Page 8 of Unforgotten

Bethanne’s brown eyes warmed. “Sure. If you’d like that.”

“I would—very much.”

After squeezing her cousin’s hand again, she walked to a long rectangular table set up at the back of the pavilion. Barry Winter, the local reporter who was almost as old as her grandparents, was smiling at her. She smiled back. Mr. Winter was at a lot of their high school’s music and athletic events. Everyone knew him. “Hi, Mr. Winter.”

“Hi, Candy. Congratulations. Ready to get to our interview?”

“Yes, sir. But I go by Candace.”

“Oh. I’ll put that in the paper, then. But I thought everyone calls you Candy.”

“No, sir. Only my mother. And I only put up with it when I have to. She knows that I prefer Candace.”

Mr. Winter raised his eyebrows but nodded. “Understood. Well, now. Let’s sit down over here. I even wiped off that dusty chair so it wouldn’t dirty your gown.”

“That was kind of you,” she said as she sat down across from him.

“I raised four daughters. I know all about how important it is for a gal to keep the back of her dress clean.”

She giggled. “I bet you do know all about keeping teenaged girls happy.”

“I’d reckon so.”

Finally relaxing, Candace sat down. As they began their interview, she thanked him for his congratulations, spoke about how honored she was, and discussed her interest inchildren’s literacy and the many hours she’d volunteered in both the elementary school and the library.

Mr. Winter scanned his notes. “It says here that you’ve also done some volunteer work for a women’s shelter.”

“Yes, but not with the victims. I’ve mainly done some things behind the scenes, like collected garments and such for them or helped address envelopes for a fundraiser.”

“That’s something to be proud about. I’m sure the judges were impressed with your service.”

That made her uncomfortable. She hadn’t done any of her volunteer work in order to impress people. “I don’t know if they were or they weren’t. But both causes are important to me. Everyone needs to learn to read, and I was glad to help out at the shelter. The women there have been through a lot.”

“Do you know someone who’s been a victim?”

“I think everyone probably does,” she sidestepped.

Mr. Winter’s easy demeanor turned serious. “Oh yes. Your Amish cousin was assaulted several years ago, if I remember right.”

“She was. But that isn’t the only reason this cause is important to me.”

“No doubt. But I’m sure what happened was hard for you.”

Not liking how the reporter was intertwining Bethanne’s experience with her pageant win, she gave him a fierce look. “She was the one who was assaulted, not me.”

“Oh. Of course.”

She was tempted to ask him not to write anything about Bethanne in the article but figured mentioning such a thing would only put her cousin’s experience even more on his radar. Not that he would consider the old story something of use for the paper. Besides, they hadn’t mentioned anynames. Even if he did include what had happened years ago, he couldn’t say too much.

As the conversation continued, he switched directions, asking about her dress and where she planned to keep her crown for the next year. Candace answered each question with a bright smile and friendly tone. She figured she probably sounded a little bit ditsy, but that was to be expected, she reckoned. She’d learned early on that people might say they were interested in what she had to say but most folks judged her on her looks.

Finally, Mr. Winter looked up from his notepad. “I think I have everything I need now, dear.” He stood up. “Enjoy your crown.”

“Thank you so much.” Just as Candace was about to stand up too, a prickling sensation spread across the back of her neck. She froze for a moment. Then she looked to her right and left. Searching for an escape route. A place to escape the prying eyes.

Until she remembered that her fear was what he wanted. Gathering her courage and reminding herself that she was in a public place and that he couldn’t do anything to her with so many people around—she looked behind her.

And there he was. The man who she’d first started seeing about six months ago but who now seemed to appear in her life more often.

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