“I think I have everything. One of your assistants showed me how to use the pressure cooker you provided, so I should be good,” she said.
He wondered what she was using the pressure cooker for. The cook-off was traditional coastal recipes. He knew that Indy had wanted to do a low country boil, but they had to cook the same dish, so the producers had decided on a traditional New England clam chowder instead. The littleneck clams had been locally sourced from the neighboring town of Calm Bay. There was no time limit on the cook, so she wouldn’t be under pressure to get her dish up fast.
He looked over at her and wondered if he should go and give her some advice. He glanced at her bench and made a few notes before realizing what he was doing. He didn’t want to spend more time in GC and if he helped her...
“Chef Gilbert?” Ophelia asked.
“I’m good,” Conrad said, turning his attention to his friend and away from the tempting Indy. He reminded himself he didn’t like anyone associated with Gilbert Corners.
It was just a bit hard since she stood to his right smelling like summer and making him think about what she would look like after he kissed her.
“Great. So, just to run through this. I’ll do an intro with both of you and then you will go to your stations. Don’t do anything until the cameraman assigned to you is in position and our director, CJ, will tell you to start. I will bring the judges by and let them ask you questions about your cook as it’s going on. Don’t worry about anything you say—we will edit the footage later so if you don’t want to talk or can’t talk, that’s fine,” Ophelia said.
“What will they be asking?” Indy wanted to know.
Indy was starting to look a little nervous. Conrad almost smiled to himself. He had almost forgotten he was back in Gilbert Corners now.
“Just things like ‘what are you doing’ and ‘how did you come up with the recipe,’” Ophelia said. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“As I’ll ever be,” Indy said, which made Ophelia smile.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Belmont, once you start cooking, you’ll forget the cameras are there just like on your own show. Let me introduce you both to today’s judges and then we’ll get the filming going.”
Ophelia waved over the local chef, who was one that Conrad hadn’t met before, but he’d looked him up and thought he sounded interesting. Jeff Hamilton was his age and they’d met a few times when Conrad had been home on summer break. The locals consisted of three people, with only one person that Conrad had never met before.
After they were introduced, Ophelia checked everyone’s mics and then moved to a platform that had been set up. The audience coordinator had already warmed up the crowd and had given them instructions on what to do when Ophelia greeted them. Still, Conrad was surprised by the loud cheers from the locals.
“A love of the traditional and a fierce spirit of competition have brought The Beast back to his hometown and Gilbert Manor. The stakes are high for The Beast. He hasn’t lost a cook-off in the last twelve challenges. Will this be his lucky thirteenth win?
“Or will newcomer and local resident Rosalinda ‘Indy’ Belmont defeat The Beast and send him back to his lair? Let’s find out in this traditionalNew England Clam Chowder Cook-off.”
The crowd cheered again and the director called cut. Stepped down and motioned them over to her. “Conrad, go and do your thing.”
He stepped onto the platform, crossed his arms and waited for the cameraman to get in place before he glared menacingly into the lens. They did a few different takes and then it was Indy’s turn.
“What should I do?” she asked him. “I’m a home cook not a tv chef. I know I have my show and I should be a natural in front of the camera but this is...different.”
“I’d say your strength is that charming smile of yours, and your quirkiness. Just smile and feel authentic. Actually...where’s Nola?”
“Why?”
“Because you will feel awkward just smiling at the camera—believe me, it takes a bit to get used to it. If she stands behind the cameraman, you can smile at her.”
“Thanks,” she said.
“No problem. TV is an odd beast.”
“Just like you,” she quipped.
“Indeed.”
He stepped back as she filmed her part. She intrigued him—part of it was that he hated being back on the grounds of the old man’s home and seeing so many of the townspeople who were looking at him. Did they resent him for not coming back? They called it a curse, but he couldn’t help feeling they blamed all of the Gilberts for the town losing residents and business.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he couldn’t help thinking about Indy. Challenging him to break a curse supposedly but he knew there had to be more. And he couldn’t wait to find out what it was.
Three