her face, Evan’s discussion killed the rest of her appetite. He laid a hand on her leg.
Steve had the good grace to sound contrite. “Evan, I’m sorry. You are correct. Please extend my apologies to Kelly. In the future, you’ll just have to kick my butt every time I get out of line. You weren’t wrong about everything you said last time when you were in my office.”
Evan grew silent. This is what had bound him to his friend for all these years. The man’s open mind and willingness to claim wrong were two traits Evan admired.
Steve persisted. “So, do you forgive me for the Dean interview, buddy?”
Evan laughed. “Absolutely not. You and I have a few more topics to hash out. I’m still not sure I’ll re-up my contract after it finishes.”
“Evan, that interview was not all story motivated. Believe me when I say that as your friend I couldn’t let you lie on national television. What would make you any different from Buzz Campbell no matter how noble your cause?”
Evan rubbed his brow. He might just have to accept that fact as truth. “Like I said. We’ll have to talk about it. See you on the set tomorrow.”
He ended the call.
Kelly released a deep breath. “You okay?”
Evan shrugged. “Right as rain.”
“Then tomorrow we begin.”
Evan leaned back on the couch beside her. “We’re in for one hell of a ride, Red.”
* * *
KELLY SAT IN the guest chair on Evan’s right-hand side. She’d never been on a television set before. They had just finished the first rehearsal of the interview. While she’d fully expected her nerves to get jumpy she hadn’t expected the intense heat of the overhead lights. She wiped the perspiration on her brow with the handkerchief she had knotted in her fist. She was glad for the navy blue color of the wraparound dress she wore because of the dampness collecting beneath her arms.
Her thoughts jumped to Neverland. Bunny and Jake had been doing an amazing job of running the business in her absence. She and Evan had come out of the office last night to see the two of them taking a break. Sitting across from each other at the family booth, they discussed the specials Jake would prepare for the weekend. Before Bunny spotted them, Kelly saw one of Bunny’s petite feet resting casually atop her cook’s worn cowboy boot.
She suspected something more than dark roast coffee was brewing at the Neverland diner. She liked the idea very much. That thought then jumped after her worries about Julie McKenna successfully keeping Matt away from the television this morning. Her stomach started to flutter with nerves again.
This segment was set to air after the morning news portion, and they were waiting out the commercial break before going live. Evan was in his element, looking handsome, relaxed and focused in a perfectly tailored charcoal-colored suit. To her surprise, Evan reached over and planted a kiss on her mouth long enough to capture her attention. The press of his lips calmed her. He hadn’t kissed her since they fought.
His blue eyes held intent. “You’re going to do fine, Kelly. Just as we read, I’ll ask you questions and you answer them. Pretend it’s just you and me sitting on the couch at home.”
Her brogue thickened with nerves. “It’s not like I’ve been chattering out loud about this issue for the past seven years, now is it, Evan? Don’t be sugarcoating it.”
He grinned. “Believe it or not, even nervous you’re going to be great. Remember we’re fighting for our son.”
She swallowed the knot rising in her throat at the way he included himself. “Yes, Evan. I’ve not forgotten. Let’s just get this over with. Shall we?”
The Assistant Director began counting down to black. She felt her face flush just as the cameras went live. She could do nothing about it except watch Evan begin the introduction.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Before we begin, I want to caution the viewing audience that the topic we are about to discuss will be uncomfortable. We deem it important to present this information to the American public because it answers the questions raised about an illegitimate son in presidential hopeful, Senator Buzz Campbell’s interview earlier this week.”
Kelly felt the intensity of the cameras from her peripheral vision but as instructed resisted looking at them. She forced herself to take in slow, even breaths wondering if she’d make it through the interview, let alone Evan’s introduction, without begin reduced to a nervous wreck.
Evan