by Krista McGee
Uncle Mike rounded the corner and whistled. “You look beautiful, Addy.”
She adjusted the straps on her sundress. “Thanks, Uncle Mike. I was hoping I’d get to see you before I left.”
“This is my girl’s first date.” Uncle Mike smiled. “Of course I’m here. Not even that old Hank could keep me away.”
Hank turned the corner as Mike was finishing his sentence.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the national hero.”
“Good to see you too, Hank.”
“Mr. Banner.” Hank glared.
Mike nodded.
“I’m going to be a few minutes late, Addy. I like to make a grand entrance, you know.” Hank laughed, oozing “Big Brother Hank” charm. “See you around twelve thirty.”
“What time do you have to go?” Mike asked.
“The limo picks me up in half an hour.”
“Nervous?”
“Yes,” Addy said. “I know this is what God wants me to do. I think this is the whole reason he brought me here. But that doesn’t make me any less scared.”
“Boy, do you sound like your mama.” Mike hugged Addy.
“Be careful. If you mess up my hair, Ruby will kill you.”
Mike laughed and walked in silence with Addy back to the trailer.
Her mother’s journals peeked out from under Addy’s bunk.
I’ve got time for one more. Addy reached for one from the year she was born. She was surprised to learn her mom had chosen to deliver her in the village rather than go into the local hospital at Mitú. Addy’s dad had some supplies brought in, but overall, the delivery was to be much like those the other villagers had. Both parents had prayed over every aspect of the pregnancy and trusted that God would help them do what they felt he was asking by having the baby in their home.
Little Addy is such a joy. The whole village loves her. The delivery was perfect. Josh was amazing. I was in labor less than ten hours, and Ula was by my side the whole time. She was such a help. She had me doing things my friends in the States never would have done. But they worked. Labor was painful, of course, but not as bad as some of the horror stories I had heard. And then Addy was there in my arms. Neither of us could speak, we were so happy. A beautiful little girl. God is so good to us.
Once I had healed enough to leave the hut, we took Addy to our little makeshift chapel and dedicated her to the Lord. The whole village came out to join us as we gave our Addy to God, praying that she will know him and serve him and that he will do great things in and through her.
What an awesome responsibility to raise a child. Sometimes I don’t feel worthy of this precious little gift from God. I know I will fail. I fail every day. But I am more challenged than ever to live a life that pleases God so Addy will want to follow my example. I look at her sweet face and beg God to help me be the mother he has called me to be so I can train her to be a young woman after his heart. That is my greatest desire for my Addy—to love God with all her heart and serve him with all her life. Nothing else matters.
Addy dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, not wanting to mess up her makeup, but unable to stop the tears from falling. She held the journal to her chest and allowed her mother’s words to wash over her.
Nothing else matters . . . God, help me to be the young woman my mother prayed for.
“It’s time,” Eric called through Addy’s door.
“Yes, it is,” Addy said.
Cameras followed Addy from The Mansion’s lawn into the limo, and another camera was positioned in the front seat, ready to catch her thoughts as she rode to her destination. Eric sat beside her, prompting her with questions so they’d have before and after date footage for her package that week.
“How do you feel about this being the last week?” Eric asked.
“I don’t know. I’m ready to be back home, to sleep in my own bed. To get back to normal after five weeks of this.” Addy gestured at the limo.
“So you think your first impression was right?”
Addy groaned. “No. I’m so embarrassed about that. I was just so overwhelmed.”
“Why is that?”
“All these people,” Addy said, thankful that Eric was so good at making her feel relaxed in front of the camera. “I live in a quiet neighborhood, I go to a small school. My extracurricular activities are . . . well, pretty boring to most people.”
“And what has it been like for you here?”
“Not quiet.” Addy laughed. “Not with the Amazing Kara for a roommate.”
“You guys certainly seem to have bonded.”
“She’s the best.” Addy looked into the camera. “I can’t imagine what this experience would have been like without her.”
“Do you want to talk about the rumors that have been circulating about your relationship with the other girls?”
Eric, I know what you’re doing. You’re giving me a chance to defend myself against some of what those girls have said about me. Their comments in the magazines that I faked the spider bite and that I’ll do anything to win.
“Addy?”
“Actually, Eric, I wish I had gotten to know the other girls better. I know more than anyone how wrong first impressions can be. I think that maybe if we’d all given each other more of a chance, maybe we could have been friends. Maybe we still can be. Anything is possible. I believe . . .”
Eric put his hand on Addy’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Addy, but we’re here. We can get more later, though, if you’d like.”
God, was that you stopping me from saying something about you, or did I miss an opportunity by not talking about you at the start of the interview? I feel like I keep blowing it. Help me to say what you want me to say.
As soon as Addy stepped out of the limo, she was whisked into the empty restaurant, through French doors, to a table surrounded by lights and cameras and waiters being made up for their moments of fame. Jonathon hadn’t arrived yet, but that was part of the plan. He was to walk through the doors and greet Addy so the cameras could get a full-body shot before he sat down.
“He’s here,” one of the waiters said, moving to open the doors.
Addy stood and Jonathon entered, looking gorgeous as usual in khakis and a red-and-blue-striped shirt.
We match. She looked down at her blue sundress.
“You look great, Addy.” Jonathon hugged her.
Addy’s stomach went into full-blown butterflies and she worried she wouldn’t be able to eat anything.
“A perfect dress for going fishing.”
“Fishing?”
Jonathon chose each of the dates’ locations based on what he knew of the girls. There had been endless speculation online about where they would go and what they would do. Maintaining a “squeaky clean” image, the producers promised the couples would be supervised at all times and only the highest moral standards would be in place. But America was still excited to see their president’s son out on a date.
“You like fishing, right?” Jonathon’s laugh revealed his joke. “You would have gone, wouldn’t you?”
Addy relaxed. “It’d be better than horseback riding.” She took a sip from her water.
“Don’t put that line in the package,” Jonathon said to the cameraman.
I keep forgetting that date was a secret.
“May I take your order?” the waiter asked.
Jonathon placed his hand on Addy’s. Just when I started to relax . . .
“You need protein,” he said. “We have a full afternoon ahead of us.”
“Fishing really takes it out of a person, huh?” Addy ordered lemon pepper chicken and sautéed vegetables. I’d really rather eat a cheeseburger and fries, but that wouldn’t look good.
“I’d like a cheeseburger and fries,” Jonathon said.
He is perfect, God.
“So if we’re not going fishing, where are we going?”
“Where would you like to go?”
“If I tell you and it’s different from what you planned, we’ll bo
th be disappointed.”
“Just try me.”
“Tell me about the other dates so far.” Addy changed the subject.
“Okay, Lila was first.”
Addy knew that. She had overheard Hank tell the crew to get Lila’s segment “edited to perfection” while Ruby was finishing Addy’s makeup that morning.
“I took her to New York to see a Broadway musical.”
“How exciting.”
“The play was amazing.” Jonathon sipped his iced tea and shot Addy a look that said far more than he could verbalize with the cameras around. “Afterward, we went backstage to meet the cast. They gave us a tour of the theater. Lila even got to wear one of the lead character’s costumes and sing a song from the show with the orchestra accompanying her.”
“I heard her saying something about that at breakfast,” Addy said. “So you had a good time?”
Jonathon looked at Addy again and rolled his eyes, making sure his back was to the camera.
“Your lunch, Mr. Jackson, Miss Davidson.” The waiter lowered their plates and Addy’s mouth watered over Jonathon’s juicy cheeseburger.
Addy closed her eyes to pray, and when she opened them, Jonathon was staring at her with wide eyes.
“There’s a lot about you I don’t know,” he said.
Is that a good thing?
“Okay, guys. I’d like a few minutes to have actual conversation with Addy, if you don’t mind,” Jonathon said. The crew happily obliged, most discussing which items on the menu they were planning to try.
“Alone at last.” Jonathon smiled.
Did Jonathon know when Hank would be joining them? She had texted him about the change but wasn’t sure he had received it.
“Where’s Bull?” Addy asked.
“Right here.” The big man poked his head through an opening in the French doors.
“Bull,” Jonathon said. “Just a few minutes of privacy. Please?”
“Jeff and I are just standing outside these doors. We’re not listening to anything.”
“Then how did you know Addy asked for you?”
“Sixth sense.” Bull pointed to his temple. “I just know things. All kinds of things. You have no idea what’s stored in here.”
Jonathon lifted his hands in surrender. “Can you read minds?”
Bull closed his eyes, then jumped forward. “Jonathon Jackson. That was a mean thing to think. All right, then. I’ll go.”
Bull closed the door and Jonathon shook his head, laughing. “So what do you want to talk about?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing,” Addy said.
He smiled. “Hmmm. What do I want to talk about?” His smile grew serious, then he glanced to the door. “Actually, there is something I’ve wanted to tell you for a while. It’s a secret, but I think I can trust you with it.”
“A bigger secret than you wanting to be an editor?”
“An even bigger secret than Mike being your uncle.”
“You know that?” Addy dropped her napkin and looked at Jonathon in surprise.
“I did my homework for the segment I edited, Addy. It didn’t take much to find out. But don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.” He winked and Addy’s toes began to tingle.
“And your secret?” Addy prompted.
“Much bigger and much more secret.” Jonathon’s solemn demeanor intrigued Addy. He really was being serious.
“Tell me,” she whispered, leaning forward.
“I didn’t want to be on this show.”
“What? It’s your show. I thought it was your idea. Money and publicity and all that.”
“Addy, don’t you know me well enough by now to know that I don’t go in for all that?”
She hadn’t really considered that before, but as she reflected on Jonathon she realized he never did try to do anything to draw attention to himself. He didn’t shy away from the spotlight, but he wasn’t like Hank, constantly trying to be seen. “So why did you do it?”
“My dad.” Jonathon shrugged. “His approval ratings were low, and with his reelection bid coming up in the fall, he needed some help.”
“And you were that help?”
“Yes. All the publicity for the show has really helped Dad’s ratings. I wasn’t kicking and screaming about coming on . . .”
“Like some people we won’t mention?” Addy finished.
“Well, I wasn’t going to say that.” Jonathon laughed. “I love my dad and he loves his job. I wanted to help him, and this was how I could do it. But it wasn’t my idea. I’m a senior in high school. I was just hoping to finish out my year, play baseball, and get ready for college.”
“Instead you’re stuck here, having girls throw themselves at you so you’ll pick them for prom.”
“I picked my prom date the first week of the show.”
Addy’s heart thumped wildly as she felt Jonathon’s knee brush hers under the table.
“I tried to tell you all this that day I saw you out in the woods,” Jonathon said.
“And I thought you had hidden cameras, so I treated you like you had the plague.”
“Hidden cameras?”
“I assumed you were just like—”
“Get in there so you can catch me walking in,” Hank demanded, interrupting Addy and Jonathon’s conversation.
The crew rushed in, lights turned back on and cameras perched and ready to go.
Hank beamed his newly whitened smile as he walked slowly from the French doors to the table, stopping to greet Jonathon with a handshake and Addy with an air kiss on her cheek. When he became European, Addy wasn’t sure. Sitting down, Hank unrolled his napkin and glanced through the menu.
Jonathon, poised as always, shot Addy a “What is he doing here?” look. Addy responded with a halfhearted smile and mouthed, “Check your phone.” He did, scrolling through messages until he found her text. Still confused, Jonathon shrugged and bit into his cheeseburger.
Determined to let Hank have what he wanted, Addy asked, “So, Hank, how did you get into show business?”
“I have always loved it. I love stories, I love the glamour and the excitement.”
“So you’ve wanted this since you were little?” Addy asked.
“From the time I was eleven or twelve, I’d sneak out to go to the movie theater—strictly forbidden in my family,” he said derisively, “and watch whatever was playing. I didn’t care if it was comedy, romance, action, or horror. I just loved being caught up in a great story, being whisked away from reality and placed into someone else’s life.”
What about Hank’s early life could have made him so anxious to escape? Addy wondered.
As they were finishing up lunch, Hank excused himself for a moment. Jonathon asked the cameras to be turned off and pointed toward the door where Hank just exited. “Is this payback for the other day on the road?”
“No, but that’s not a bad idea. Actually, it’s a little complicated. Can I tell you later?”
“Is it because we’re supposed to have a chaperone? Because I promise you, my Secret Service guys, the crew, and Eric would definitely qualify as chaperones.”
Addy laughed. “No, it’s not that. It’s just . . .” Addy searched for the right words but just wasn’t sure how to tell him yet. “Give me a little time. Trust me.” She looked into his eyes and melted just a little bit.
“I trust you. But I sure don’t understand you.”
Hank returned, the cameras were again turned on, and Jonathon announced where he was taking Addy.
“Augusta, Georgia.” He smiled and sat back, smug.
Hank was confused. Addy jumped up and yelled.
“Augusta National?” she asked, sitting back down, barely containing her excitement.
“Yep,” Jonathon replied. “Our tee time is at three o’clock, so we just have time to get to the airport and get down there. They have clothes and clubs waiting for you.”
Addy jumped up again. Hank took his time, obviously not thrilled with the l
ocation but perking up when he heard that a senator was a member and would take the couple around, not to mention a few famous golfers would be playing there.
The threesome flew in a private jet down to Augusta. A local camera crew was waiting for them, filming them as they left the plane and took the limo to the golf course. When they arrived, Addy went into the locker room to change.
“Lexi,” Addy said into her phone, moving it around the ornate locker room for her friend to see. “Look at this place.”
“Look at you, Cinderella. That golfing getup is better than any fancy dress.”
A full outfit had been laid out for her, complete with brand-new custom golf shoes and clubs.
Addy picked up the shoes. “And these are way better than any glass slippers too.”
“Turn them to the side,” Lexi said. “Look at that. The blue stripe in the shoes matches the blue stripe in the outfit. Man, they spent a fortune on you.”
“Hang on, I need to get changed.” Addy laid the phone down on a burgundy couch.
“Great. I love staring at the ceiling.”
“I can turn the video chat off.” Addy stepped into the blue athletic skirt.
“Are you dressed yet?” Lexi asked. “I’m bored over here.”
“Bossy.” Addy picked up the phone and carried it to the bathroom. Sitting it on the shelf above the mirror, Addy put her hair up into a ponytail and applied a little lip gloss. “Do I look all right?”
“You ask the girl whose makeup of choice is ChapStick?”
“Seriously.” Addy looked at her friend’s face on the tiny screen. “I am about to play the greatest golf course in the world with the greatest guy in the world. Help me out a little.”
“You look great,” Lexi said. “Now stick the phone in your pocket so I can hear everything.”
“No way.” Addy laughed. “I’ll call you later.”
She walked out of the locker room into the spacious lobby. Hank walked through the side door.
“Hank, will you be joining Jonathon and me on the course?”
“I think I’ll stay here.” He turned to a cameraman setting up and said, “But I’ll be around if you need me.”
“Ready?” Jonathon came up from behind Addy and put his hands on her shoulders.
Will I ever stop melting into a puddle every time Jonathon gets close?
