Hometown Star - By Joleen James Page 0,59
costing me thousands every day and no house to update.”
“What?” Star struggled to let the news sink in. “What does Vivienne have to say?”
“Nothing. Not a damned thing. She’s missing. She’s fired. I’ve put up with her French crap long enough.”
“Frank, come on,” Star said, trying to placate him. “Think. Can the shoot be put off?”
“No. We’re here. That’s where you come in.”
“Me?” Star said.
“That house. The Victorian. I want to use it and I need you to make it happen.”
“Cade would never go for it, Frank.”
“Are you listening to me, Star?” Frank bellowed. “I’ve already asked him.”
Disbelief raced through her, along with a million questions. “What? How? How did you find him?”
“Easy,” Frank said. “I just described the house and people gave me directions. This O’Brien fella said okay with one condition, that you’re involved. He trusts you, Star.”
“No, Frank,” Star said, searching her mind for possible excuses. She didn’t want to see Cade. Not yet. She was still trying to get over him. “I can’t. I have too much work to do here. Plus, renovation takes weeks of pre–production. We don’t have the time.”
“You’re a pro,” Frank said. “You can piece things together quickly. You know the area, the businesses. Hotel and catering are done. Dump the rest of your work on Suzy. Vivienne is out. Carrie Shaw is in. I’ve booked a nine a.m. flight for you both. Filming will be delayed until Wednesday to get you both up to speed. Get Carrie all the photos you have of the kitchen. I don’t care if the two of you have to stay up all night, but when you get here tomorrow, I want a design done. You can help Carrie. You know the family, know their tastes.”
“Frank that kind of design takes time,” Star protested.
“This could mean a promotion for you, Star. Flight. Nine a.m. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Frank,” Star said, her mind stuck on the word promotion. “I’ll call Carrie right now.”
“I knew I could count on you, Star.”
The line went dead.
Holy smoke. A possible promotion. She was going back to Alaska. Her stomach did a funny jump. Cade had asked for her, the rat. She was going to see him. The kids. Trudy, Ron, and Daniel. Brandi, Bud, and Will.
But to what end? More heartache when she had to leave them for the second time?
Star glanced over at the picture on her fridge—the one Emma had drawn of her, Cade, and the kids. She got up. At the fridge, she flipped the drawing over, pinning it back on with the magnet. The blank page stared back at her. Clean and neat, just like her life.
Satisfied, she picked up the phone and punched in Carrie’s number.
* * *
Star stared out the window of the rented SUV watching the rain run in rivulets down the glass. She glanced over at their driver, Bill. He’d picked them up from the airport, and he didn’t look any happier about the crummy weather than she did. Traffic had been terrible due to a rollover accident just outside of Anchorage. The delay had added an extra hour to their drive.
Her stomach fluttered as the SUV made the turn into Cade’s driveway. It was almost four p.m. Would he be home? Or would he be out fishing? She’d spent the entire morning imagining how their meeting would go. Would he be aloof? Would he hug her? Kiss her?
“There it is,” Carrie said from the back seat. “It’s gorgeous. The outside could use a little TLC, too. I’ll have to think about that.”
Star devoured the house with her eyes. To her, the place looked like home. Vehicles were parked everywhere. A sign on the front lawn said Update This! Alaska Men. Members of the crew milled around, some using oversized orange and blue umbrellas stamped with the Update This! logo, a big U atop a T. A large tent had been set up on the front lawn to house their big carpentry equipment and to give the crew shelter from the driving rain.
She didn’t see any of the O’Briens. Not even Snowbell. They were probably huddled inside next to the fireplace.
Frank spotted them, an umbrella in hand; he broke away from a group of men, striding toward them. Her boss was in high gear, wearing the stressed out scowl he reserved for when they were about to go to tape.
The SUV stopped. Star and Carrie exited the vehicle. Star reached back inside for her purse and her laptop.
“Thank God you’re here,”