Page 92 of Call It Home

I chuckled. Not much surprised me anymore in this town.

“We’re going live in five…four…three…” Chelle continued the count with her fingers, and the light on the camera turned on.

With Chelle’s direction, the next seventy-five minutes actually passed quickly. We were able to watch all the clips on Cameron’s television. There were several times we were filmed watching it, but only a few times after our initial interview, where we talked about what our life was like while we were working in Colorado, did we have much to say.

Now Cash’s words came through loud and clear. “The votes have been cast. Will it be Roy and Alli Benson of RoyAl Designs, with their star-studded résumé? Or Myles Norwood and Mitch Pickens of Double M Construction, with what the judges calledworthy of another magazine photo op? Maybe it will be husband and wife team Presley and Jeremy Gentry of Gentry Remodels, who brought home the first win in the kitchen? Or after winning the group judging contest, will Cameron Allen and Mac Caldwell of Sterling Construction bring home the win?”

“Sterling. Sterling. Sterling,” Sterling chanted.

“Shush,” Bristol told him. “It’s not about you.”

Sterling ruffled his feathers and stared at her before hopping along the back of the couch to stand between Cameron and me. Bristol shook her head but kept her eyes focused on the television.

Cash continued. “The audience has spoken. The votes are in. You should know that less than three hundred votes separate each of our teams. This has truly been a remarkable season for all the teams. But in the end, there is only one winner. And the team that gets a prize of 100,000 thousand dollars and their cabin named for them is…”

The screen split into four pictures. Every team looked the same, all leaning forward with wide eyes as we waited for Cash to reveal the winners.

Cameron’s hand grabbed mine as her eyes darted nervously to me. Beside me, Em leaned forward, muttering, “Come on. Come on.”

Behind me, everyone collectively held their breath as if one being.

I never thought I’d be this caught up in the emotion, but sweat lined my upper jaw, and my heart pounded in a way that couldn’t be healthy.

Cash’s face appeared in the middle of the divided screen. “Presley and Jeremy Gentry of Gentry Remodels!”

While I sat stunned into silence with my disappointment, the TV screen zoomed in to focus on Presley and Jeremy, who let out a loud whoop and jumped up. Presley covered her face with shaking hands, then turned to her husband for a big hug.

“Congratulations to all of the teams on an incredible season,” Cash said. “Make sure you tune in for our next season. That’s all for now. From Grandview Lodge and Resort in Randolph, Colorado, good night, everyone.”

The cameras in front of us went dark. Someone turned the TV off so we didn’t have to watch the closing credits that overlaid the Gentrys, still celebrating with champagne and confetti.

“Well, not gonna lie. I really thought you guys were going to win,” Chelle said, looking at me and Cam with sympathy.

“I spoke to everyone I could to make sure they voted,” Beverly said, sounding stunned.

“It comes down to a popularity contest,” Mayor Bowen commented. “A town our size can’t compete with people from big cities.

“Hey, now!” Cameron jumped to her feet. “They said less than three hundred votes separated the winner from fourth place. I think that’s an incredible showing for our small town and small business. And regardless of not winning this competition, I wouldn’t do anything differently.” She glanced at me, and I knew she was trying to say she didn’t regret me—us—even if things didn’t have the ending we’d hoped for. “The phone at Sterling Construction rings all day, and Sue can’t keep up with the emails pouring in. We have lots of reasons to celebrate.”

She beamed. “There’s more.” She looked around. Even the cameramen were listening. “I’ve been asked to oversee the interior renovation of The Laurel Ridge Hotel.”

There was a stunned silence, then a burst of questions.

“Who bought it?”

“When did this happen?”

“Is this a joke?”

“Is that why Connor Dunham was here?”

“Wait, Connor Dunham was here?”

“Who the hell is this Dunham dude?”

“Squawk!Sterling wins!”

Cameron held up a hand, then went on to explain about her involvement in the renovation of the hotel. I slipped to a back corner of the room while her family pelted her with more questions. Someone got out bottles of champagne, and toasts were being made. I could almost forget the reason that brought us together in the first place.

---