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and supportive of her career. And they would never ever fight like that.
    In the shower, she mentally revised her rundown sheet to include this unexpected alteration in the schedule. She’d still like to get crowd reaction shots, but her main interest was in the wives. If she teased the story and built up what was at stake for the challengers through the eyes of their spouses, she might expand the viewing audience and create more appeal. Research showed viewers would be more affected when a news story created an emotional connection, and she intended to take full advantage of every tool at her disposal.
    Finished, she stepped from the shower and wrapped herself in one of Geary’s thick bath towels. High quality, like the kind found in expensive hotels. Surprising for a guy who fished bass tournaments.
    She hurried her makeup, wanting to get back across the lake as soon as possible. When she emerged from down the hallway a half hour later, she unfortunately learned Geary had made sandwiches and a fresh fruit salad, expecting them to stay for lunch.
    â€œIt’s nearly time to eat and the restaurants will be packed,” he explained as he carried a tray to the small dining table.
    Chuck was already moving toward a chair. While she was in a hurry, she had to admit she was pretty hungry. Reluctantly, she gave in and smiled. “Thank you. But you didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
    â€œNo trouble,” he assured her as he pulled out a chair.
    She thanked him and moved into the seat. “The entrants are scheduled to come in at four o’clock,” she warned. “Chuck, I don’t want to run into any problems with timing.”
    Chuck grabbed his iPhone to check a text. “No worries. We’ll have plenty of time to push film back to the station for the evening broadcast.” He checked his watch. “And we can still squeeze in your special interest segments before the anglers return for the weigh-ins.”
    Relieved, she pointed to a framed photo perched on the counter and attempted small talk. “Your family?”
    Geary turned back to the counter for the salad. “Yeah, that’s us. A crazy bunch, for sure.” He held up a pitcher. “Tea, or lemonade?”
    â€œTea’s fine, thanks.” She placed a napkin on her lap. “So do they all live around here? Your family?”
    â€œWe have aunts, uncles, and cousins scattered all over Texas, but my immediate family members all live here in Conroe.”
    Chuck finished his text and slid his smartphone back in his jeans pocket. “Must be nice at holidays.” He grabbed a sandwich from the platter.
    Geary set the pitcher on the counter, then slid into his place at the table. “Uh, do either of you mind if I say the blessing?”
    Chuck dropped his sandwich on the paper plate in front of him. “Sorry, no. Sure, go ahead.”
    Faith lowered her head, thinking that answered a lot.
    First, their host rescued her from the drink, then extended hospitality even when her earlier tone had been brisk. She thought about the photos down the hall, the one of him in his graduation gown flanked by a man and woman, likely his parents. There was a photo of a younger gal with a resemblance to him taken in front of what looked like a church. His sister, maybe? She was very pregnant and her face beaming. There were shots of him playing baseball, several of him fishing, and one of him with his arms wrapped around the feeble shoulders of an elderly man.
    None of him with a girlfriend or wife.
    He finished the blessing, then offered up the bowl of fruit salad. “So, I take it this is the first bass tournament for both of you?”
    Chuck didn’t look compelled to answer anytime soon, given his mouth was full of turkey sandwich. So she responded.
    â€œYes,” she admitted, taking the bowl from Geary’s hand. “But I knew this shoot was coming up, and I did my research.”
    He