“I hope it’s not just for a season.”
“No way.”
She stepped into Matthew’s arms, feeling safe in his strong embrace.
“You feel good,” he whispered into her hair.
“You do too.” She enjoyed the embrace. It had a calming effect on her. “I needed that.”
She released him from the hug when Sheri walked in the door. “You’ll be on in about ten. So grab a water or use the restroom. It’s right across the hall. I’ll be back to get you shortly.”
“I’m ready.” Whitney swept her fingers under her eyes and sniffled back at the emotion that had allowed a few tears to fall. Thankful tears.
Whitney shook her hands, trying to get the nerves out. It wasn’t helping. All that happened was now her palms were sweaty. She stood against the wall, closed her eyes, and did a couple long, deep breaths.
“You’ve got this,” he said.
She opened her eyes just as the anchors mentioned social media on the television monitor. “Look.” Whitney pointed to the television.
Matthew grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.
Daniel and his co-anchor, Cindy, teased the next segment, then the commercials flowed. The other monitor showed what was happening on set.
On the big, arched couch, Kally Shore sat in the middle, all grins and confidence with a copy of her book in hand. Brooke sat on her left, and two other women giggled as the men mic’d them up and they took their places on the other side of Kally.
Whitney’s confidence wavered, however, as she watched the girls settle in, and she felt suddenly unprepared. On the monitor, she could hear them talking and laughing. They truly thought this was all fun and games.
But something interrupted that thought. It was that little voice inside her. If it wasn’t for the fact that she was so worried about disappointing her dad, it probably would seem fun and romantic to her too.
Perspective. It’s time I get my priorities straightened out.
The interview started. Whitney couldn’t take her eyes off the screen. She clung to every word when Sheri came to retrieve her. “It’s time.”
“You can come along, too, Matthew.” Sheri was tiny, but she moved with intent and purpose. They followed behind her as she led them down the hall, through doors and inside the actual room where they were filming.
She whispered, “Whitney, I’m going to have you stand on the X right over there on the right. They’ll mic you up, and then when they give you the countdown, three, two, one, you will walk across the set and take the chair between Cindy and Daniel.”
“Got it.”
Sheri walked Matthew across the way. “I need you to stand right here.” She zipped her lip. “Perfectly quiet and no rustling.”
He took his spot over behind the control board guy and gave Whitney a thumbs-up once the mic guy stepped out of the way.
Whitney swallowed hard and gathered every bit of her professional grace, ready for whatever was to come. “Thank you for being here,” she mouthed.
He patted his heart twice, and smiled.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Matthew stood behind the man controlling the sound, and just behind them, cameras were set up. Up to this point, they’d mostly talked about Kally’s books and romance. At a high level, they touched on the relationships, but nothing had been earth-shattering until they showed the video clip.
The segment paused for commercial. Makeup people ran on set and touched up Daniel and Cindy with big fluffy brushes. The girls on the couch giggled nervously, and Whitney stood, ready to walk across and join the anchors following the break.
Music cued, and the producer held his fingers in front of Whitney’s face. Three, two, and one.
As she’d been instructed, she smiled and walked along the edge of the set. Daniel reintroduced the women on stage and then introduced Whitney just as she got to the platform. Whitney shook Cindy and Daniel’s hands and took a seat in the chair between them.
