Worth the Risk

would when she had had so little mothering herself? Aunt Callie had been loving, but she’d had no parenting skills.
    As Peter left the stage, Lexi ventured a sideways glance at Amber. Her back was rigid, her eyes focused straight ahead.
    “Please,” Lexi whispered to herself, “let Amber win.”
    Brad held up a gleaming gold-colored metal plaque that was much larger than the others. Even from the midsection of the auditorium where Lexi was sitting she could make out the words: Winner of the Light-and-Healthy Bake-Off. “This year’s winner…”
    For a second the room froze. Then Lexi realized Brad had said, “Amber Morrison. The chefs chose her Ali Baba Chocolate-Raspberry Tart as the best entry in this contest.”
    Amber spun around in her seat to bear-hug Lexi. “I can’t believe I won!”
    “You deserve it,” Lexi assured her. “You worked really hard.”
    Lexi’s heart filled with pride and wonder and she blinked back tears as she watched her sister walk up to Brad and Charmayne. How thrilled their parents would have been, Lexi thought. When they’d died, Amber had been so young. It would have been difficult to imagine the self-assured girl that Lexi saw on the stage.
    “The chefs commented on the delicious flavor of this tart,” Brad told the audience. “It uses unsweetened chocolate and whole fresh raspberries. Amber used unsweetened coconut, which gives the tart a unique texture. She also used a sugar substitute and whole wheat flour, which cuts back on the calories and is healthier.”
    “Amber will now represent Stovall Middle School in the final round,” said Charmayne. “The winner will receive a thousand-dollar cash prize and an internship as my assistant for the summer.”
    There was an enthusiastic round of applause, then Brad said, “Amber, do you have anything to say?”
    Amber stepped up to the mic with such confidence that Lexi was certain she’d practiced this speech many times. “Gee, it feels like the Academy Awards,” she joked, and the audience laughed politely. “I want to thank Mrs. Geffen for all her support and her wonderful cooking class. I also need to thank my sister, Lexi, for all her help.”
    Lexi hadn’t really helped except to taste the last few Ali Babas. But still, she was touched by the acknowledgment.
    “Most of all I want to thank the Recipe for Success program,” Amber said. “Back in the fourth grade, I planted, harvested and cooked in their program. Until then, I hadn’t really appreciated how food was grown and how to prepare it.
    “You see, I’m a diabetic. I have to be careful what I eat. Their program gave me a new appreciation for foods I’d never tasted. That’s why I enrolled in Mrs. Geffen’s class.”
    Amber paused, then smiled at Brad. “I’m sure I speak for all the contestants in thanking the Chefs’ Association for sponsoring this contest.”
    Tears welled in Lexi’s eyes. She’d never heard her sister speak about her diabetes so passionately or in front of such a large group. That took true courage.
    Brad strode up to Lexi. He projected such an energy and power, and Lexi was almost embarrassed by her instinctive response to him.
    “Your sister outdid herself,” Brad told her.
    “Amber deserved to win. She tried hard. I can’t tell you how many tarts she baked.”
    “She didn’t taste them all, did she?” Brad sounded concerned. That made her like him even more.
    “No. She was good. The seniors at the center sampled them and offered opinions.”
    “Hey, that’s a smart move.” Brad touched her arm lightly. “You’re both very enterprising.”
    “I guess.” Lexi had never thought of herself as anything other than a survivor. She did what she needed to do, even if she often felt as if she was on a treadmill.
    “I’ve got to rush off to another contest,” Brad said. “How about going out for coffee around five—before I have to get back to the restaurant for the dinner rush?”
    Lexi’s heartbeat throbbed in her ears and she felt heat creeping up her neck. “I’d like that.”
    “Good. I’ll pick you up at four.”
    She watched him walk away. A strange excitement filled her as she turned to find Amber.

Chapter 8
    “So you’re a runner.” Brad flashed his engaging smile. “So am I, when I have the time.”
    “Same here,” Lexi responded. “I was on the track team in high school, but now I’m lucky if I can find the time to run a couple of days a week.” An unexpected glow warmed her. They