Chapter Twenty-Three

Charlotte arrived home to find Pete on the front porch swing with his arm around Shae Lynne. A small group of people were circled around them including the lighting guys, the producers, and the cameramen. Pete and Shae Lynne were laughing and smiling at each other, and instantly Charlotte’s stomach fell.

“Isn’t it cool?” Sam hurried to her as soon as she climbed from the car.

“Isn’t what cool?” Charlotte asked, narrowing her gaze at the singer and her son.

“Shae Lynne said the other guy they brought in looked like a Vegas bar dancer, not a Nebraska farmer. She asked Pete to be the main lead, and he agreed.”

“He did?” Charlotte paused mid-step. “And why on earth did he do that?”

Sam shrugged. “I don’t know. He wouldn’t say. He just told me he had a surprise for Dana, and it was worth acting like a dope for a few hours.”

Charlotte nodded and then quietly approached Bob, who was leaning against the fence post, watching. She approached and motioned for him to lean down so she could whisper in his ear.

“Does Dana know?” Charlotte whispered.

Bob’s eyes were focused on the scene on the porch, and he didn’t seem to pay attention to her question.

Charlotte motioned for him to lean down again. “Do you think Pete’s going to use the money for an engagement ring?” She whispered louder.

Bob shrugged and placed a finger over her mouth, shushing her. Charlotte could take a hint. She pressed her lips together and watched as Pete stood, stretched out his hand, and pulled Shae Lynne up from the swing. Then he drew her into his arms, and they began to dance to a song playing in the background, sung by Shae Lynne.

If Charlotte wasn’t here, seeing it with her own eyes, she would never have believed Pete to be so … smooth, carefree, romantic.

“Okay, cut!” Will yelled.

Immediately Pete dropped his hands, releasing Shae Lynne, and stepped back. Then he moved to the front porch steps and sat down with his elbows resting on his knees and his hands on his chin like a nervous schoolboy waiting for his next assignment.

As soon as the director yelled cut, everyone seemed to spring into motion. Hair and makeup people hurried toward Shae Lynne for touch-ups. The lighting guy reset the large light on the stand, and Emily came running toward Charlotte from where she’d been sitting by the tree.

“Grandma, did you hear? Uncle Pete is going to play Shae Lynne’s boyfriend in the video.” Emily squealed the words with excitement.

“Yes, I heard it at the fair, and now I see it.” Charlotte placed a hand on her hip and lifted one eyebrow.

“Isn’t that the coolest thing ever? I never thought I’d be related to someone famous.”

“Yeah, me neither.” Charlotte focused her gaze at Pete. He glanced up, caught her eyes, and then quickly looked away.

“Well, I’m heading over to do the evening chores.” Bob said, looping his thumbs over the buckles on his overalls. “It’s going to take me twice as long though. With Trudy thinking she’s a star and all, she’s asking for solid-gold hay in her stall.” Bob winked at Charlotte.

“Oh yeah, well, I don’t think this is very funny. Any of it.” Charlotte kept her voice low, but she could tell by Bob’s face that he knew she meant business. “I mean, having the video people here is fine. I can deal with the people at the fair talking. I can deal with everyone wanting to stop by the farm to see it for themselves. That doesn’t bother me. But has anyone asked what Dana thinks about all this?”

“We know what Dana thinks.” Bob placed a hand on Charlotte’s arm.

Charlotte glanced up, surprised.

“She was here earlier. She didn’t want to stay around and watch—mostly for Pete’s sake. She thought he’d have a hard time acting with her around, but they talked about it, and she said she was okay with the idea.”

Charlotte swatted his arm. “I asked you that earlier, Bob. You could have said something instead of having me stand here and seethe.”

“You asked that?”

“Yes, when I first walked up. Oh, never mind. I just feel bad, thinking about poor Dana, wondering how she feels about other people moving in …”

Charlotte felt tears pooling in her eyes, and she quickly blinked them away, wondering what her problem was.

“Why don’t you join me in the barn, Char? Maybe Trudy will give you an autograph,” Bob joked, but his tone was gentle. He waved Emily away, and their granddaughter got the hint and headed back to her spot near the tree.

Bob wrapped an arm around Charlotte’s shoulders. He pulled her close as they walked. “So you want to tell me about it?”

Charlotte shook her head. “Not really.”

“Is it the video crew that’s bothering you? There are a lot of people here.”

“No.”

“The fair board?”

She shrugged. “Not really.”

“The fact that Pete’s dancing with some girl other than the one you envisioned him marrying and settling down with?”

“I guess not. I mean, it’s just acting.”

“Okay.” Bob paused at the entrance to the barn. “What is it?”

Charlotte felt her chin tremble. “I got a red ribbon on one of my pies.”

Bob tried to hide the small smile, but Charlotte wasn’t fooled.

“I know. I’m just being silly. I’m an old fool.”

Bob shrugged. “Should I repeat what I believe you told Christopher … that the whole point of the competition is cheering each other on and doing one’s best?”

“You don’t have to remind me.”

“Well, good.” Bob lifted her chin and kissed her forehead. “Now, woman, get inside and make me some dinner, and if you’d like, I’ll give you a blue ribbon. Heck, I’ll even borrow Christopher’s crayons and color one myself.”

Charlotte smiled and then headed toward the house, but as she hurried up the porch steps even the idea of Bob coloring a blue ribbon for her didn’t make her feel better. She remembered that there was another fair board meeting in the morning and the special fair edition of the Bedford Leader would be out as well, reporting all the winners. The fact was that the drama of the fair wasn’t over.

In fact, it might just be gearing up.

EMILY LEANED HER BACK against the porch and took another large bite from the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Just after Grandma had gotten home, Will had surprised everyone with another catered meal from Mel’s Place. Everyone except Emily was excited about the ribs, but she didn’t want to make a scene. So instead she slipped inside and made her own sandwich, and now she was settling down to watch the filming again.

The producers wanted to film the same scene they’d done earlier, only this time they wanted to film it in the twilight of the evening. Lights shone on the porch, but the rest of the farm was dark. Only the fading sun on the western horizon cast a faint glow.

“Hey there.”

Emily heard a soft whisper just behind the tree. Her heart jumped to her throat, and she let out a little squeal.

“Shh,” the voice said. A shadowy figure walked around the tree and sat down beside Emily. She placed a hand over her pounding chest and then she let out a long, low breath when she realized it was Miss Simons.

“What are you doing, trying to kill me with fright?” Emily whispered.

“Shhh, I don’t want Pete to know I’m here.”

Miss Simons buttoned up her sweater.

“Where did you park?” Emily looked over her shoulder at the gravel road.

Miss Simons leaned close to Emily, whispering in her ear. “Way down at Hannah’s house. Then I walked down.”

Emily’s gaze searched the woman’s face in the dim light and noticed her frown. “I thought you didn’t want to watch.”

“I don’t, not really. But I couldn’t stay away either.” Miss Simons shrugged. “I thought it might be a good idea to get a peek of it now. You know, before millions of viewers watch it on CMT.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”

“Okay, action!” Will called again.

As they watched, Pete reached out his hand toward Shae Lynne and guided her off the porch swing. Then, with a laugh, he picked her up and swung her around, nestling his face close to her neck.

“Ugh.” Dana let out a low moan. “I think I’m going to throw up.”

Emily looked over and noticed Miss Simons covering her face with her hands. “Miss Simons, it’s just acting. You should see him after each scene cut. He looks like a lost puppy. Maybe this isn’t a good idea. Why don’t I walk back to Hannah’s with you?”

Dana stood, wiping her palms on her jeans. She didn’t answer, but she nodded.

They silently, secretly moved from the lawn to the gravel road, walking in the ditch so as not to be seen.

As soon as they were a distance away, Dana kicked up a huge cloud of dust with her tennis shoe. “I can’t believe Pete agreed to this. I can’t believe I said it was okay.”

Emily thought about reminding her again it was just acting, but she knew better then to say anything. Growing up, it was a lesson she’d learned from her mom. Better to hold your tongue than say the wrong thing at the wrong time.

“I don’t understand. Did you see the way Pete looked at her? He doesn’t even look at me that way.”

“Well, think of it this way.” Emily tried to sound upbeat. “In a few days, that woman will be gone—completely out of the picture. And then you’ll have Pete all to yourself again.”

Miss Simons didn’t comment, so Emily continued on. “Yeah, in a few weeks school will start. We’ll all get back into our normal routine.”

They continued on, nearing Hannah’s house, but Dana still didn’t answer. Emily’s heart felt heavy, picturing Miss Simons going home alone, thinking about Pete and Shae Lynne.

“Hey.” Emily placed a hand on Miss Simons’s arm. “I think there’s something you should know … about the video and all that stuff.”

Miss Simons paused and wiped her cheek. For the first time, Emily realized she was crying. Emily also realized she too was starting to get mad at Pete for doing what he did.

“I’m not supposed to say anything, but I heard Pete telling someone that he was doing the video for you.”

“For me? Ha!” A disbelieving laugh burst from Miss Simons’s lips.

“No, seriously. He said he didn’t mind being a dork for a few hours because it paid well and that meant he could do something nice for you.”

Dana stood there, studying Emily’s face as if trying to decide if she could believe her or not.

“Are you s-serious?” she finally sputtered.

“Yup.” Emily placed a finger to her lips. “But don’t tell anyone. Uncle Pete would kill me if he knew I told you.”

Dana nodded and turned, and then she continued on to Hannah’s with lighter steps.

When she’d almost reached her car, she paused. “Emily, what do you think it is? Do you have any clue what the surprise is?”

Emily shrugged. “Well, Uncle Pete didn’t give any hints.” She looked at Miss Simons’s left hand. “But I think I have an idea.”

Dana nodded and pressed her lips together. “Yeah, well, maybe we shouldn’t guess. I don’t want to jinx the, his, uh, surprise or anything.”

“Good idea.” Emily twisted her fingers near her lips as if she were locking it up with a key. “The secret, whatever it is, is safe with me.”