He put his hand on her shoulder. “Yes, she is certainly that.” His deep voice was undeniably sexy. What is it about that twang that makes a girl go a little weak at the knees?
“So what brings you to town?” I asked.
“A few sales meetings, nothing too exciting. I don’t want to bore you with work talk.”
Was that what he said when we met him in Chicago? I tried to remember. He’d said something about boring meetings then, but hadn’t elaborated on exactly what they were. A tiny warning bell rang in a far corner of my brain. There was no denying his charisma, but he almost seemed too good to be true.
“Waverly? Are you there?” The sound of Paige’s voice snapped me back to the present.
I looked at her. “Huh?”
She gave me a funny look back.
“I’m sorry, I spaced. What did you say?” I turned to Gary.
“I asked if you’re missing San Francisco. When we met, you mentioned that you’re a recent transplant from California.”
“Yes and no. It’s sort of strange, really. I never thought I’d leave San Francisco, much less California, but now that I live in New York, I realize that you can love living in more than one place, even if they’re totally different. I’m not sure how much sense that makes. Does that make sense? I’m sorry, I’m a little spacey tonight.”
He laughed. “That makes a great deal of sense. Is your family still out there?” The kind look in his eyes made me feel bad for thinking he might be sketchy. I took another sip of my beer and told myself to get a grip.
“Well, my only real family is my dad, and yes, he’s still out there. He lives in Sacramento.” The mention of my dad made me realize again how long it had been since I’d talked to him. I made a mental note to give him a call.
“Good for you for being adventurous. I love New York and have always wanted to try living here, but I can’t leave Nashville, at least not now.”
I looked at Paige. I can’t leave Nashville?
“Gary’s youngest is in high school,” she said.
“Oh.” I had no idea what to say.
“It’s complicated,” Gary said.
“Oh,” I said again, suddenly feeling awkward. Was he separated? Divorced? How many kids did he have? Would it be appropriate to ask? Call me sheltered, but I’d never really hung out with anyone who’d been separated or divorced, much less with kids on top.
Mercifully, Paige changed the subject. “So, Waverly, I know you’re swamped these days, but I need you on a plane again.” As she spoke, Gary excused himself to use the restroom.
I raised my eyebrows. “Somewhere exciting, I hope.” Our last couple of trips had certainly been lacking in the glamour department. Central New Jersey and upstate New York? Enough said.
“How do you feel about Cleveland?”
“Cleveland? As in…Cleveland?”
She laughed. “The one and only. I have a buyer for Bella’s Boutique who wants to see your line, and she specifically wants to meet you.”
“She specifically wants to meet me?”
“Yes.”
“Why? You know the products as well as I do now.”
Paige laughed. “Hello? You’re a minor celebrity, Waverly. A lot of women out there watch Love, Wendy. Or have you forgotten that?”
I looked at her. “Do you watch Love, Wendy?”
“Me?”
I nodded.
“No.”
I pointed at her. “See? You don’t watch it. Andie and McKenna don’t watch it. Kristina doesn’t watch. Even I don’t watch it. That’s my reality, which is why it’s so weird for me to hear that yet another complete stranger wants to meet me. I’ve lived in New York for…how long now?” I held up a hand and counted the months on my fingers. “Three months? And in that time, how many times have I been recognized on the street by someone who lives here?”
“How many?”
I collapsed my fingers around my thumb. “Zero.”
“Really? Never?”
I shook my head. “Not once. Anytime I get recognized, it’s always a tourist from somewhere like…Cleveland.”
She laughed. “So can you go?”
“When would we leave?”
“Can you do Thursday afternoon for a Friday late-morning meeting?”
I pulled my day planner out of my purse and flipped through it. “Yes, I’m not taping on Friday, so that should work.”
“Good, because you know what else is happening in Cleveland on Friday?”
“In Cleveland? I have absolutely no idea.”
“Guess.”
“Um, pumpkin festival?”
“Nope.”
“Quilt fair?”
She shook her head. “Try again.”
I held my hands up. “Hog parade?”
She laughed. “Try the Atlanta Hawks versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.”
My eyes opened wide. “No way!”
“Indeed. Now how do you feel about a trip to Cleveland?”
I smiled at the thought of seeing Jake…at the thought of spending an entire night with him. “Why Paige Murphy, I love the idea of a trip to Cleveland.”
“I thought you would. I’m excited to meet this Jake you’re always talking about. You think he can hook us up with some tickets?”
“I would think so. Are you a basketball fan?”
“I’m a fan of anything that involves athletic men in shorts.”
I laughed and held up my drink. “That sounds like something your cousin would say. Oh my God, that reminds me. She’s coming to visit!”
“Really? When?”
“The weekend before Christmas, for her birthday. I’m so excited. I haven’t gone this long without seeing her since we were in college. I’m totally going through Andie withdrawal.”
She laughed. “Be careful. That girl is a whole lot of trouble in a very small package.”
“Oh, believe me, I know. Why do you think I love her so much? Are you around that weekend? You’ve got to come out with us if you are. I know she’d love to see you.”
She lowered her voice and leaned toward me. “I’m not sure yet. Gary and I are planning to spend a weekend up in Vermont sometime in December.”
“Really? I’ve never been to Vermont, but isn’t that supposed to be, like, the most romantic place ever in December?”
She nodded. “He’s incredible, Waverly. I mean I know we’ve only seen each other a few times, but he’s completely different from any other guy I’ve dated. He just makes me feel so…so…I don’t know…connected. Does that make sense?”
I loved her choice of word. It was exactly how Jake made me feel. Connected.
I smiled. “That makes complete sense, Paige. I’m so happy to hear that.”
“Happy to hear what?” We both turned our heads at the sound of Gary’s voice.
I coughed. “Oh, nothing, I was just telling Paige about, um, about a nice e-mail I got from, um, a fan the other day.”
“A fan?”
Paige nodded. “Waverly’s a celebrity.”
I laughed. “Hardly.”
Gary looked interested. “A celebrity? Really? How did I not learn this in Chicago?”
I shrugged and took a sip of my beer. Because you and Paige were flirting too much with each other to ask me any questions.
“Believe me, I’m not a celebrity,” I said.
“Celebrity.” Paige put her hand on my shoulder and nodded. “Just ask the folks in Cleveland.”
“Not a celebrity.” I shook my head. “So hey, I know this is totally changing the subject, but I have a question for you guys.”
“Still a celebrity,” Paige said. “So what’s the question?”
I leaned toward them. “I was on the subway earlier today and noticed this girl with a huge nose ring, and all I could think was How in the world does she blow her nose? I mean, how does that work?”
Paige laughed. “You’re nuts, Waverly.” Then she turned to Gary and put her hand on his arm. “We were jus
t chatting about our next trip for Waverly’s Honey Shop. We’re off to Cleveland after you ride your white horse back to Nashville.” I’d never seen her flirt like this before.
I coughed. “We’re off to Cleveland after you ride your white horse back to Nashville? That sounds like the name of a bad country song.” I closed my eyes for a moment and pretended to play the guitar.
Gary laughed. “I like you, Waverly from San Francisco. You’ve got spunk.”
I smiled and held up my glass to his. “I like you too, Gary from Nashville.”
• • •
The next morning, the entire Love, Wendy crew had a planning meeting at NBC. Wendy attended it, but arrived a few minutes late, looking a bit disheveled. That woman had never looked disheveled in all the time I’d known her, but today she just looked…off. Even her helmet hair was droopy. She sat down next to me at the far end of the conference table. I briefly took in her unusual appearance, and then turned my attention back to Scotty at the front of the room.
“So the powers that be at NBC have chosen December twelfth, at the lovely New York Athletic Club on Central Park South. If you have a conflict, that is unfortunate, because I believe the contract has already been signed, sealed, and delivered. Correct?” He gestured toward the intern, who nodded his confirmation without looking up from his phone. I think that thing was surgically attached to his hand.
“What’s he talking about?” Wendy whispered to me.
“Holiday party. It’s for all the daytime shows,” I whispered back.
“Oh, yes, of course. I knew that.” She seemed distracted, even a little dazed. What was that look in her eyes? Despite the typical power play of stating that of course she knew the party date ahead of time, she didn’t look as, well, as evil as usual. I’d long ago abandoned my efforts to figure out what made her tick, but I was still curious.
Scotty kept talking. “Details to be announced, but it’s going to be fun and fancy and full of famous people, so start shopping for that perfect outfit now.” I adored Scotty, and so did everyone else, except Wendy. How could you not love a male boss who actually cared about what anyone was going to wear to the company holiday party?
“Also, I have another announcement. A big one,” Scotty said.
We all looked at him.
“The bosses upstairs have decided to let us participate in the New Year’s Eve show.”
We all raised our eyebrows.
“You mean the live show?” I said, swallowing. Live? As in the one with the ball?
“Yes and no. We’ll film it live from Times Square, but it will be aired at our regular time slot the next morning.”
“So…still basically live?” I said, feeling hoarse.
He nodded. “Exactly. We expect enormous ratings for this because they’re going to promote it on the regular live New Year’s Eve show, so this is our chance to really make a name for Love, Wendy.”
A wave of energy engulfed the room as everyone began chatting excitedly about the pseudo live broadcast. Amid the mayhem, I glanced up at Scotty, who looked at me and nodded slightly. This opportunity was a big deal for all of us, and I knew the pressure was on.
Yikes.
• • •
After Scotty went over the logistics for the New Year’s Eve show, he dove into the normal planning meeting. Soon, Wendy snapped out of her haze and returned to her old self. I flinched when she suggested we do a show on…child beauty pageants.
You can’t be serious.
“I mean, I think that would make for a wuuunderful show, don’t you agree?” She batted her eyelashes and looked around the room. As usual, no one disagreed…everyone was too afraid of her. Scotty wasn’t intimidated like the rest of us were, but he rarely challenged her opinions either. I wondered whether that could be because he really didn’t care. After all, he had plenty to think about with the Today show, the darling of the network. Normally, I didn’t care all that much either because my contribution to the show was taped separately, but this new idea of Wendy’s was too much for me.
I cleared my throat. “Um, don’t you think that might be a little offensive to some people?”
She turned and looked at me. “Offensive? Why do you say that?” Her surprise at my objection seemed genuine.
How can you be so clueless? I wanted to say.
I shifted in my chair. “I mean, well, because there are a lot of people out there who think child beauty pageants aren’t…aren’t a very good idea.”
She waved a hand in the air. “That’s nonsense, Waverly. Beauty pageants are important for positioning women as strong members of society, and they provide wonderful educational opportunities through scholarships. That’s how I put myself through college.” The when I was Miss South Carolina went unsaid, because we’d all heard her say it a thousand times.
I swallowed. “I totally understand that, but I mean child pageants. Adult pageants are one thing, but child pageants seem to be more about the parents than the kids.” I quickly scanned the faces around the table for help. I could see support in everyone’s eyes, but no one spoke up.
“Well, I disagree,” Wendy said. She didn’t sound angry, however. Then she completely surprised me. Instead of vetoing my dissenting opinion outright, she looked around the room. “What do y’all think? Do you think Waverly is right?”
I pleaded around the table with my eyes. Come, on people!
Finally, a couple of people nodded their heads.
“I think she’s right,” Scotty finally said. “To be honest, I think child pageants are awful.”
The intern raised his hand without looking up from his phone. “I second that.”
Wendy’s eyes got big. “Really? Do y’all really think that?”
One by one, everyone in the room nodded.
I was afraid Wendy was going to slap me and storm out, but all she did was shrug her shoulders.
“Well, OK, then, I guess we’ll scratch that idea. How about we move on to the cutest dog contest? I’m thinking only dogs that fit in purses could apply. Wouldn’t that be faaabulous?”
And that was that.
• • •
Later that morning, I was chatting with Scotty in the kitchen about the New Year’s Eve show when Wendy walked in. Given her moodiness, I’d learned to mirror her behavior and not speak to her before she spoke to me, but for some reason, that day I decided to roll the dice and be friendly. Maybe it was because of her change of heart about the child pageant show, or maybe it was because I knew I’d be on a plane to Cleveland in a couple of days. When I was about to see Jake, nothing could sour my cheeriness, not even crazy Wendy Davenport.
“Hi, Wendy, how’s it going?” I said with a smile.
Scotty looked up from his coffee mug at the sound of my voice, clearly surprised to hear it. He knew my strategy for dealing with her because he employed it too: Don’t speak until spoken to. I think pretty much everyone who worked on the show did the same thing.
She sighed loudly. “Hello, Waverly. Hello, Scott. I’m doing fine, not great.” She placed a tea bag into a mug and poured hot water over it.
Now I was the one who was surprised. In all the months I’d known her, Wendy had never been so candid.
I couldn’t think of anything to say, so I didn’t say anything.
“I just haven’t been sleeping well lately,” she added, her back still to us.
I looked at Scotty, who raised his hands in an I have no idea gesture.
“Um, I’m sorry to hear that,” I said.
She turned around and half smiled. “Thanks. To be honest, I’m a bit stressed out about something.”
Now I was nearly speechless. Who are you, and what have you done with Wendy? I stole a glance at Scotty, who looked equally confused.
We sat there in awkward silence for a moment, and then I finally spoke.
“Um, would you like to have lunch with us? Maybe talk about it? Or get your mind off it? Your call.” Did I just invite Wendy to have lunch with Scotty
and me? Who am I, and what have I done with Waverly?
She smiled. “Really? That would be lovely.”
I pulled my phone out of my purse and looked at the time. “We were going to meet with the editing team and then go to lunch around noon. Would that work?”
She smiled again and shook her head. “I’d love to, but I have an appointment.” She pointed to her forehead and whispered, “Botox.”
I nodded. “Got it. Maybe another time.”
“I’d like that. Thanks, Waverly.” She picked up her tea and nodded politely to both of us, then walked out of the kitchen.
I looked at Scotty, who again held his hands up in a what-the-hell? gesture.
“Now I feel sort of mean for hating her,” I whispered.
“I don’t,” he whispered back.
• • •
Thursday morning, I got up at the crack of dawn to tape a new segment at a trendy gym in the West Village. (Getting in shape for holiday parties apparently was on many people’s minds). Afterward, I stopped by NBC to discuss a few things with Scotty, rushed home to handle a few orders for Waverly’s Honey Shop, took them to the post office, and then sprinted back home again to pack for Cleveland. I’d meant to hit the post office the day before, but I’d been at the studio late working on a different segment with the editing team. When I finally got home, I fell asleep on the couch watching an old episode of Seinfeld. I woke up at two o’clock with the newspaper stuck to my face, then crawled into my bed, and passed out again until my alarm went off at five.
Late that afternoon, I jumped into a cab and met Paige at the airport, and soon we were on our way to Ohio. I took the window seat and planned to be asleep in approximately seven minutes.
“We did it,” she said a few minutes after the plane took off.
I looked up from my magazine. “We did what? We made our flight?”
“It. Gary and I. We did it.”
I opened my eyes wide. “You hadn’t done it yet?”
She shook her head. “I’m Paige, not Andie, remember?”
I laughed. “I’m sorry. I just assumed it was in your shared DNA. So how was it?”
She leaned back in her seat and smiled. “I think…I think I’m in love.”
Honey on Your Mind Page 8
