Fifteen Minutes

don’t take him back, you hear me?”

“I won’t.” Kelly appreciated Cullen’s support.

All day her tight skin reminded her to keep smiling. She wasn’t a victim. She wasn’t. As the groups paraded in front of them, Kelly reminded herself to call her parents that night. Samuel Meier had said she could take off three days for a trip back to Greenville, South Carolina. Kelly figured she could take care of the visit in two.

Now that it was time for dinner, Kelly was about to leave the auditorium when Chandra tapped her on the shoulder. Kelly turned around, surprised.

“You have a minute?” Chandra didn’t look happy.

“Sure.” Kelly never knew what to expect from Chandra. The woman was young and beautiful, but she had a past full of heartache and lately she seemed distant. Kelly had no idea what to expect.

When they were alone, Chandra put her hands on her hips. “I don’t want to talk about Michael.” Her eyes looked deep, concerned. “I heard you on the phone with your manager when we were at lunch in L.A. Your husband wants reconciliation, right? He doesn’t want the divorce?”

“Wow.” Kelly bristled. “That’s none of your business.”

“I know that.” The singer’s tone was sharp. “But you’re going to hear me out.”

No one talked to Kelly Morgan like this. She opened her eyes wider, too surprised to do anything but listen.

“You and Cal had one of the most beautiful marriages in Hollywood.” Chandra spoke with all the diva attitude she was known for. “That’s right. I followed your story. It was a fairy tale right up until a few years ago.”

“You don’t know—”

“Wait!” Chandra pointed at the ceiling. “I’m not finished. I know this is your breakup day and your heart’s all in a knot and I’m sorry about that. But let me tell you something, Kelly Morgan. You looked like a fool dating that boy. And right now you’re gonna listen. At this point in my life I have nothing to lose.”

Again Kelly could only hold her breath and listen, curiosity winning over her outrage.

“All right.” Chandra smoothed the wrinkles in her red silk top and found a new level of composure. “The way I see it, you changed. Not Cal. You.” She jerked her thumb toward the stage. “All that fame crap got to your pretty head and you started believing it. Next thing you know you’re talking about your trainer this and your Botox that. Your husband ain’t good enough and you’re too busy for your kids. Your family, your home, everything that used to matter fell to the idol of fame.” She looked Kelly up and down. “Why? Because you decided you’re all that. When you’re not.” She lowered her voice. “No one is.”

Kelly rolled her eyes. Her stomach felt bunched up and she needed a restroom. A lecture was the last thing she’d expected from Chandra today. “I don’t need this.”

“Listen to me.” Chandra leaned closer and pointed at her. “You call that husband of yours and figure it out.” She settled back a few inches. “My parents were a beautiful example. They loved each other and took care of each other. They’d be here right now cheering me on if . . . if they had the chance.”

A light dawned in Kelly’s heart. This was about Chandra’s parents, not her and Cal. She folded her arms and let the woman finish.

“Marriage is beautiful. Fame is ugly. Your boyfriend’s out of the picture, fine.” Chandra’s words were rich with passion. “Call your husband. Before it’s too late.” She raised both hands in the air and shook her head. “That’s all. I had to say it.”

Chandra started to leave, the tension between the two of them still thick. Kelly called after her. “Wait.”

The singer stopped, her eyes flashing with emotion. “What?”

“You’re as famous as I am. Don’t tell me it doesn’t matter.”

“It’s a prison.” Chandra took a step closer, her tone seething. “I’d give it up right now.” Her voice settled into a deep sorrow. “To be back at home with my parents, the day before my Fifteen Minutes audition. All of it!” She said the words “fifteen minutes” as if they were poison. Chandra pointed at Kelly again. “There’s no escape. I’m here this season so I can whisper the truth to a few people about fame. Maybe you.” She held up her hands again and headed for the door. She looked back at Kelly once more. “Call your husband.”

Chandra left the room and Kelly leaned against the wall, exhausted and trembling. What was all that? The diatribe was misplaced and uncalled for. How had she felt the right to say those things? Kelly shouldn’t have to deal with this. If Samuel Meier asked Kelly back next season, she would tell him how Chandra felt. Then the black queen of pop music could be cut from the panel. Kelly’s problem wasn’t fame or her refusal to call Cal or even Michael Manning. Her problem was Chandra Olson. One of them would have to go next year.

The show had room for only one diva.

chapter 14

Monday’s premiere of Fifteen Minutes, season ten, took forever to arrive.

Finally, Reese was headed over to Zack’s house to watch the show, to gain a window on his world, the new life he was living. Her nerves had been on edge all day. Halfway to Zack’s house, her phone rang. She pulled over and looked at the starry Kentucky sky. No clouds tonight. Reese took the call. “Hello?”

“Reese. It’s Maggie Coltrain from London. Do you have a minute?”

“Absolutely. Sure.” Reese did the math. It had to be early in London. Before sunup.

“Very well, let me explain where we’re at in the process of hiring.” Maggie had talked to her a few times already, though Reese had been careful not to commit. The London woman had explained that Reese was her first choice, but she had a few other equine therapists she was looking at. Now, though, she sounded almost desperate. “Our committee checked out the other options. None of them matches your experience, Reese. You said you needed time, but we’d like to offer you a one-year position starting in a month. The sooner you can get here for training, the better. We really hope you’ll say yes.”

Reese’s head began to spin. She gripped the steering wheel while Maggie explained that there was a small house on the horse farm where Reese could live, and all her expenses would be covered. On top of that they would pay her twice what she made now.

“We have so many kids who need help.” Maggie hesitated. “You’re our first choice. Consider our offer and get back to us, okay?”

“Thank you.” Reese was breathless. “I’m honored, Ms. Coltrain. Really.”

“Why don’t you take the next few days? Get back to us on Monday. How would that be?”

Monday. Reese squeezed her eyes shut. Five days from now. Five days to decide if she should leave Kentucky for a year and whether this would be what she and Zack needed or the final act that could separate them forever. “Yes, ma’am. Monday would be fine.”

“Very well.” A smile filled the woman’s voice. “I have a feeling you’ll say yes. You’re exactly what we need over here.”

The call ended and Reese realized her hands were shaking. She needed to talk to Zack, needed to hear his voice and know his heart. He was still sailing through with Fifteen Minutes. His group had survived last weekend’s eliminations. They would have another round of group performances this weekend, where some contestants would move on and others would be kept. Groups would be broken up and pared down to ten guys, ten girls. By Monday Reese would know whether Zack had made that cut or not.

Even if he did, would he want her gone for a year? Before he drove off for Atlanta, he had told her he couldn’t stand the thought of her leaving. Now though so much had changed. He was constantly tweeting about the show and the sponsors and what God was doing in his life. When it came to her, he barely had time to text. Could there be a better year to spend in Europe?

Suddenly the thrill of being in a foreign country, training instructors, making a lasting difference for kids without hope, even the doubled salary—all of it was too much to ignore. If God didn’t want her to take the position, then why did Maggie Coltrain call? Maybe this was His way of getting her out of Kentucky, out of the path of Zack Dylan. For now, anyway.

She pulled her car back onto the road and a few minutes later she was in the Dylans’ living room with the