Tia had always viewed the cover of People as the epitome of success. When she was a girl, she’d saved any money she was given to be able to get a subscription without her parents knowing and used a friend’s address instead of her own—someone whose mother sold the handmade quilts the Mennonite women created at her gift shop. Each month, she’d eagerly await the release of the next issue. Then, once she took possession of it, she’d hide the magazine in the hayloft, and whenever she could get her chores done early, she’d sneak away and pore over each page, examining with envy the stars who graced the cover.

Now she was going to be on the cover herself—but only after an accident had destroyed everything she’d built since leaving her family.

At least it would be People that would reveal her new face for the first time and not the gossip rags. Kouretas might be able to come up with a story—possibly about her seeing a famous artist—or get a second-rate picture he could put in The Lowdown, but the big prize would be gone. He wouldn’t break the story like he was hoping to, and he’d have no reason to continue to try to hurt Seth—except out of spite, of course, and once he realized he no longer had a strong hand and faced retribution by someone who could afford to defend himself and even countersue, if necessary, she was willing to bet he’d back off that, too. She was consoling herself with those thoughts when Katherine rushed in, apologized for being late and shoved her purse under the vanity before examining Tia’s face.

“What do you think?” Nina asked, standing behind her and looking on.

“It’ll be difficult to cover the scars entirely, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“I have every confidence in you.” Nina turned to Tia. “I have someone coming to do your hair, too, but first I want to go over what you’ll be wearing. With so little warning, we don’t have a lot to choose from, but fortunately, I have someone at Neiman Marcus who helps me out when I’m in a pinch. She sent over an elegant ecru knit dress I believe will be spectacular on you. Why don’t we have you try it on now so that I’ll know if it’s a go before we do makeup and hair?”

Tia was impressed by how quickly they’d been able to mobilize their resources since her call. “Of course.”

She stepped behind the screen that was there to allow her a modicum of privacy, but she shouldn’t have bothered, because Nina followed her behind it as if it was nothing.