Plot Twist

6. good things take time

Sébastien always seemed like a guy of few words. Never one to talk much. Which was absolutely fine, because I wasn't either. But when a very persistent eight year old named Lexi kept pushing him, I noticed his shell slowly start to crack open.

The man who I'd recently discovered was the owner of the bakery, led me and my daughter to the back, where all the magic happened. It was where the large countertops and the big ovens were. Where flour and sugar met and chocolate ganache was created. Where all kinds of special techniques were developed to create something so good people paid to eat and then came back for more.

If I looked in the mirror right now, I'm pretty sure I'd be blinded by the glint in my eyes.

"Wow." I whispered in amazement at the view before me, while I traced my fingertips along the marble countertops.

I could feel Sébastien's eyes burning holes in the back of my head, but only gave in and looked at him when Lexi interrupted the silence. "Seb, do you have a stool?"

He gave Lexi a questioning look and she moved to the countertops, standing on her tiptoes, singling her height with her hand. "I can't reach."

He nodded in realisation and walked out of the kitchen, only to come back in less than a minute with a small stool, placing it by Lexi's position. "Is this okay for you?"

She hopped on it, and nodded. "Yes, thank you."

"Mum?" Lexi called me and I turned my head in her direction. "Chocolate cake?"

What she loved most about cooking and baking was being involved in the whole process, but she was an eight year old nonetheless. She didn't remember the recipe by heart and she still needed my help on most things.

I quickly pulled my blonde hair into a ponytail, and rolled up my sleeves. I can't think of a reason why, but I always did these two things before cooking or baking. I guess it allowed me to feel more concentrated, more focused on the tasks at hand.

Sébastien showed me where the measuring cups were and I fetched all the right ones, handing some to Lexi, so she could measure the dry ingredients first.

A chocolate cake seems to be one of the most basic forms of cake that a baker can create, yet, when done the right way, it can also be the one that distinguishes a good from a bad baker.

Sébastien sat on a high stool, resting his elbows against the countertop that was located in the middle, resembling an island in the middle of the kitchen area. Even with my back turned to him, I could feel his eyes all over me and Lexi, watching our every move while we mixed the flour with the sugar.

Lexi's favourite part about baking? Cracking the eggs. Being still a child, hers wasn't the smoothest way of cracking them but she loved it. I've always told her, the most important thing is to not let any shells fall into the mix.

She tapped the egg against the counter, gently and softly, and with her two delicate hands, she carefully held up the egg just above the bowl, and pushed the two halves aside, letting the inside of the egg fall into the mix.

"Two more eggs." I reminded her. "Don't forget it, Lex."

Lexi nodded in agreement. However, before she could tap another egg against the hard surface, Sébastien came into the picture.

"Lexi, you're very talented." He complimented her with a wide grin. "But I know a special trick. Do you want me to show you?"

She bobbed her head up and down excitedly with a bright smile on her face.

He extended out his hand, holding his palm up so Lexi would place the egg on his hand. Once she did, Sébastien carefully rolled the egg between his fingers and tapped in against the edge of the bowl. In one smooth, swift motion, and holding half of the egg with his thumb and index finger, and the other with his middle finger and his palm, he cracked open the egg and let the jelly content inside the shell fall down effortlessly onto the dry mix and the egg Lexi had previously cracked.