Once at Berryhill Park, they drove in companionable silence, enjoying the lights. From there, they rode to Spring Park and drove around the downtown court square with several large light displays. They finished their tour with a drive through the local university campus. The light displays all across the town had the effect on Greer that Taylor was hoping for. Gone was the grumpy, angry man earlier. In his place was a calmer, more relaxed man.
As they headed back to Edna's house, Taylor quietly said, "You know that I am going to do that interview. Right? After all, I owe him. Bennett has done so much for me over the years, and I need to do this for him."
Instantly, Greer's ire returned, "No, you are not. You don't owe him a damn thing."
Calmly, Taylor said, "Yes, I do. Thanks to him, we had a chance. If he had not done what he did ten years ago, our lives and Rosie's would have been much more difficult. He gave up everything for Poppy, Ben, and us. And, truthfully, he was the least at fault of all of us."
"Least guilty?" Greer roared as he pulled the car into Edna's drive. "Have you forgotten his little escapade at the art show that started all this?"
Unbuckling her seat belt, Taylor reached over and wrapped her arms around Greer. "No, of course not. But should a person be forever held responsible for five minutes of carelessness in a lifetime of goodness?"
Pulling her closer, Greer asked incredulously, "How can you be okay with opening this Pandora's box from the past? And this time, all of the crap will come out. Everything about you, me, Poppy, plus all their history. How can any of that do anyone any good?"
"Honestly, I think some of those secrets have been held for way too long. It is long past time for the truth to come to light. Besides, I am not embarrassed by our story or how we came together. All the people I care about already know it all, anyway. By sharing the story this way, we can take some of the mystique out of it. If that helps Bennett get his life back, it is worth it. All he has ever done is put others first. This is a chance for us to open a door to the past. Air out the truth and truly put it all behind us."
Turning her face so he could look deeply into her eyes, he earnestly asked, "Are you sure this is something you want to do?"
Taylor replied, "Yes, I know in my heart the time is right to address it publicly and then move on."
He closed his eyes and shook his head, resigning himself to the fact that, once again, he could not deny her anything she wanted. "Fine,” he said, “if this is what you want to do, I support you." Then, he opened his eyes and added, "But at any moment, you change your mind. I have no problem ending the interview and calling a halt to all of it."
Reaching to give him a sweet kiss, she replied, "Of course you wouldn't, my knight in shining armor."
Accepting the inevitable, he asked a final question, "So when are you planning on doing this interview? We are supposed to go home tomorrow."
"I will text Bennett that if he can arrange the interview for tomorrow, I will do it in person. Otherwise, it will have to be done over Zoom. If he can arrange it, you could take the girls to that movie Lizzy and Lola talked about tomorrow at the Rialto. It should not take too long, maybe a couple of hours. You like to get on the road early, but in the worst-case scenario, we could be headed home by 3:00. If we have to stop and spend the night on the way home, so be it."
Giving her a quick kiss and nodding his agreement, Greer said, "Okay, sounds like a plan. Text pretty boy and see what he says." Then, releasing Taylor, he unbuckled and reached for the door, saying, "Let's go in before Edna comes out to see if we are making out in the car."
"As if," replied Taylor. “We are going to do that in her frilly floral guest room in one of her tiny twin beds!"
"Well, in that case, Mrs. Stone, get a move on. Floral decor never sounded so sexy."
Once inside, Greer took a quick shower while Taylor texted Bennett and asked if he could arrange the interview for the next morning by 11:00 while the girls were at the movie. He immediately texted back he could and thanked her profusely.
Even though Bennett had no idea how Taylor had persuaded Greer to let her do the interview, he was very grateful she had. He immediately texted Jameson, who said the reporter would be at the house by 11:00 the next day. Everything was coming together so quickly. Almost as quickly as it had all fallen apart ten years before.
Part 2 – How It All Fell Apart
Chapter 1 – Taylor’s Story
Carrington House
Searcy, Arkansas
November 24, 2023
The following day, all three girls were excited when they found out that Rosie was staying for the day. That meant she would get to go to the movies with them. No one mentioned to the girls that a reporter was expected. Instead, Poppy, Greer, Ben, and Ella loaded up in two cars and took the girls for breakfast before the movie. After breakfast, Ben and Greer took the girls to the Rialto to see the movie. After the show, they walked over to the Soda Jerk and got them ice cream.
While they did that, Poppy took Ella on a whirlwind tour of the town. Bennett had sworn her to secrecy before telling her about the baby. The thought of her son and his family staying in California terrified her. It was going to be really hard to Mimi from a thousand miles away. Family was the most important thing. She was making it her mission to get them back to Arkansas as soon as possible. She hoped that by showing Ella what Searcy had to offer with adorableshops like DoorFrames, YA!YA!, The Boutique, Sassy Stitch, Stotts, Bliss, and more, Poppy might help her fall in love with the city. She even bought her a cute tea towel with “Searcy Has My Heart” on it as a gift. She was unashamedly selling Searcy because she truly believed that the old Searcy motto was right. It truly was where thousands lived, but millions wished they could.
At the Carrington house, Bennett and Taylor waited for the reporter to show up. At first, being in their old home felt weird with just the two of them. They had not been there alone since the night before Bennett resigned years earlier. Neither knew exactly what to say. They stuck to superficial conversation, but the awkwardness was there.
Just before 11:00, Harvey Cox, a freelance reporter from Little Rock known for his work with national online political magazines, local news, and lifestyle publications, arrived. Tall and lanky, he was in his mid-forties with shaggy dark hair and black glasses. He brought scones from Wild Sweet William’s to help break the ice. He had heard about the amazing bakery and gotten into town early to try it.
After introductions, Harvey offered them a scone. Bennett took one, but Taylor was too nervous to eat. Bennett offered them something to drink. Both asked for water. After providing that, Bennett ushered them into his office and then excused himself so they could get down to business.
Harvey Cox's first impression of Taylor was one of surprise at how young and beautiful she still looked ten years after the last publicity photo of her had been published. If anything, she was even more stunning than she was then. A new marriage and motherhood agreed with her.
