Page 3 of Before the Night Falls
How much time would it take to feel safe again? What if she never regained that feeling?
Olivia picked up her purse from beside the leather couch.
“Remember your assignment for the week?”
“Face my fears,” Olivia repeated, her voice void of emotion, making her sound like a recording. “Don’t pretend like I’m okay if I’m not. Open up more about my feelings with people I trust.”
But facades are what I do best,she wanted to argue. After all, who would ever believe she’d given her life to Christ if they knew the fear she lived in?
If anyone found out how tortured she felt, they’d expose her for being a fraud. She was supposed to live with a peace that passed all understanding. Instead, she existed in a state of anxiety that defied all logic.
Turning back to Lyle, Olivia put on a cheery expression and pretended like things were fine. Like the incident that had destroyed her life hadn’t affected her long-term.
Wasn’t that what everyone wanted to believe anyway? That her life was back to normal? People were comfortable with that thought—but very uncomfortable with the idea that her trauma still lurked inside her.
Besides, even if she divulged the truth, would anyone really understand?
Lyle was the only one who knew about Olivia’s nightmares.
“You’re spunky, Olivia. You’re a fighter. Everyone who watches you on TV admires your strength.” Lyle laid a hand on Olivia’s arm. “Be kind to yourself and give yourself a chance to heal.”
Olivia smiled briefly, but even that didn’t feel genuine.
Would she ever feel normal again?
Most days, the answer felt like a resounding no.
CHAPTERONE
ONE YEAR LATER
“You can’t be serious.”Olivia waited for her producer, Deb Stok, to grin and say, “Just kidding.”
She didn’t.
“This story will be great for your show.” Deb continued to shuffle through some papers on her desk. “Besides,” she looked up at Olivia with a twinkle in her eyes, “do you know how many other women would love the opportunity to work with Tyson Stone for forty days?”
Tyson Stone was the latest fitness guru to take the nation by storm.
The former psychologist had started a fitness frenzy after he released his bookForty Days to a Healthy Life. He had a face for TV, so reporters ate him up. He’d done all the talk show rounds.
That success had led to him launching a line of exercise equipment. Then a line of online exercise videos, followed by a line of protein bars and vitamin waters.
His second book had sealed his place in the exercise and fitness world.
The man was practically an enterprise now and quickly on his way to becoming a household name.
Somehow, his publicist and Deb had connected at a networking event. They’d decided it would be great to have a media personality follow Tyson’s program for forty days.
Then they’d decided Tyson should be personally involved—he’d stay in his home with the participant to ensure they followed the eating and exercise program as instructed.
They’d decided that Olivia would be a perfect fit.
Only they were wrong.
“Deb, I’ve been working in this industry long enough not to be impressed by status.” Olivia had interviewed enough celebrities to realize they were only human like everyone else. Most had their own issues to deal with, only under an unforgiving spotlight.
“Status? Who’s talking about status? I’m talking about his looks.” Deb—whose favorite topic of conversation as of late was menopause—dramatically fanned herself. “Word on the street is that Tyson is single again. If I weren’t so busy, I might give myself this assignment.”
