“Back at you, babe.”
We hug again, and then she gets into her boarding line, leaving Jonah and I alone, waiting for our own flight. I turn to him and gaze at him with what I’m sure are hopeful, puppy eyes. He may have come to get me, but what if he’s upset with me?
“None of that,” Jonah says, caressing my cheek with his thumb. “I want to see you happy.”
“Iamhappy.” I lean into his touch.
“Why the big, sad eyes then?”
“Are you mad at me? For leaving? The more I think about it, the stupider it seems. I should have talked to you first.” Guilt swirls in my stomach. Jonah and Candice had to go out of their way to come and rescue me. “Iletmy parents manipulate me into leaving. Iletthem?—”
“No, Winnie,” Jonah interrupts me. “You are not to blame for their manipulations. They controlled your every action for years. It’s going to take more than a month and change away from them to unlearn all of that.”
I sit with that for a moment, digesting Jonah’s words. Still, something else is bothering me.
“I was supposed to be the one saving you this time around,” I say softly. “That’s why I went back in the first place.”
“Winnie, you’ve already saved me.” My husband smiles down at me.
“I know, I know, with my money.” I wave my hand.
“No, honey, withyou. Before I met you, I was a hollowed out husk of a man. I was riddled with anxiety and fear, unhappy and lonely in my self-imposed exile—in my preemptive grief. I had forgotten how to live, until you brought me back to life.”
“You could have done all of it without me.”
Jonah chuckles. “No, I really, really couldn’t have.”
“Well, I’m glad I got to do some rescuing after all.” I pull him in for a kiss and when our mouths meet, it feels like coming home. Like coming back to myself. His powerful arms wraparound me, enveloping me in warmth and strength. I feel the truth of his words as his taste fills my mouth. I saved him as much as he saved me.
I break away from the kiss and say, “Now, tell me about this insane plan to go on the Morning Joe.”
Preparingto be on television isn’t all that different from pageant prep I think, as the makeup artist adds some final touches to my face. It’s more than I’d wear on a normal day, but it’s needed to make sure the camera picks it up. In the chair next to me, Jonah is having his hair styled.
“Any final tips for being on camera?” he asks me.
“Try to smile, or at least keep a pleasant expression on your face. And try not to let your face tell everyone what you’re thinking, no matter what they ask you. Even the smallest expression can be picked apart. Kate will probably ask us the most invasive questions, and Genevieve is likely to be the most skeptical. Taylor is the least likely to give us any problems.” Last night, I watched about a hundred Morning Joe interviews, trying to assess how each of the hosts asks questions. We know the general topics that they’ll cover, but not the specific questions. So we need to be ready for anything.
“Are you sure this is okay?” Jonah asks. “Are you sure you’re willing to open up about everything?”
“It’s a little late for that now.”
The makeup artist pauses and assesses her work. “More lipstick,” she mutters.
“Say the word, and we’ll leave.”
I know Jonah is serious. If I get cold feet, he’ll carry me out the door. But I feel oddly calm about it all—exposing myparents for who they are is going to be satisfying. Cleansing. Like washing away an infection so that the deep, deep wound can finally fully heal.
“I’m looking forward to it actually,” I reassure Jonah.
I smile in the mirror. I scrubbed off as much of the tan as I could last night and the makeup artist covered the leftover orange patches well. I’m wearing a denim dress with a wide collar, slightly puffed sleeves and a flared skirt. And my pink boots. It only feels right to have a piece of Star Mountain on stage with me.
“You’re on in five,” one of the production assistants calls out to us.
Jonah and I hop out of our seats and get into position. We can see the stage, and watch as the three hosts finish up their discussion of a recent celebrity autobiography. Then, they cut to ads, and we’re ushered on stage, and positioned at one end of the table across from the hosts. They let Jonah and I sit together at least, and I give his hand a squeeze.
Genevieve nods at us and Taylor offers an encouraging smile, and then we’re on, the stage lights coming back on and the cameras rolling.
“Welcome back to the Morning Joe,” Kate says. “We’re joined this morning by special guests Winnie Grant and Jonah Smith. Winnie is best known as Miss Alabama and for her social media presence. She disappeared nearly two months ago, without a word to her own family about where she went. This marks her first public appearance since then. Jonah Smith is her husband.”
