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The car phone buzzed. With a sigh, Bobby Tom pushed the button that activated the speaker.
“Hey, B.T., it’s Luther Baines,” a boisterous voice proclaimed. “Damn, boy, I just about give up runnin’ you to ground.”
The pained expression on Bobby Tom’s face told Gracie he wished Luther hadn’t succeeded. “How you doin’, Mr. Mayor.”
“Right as rain. I lost ten pounds since I last saw you, B.T. Lighter beer and younger women. Works every time. ‘Course we don’t have to tell Mrs. Baines about that.”
“No, sir, we sure don’t.”
“Buddy’s lookin’ forward to seein’ you.”
“I’m anxious to see him, too.”
“Now, B.T., the folks on the Heavenfest organizing committee are gettin’ a little nervous. We were expectin’ you in Telarosa last week, and we need to be sure that you’re getting all your friends lined up for the Bobby Tom Denton Celebrity Golf Tournament. I know Heavenfest isn’t till October, but we have to get some advance publicity going, and it sure would be nice to put a few of those big names up on the posters. You heard from Michael Jordan and Joe Montana yet?”
“I’ve been kinda busy. They’ll probably make it, though.”
“You know we picked that weekend because the Stars and the Cowboys aren’t playing. What about Troy Aikman?”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure he’ll be there.”
“That’s good. That’s real good.” Gracie heard a deep-pitched chortle. “Toolee told me not to say anything until you get down here, but I wanted you to know right away.” Another chortle. “We took over the lease to the house just last week. We’re going to kick off Heavenfest with the dedication of the Bobby Tom Denton Birthplace!”
> “Awww, man. . . Luther, that whole idea is crazy! I don’t want my birthplace dedicated. For one thing, I was born in a hospital like everybody else, so it doesn’t even make sense. I just grew up in that house. I thought you were going to put a stop to this.”
“I’m surprised and hurt by your attitude. People been sayin’ it’s only a matter of time before being famous went to your head, but I kept tellin’ them they were wrong. Now I have to wonder. You know how bad the economy is down here, and with that lowlife sumbitch planning to pull out Rosatech, we’re facing disaster. Our only hope is to turn Telarosa into a tourist mecca.”
“Putting a plaque on that old house is not going to turn Telarosa into a tourist mecca! Luther, I wasn’t the president of the United States. I was a football player!”
“I think you lived up North too long, B.T. It’s ruined your perspective. You were the best wideout in the history of the game. Down here, we don’t forget something like that.”
Bobby Tom squeezed his eyes shut in frustration. When he opened them again, he spoke with infinite patience. “Luther, I said I’d help set up the golf tournament, and I will But I’m warning all of you right now that I’m not going to have anything to do with this “birthplace thing.”
“Course you are. Toolee’s plannin’ to restore your childhood bedroom exactly like it was when you were growin’ up.”
“Luther . . .”
“By the way, the auxiliary’s puttin’ together a Bobby Tom cookbook to sell in the gift shop, and they want to include a special celebrity section at the end. Evonne Emerly says for you to call Cher and Kevin Costner and some of those other Hollywood people you know for their meat loaf recipes and such.”
Bobby Tom stared bleakly ahead at the empty stretch of highway. “I’m heading into a tunnel, Luther, and I’m gonna lose the signal. I’ll have to call you later.”
“Wait a minute, B.T. We haven’t talked about—”
Bobby Tom disconnected the call. With a heavy sigh, he leaned back in his seat.
Gracie had been absorbing every word, and she was brimming with curiosity, but she didn’t want to irritate him, so she bit her tongue.
Bobby Tom turned and looked at her. “Go ahead. Ask me how I managed to stay sane growing up around crazy people.”
“He seemed quite . . . enthusiastic.”
“He’s a fool, is what he is. The mayor of Telarosa, Texas, is a certifiable fool. This whole Heavenfest thing has gotten completely out of hand.”
“What exactly is Heavenfest?”
“It’s a three day celebration they’re planning to hold in October, part of a harebrained scheme to bring economic prosperity back to Telarosa by attracting tourists. They’ve spruced up the downtown, added a Western art gallery and a couple of restaurants. There’s a decent golf course, a dude ranch, and a mediocre hotel, but that’s about it.”
“You forgot to mention the Bobby Tom Denton Birthplace.”
