After a quick trip home, Kate flipped on the TV, and Lucas made a pot of coffee. Kate’s fingers fluttered like a ship’s sails as she waited.

A tap sounded at the front door. Roy peeked around the edge.

“Hello! We’re not late, are we?” He entered, followed by Susan, Brody, and Jamie.

“Oh, my goodness, you all came.” Kate hadn’t expected it to be a family affair.

“We wouldn’t miss this for the world, would we, dear?” Roy said. “It’s your national debut.”

The group of them congregated on and around the sofa.

“Are you nervous?” Jamie asked.

“A little,” Kate said. “Which is silly since it’s taped.”

“I’m sure you did fabulously,” Roy said. “I’ll bet your book is going to make that bestseller list yet. We have a real celebrity in the family!” Kate glanced at Jamie, feeling awkward at the mention of family. Jamie withdrew a romance novel from her bag and propped it open on the arm of the couch.

“Coffee, anyone?” Lucas asked from the kitchen.

“Sure.” Roy grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.

“Turn it down, Roy; that’s too loud,” Susan said.

Brody checked his watch. “You better hurry. Two minutes and counting.”

Kate sank into the armchair.

“When is your segment on?” Brody asked.

“It’s first—if they air it in the order they taped it.”

Moments later, Lucas handed Kate and Roy their mugs, then retrieved his own cup and sat on the arm of Kate’s chair. Bo settled on the rug beside Jamie and she scratched behind his ears.

“Hey, his icky yellow beard is gone.”

Kate had donned rubber gloves the day before and scrubbed the mutt’s chin. “I cleaned him up and put cornstarch in the fur under his mouth.”

The corner of Lucas lips twitched. “Cornstarch?”

“It’s amazing what you can learn when you Google something.”

The Dr. Phil theme song began. “Be quiet; it’s on.” Roy increased the volume until Susan glared at him.

Jamie closed her book and leaned forward.

As they watched the opening, Kate’s hands grew cold. Lucas’s family’s attention was rapt on the TV. She was the only reason they’d come. How easily they’d accepted her into their family, counting her as one of their own. Even Susan seemed to be giving her a chance. They couldn’t be more supportive if it were Lucas on the show.

I’m a horrible, horrible person.

Dr. Phil introduced Kate, and her face appeared on screen.

“There you are,” Jamie said.

“Shhhh!” Brody said.

The room got quiet as Dr. Phil mentioned her newlywed status. Kate felt her face heat, and Lucas set his hand on her shoulder. Kate sipped her coffee.