Just making sure you got your car. I’m really sorry.
Got it, was all she sent back.
She dropped the phone into her purse and started her car, wiping tears again from her face. Facing this day may have been her toughest assignment yet. It wasn’t long before D-Day—Dread Day: the day of the play and the announcement of the new main female anchor for WTAL. Dallas began to think it could very well be the end of things as she knew them. It felt as if she was watching a crash in extra slow-motion.
It didn’t help at all to see Courtney James talking to Mike the second she walked into the newsroom. She pulled herself together and tried to listen in. When she couldn’t hear because they moved into Mike’s office and shut the door, Dallas made her way to the ladies’ room and slipped into the biggest stall, locked herself in and pressed her ear to the wall that backed Mike’s office. The voices were muffled, but she could just make them out.
“Oh, Mike, I really appreciate this. Thanks for letting me know so soon,” she heard Courtney say.
“No problem. I just wanted you to have a heads-up, so you can be prepared,” Mike said. Dallas’s stomach twisted, then dropped to her knees.
“This is a dream come true. I can’t thank you enough,” Courtney gushed.
“Well, I know you’ll need some time to adjust. Your schedule’s gonna change, of course.”
Oh. My. God. He’d given the position to her already? Dallas lost it right there in the stall. She was sobbing loudly when she heard the door fling open. She froze and held her breath. Then she looked under the stall to see the shoes of the woman who’d walked in. Fake Manolo’s. Courtney.
Oh God, she thought. She could never let Courtney see her like this. She quickly ripped off some toilet paper and wiped her face. “Shit,” she mumbled to herself as she fumbled around the stall in a panic. She didn’t have her makeup bag with her.
“Dallas, is that you, honey? You okay?”
Courtney doesn’t care if I’m okay. She just wants to rub her new anchor job in my face.
“Yes, fine,” was Dallas’s clipped response.
“Well, it was sounding like the end of the world in here, so just thought I’d check.”
Dallas dropped her head to her hands. Shit, she heard me havin’ a fit. “Oh, that...well, it was nothing. I’m fine. Bad breakfast burrito.”
“Goodness, I’ll say.” Courtney said.
Dallas could hear her standing at the big makeup mirror, fumbling through all the toiletries on the counter. Dallas was trapped. In the stall. Faking diarrhea. And of course Courtney kept right on chatting.
“Lookin’ forward to the parade day after tomorrow?”
“Yes.” Maybe if I don’t talk much she’ll get the hell outta here.
“Oh, me, too. I’m covering the route. Aren’t you ridin’ on the float?
“Yes.” Please, for the love of God, leave.
Dallas heard the water come on, the paper towel roll pulled. Then the hairspray being used. Go. Go now, she prayed.
“Well, I do hope you feel better, hon. Want me to tell Mike you’re sick so you can go on home?”
“No! No, I’m feeling better already.”
“Alrighty then. Talk to you later.”
Dallas heard her heels click across the tile floor, the bathroom door open, then fall closed behind her. She leaned over and peeked under the stall. She was alone. Now to slip out to my car to grab my makeup and fix myself.
She left the safety of the little stall, made her way stealthily to her chair, grabbed her bag and headed outside—where she ran smack into Cal.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
Cal looked hurt. “Look, Dallas, I’m really sorry about—”
“I’m actually kind of busy right now,” she interrupted. If she was gonna get through this day, she couldn’t have another emotional conversation with Cal in the middle of the parking lot. “Is that why you came? To apologize?”
He stiffened. “Didn’t you say you had something weird in your email? I’m doing what you asked me to do. I’m here to check it out,” he said.
“It’s fine, Cal. Really. You don’t have to be here. I’ll get someone else,” she replied.
“There is nobody else,” he said, insulted. “This is what I do. So, just show me where you sit.”
“Fine, follow me.”
Dallas led Cal to her desk and showed him the email. Cal clicked on it and read it, then took a few notes about the email address and other things Dallas had no idea about. While he poked around, she kept licking her fingers and trying to wipe the mascara from her cheeks. She felt her stomach churning, even though there had never been that bad burrito. She could smell his aftershave. She watched his big muscular chest rise and fall as he sat in her seat. His shoulders so broad, his hair so thick. It was all she could do not to touch him. She involuntarily raised her hand to rest it on those shoulders when she caught herself.
“Okay, I’ll get to the bottom of this. But, listen, if you get another one of these, call me, okay?”
“Is it something bad? I mean, am I in some sort of danger?”
“No, you’re not in danger. But I know some people at Callahan, and I’m almost certain this email has been hacked.”
“Really?”
“Looks like someone has broken into their computer system. I’ll make some calls and decipher all of this and get to the source. It may take a few days, or even a week, but I’ll keep you posted.” Cal stood up and pushed the paper with his notes on it into his blue jeans pocket before leaving the newsroom.
Dallas stood, watching him walk away. She felt even sicker inside than she looked on the outside. The pangs of not having Cal anymore seared through her like a hot laser. On top of that, she had already lost the anchor job, and now she knew some weirdo was sending her emails about the missing Baby Jesus statue. All this made her nauseous on another level, doubling the insecurities that were already building.
As she stood in the hallway watching Cal walk away from her, Daniel popped out of the edit bay. “Oh, my God. You okay?” he asked after looking at her puffy, mascara-stained face.
“No, I most certainly am not. Just a minute.” Dallas bolted to her car with Daniel in tow, grabbed her makeup bag, then walked him out to the back parking lot where the news van was parked.
“Get in,” she ordered as she opened the passenger door to the van.
Daniel got in and shut the door. Dallas pulled down the visor and looked in the mirror. Unzipping her makeup bag, she began telling Daniel all about what she had found out that morning about Courtney.
“No way,” Daniel said in shock. “I know he hasn’t decided yet. He talked about it in the early meeting before you got here.”
“It’s all an act. I heard him. They were in Mike’s office with the door closed.”
“How did you hear it then?”
“I was in the bathroom with my ear to the wall.”
“Well, maybe you heard it wrong then,” Daniel reasoned.
“No, I know what he said and then of course I had a conniption fit, so Courtney came into the bathroom and asked me if I was okay,” she said.
“What did you say?”
“Bad burrito.”
Daniel burst out laughing. “Look,” he said, after Dallas gave him the death glare, “I think something else is going on. Mike wouldn’t lie to us. Let’s just keep doing a great job every day. I know Mike is crazy about your work. Really, Dallas, just trust me on this one.”
“Fine. But it’s probably just a huge waste of time. I’m just gonna get fired at the end of this.” She sighed. “Where are we going anyway?”
“I have no idea. That’s your job. Now, go back in there and talk to Mike.”
Dallas checked her face. She looked fresh, as
if her make-up had just been applied. Well, it had. She decided to just tell Daniel all about the emails later. First she had to talk to Mike.
She slid out of the van and walked back across the parking lot in her five-inch heels. She was at work, after all, and in these shoes, at least she was taller than Courtney. But when she reached Mike’s office she found that he had already left for a meeting downtown, so she couldn’t confront him and get any of her questions answered. She sat frustrated at her desk.
Then Courtney sauntered over, a smug look on her face.
“Well?”
“Well, what?” Dallas sat up, confused.
“Did you see it?”
“What?”
“Uh, the story I did on you?”
“Oh, uh...no. I had a late meeting at the theater.” Dallas stiffened. “How did it go?”
“Well, let’s go watch together. Then you can tell me.”
Oh, God, I really don’t think I can stomach this, Dallas thought, but she got up and followed Courtney into an edit bay anyway. Courtney hit a button, and the story began.
Dallas watched as the video showed Sara Grace singing and then rushing to Dallas and hugging her. Dallas looked at Courtney and smiled.
“Thanks. I do appreciate you not showing all the chaos.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Mike. He looked at all the footage that Kevin shot, and this was his favorite clip. Since WTAL is sponsoring the play, it had to be done. Just thought you should know.”
“Well, thanks anyway. They really are great kids.”
Dallas walked away with a small bit of relief. It wasn’t much, but she had really needed some good news. Even if it had come from Courtney James.
29
“Think we’ll have another wild goose chase today?” Dallas asked with a smile, settling into the front seat of the van for the second time that morning and warming her hands against the heater.
“I hope not. There’s still a few days before the scavenger hunt ends, but I really don’t feel like chasing down any animals right now,” Daniel said.
They were headed over to WRCT, where Lewis, Abigail and Meridee, Blake’s grandmother and co-owner of the station, were meeting them. Dallas had always loved Meridee and was excited to see her. She had known her since she’d joined Blake’s family when she was fourteen. Meridee was the one person in Tuscaloosa who always seemed to see the best in her. But that was her nature. She always saw the best in everyone. Dallas felt comfortable around her ’cause she had always been one of her biggest supporters. Meridee just did her own thing and never answered to anybody but herself.
Daniel parked near the two-hundred-year-old gazebo at the Brooks Mansion and started unloading the camera equipment. Lewis stepped out onto the porch.
“Hey, y’all, come on in,” he shouted to them.
“Hey, Lewis. How’s everything goin’ today?” Dallas said.
“We’re good here. We got lots to talk about, so come on in and set up here by the Christmas tree,” Lewis said as he led them inside the historical old place.
Dallas and Daniel set up with the huge twelve-foot tree that would serve as a backdrop. Abigail and Meridee came down the staircase, and Dallas felt instantly better seeing them.
“Hey, baby girl,” Meridee said to her, coming over for a hug. “You look beautiful as ever.”
“Oh, thanks. You do, too. Hey, Abigail. Doin’ okay today? Looks like you got all your feathered friends under control around here.”
Abigail laughed. “Yes, so much better than the last time you saw me. I looked like I had a starring role in The Birds last you were here. I think Tuscaloosa got the message, though. No more live animals have shown up since your story.”
“Oh, Tuscaloosa listens to her. She’s our star,” Meridee said, smiling at her.
“So, Abigail, what did you want the story to be about? What’s our angle?” Dallas asked, sitting down on the settee next to Meridee in the foyer. Since the radio and the TV station were working as partners for the charity, Dallas wanted to make sure she got everything out to the public that the radio station needed.
“We need to get the enthusiasm up as we near the end of the hunt. Something that will stir up publicity and excitement.”
“Okay. Anything else?” Dallas asked.
“The last item hasn’t been found yet. We know where they all are and we know it’s still right where we put it, so let Tuscaloosa know that the race is down to the final clue,” Meridee said.
“Why don’t I interview you and Lewis, too?” Dallas asked Meridee.
“Great idea. I’m ready whenever y’all are,” Lewis said.
Dallas interviewed all of them smoothly and did a perfect stand-up.
“So remember, T-Town, not much more than a week left before the scavenger hunt officially ends, and one single item has yet to be found. Go online to see the clues. And remember, all proceeds from this contest will go to the Tuscaloosa Children’s Home, a wonderful organization working hard to bring a little joy to children this holiday season. I’m Dallas Dubois for WTAL.”
* * *
Dallas was helping Daniel pack up the van when Meridee found her.
“What’s going on behind those pretty blue eyes today, huh?”
How in the world does she know these things? Dallas wondered.
“Oh, nothing, just a little allergies, I think.”
“In the dead of winter? Come on, sugar. I’ve known you a long time. Now, you come with me and we’re gonna have us a talk.”
Technically, Dallas hadn’t lied. She was referring to that chronic allergy she’d had for nearly twenty years: the Cal Hollingsworth allergy.
“Daniel, I’m gonna hang back a second. I’ll see you at the van.” Dallas turned and thanked Abigail and followed Meridee inside. Lewis was still out talking to Daniel, so Meridee slipped inside his large office and closed the door behind them.
“What’s goin’ on?” she asked.
“Well, you know the whole story with my family, right?”
“I’ll never forget it. It was awful.”
“Well, you know I tried to contact my brother all those times.”
“I know it. I helped you write one of those letters myself.”
“Well...I ran into Houston last night.” Dallas choked up. She looked out the window and swallowed hard.
Meridee could see she was struggling. “Oh, sweetheart, I know that must have been so hard. You haven’t seen him in all those years even once, have you?”
“No, but the worst part is—and you won’t believe this—he’s got two kids and they’re in the Christmas play that I’m directing! I’ve been working with them almost every evening without a clue who they were. I had no idea I was even an aunt.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. Meridee reached over and laid her hand on Dallas’s hand.
“What did Houston have to say?” Meridee asked her.
“Not a word.”
“Was Cal with you?”
“How do you know about Cal?”
“They don’t call Lewis the Voice for nothin’.”
That lightened the mood for a second, and Dallas smiled.
“Look, sugar, it’s Christmas and lots of people get weird during the holidays. Hell, lots of people are weird most of the time anyway, so use my motto, don’t let the crazies get you down.”
Dallas decided not to tell her that she sent Cal away.
“Thanks, Meridee. I’m just a little worried about that anchor job, too.”
“I’ve seen the billboards. The station has that whole promotion going trying to get everyone to tune in on the twenty-third to see the big reveal and find out who the new anchor will be.”
“It’s nerve-wracking,” Dallas said standing up to leave.
“Don
’t worry one bit. Things will be how they’re meant to be. So, you listen to me—Cal is a good man and you are doing a great job with those kids and with your reporting. Now, the rest of it with that nutty family of yours will just have to figure itself out. So, go do your thing, girl. It’ll all be just fine.”
Meridee stood up, all four-feet-ten-inches of her, and Dallas bent down to hug her.
“Thanks, Meridee. I always did love you.”
“Love you, too, baby. Now go get ’em.” She smiled a confident smile.
Dallas left the radio station thinking Meridee must have been a cheerleader in her younger days, and just how lucky she was to always have Meridee rooting for her in her career. She needed that.
She searched her purse for the list Blake had given her and decided to get back to the store to get the supplies she’d abandoned yesterday. She had a play that was opening next week and there was no time to waste.
Now, all she had to do was figure how to face Cal at rehearsal.
30
Back at the station, Dallas settled in at her desk. The newsroom was abuzz with the evening’s agenda and end-of-the-day deadlines. She was going over possible stories for the next day when Julianne, the intern, came over with a notepad.
“What are you bringing for the Christmas party?” Julianne asked.
What? Dallas had totally forgotten the station party. “Oh, um, when is it again?”
“Friday night, right after the parade.”
Dallas suddenly remembered. “Oh, yeah, at the Gorgas House on campus, right?”
“Yep. I’m in charge of the list, and, even though it’s being catered, we need to know that you’ll be bringing a gift for the children’s charity we’re sponsoring.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Dallas answered.
“Okay, boy or girl?”
“Huh?”
“Is the gift for a boy or a girl?”
Dallas immediately thought of Sara Grace. “Oh, sorry, yes, a girl.”
“Thanks, see ya there.” Julianne looked at her strangely before walking off.
Dallas couldn’t bear the fact that Sara Grace would be alone for Christmas. She decided not only to buy something to bring to the Christmas party but several things, and one thing extra special for Sara Grace. Suddenly, Dallas was filled with excitement. Retail therapy was the best kind, after all, and Christmas shopping for children would be a wonderful pick-me-up after such a horrendous few days. She could already imagine the delight in their little faces as they tore the wrapping off her gifts. Maybe it was true what they say...giving actually did feel better than receiving.
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