“I might have an idea for a short-term solution: I’ve a friend who’s helped me with my social media and websites,” I said. “I think she could help filter the calls, texts, and mail into something manageable for me. For the long run, I want someone I can rely on who has a broader knowledge base. I must have someone who can look at things like my financials and make sense out of them for me. Not that I couldn’t learn to do it, I simply don’t have the time.”
I needed to call Lily and see if she might pick up the slack for now. I didn’t want to rush into hiring a PA because of how much I had come to rely on Kendal. In many ways, it was too bad that my relationship with Tom and Kendal had ended. But I couldn’t see a way that I would entrust my business to them anymore. Best to make a clean break and build a relationship with someone else. I would be much more cautious in the future.
I’d found that my trust in people had been shaken this fall. It started when Mike had messed with Mona and sent me pictures because in his words, I ‘needed to be taken down a notch.’ Then Alan and Tami had hit me in a profoundly personal way.
Then I’d found out what Candy had done to Flee. Even though we joked about her being out of his league, I’d never dreamed that she and her sisters were into that.
Of course, there was Angie, who’d had her first baby for the wrong, and secret, reasons, and then harmed my relationship with Tami, again for her own selfish reasons. And finally, there was Cal and Rigby, Thompson and Associates. Before this, I could not fathom that a father would go to such lengths. I began to realize why people with money protected themselves by investigating anyone that got close to them. I worried that if the movie were a success, I would need to do the same.
What kept me from being too worried were the friends I had and the town I grew up in. I counted on them to treat me like anyone else and let me not have to grow up too fast. Halle had told me stories about living in LA and being the daughter of Rita James. She’d had drivers just to take her to and from school. Her mom had it worse and never went out without some kind of security—even to the grocery store. The press constantly followed her, and it only took one crazed fan to ruin your day.
I knew that I’d need to find a balance. Uncle John was right. The movie would change my life, but I would find ways to be me. I planned to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
◊◊◊
Chapter 2 – Mmmm, Pork Tuesday November 3
I woke to find a prancing boy doing the potty dance. He needed to go now, so I took him down and let him out. My phone began ringing, so I hurried back upstairs, picked it up, and answered it.
“This is David,” I said.
“David, this is Coach Dallas from the University of Iowa football program. I’d like to schedule you for a visit.”
Frick! I’d picked up the recruiting phone by mistake. So long as I had this phone, I’d better change the ringtone to something different so I would never make that mistake again. My boy scratched on the door to let me know he’d finished and wanted back in, so I walked down the stairs as I thought about my answer.
“Honestly, I don’t know when I might arrange it,” I said as I opened the back door.
“We have two more home games on November fourteenth and twenty-first. Would either of those dates work?”
“Shit!” I exclaimed as Precious darted in the back door and ran up my stairs with Duke.
“Sorry, the neighbor’s cat just ran in the back door,” I explained. “If all goes well, I’ll be playing those days in the State Tournament.”
“I understand. Would you and your family have time to sit down with us when you go to Indianapolis?” Coach Dallas asked.
“I guess I don’t see the point. I’m a year and a half away from a decision and need to focus on what I’m there for. Plus, my interest in Iowa has fallen in the past week,” I said to let him know that when they canceled my visit, it hadn’t gone over well.
“That’s one of the things we’d like to talk to you about. Would you have time to talk after the game, or could we come to you on Friday?” he suggested.
This guy wouldn’t take no for an answer. I worried he could talk me into a commitment if he got my family and me alone. One of my life goals was to learn to say ‘no.’
“I think I’ll pass. Your program made it clear that you didn’t want me to visit with any clouds over my character. I think it says volumes about the type of support I’d receive if I joined you and someone accused me of something,” I said.
“You need to understand where we were coming from. Since then you’ve been cleared of all suspicions. That puts you in a much better light. I think if you gave us a chance, you’d find that Iowa would be an excellent fit for you, both academically and football-wise. Can I pencil you in for after the game on Thursday?” Coach Dallas asked.
I had to smile. I’d heard my mom when she went into sales mode and knew he wouldn’t give up until he had an appointment. At the very least, I admired him for his tenacity.
“No. I’ll wait to see if you can actually deliver the goods and win the Big Ten. If you can do that, and get into the National Championship hunt, it’ll clear up any suspicions I have about your program. I think that’s only fair, don’t you?” I asked.
Two could play at this game. I grinned when Coach Dallas didn’t have a snappy comeback.
“I understand,” he conceded. “We’ll be at the game. Maybe we’ll bump into each other.”
“Maybe. I have to go,” I said, and hung up.
As soon as I hung up, I called Lily. She agreed to take the phone from me. I told her to keep track of her hours because I planned to pay her for her time. I already paid her to help with my social media, but I wanted to be clear I wouldn’t take advantage of her.
◊◊◊
Duke and I couldn’t find Precious, so we left for our run. When we came back, Brit was waiting in my driveway.
“She’s in my apartment,” I said as I began to stretch after my run.
Brit followed Duke inside to find her wayward cat. I just shook my head when she opened the back door, and Precious was right there, acting like I’d trapped her inside. There were a lot of sad meows, and Brit had to love her up. Even Duke gave me a dirty look when our neighbors went home.
◊◊◊
I walked into the kitchen and found a large envelope with my name on it on the counter. I opened it, and inside was an invitation to Devin and Cora’s wedding. They would hold their nuptials on New Year’s Eve. Last year they’d had a huge party for all their key employees from all over the country. It made sense that they would do it at the same time to coincide with the annual event.
I started the coffee for my parents and put on a kettle of water for my tea. I put on another pot to make oatmeal. While everything heated up, I called Sandy Range.
“Good morning,” I chirped.
“Do you have any idea what time it is?” she complained.
“I figured that since you lived on a ranch, you’d already be up.”
“We pay people to do that,” Sandy said, and then sighed. “What do you want?”
Someone was grumpy.
“I wanted to confirm my invitation to Devin’s wedding.”
“There should have been a card and a self-addressed envelope with a stamp on it for you to send your acceptance. Didn’t you get one?” Sandy asked.
“Let me check,” I said and made rustling noises to irritate her. “Yep. Here it is. I think I want the beef. Fish or chicken is usually iffy at events like this.”