Page 56 of Sunrise

We worked on a meal plan for breakfasts and snacks, then placed an order from our vendors for items like coffees, napkins, and other housekeeping supplies. After helping Bertha with some laundry, Kade even helped in the kitchen because two kitchen staff call in sick. We ended the day on the porch with a bottle of wine and back in bed for a repeat from the night before.

He still hasn't let me return the favor. He says watching me come for him is enough, and I've decided to let it go for now.

"I really enjoyed helping you with the inn yesterday," Kade says from beside me in the car. He's holding my hand. He took it the moment we got in and hasn't let it go, and I don't want him to. Any nerves I have about the upcoming interviews are gone.

"Yeah, we worked well together." I smile at him. "You have many talents above and beyond anything you’re doing in Hollywood."

He hasn't said it, but I can tell he's not completely happy there, but we haven't talked about his life outside of the reason he's here and the PR agent he kicked to the curb. I guess Wren handled some complaints from her, but it's been radio silence ever since.

We also have the two interviews today. Kade suggested meeting Ned at his office. Kade said he likes to leave if the interview goes too far off track, and you can't do that when they come to you.

I pull into the newspaper office, which is just a block off Main Street, and look up at the old brick building. The paper has been here for as long as I can remember, and I have made many trips here to deliver payment or ads on behalf of both inns.

As we step inside, the office hasn't changed a bit, and I'm assaulted by the memories of summer days watching the newspaper being made and staying as long as I could manage without getting in trouble.

We are ushered right to Ned's office, and he is ready and waiting for us. After I hand him lunch from the inn, we sit down.

"We are a simple town, Kade, so this may not be as fancy as some of these big city interviews you are used to," Ned starts. It makes me smile that Ned cares more about the fact than pulling up something and spinning it to make a story. It's why he's so popular with the locals. You know if it's printed in Ned's paper, it's the truth.

"Let's start with the basics. Name and age for both of you," he says as he hits play on his recorder. He runs through some basic facts of how Kade got into movies, verifying what he's already learned.

"Okay, let's talk about this last movie. There are rumors about you sleeping with your costar's wife, but you recently released a statement contradicting that. What took you so long to do so?" Ned asks.

I give Kade's hand a squeeze for reassurance.

"I was given some bad advice to let it go. Ignore it they said, and it will go away. Only it didn't go away. Matt and Cassie were using that as a catalyst for their divorce, and it started to cause issues with the studio. I decided to go against the advice given to me and release my own statement. My manager took it from there," Kade says, very calm and like he expected the question.

"Did his bad advice come from your former PR agent you are rumored to have fired?" Ned asked.

"It did, and no rumor necessary. I did fire her. It took Lin here to make me see she didn't have my best interests at heart." Kade smiles at me, and Ned scribbles on his notepad.

"Can I quote you on that?" he asks.

"Of course, we are on the record," Kade says.

"We do things a bit differently here, so I just wanted to check." Ned smiles.

"So how did you two meet?" Ned asks.

"Lin was waiting on me at check-in when I got here. I remember being late and frustrated because my manager ditched me for a flight attendant, and then I look up, and there she is," Kade says.

"Love at first sight?" Ned asks.

Kade thinks for a moment. "Maybe, but I didn't realize it at first. I asked her to dinner the first night, and she turned me down. That intrigued me. I expected her to fawn all over me like any other girl. But it wasn't until her ex showed up that I realized I thought of her as mine, so I made it happen." Kade chuckles.

"Travis showed up?" Ned asks.

"Yeah, we were walking on the beach, and he was there. Said he was visiting family. It was before...the rumors in town started about him." I'm careful not to say too much while being recorded. I don't want to be accused of spreading gossip. It's never been my style.

"The rumors I haven't been able to verify one way or another," he says, and I get what he means. If he can't verify it, he won't print it.

"Kade, how are you liking our small town?" Ned asks.

"It's night and day different from Hollywood. In LA the only time you get a break from the noise, is during rainstorms when the rain drowns it out. Here once the sun goes down, everything stills. Everyone is welcoming, well, for the most part, and it's the first time in years I can say I actually feel relaxed. It's beautiful too."

"How long are you in town for?" Ned asks.

"Well, until the bridge is fixed at least, but I'd say until my manager gets another movie lined up, I don't have a reason to leave but every reason to stay." Kade smiles at me, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. It's the front cover smile I'm learning. It's the one he puts on for the world, but isn't real.

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