Page 40 of Mother Clucker

Drew nodded but didn’t say what I had a feeling he was thinking. Strickland needed it if more than six months later what had happened was still in the public eye. More than that, it was going to be mentioned in the show, if it got picked up.

I was sure of it, no matter how I tried to avoid it. A juicy scandal was good for ratings. First and foremost that’s what Millennia cared about, because it was the only thing that the networks cared about.

I glanced up and saw David’s expression. Serious. Rapt. I knew the video by heart, I’d watched it so many times as I edited the pieces together.

There was a short piece of Drew and a sweeping shot of his place. I’d grabbed the footage from all that had been shot the past few days. I included a snippet of him saying, “I’m Drew Bowman. This is Bowman Farm in Cerritos, California. We’re a supplier for Strickland Feed Corporation.”

Next was a shot of the welcome sign from one of the towns where David had bought and reopened a canning facility.

A deep dive internet search had given me the location of the factory. A single call to the plant manager had gotten me an amazing video shot on her cell phone but I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

She began by saying, “I’m Gail Jones, the manager of the Springfield Strickland Feed facility.” Then gathered behind her on the factory floor, what looked like a hundred of the workers all said in unison, “And we proudly produce Strickland Feed.”

Finally, thanks to Anna, there was an amazing video taken at the shelter. She was hugging a puppy as she said, “We’re the Hermosa Beach Animal Shelter and we feed our animals Strickland pet food.”

The end was a montage of scenes of the farm, the factory and the shelter flashed on screen along with the words: Sourced. Produced. Fed. Right here in America.

I closed the spot with a close up of Anna’s gorgeous son playing with a puppy and a kitten in the backyard of the shelter as on screen read, Strickland. They care because you care.

David drew in a big stuttering breath as he laid my cell on the table and pulled out the ear pods.

“Well?” I asked, absently thanking the waitress as she set the beer in front of me on a napkin.

All I cared about was what David thought of the spot. My creative ego needed some sort of feedback. But the man hadn’t said a word yet.

He shoved the chair back. It hit the wall as he stood and walked around the table, pulled me out of my chair and hugged me hard.

I felt him press his chin against the top of my head. He towered over me so I could feel the pounding of his heart against my cheek.

“Does this mean you like it?” I asked, muffled against his chest.

I felt him nod, but still no words.

I managed to see past David’s arms as they encompassed me to where Drew had picked up the phone and the ear pods and watched the video.

Drew smiled. “Heather, this is amazing.”

“Really?” I asked, pulling away from David enough I could speak to Drew.

“Really,” David finally said, answering my question to Drew as he pulled back and released me from the odd but really nice captivity in his arms.

I saw a complex mix of emotions play across his face.

“It needs to be reproduced, you know, for real. With a camera and lighting and proper sound equipment,” I began.

David shook his head. “No. Don’t you dare change a thing. It’s absolutely perfect the way it is.”

“I agree.” Drew held out the cell to me, but David intercepted it.

“I’m sending this to my head marketing person at the office. We can post this, right?” David asked.

“Uh, yeah. Everybody has signed releases so we’re good.” If nothing else, that was ingrained in me by Millennia to get permission first, and shoot second. “Drew, you don’t mind that I used your footage from Millennia for this, do you?”

“No. Not at all. Please. Use whatever you need.”

“Good. Thanks.”

David sent the video and glanced at me as he passed back the cell. “You have any other ideas?”

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