Her father squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry, Addison. You know I love your mother dearly, and don’t get me wrong; I’m really proud of her. But damn if I don’t sometimes wish that her show hadn’t gotten so big that it makes her only daughter a target for this kind of rubbish.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “Unfortunately, the media loves a scandal and the public somehow enjoys seeing a wealthy or famous person fall from grace. You’re always getting caught in the crossfire. I know we should count our blessings, but sometimes I just hate it.”
“I get where you’re coming from, and it’s okay, Dad. And you’re right. I
“Your mother didn’t set out to become famous, you know. All she wanted to do was help people, especially middle-class folks, manage their money and plan for the future. She simply wanted resources out there to help, advise. All it took was one segment on
“I know it’s not easy that she’s gone so much.”
He gave her a solemn nod. “Yeah, to tell you the truth, I miss the days when I was a starving artist teaching at school and Mel was trying to convince publishers that self-help books on finance would sell. But when the economy was booming nobody wanted to hear her dire predictions of how the prosperity was a house of cards ready to cave in.” He chuckled. “We were eating canned soup and peanut butter and jelly and . . . I don’t know. Things were just so much . . .”
“Simpler?” Addison gently supplied.
“Yes, and all we had was loving each other. Now . . . sometimes we forget the value of that. Ah, I guess I’ll always just be a hippie at heart . . . an old hippie,” he added with a grin. “But here I go rambling on when we need to be talking about you.”
Addison groaned. “Oh, I have to call and cancel so many things . . . the reception hall, the caterer . . . flowers.” She smacked her hand to her forehead. “And that’s just the beginning.”
“Give me a list and I’ll do it.”
“Oh, Dad, no! This is my mess.” Addison had to clench her teeth in an effort not to cry. “I’ll clean it up.” She hated the look of pain on her father’s face and the concern she would cause her busy mother. Addison thought of Garret and the stark sorrow in his eyes. Should she try to patch things up?
She sank her fingers into the leather sofa. Maybe she should just do the damned show!
“No, I’m insisting.” Her dad looked at her for a moment and then, as if knowing where her thoughts were going, said, “And I want you to get out of town. Away from the paparazzi and away from Garret Ruleman.”
“Out of town? But where would I go?”
After frowning for a minute her father snapped his fingers. “You know what? I was just talking to your uncle Mitch this morning. I asked how he liked living in Cricket Creek, and he went on and on about how both he and your cousin Mia love it there. They need a Chicago fix once in a while, but he said he doesn’t regret the laid-back way of life there one bit.”
Addison could see where this was going. “Dad . . .”
“No. You should go there for an extended visit. You and Mia are close, and Mitch said that Mia’s fiance is on the road a lot, playing baseball.”
“Oh yeah. Isn’t he in the minor leagues?”
“Yes, and Mia can’t go see him play too often because she’s the promotions manager for the local baseball team. I just bet sweet little Mia would welcome your company.”
“Seriously, you think I should head to a small town in . . . where is it?”
“Kentucky. Cricket Creek, Kentucky.”
Addison leaned back against the leather. “Oh, I don’t know. Where would I stay? I wouldn’t want to impose on them.”
“Mia lives in a condo overlooking the baseball complex and the Ohio River. I just bet there are some for short-term lease.”
“And what will I do for money?” Addison tilted her head in question at her father. This was crazy . . . and yet it held a certain appeal.
“The last time I looked you had two weeks’ paid vacation coming,” he said, and when Addison still hesitated, he continued. “Look, I’ll miss your pretty face and your mother will too, but getting away from LA just might be the ticket you need right now.”
“I would probably fly under the radar there,” Addison admitted, warming up slightly to the suggestion.
“And Uncle Mitch’s wife owns a jewelry store in a lovely little mall called Wedding Row—I think Mitch called it. Maybe she needs some help in the shop?”
“I think I need to stay away from anything to do with weddings,” Addison answered flatly.
“Hey, don’t let either of these guys make you jaded. The right man will come along. You wait and see.”
“Well, I’m not holding my breath.” Addison rolled her eyes. “I’m taking a long break from men.”
“So, are you going to do it?”
Addison pressed her lips together, thought for a moment, and then nodded. “A change in atmosphere for a while would probably do me some good.” And, in truth, doing something on her own held a great deal of appeal as well. “But you have to promise me that you and Mom will come to visit if I stay longer than a couple of weeks.”
“We wouldn’t last that long before missing you too much not to visit. And I’d love to see Mitch and Mia. According to him Cricket Creek is a small town but has a lot to offer in the way of theater and local cuisine. You know how Uncle Mitch is.”
Addison grinned. “Yeah, you’re the hippie, and he’s the suit and tie. You’d never know you guys were brothers.”
“So, is it a deal?”
Addison thought about it for another moment, weighing whether another shake-up in her life was what she really needed. She suddenly felt a little surge of panic. This was going too fast and felt surreal. “No, wait. This is insane. Who would do my job?”
“You do a tremendous job and work hard, Addison, but there are lots of qualified people out of work. I can get by for a month or so and hold your position until you get back. The worst part is going to be missing you . . . well, and dealing with your mother not liking this without her input, but I feel it in my gut that this would do you a world of good, or I wouldn’t suggest it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. And, hey, if you don’t like it there you can come back after a couple of weeks. But give it a shot. And having you gone will be a good way to get your mother to take a much-needed break and come to visit.”
“All right, then.” Addison leaned over and hugged her father. When she pulled back she said, “Cancel everything but the trip to Hawaii. You and Mom need to take a second honeymoon for your thirtieth anniversary.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I’ll see what I can do to pull her away from work. But listen. You head home and start packing. I’ll call Mitch and get this ball rolling. He and Mia are going to be thrilled. Do you want to fly?”
Addison frowned. “No, I’ll want my car. I’ll take my time driving, and that will give you a few days to get things set up.”
“Perfect.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. “You need to do what you want and not what others want or expect of you. You do that way too much. And as much as I hate to admit it, that includes working at Beauty and the Beat. Keep that in mind, okay?”
“I will.” Addison gave her father a kiss on the cheek. “Oh, Dad. I love you so much. And I’m so sorry about this stupid mess I’ve created. I feel like I’m running away.”
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about. It’s called life, and we all live and learn every single day. Your mom and I just want you to be happy. And you’re not running away . . . just taking a break. Unless you want to do
Addison laughed. “You know my answer to
“That’s what you do for people you love. If someone is bringing you down, they don’t deserve to be in your life. Seriously, sometimes you’re just too damned . . . nice. The next time someone treats you poorly, kick them
