“Thursday night,” Christina said. “Instead of taping the entire show then airing it, they want to keep everything current and show the episodes as they’re filmed.”
“Let’s tape it and have a private viewing once things quiet down at the club,” Julia said.
“I’m nervous and I know the results,” Susan said. “From this point on, we’re not supposed to tell anyone what happens during filming. They made us sign contracts before we left. We’re meant to have our blog posts ready to go live once the first show has aired.” A sudden thought occurred and she laughed.
“What?” Christina asked.
“For my first post, I might talk about burlesque and educate people,” Susan said.
“Why don’t you post photos of you in costume and maybe some from our training sessions? Do some little slices of your daily routine. You could take some shots in the office too,” Christina said.
“Connor has a new camera,” Maggie said. “He’s got a good eye for photos too. I’ll ask him if he’ll snap some shots.”
“That’s a great idea,” Susan said, her mind full of possibilities. “I mentioned going to rugby matches, and I can do a few pics of Auckland too. Photos will help personalize my blog, and I won’t need to write as much.”
“A toast,” Julia said, lifting her glass. “To Susan and her farmer.”
“To Susan and her farmer,” Maggie and Christina chorused.
“I can’t drink to myself,” Susan protested. “To my farmer and to absent friends for providing this delicious champagne.”
“To Ryan and Caleb,” Julia said, a soft smile sliding across her face.
Tyler Penrith accepted a cup of tea from Josie Murdoch with a nod of thanks. His mother-in-law—a chubby woman with dark brown hair—reached up to pat his arm in a casual gesture of affection.
“How many stories did Katey wrangle out of you before she settled down?” Eric Murdock asked. In contrast to his wife, Eric was tall and slender—almost too thin—and his short hair was white even though he was a mere year older than Josie.
“Only two tonight,” Tyler said. “The birthday party tuckered her out.”
“Takes after her mother, that one.” Eric reached for the biscuit tin, snagged a chocolate chip cookie and settled his backside on his favorite chair.
Lord, he hoped not, Tyler thought. He’d go gray before his time if his four-year-old daughter rivaled her mother for mischief.
“Eric, don’t eat another cookie.” Josie poked a finger into his belly. “They’re for Katey’s kindergarten class.” She settled beside Tyler on the couch and focused on the television. “When does the show start? Has anyone seen my glasses?”
“A few minutes,” Tyler said. “I was surprised when I heard Nolan was going onFarmer Seeks a Wife. I ran into Dad at the cattle sale. I thought he was pulling my leg until he informed me Mum had entered Nolan. She wants Nolan settled with a suitable wife.”
Eric sent a longing glance at the cookie tin then turned back to the television with a sigh. “Your glasses are on the kitchen counter. I thought Nolan was seeing the solo mum with the kids.”
“Yvonne,” Tyler said. “I thought so too, but obviously the gossips got it wrong.”
“Quiet, the show’s starting,” Josie said, after her quick trip to retrieve her glasses. “This has to be the biggest thing that’s happened in Clare since the Shakespeare sextuplets were born. I don’t want to miss a word.”
Obediently, Tyler turned his attention to the TV and the bubbly blonde hostess introducing the farmers. Nolan did a good job. He appeared confident and conversed easily with Hailee. He’d cut his hair and wore what looked like new clothes.
“Do you think you’ll find the perfect woman here?” Hailee asked.
“I’m hoping so,” Nolan said. “I’m certainly looking forward to meeting the lovely ladies in my group.”
“I’m sure they’ll enjoy meeting you too,” Hailee said and beamed into the camera. “Come back after the break and meet the ladies who hope to steal Farmer Nolan’s heart.”
“Nolan came across as interesting and sincere,” Josie said.
He had. His older brother bore a wide streak of charm when he chose to exert himself.
The ad break ran, and Tyler settled in to watch the rest of the show. The segment moved to Nolan meeting some of the women in his group. His brother remained charming, but he was blunt and abrupt with the women, grilling them about living in the country.
“Look at that woman’s face,” Josie said, her kindness showing in a sympathetic grimace. “Her eyes are welling with tears.”
