Traffic was lighter, and the ride was short over to the studio.

Brenda led Kelly inside and down the wide, stark corridors. They stopped in front of a set of double-doors with L2 written on it. “Here we are.” She opened the door and let Kelly go in first.

When they walked inside, Kelly’s breath caught. The space was really bright, and big. Much bigger than she’d expected, but then, most of the space was open so the camera crew had room to do what they needed. She was pretty sure once she got started cooking it wouldn’t matter where she was. She wasn’t picky. She could make do on a propane camp stove if she had to. She’d even made cast-iron Dutch oven desserts at the Pioneer Days celebration two years ago.

“I’m going to leave you to look around.” Brenda put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you going to be okay in here for a bit?”

“Perfectly fine.” Kelly roamed the room, taking in all the appliances first. Open silver racks held all the pantry items. She committed the unusual ingredients to memory in case the chance came up to integrate them. She couldn’t think of anything she’d need that she didn’t see here.

Even the refrigerator was well stocked. She had no worries about being able to bake here.

Two men entered her kitchen, one carrying a camera. “Getting settled in?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“I’m Drake, and I’m going to be taking some publicity shots of you. Freddy here is going to touch up your makeup before we get started.”

“Hi, I’m Kelly. What do you need me to do?”

Freddy whisked her to the edge of the counter. “Hop on this stool.”

She did as she was told. He tipped her chin up and looked at her as if evaluating her. “Eyes closed.”

She sat there with her chin up and eyes closed while Freddy brushed, dabbed, and sponged like an artist on a canvas.

“Eyes open. Good. Now look up.” He swept her lashes with mascara. Then took her chin between his fingers and tilted her head back down. “Look right here.” He tapped his chest bone. “Nice.” A couple of quick fluffs of his fingers through her hair, a spritz of spray, then he yelled, “All set!”

He held up a mirror for her.

“Wow.” Kelly barely recognized herself. “How’d you do that? My skin looks flawless. Thank you.”

Freddy stepped back with a grin. “Makeup is my art, darlin’, but you’re a beauty all by yourself.”

Drake walked over, fidgeting with the controls on his camera. “Okay, I need you to walk through that door and come straight toward me. “

She did as he asked, but it was like all of a sudden she didn’t remember how to walk. Her knees were like Jell-O and her stride felt stiff and awkward.

“Great. Again?”