First Date (26 page)

Hank turned to Addy, microphone shoved in her face. “How are you feeling now, Addy? All better?”

“I am. Thanks, Hank.”

“It’s amazing that you recovered so quickly. Just in time to be back on the show tonight.”

Addy looked around and saw the other girls smirking in her direction. “Actually, I was released—”

“Sorry, Addy, your time is up.” Hank pulled the microphone away and gazed at the camera. “Before we open the phone lines so you can vote for your favorite contestant, though, we have a special surprise tonight, put together by the star of the show himself: Jonathon Jackson. I don’t want to give anything away, so, Jonathon, come on over and tell us all about it.”

“Thanks, Hank. And, Addy, I’m glad to see you back. I spoke to your doctor when I visited the hospital, and he told me how serious that bite was. I’m so grateful for the great medical team here in Nashville.”

Jonathon Jackson, I could kiss you right now
.

“But Jonathon isn’t here to talk about the doctors.” Hank motioned for Mike to come forward. “Are you, Jonathon?”

He looked at the camera. “No, Hank. But I am here to thank someone who has saved lives. My life, as a matter of fact.”

The camera panned to Mike, who looked uncomfortable in khaki slacks, a polo shirt, and a required-for-the-cameras layer of makeup.

Hank looked like he was about to be sick. Only until he was on camera, of course. At that point, he smiled his extra-bright smile and patted Mike on the back. A little harder than necessary.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce you to Mike Scott.” Jonathon put his arm around Mike’s shoulders. “He is responsible for uncovering a plot against my family. Had the plot succeeded, my father, the president of the United States, would have been assassinated.” Jonathon let that fact linger before continuing. “But thanks to his bravery, and the help of Secret Service agents, the assassins were discovered and imprisoned.”

A short segment followed with Jonathon’s voice-over detailing Mike’s years of service to his country, ending with a moving rendition of “God Bless America” playing behind the footage of the assassins being captured.

“Thank you, Mike,” Jonathon said as the cameras once again faced him. “I thank you as an American, and I thank you as a son.” The two embraced and the cameras turned to Hank.

“Thank you, Jonathon.” Hank smiled. “And thank
you
, Mike. Aren’t we grateful for men like him?” The girls stood and clapped, Addy leading the way.

“Now, don’t forget to vote tonight for your favorite contestant. The phone lines open in just a few minutes and voting will continue for two hours. Those votes will be tallied to reveal our Top Five! So vote tonight and tune in tomorrow for the next chapter in”—Hank motioned for the girls to join in—“
The Book of Love
.”

Chapter 48

E
ric yelled, “Cut!” and the top ten girls, relieved at having their “sit in the living room and talk” time over, all gathered their things to leave.

“I’ve got an interview today with the producers of a new TV show.” Lila tossed her long hair in Addy’s direction. “That’s my second interview this week.”

“Congratulations, Lila.” Addy pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that.” Addy looked at Lila. “You are talented. I think a show would be lucky to have you.”

Lila paused. “Addy Davidson, don’t try to get on my nice side now that you know you’re on the way out.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” Lila walked closer to Addy. “I know you’ll do anything for attention. But I’m not Kara. You won’t get any help from me.”

Lila walked away, a trail of girls in her wake.

“Addy, why do you keep trying with her?” Kara shook her head. “She’s terrible.”

Before she had a chance to respond, Eric walked up to Addy and whispered, “Your uncle is upstairs.”

Addy didn’t want to tell him Kara already knew, so there was no need to whisper. So she simply waved good-bye to her friend and walked up the beautiful, curved staircase and down the hallway until she came to a sitting room, complete with chaise longue, two couches, and an armoire.

“Addy-girl.” Mike stood from the longue and hugged her.

“Look at this.” Addy motioned around the room. “You get presidential treatment now?”

“Pretty much.” Mike pointed out the window. “This is where all the guards want to be stationed. I can sit here, listen to Pastor Brian’s sermons on my iPod, and watch the gate.”

“Celebrity has its privileges, huh?”

“Yes, it does.” Mike bounced his knee. “So, what are you thinking about, Addy-girl?”

She looked at the rug. “I was just wondering what Jonathon is doing right now.”

“You like that boy.”

Addy blushed and Mike asked, “Does he share your faith?”

“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”

“You better.” Mike laughed. “And you better pray he does, or I’m going to have one heartsick little girl on my hands. And you know I don’t do well with that.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle Mike. I’ll be fine.”

Mike smiled and slapped his hands against the longue.

“I can tell you who doesn’t share my faith, though.” Addy leaned forward. “I spent some time researching Hank last week. He really hates Christians. I wonder if that’s why we’ve rubbed him the wrong way so much.”

“He surely does hate us. You weren’t there the other morning, but he yelled and screamed at me like nothing you’ve ever seen before.” Mike shook his head. “I don’t even know what I did. If Jonathon hadn’t found out that I discovered that assassination plot, I’d be on my way home right now.”

“What about the other guards?” she asked. “Is he nice to them?”

“Hank is a mean cuss to everybody. The only time I’ve seen him treat anyone kindly was when the cameras were around.”

Addy nodded. “That’s the Hank I know.”

“He’s so caught up in himself, he can’t even think about anyone else.” Mike looked out the window. “It’s sad, really. But you know what? I’ve known guys like that before, self-centered and miserable. My guess is that he’s been hurt pretty badly by people who claimed to be Christians. Nobody makes Jesus look so bad as those who say they’re following him.”

“That’s true. He did have a lot to say about hypocrites in what I read.” Addy sat back in the longue. “But what do we do?”

“I don’t know. Neither of us is on his list of favorite people. Let’s just try to show Jesus to him, change his opinion of who Christians are and what we do.”

“But how? He hates us. I doubt he’d talk to either of us even if we tried.”

“Then we should give him something he can’t resist.” Mike smiled, his mustache twitching.

The pair leaned forward, a perfect plan falling into place.

Chapter 49

I
’ve never been this nervous at one of the shows before
, Addy thought as she sat on the lawn of The Mansion, waiting for the Top Five to be announced.
Before now, I was all right either way. But now, God, I want to stay on. For the plan to work, I have to stay on
.

“America, tonight we will announce your choices for Jonathon’s Top Five.” Hank walked the length of the lawn so the camera would pass each girl.

“You have watched them perform live onstage.” Images of the first week’s competition filled the screen.

“You have seen their academic and athletic abilities.”

The girls laughed as shots of them in the mud played out in front of them.

“You have marveled at their grace and poise.”

Please, please, don’t show me . . . whew
.

“You’ve met their families, and they have met you.”

Music played as the screen showed the girls on their trips home and then in Dallas, signing autographs and hugging fans.

Kara nudged Addy. “See all those shots of Lila?” she whispered.

“And tonight, it all comes down to this. The Top Five. The last set of girls to be chosen before next week’s exciting finale. Don’t go anywhere, folks. The first elimination will begin in just two minutes.”

As soon as Eric yelled, “Cut,” the girls began calling for their stylists.

“I know you don’t want this.” Ruby walked over with a tube of lipstick. “But you just need a little touch-up.”

Addy smiled and puckered her lips. “All right.”

“Now, don’t let these other girls intimidate you.” Ruby placed the top on the lipstick, returning it to her makeup case. “You’ve got my vote, plus the votes of all my family. And that’s about half the folks in Muskogee, Oklahoma. We’re behind you 100 percent. So sit up straight and smile. Don’t look so nervous.”

“All right, ladies, we’re back in thirty seconds,” Eric called.

“I’m goin’,” Ruby called as she hurried back to her spot behind the cameras.

All right, God. Help me calm down. I can’t stand being this nervous. Help me trust you. I want Hank to see you in me. I want a chance to talk to Jonathon about you. I need to be here another week for that to happen. I really don’t care if I win, God. Really. I just want another week. Please
.

Thirty minutes later, Addy was one of six remaining. Each time a name was called, she held her breath, beginning to feel light-headed.
Breathe, Addy. Breathe
.

“The final girl going home tonight is . . .” Hank paused and the camera stopped at each girl. Suspenseful music played in the background. No one made a sound. “Is going to be announced right after this break.” Hank smiled and Eric yelled, “Cut.”

“I can’t stand this,” Kara said. “The eliminations seem to last longer every week.”

Lila looked down the row to Kara. “You have good reason to be nervous. I saw your numbers. Not good.”

Kara moved forward and Addy grabbed her hand. “Don’t, Kara. It’s not worth it.”

“Of course,” Lila said, looking at Addy, “your numbers are better than Little Miss Muffet’s, so you might have a chance.”

Kara looked at Addy and raised her eyebrows. “Little Miss Muffet. That’s actually pretty good.”

“Oh no.” Addy laughed. “Please . . .”

“Sure, go back into your little world,” Lila interrupted. “It won’t be around for long.”

Neither girl had time to respond because Eric was back with a “five, four, three, two” and silent “one.”

“We started with one hundred hopefuls,” Hank began. “One hundred of the best and brightest America had to offer to her First Son. We’ve watched girl after girl receive her daisy and leave The Mansion, her dreams crushed, her heart broken. Tonight, America, you have narrowed the choices down to five.”

Can he possibly drag this out any longer?

“Kara, Addy, Jessica, Anna Grace, Lila, and Dawn.” Hank waited for the camera to pause on each face before moving on. “One of you will be leaving tonight.”

Jonathon walked out of The Mansion, down the stairs, and over to the girls, the dreaded red daisy in his hand.

“Jonathon, you’re the only one who knows which girl that daisy is for,” Hank said.

Right. Jonathon and all the producers and the people who work the computers and tally the votes. Everybody around here knows but us. Please, God, speed this up
.

“Kara,” Jonathon began.

Addy sucked in her breath.
No, not Kara. Please, God. Don’t take Kara
.

“You’re in the Top Five. Go ahead into The Mansion.”

What?
Addy watched Kara leave.
They didn’t tell us about this. More suspense? At least Kara’s safe. Focus on the positive. Focus on the positive
.

Addy tried to catch Jonathon’s eye, but he was focused on the job at hand.
Or he’s like the juries that come out with a guilty verdict
. Addy thought back to the lawyer shows she’d seen.
They won’t look the defendant in the face because they know they’re about to send him into prison for the rest of his life. That’s what’s happening, isn’t it? Look at me, Jonathon. One look. Come on
.

“Addy.” Jonathon looked at her. And smiled. “You can join your friend in The Mansion. I’ll see you next week.”

She jumped up from her seat and had to stop herself from hugging Jonathon. He still had a show to do, after all.

“Yes, yes, yes,” Kara screamed as soon as the door shut behind Addy. “We’re in, Addy. Woo-hoo.”

She returned Kara’s hug. “I was nervous.”

“You were. I’ve never seen you that nervous. You really want that date, huh?”

“No, I have something I want to do, and I could only do it if I made the Top Five.”