mixed vegetables, salad, cranberry sauce, and whipped butternut squash. She wished she could have spent some time staining the turkey a bit darker, maybe putting a sheen on it with some oil and a blowtorch.
“Mm. It looks so delicious. I just can’t wait to eat that turkey,” she said. Of course, she didn’t want to eat this actual turkey, which, like most stage turkeys, was mostly raw and only enhanced and “styled” to look good in photography. But a real holiday turkey like her mom used to cook sounded wonderful.
Clasping her hands in front of her, Jennifer looked directly into the camera and spoke to her viewers. “Thank you so much for joining me on my Christmas special. I’m Jennifer Wade, and from all of us at Homestyle, we wish you a Christmas to remember.”
“And cut!” Ian called.
Jennifer blew out a breath of relief. The show hadn’t been perfect, but it had turned out pretty darn well, considering how things had started. She hoped it was good enough to please her viewers.
Chapter 2
“That was fabulous. Congratulations.” Paula Marshall, Jennifer’s friend and agent, bustled down the steps with Jennifer as they headed to Jennifer’s dressing room. The holiday season meant that both women were booked up to their eyeballs, so much so that Paula and Jennifer had to talk business as one or both of them rushed from event to event. Jennifer was grateful to have Paula as an advocate. Outgoing, confident, and persuasive, with a warm brown complexion, long dark hair, and a brilliant smile, Paula was a force to be reckoned with.
Jennifer wanted to take Paula’s compliment at face value, but she began to second-guess herself. Would her viewers be able to tell that the turkey wasn’t flawless? Should she have added more side dishes? Had she given enough tips that would help her audience with their own holiday preparations? She wanted to make sure her agent wasn’t just being supportive. “Thanks, Paula, but was it special enough for Christmas?”
“Come on,” Paula said, taking Jennifer’s arm, “nobody does Christmas like you do. And your piece is about to come out in Aroma Magazine, which means you’ve got some momentum, and soon, everyone will know who Jennifer Wade is.”
By the Kitchen Network’s standards, Jennifer’s weekly show was a hit and gaining steadily in viewership, though she wasn’t exactly a household name like Rachael Ray or Jamie Oliver. But Paula had been her biggest fan, closest confidante, and strongest advocate for more than a decade now, and if Paula had anything to say about it, Jennifer’s name and brand would reach a much wider audience in the not-too-distant future.
Jennifer gave her a wry smile. “So, no pressure is what you’re saying.”
“No pressure,” Paula agreed with a laugh. “Tell me you are coming to my party tonight. Bring Brad.”
“Come on, Paula.” Jennifer wasn’t sure why the mention of the handsome sports commentator instantly put her on guard. They’d gone on several dates in the few months since Paula had introduced them, and Brad was enthusiastic about what he called their “power potential.” He wanted them to go public as a couple. Jennifer had been married briefly in her twenties to a controlling man who had left her full of self-doubt, and she longed for a true, deep relationship. She just didn’t know if Brad was right for her.
As if reading her mind, Paula said, “Oh, I know he’s not your ideal man, but he’s a very popular sportscaster, and being seen with him will build up your brand.” She had amazing instincts when it came to publicity.
Though uncomfortable with this kind of matchmaking, Jennifer understood that it came from a place of love. Friend Paula’s primary goal was for her to be happy, while agent Paula focused on making Jennifer successful. By pairing Brad with Jennifer, Paula was hoping to kill two birds with one stone. Jennifer smiled at her friend as they walked down the long backstage hallway to the dressing room. “I feel like we’re in the old country and this is an arranged marriage. No, Paula, I think my ‘brand’ and I are just going to go home and take a nice hot bath and go to bed. I’m just not feeling very social tonight.”
“I know your feelings about the holidays.”
“What you mean?” Jennifer asked warily. It was true that from late November through New Year’s Day, she existed in a state of almost-constant anxiety, but she did her best to hide it by projecting a sense of holiday cheer. This used to be her favorite time of year. Now she tried to avoid thinking about the reasons she felt such emotional strain at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“Well, I know they’re very hard on you,” Paula said.
Jennifer dismissed the idea. “That’s just ridiculous. I just did an entire show based on Christmas.” They walked into her dressing room.
Paula chuckled. “Well, you just seem to get so stressed out: the music, you don’t like eggnog—”
“Who does like eggnog?” Jennifer joked as they retrieved their winter coats from the coatrack.
Paula’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Well, I do.”
“Yeah, right…” Jennifer said skeptically, but she knew she was dodging the real issue. As they put on their coats, she admitted, “No, you know, to be honest, it’s just…my mom made Christmas so special, and she was so wonderful at it.” She looked at a framed photo that sat on her dressing table: her mother with short, brown hair and a smile that could light up a room, and herself with all the confidence of a twenty-something girl who could take on the world. The two of them had always faced life together. Doing the best show possible every week was one of the ways Jennifer honored the memory of her mom, who had taught her so much about cooking, decorating, family, and making a home.
Jennifer sighed. She was fortunate to have good friends, but she missed being part of a family. And Christmastime held so many reminders of her mother. “Since she’s been gone, it just hasn’t been the same for me, but…it’ll be fine.”
Paula studied her face for a moment and then said with absolute certainty, “You know your show is going to be a huge success, and it’s going to reach millions of people.”
Jennifer gave her a grateful smile—not at the suggestion of fame, but because Paula believed in her and would do anything to help her succeed. Jennifer took comfort in the other woman’s strong show of friendship.
They headed out of the building into the brisk air. Near the door of the network building, a TV screen embedded in the wall was already showing teaser clips of the Homestyle holiday show. Not so long ago, Jennifer had been a barely known blogger. Now her face was everywhere. Here in New York, clerks in shops or people on the street recognized her now and asked for her autograph. She’d worked hard for that recognition.
Her success came with a price, though. Day in and day out, she attended public events, did TV, radio, and web interviews, planned and wrote her TV show, supervised her blog and social media. The work was never-ending. Still, it filled her life with purpose and left no time to feel sorry for herself.
Paula said, “If you come to my party, you won’t have to do anything for a whole week.”
“You’re serious?” Jennifer wondered if she had heard correctly. Although Paula the friend was always supportive, Paula the agent almost never suggested taking time off. A week of complete freedom was an enticing prospect.
“Yes,”
