad for me. I'm sure I'll be hearing from Larry soon."

"Love you, Madison."

"Love you, too."

As she left the restaurant, she felt lighter than when she'd gone in. It had been nice to have such a good talk with her mom. It made her feel like she'd finally expressed thoughts she'd needed to say for a long time. And moving forward, she was going to stop letting other people define her. She knew who she was now and what she wanted.