I walk back down to the studio for my final prep. Since I'm still done up for my first interview, the Today crew doesn't need to do much extra. They ask if I have a different jacket or something else to wear, just so I don't look just like I did earlier. I didn't think I needed a change of outfit, but I take off the jacket for them, just to change something.
"Hi there. I'm Natalie, and I'm going to be the one to interview you." A youngish woman approaches from my left. I don't immediately place her, but I think she's the new newsreader after the latest shake-up. I shake her hand as she goes over a few points with me.
It's obvious she hasn't read my book, but she has done some prep work on me. She is having a hard time going over all the vampires in ancient times, but I reassure her of any mistakes she is making.
"We'll conduct the interview as if it were live," she says as I get directed to a seat on the right side of a large monitor. I guess there will be some visuals of my book popping up. "Any major problems will get edited out, but we'll try to do everything in one take."
"Don't worry. I am usually pretty good at such things. This is my second interview of the day. I just wish I had more notice." I try to keep things light, but I can't shake this feeling of suspicion. I know there is something more going on.
After Natalie sits down, we start our interview. She asks many of the same questions that I got over at CBS, but nothing about my personal life. I reply with the same spiel I used the first time, just with different phrasing. At least I can give the correct release date for the paperback this time around.
A few minutes in, she asks me about the book tour.
"How has the tour been going?"
"Well, Natalie, I have been hitting two or three cities per week the last two months. Fortunately, my brother, Sam, is old enough that he doesn't have to be supervised as much any more. In fact, I got to take this past week off for his graduation from high school. I start back up Thursday with the final stops in the midwest before heading back to New York for the last few stops on the east coast before finishing in June."
"Is there a reason for such a sudden stop?" Natalie's question comes out of nowhere.
Until that moment, the monitor had been showing a static pic of the hardcover version of The First Vampire, but in a flash the screen changes and a woman's face pops up.
"Hi Chris. How is the interview going?"
"Do you want to introduce her to us, Chris?" Natalie knew this was coming.
A nod my head down for a second before I answer. I do this so the camera won't catch me glaring over at Thad. I bet he is a little embarrassed to for his part in this.
"Yeah. Natalie, this is Addison Fairbanks. She is a weather forecaster at your central Missouri affiliate. She is also my fiancé."
A second round of questioning begins, switching between me and Addie.
"How did the two of you meet?" Natalie aims this one to Addie.
"It is kind of funny. About two years ago, I was following my baby brother, Jonnie, around for his senior year playing basketball for Missouri. One Saturday night in February, we were in Lexington watching his team beat up the 'Cats. Out of nowhere, I bumped into this man and spilled my drink on him."
"Although I am living in New York most of the time, I still try to go back to Lexington as many times as I can for family, friends, and the occasional UK game." I leave out that Addie was just a little bit drunk from all the beer she was drinking. Don't want her to get into any trouble. I was with Sam and Rick that night. While Rick was drinking, I had stopped drinking around Sam a few months after I moved in. I didn't want to be a bad role model. I stopped all together soon after. I don't miss it a bit.
"We hit it off immediately, even though the Tigers beat his 'Cats by two points that night. One of those from Jonnie's free throw the last quarter. Anyway, we planned meet-ups whenever we could. It hasn't always been easy. Long-distance relationships take time, but we made it through." Addie pipes back.
"I proposed last fall. A few changes had to be made once my book tour got announced. In fact, I'm having my bachelor party and the rehearsal dinner this week in Lexington, just to make sure everyone can be in the same place at the same time."
"At least we'll be in the same city. I'm transferring to a new station this fall as well, all so we can be together. I hate leaving Springfield, but this is a bigger market for me." Addie usually has a positive outlook.
"I hope to two of you have the best of luck." Natalie responds as she finishes up the interview. "Go pick up Chris's book, available everywhere, and the new one when it comes out."
She thanks me and Addie as the interview ends.
"Sorry about all the secrecy, but we wanted to keep the surprise." I'm guessing she means Thad. I give him a harsh glare from across the studio.
"At least I now know why you didn't give more encouragement this morning in your texts. Is this even a real interview?"
"Oh, it's real all right," Thad rings out as he crosses over to me with my tote. "But when Today's producers found out about your wedding, they had to bring in Addie here."
"See you Thursday, Chris. Love you."
"Love you too, Addie," I just manage to get in before the connection is severed and Addie fades from the screen.
I take a quick look at my watch as I put my jacket back on. It's a little after ten, the interview taking just over fifteen minutes. They'll probably remove the Addie section to make the segment fit into the schedule. Yet, that is a major reason why the wanted this. Maybe they'll split it, or have it as bonus footage online. I put it out of my mind.
"Have you called the service yet? I need to be back home by 12:30 for my appointment." Cheri would be at LaGuardia by now, on airpot duty for the rest of the day.
"Don't worry," Thad intones as he hands me the tote as we walk back to the exits. "Someone will be waiting just outside the Center. I will walk with you to make sure you get there before I get back to the office." It's just a blocks away, so he can hoof it there.
"I just need to get there in time. This appointment is just as big as these interviews were."
Only my and Sam's future. Nothing too major.
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