Candace formally introduced herself to Everett, Noah, and me then promptly took us on a quick tour of the studio, concluding right here in her private office.
A bright red file sitting on her desk with the words death of Zack Ross printed over the front in white lettering catches my attention. Candace follows my gaze and the smile quickly fades from her face.
“Everybody out,” she hisses.
Noah, Everett, and I exchange a quick glance before doing just as she requested.
Noah gives Everett a stern look as we head out into the hall. “Did you see the name on that file?”
“Yes,” I say, stepping in his line of vision. “It said death of Zack Ross.”
“I did see that.” Everett blows out a breath. “Lemon, Zack Ross was Candace’s husband of three days. He drowned on their honeymoon. Police said it was an accident. Apparently, he was thrown by a rogue wave and got caught up in a riptide. Noah and I were doing a little research on the show yesterday and we stumbled upon it.”
“That’s terrible,” I say. “When did this happen?”
“Ten years ago. Two years later she went into broadcasting, and here we are.”
“Well, she’s definitely at the top of her game.” I blow out a steady breath. “I guess she threw herself into her work.”
We head back out to the set and Carlotta and my sisters run my way.
“Are you nervous, Lot? Are you gonna pee your pants?” Carlotta jumps from leg to leg as if she were about to pee her pants herself.
“I’m fine for now.” A shiver takes over as I look to Noah and Everett, who seem to be having an intense conversation a few feet away. “I don’t know how they’re going to take this. They’ve both been bonding with the baby with skin-on-skin contact, changing diapers, giving baths. They just love her so much.”
Meg snorts. “Skin-on-skin contact? Baths? I bet they’ve been doing the same with her mother, too.”
I frown over at my younger sister. Meg has harshly dyed black hair and copious amounts of kohl ringed around her eyes to give her that raccoon effect she’s after. She’s clad in black leather with combat boots and a red bandana tied around her neck and has a scary affect about her in general. Shockingly, Lyla Nell coos happily while her Auntie Meg is holding her. I won’t lie, I was expecting tears. Meg used to work the Las Vegas wrestling circuit as Madge the Badge, but now she works as a dance instructor at a gentlemen’s club down in Leeds. She also does some part-time work at the Honey Pot Diner, right next door to my bakery.
Lainey giggles. “Be careful, Lottie. Isn’t skin-on-skin contact and baths the way you got into this predicament to begin with?” Lainey has caramel-colored hair and hazel eyes just like me, and for so long I believed we were blood-related despite that adoption story my parents kept trying to sell me. “By the way, cute predicament. Lyla Nell is making me want another baby!”
I can’t help but laugh at that one. Lainey had a baby girl last August and baby Josie is as cute as can be.
“Stay strong, Lainey,” I tell her. “You can visit with Lyla Nell anytime you want to get your infant fix.”
“You’re right. Plus, Forest’s head would probably explode if I told him I was knocked up again. We’re still not getting a decent night’s sleep.”
“Really?” I balk, more than slightly horrified by the revelation. “You mean I have months of sleeplessness to come?”
“Try years.” She wrinkles her nose.
“Years?” I squawk just as a short bell goes off and lights start to flash, prompting both of my sisters to rush back to their seats.
“What does she mean years?” I ask, looking at Carlotta. “Why do babies hate sleeping so much?”
“They slept for nine months, Lot. They’re all caught up and ready to have a good time. Don’t worry. You have Sexy and Foxy to do your bidding.” Carlotta leans in. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my history with Candace, but the truth is, I didn’t want to worry you. She’s a mean old battle-axe. And she’s just as vicious today as she was yesteryear. She’s the reason I turned to Harry for comfort all those years ago.” Mayor Harry Nash is my biological father. I just found this out a couple of years ago, thus the fact I still call him Mayor Nash out of habit, and yes, he’s right here in the audience ready to support me. “I hate her, Lot. Like I said, she’s just as cruel today as she was when I was a kid.”
“Carlotta, hate is a strong word. And you’re older now.” I refrain from adding wiser. I don’t see any reason to lie to her.
“Nah, I mean it. I hate her. And if she starts in on anything nasty about my past, don’t think for a minute I won’t be jumping on that stage and starting one of those family brawls this show is so famous for—only it won’t be family I’ll be brawling with.”
Evie pops up from seemingly nowhere and laughs. “Cray-Cray, you are the coolest!” She howls at the thought. Evie is taller than me, has rivers of black velvet hair, and her daddy’s intense blue eyes. She’s sharp as a whip—and sometimes resorts to calling Carlotta Cray-Cray, which solidifies that whole sharp as a whip thing. “Mom, this is so freaking awesome! Conner is here to support you guys, too. And so are Dash and Kyle.”
Conner is Evie’s blond, brickhouse of a boyfriend. Dash is her best friend, and Kyle is her boyfriend. Fun fact: both Conner and Kyle were once exclusively Evie’s boyfriends at the very same time. I guess you could say I was a dicey influence on her since I still reference Noah as my boyfriend
