Page 34 of The Secrets We Treasure

“I did.”

“How’s your mom?”

“Doing really well.” She smiled at Mom as she spoke.

“Hey, there’s something that I want to run by you.”

She could feel both her mom and Cherry’s eyes on her. “Now’s not the best time. I just got here and want to spend time with my mom.”

He spoke faster. “I understand, but this is important.”

Frustration pinged through her as she tightened her hold on the phone. “What is it?”

Excitement coated his voice. “Guess who I just got off the phone with?”

“I can’t imagine,” she said flatly.

“Kyle Stevens. He and Cricket want to do a documentary about you.”

A startled chortle tickled her throat. “Are you serious? Why?” Her free hand went up to encircle her throat. Treasure had first met Kyle and Cricket on the set of her first season of The Singing Bachelor. They were part of the camera crew that filmed and interviewed contestants. Kyle and Cricket were husband and wife. They’d since made a name for themselves in the world of documentaries. While Treasure was flattered that the duo considered her a worthy subject, she didn’t want to do a documentary! She swallowed the dryness in her throat. “Maybe we can talk about this when I get back.” She glanced at her mom, offering a slight smile.

“You don’t understand,” Ethan interrupted. “Kyle and Cricket have an open window of two weeks in their schedule. After that, they’re booked solid for eight months. The only option is to start filming next week.”

Treasure had the sensation of the walls closing in around her. She had to fight to keep her voice even. “That won’t work. I’ll be here in Honeysuckle Island for at least a week.”

“That’s the best part,” Ethan said exuberantly. “They want to do the filming there … in the place where you grew up.”

Heat splashed over Treasure. “Um, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ve got enough on my plate as it is.”

“Think about it, Treasure. You’re already there. Kyle estimates that the filming can be done in a little over a week. This is the chance of a lifetime. They can take shots of the hotel while you reminisce about what it was like to grow up on the island. Maybe they can interview your friend Laci and your mom.”

Horror trickled through Treasure. The last thing she wanted was for filmmakers to go digging around in her past.

“I can’t talk about this right now.”

“I have to give Kyle and Cricket an answer today.”

“In that case, the answer’s no,” she blurted.

“What?” Ethan scoffed. “You’re being unreasonable. This is the greatest oppor—”

She hung up on him.

“Is everything okay?” her mom asked, concern touching her features.

“Yeah,” she replied.

Cherry wiped her hands on a dishtowel before placing a hand on her hip. “What in Sam Hill was that about?”

Treasure pushed out a hard laugh. “Another harebrained scheme that my manager cooked up.”

Cherry arched an eyebrow. “Are you talking about the same manager who sprung the proposal on you?”

“Yep, that would be the one,” she said tartly. Treasure shook her head, a toneless chuckle falling from her lips. “He wants some filmmakers to come here to Honeysuckle Island and make a documentary about me.”

Cherry’s voice pitched high. “For reals?”

The apprehension on her mother’s face mirrored Treasure’s own feelings. “For reals,” she repeated. “But don’t worry. I’m not doing it.” Her phone rang again. No surprise. It was Ethan. She clicked the button on the side to silence it as she plunked her phone down on the table. Was he so clueless that he couldn’t see that she needed uninterrupted time with her mom? And she needed a break from him! “I’m sorry,” she began. “I didn’t mean to bring all the drama of my life with me.”

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