Part 2 (1/2)

”Those episodes drew large ratings. But when we partnered in the publis.h.i.+ng of Upper Crust Living for Everyone, well, the sales were not as stellar as we'd antic.i.p.ated. In follow-up surveys, it turned out that many of the viewers didn't really identify with Abigail, per se, and never felt that she changed or became more refined-she just got to live in an interesting situation. In other words, she failed to gain a perceived level of expertise.”

Susan tried to keep breathing. This had to work out for her. ”So what does that mean for me?”

Kendra shrugged. ”It means the publisher has indicated they might reconsider the book if things aren't absolutely ideal.”

”And what is *ideal?' ” Whatever it was, Susan would do it. Although she was getting paid a small stipend for being a part of the show, the big payoff was to come afterward. The cookbook or lifestyle book. Recurring segments on the Lisa Lee show. Maybe her own show one day? That was the goal.

Susan might have lost her husband to a twenty-years-younger home-wrecker, but that was the last thing she'd lose. Not her house. Not her dreams. Angie needed stability in her life, and Susan was the only one left who could provide that.

Kendra looked directly into her eyes. ”You need to be the best possible Almost Amish person this world has ever seen. You need to make certain that the viewers see you in that light. That they all want to be more like you. We want to see you embodying the simple lifestyle.”

Susan straightened her back. ”I won't let you down.”

”Good.” Kendra put the mock-ups back in her briefcase. ”Now let's step out and get a few shots outside the house. I've just been notified the rest of your family has arrived.”

”Oh, really? I didn't hear the car pull up.”

”That's because it didn't. They were dropped off at the head of the drive, about a half mile out.”

Susan looked at Kendra. ”You mean they're having to walk? In this heat? With all their things?”

The left side of Kendra's mouth twitched oh so slightly. ”It wouldn't make for good reality television if there wasn't a little bit of discomfort, now would it?”

”But you drove Angie and me right up to the house.”

”We needed you for the photo shoot. And remember, you'll make simplicity look easy. . . .” She tilted her head to the left and smiled. ”Everyone else will show just how hard it is.”

Chapter 4.

A group of people spilled out of the storage barn, talking amongst themselves. Julie scanned the group until she saw Susan in their midst, dressed to the hilt and styled to perfection. She practically glowed.

”There's Aunt Susan. Wow, she looks beautiful. Look at her hair, her clothes.” Whitney's smile was huge. ”I have to admit, I was afraid they were going to make us live so au naturel that I'd be stuck with my hair sticking out in all directions for the next three months.” She paused for a moment. ”I don't want to get quite that fancy, though. I hope they won't make us dress up like that.”

”I think we're about to find out,” Julie said as the crew suddenly turned in unison.

”I should've brushed my hair.” Whitney put a hand up to her frizz and pulled at a strand. ”Like that would help at this point. I'm doomed.”

”Girls.” Brian let out a long and disgusted sigh. ”You don't hear me whining about not brus.h.i.+ng my hair.”

Susan waved up toward them, then hurried over to join them. ”Oh, I'm so glad you're here.” She hugged Julie. ”Can I help you with anything? Whitney, Brian, so good to see you.”

”Oh, there you are. We'd begun to think you'd gotten lost on the walk over.” The woman wore a perfectly tailored white s.h.i.+rt and dark jeans tight enough to show that not an ounce of fat lingered underneath. Her hair was short and layered, with blond highlights that framed her elegant cheekbones and jawline. ”I'm Kendra Stern, the onsite segment producer.”

”I'm Julie Charlton; this is Whitney and Brian.”

”So pleased to finally meet you.” Kendra's gold loop earrings glinted in the sun.

Julie became keenly aware of the bermuda shorts and polo s.h.i.+rt she'd chosen for traveling, the unstyled ponytail, the ten pounds that she'd been meaning to lose forever.

Susan was wearing a sleeveless top the color of pale b.u.t.ter, and black linen pants that didn't seem to understand they were supposed to wrinkle. ”We just finished up a little segment that will air this Friday.” Susan's smile was huge, and there was something about her eyes, something besides the professionally applied makeup that looked different. It took Julie a moment, but then she realized what it was she was seeing.

Hope.

Excitement.

Things that had disappeared from Susan's life this last year. ”I'm so glad we get to experience this with you.” She looked around. ”Where's Angie?”

Susan smiled and nodded toward the barn. ”I think she's checking out the animals.”

”Can we go, Mom?” Whitney had already taken a step toward the barn.

”Sure. Go put your duffels on the porch first.”

”Actually, we'll take care of those for you.” Kendra raised her left hand and motioned toward the film crew. ”Chris, take the Charltons' things, please.”

A young man stepped from the crowd. Likely somewhere in his late teens, he looked almost gothic, but not quite. His asymmetrical hair was so black Julie suspected it was dyed, and the right side dipped long enough that it partially covered one of his incredibly blue eyes. His T-s.h.i.+rt was black with a white guitar across it, but his jeans were blue and he wore surfer-style flip-flops.

He took their bags without comment, tossing Whitney's backpack over his left shoulder. When he reached for Brian's telescope case, Brian shot out his hand. ”Be careful with that. It's a delicate piece of scientific equipment.”

Chris grinned and returned a single nod. ”You got it.”

The kids walked off in the general direction of the barn, and Julie returned her attention to Kendra. ”So what do you need for us to do?”

She extended her right arm, making a sweeping motion in the air. ”Make yourself at home. For now, you just settle in and relax, get used to the place. Tomorrow we're going to take a tour of the real Amish country near here and see how that all works. It'll be a few days before we get serious about your weekly a.s.signment.”

”Sounds good.”

”There are a couple of things you need to be aware of.”

”Okay.”

”Anything upstairs-bathrooms, bedrooms-is off-limits for our cameras and recorders. However, anywhere that is considered a public area is fair game. Our goal is to catch some true snippets of what this lifestyle is really like for a modern family, complete with all the frustrations.”

Julie s.h.i.+vered at the thought of being watched, but this was part of the deal. She'd known that from the beginning. ”In other words, when we come downstairs, we'd better mind what we say, and we'd better have clothes on.”

”I would definitely recommend the clothes part-we're a family-friendly show, you know. However, I'm really hoping that you won't always watch what you say. Those are the things that make for good television, aren't they?”

”Uh . . . I guess so.”

”Also, there is to be absolutely no contact with any of the crew. You do not speak to them; they do not speak to you.”

”You mean we can only talk to each other?” Julie had never considered anything this rigid.

”You can always talk to me when I'm on set. And we'll be sending in various helpers for different tasks. These are locals, not crew members, and they're fine. Any friends you might make in your limited activities in town or at church are also fine, but remember, you may not go anywhere with them in their vehicles. Automobiles are off-limits unless you are with one of our drivers.”