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audience will be sick of hearing about Redmond Meats by the time I show my face in the fourth segment,” Olivia said.
    â€œDarling, you’re needed in makeup,” a heavily accented man’s voice said.
    Hayley’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of the bronze-skinned Adonis in the doorway, whose muscled arm flexed when he reached out to touch Olivia on the arm. He was in a tight-fitting polo shirt and crisp dark slacks. He had dreamy brown eyes and matching curly hair and his voice was deep and melodious.
    This had to be Nacho.
    Olivia’s famous polo-playing Argentinean husband.
    Olivia had first spotted him modeling in a two-page cologne ad in Vanity Fair magazine and just had to have him.
    And she got him.
    In record time.
    The world’s dreamiest trophy husband.
    â€œI better go. The makeup folks are going to need as much time as they can get to fix this,” Olivia said, her face flawless and wrinkle free even though she was in her mid to late forties.
    â€œGet out of here! You’re beautiful!” Rhonda yelled, smiling.
    Nacho put a hand on the small of her back to lead her out.
    Hayley sighed when he turned to go. His butt was perfection. Like a Greek statue at a museum.
    The next hour was a blur. Much like the night before with Liddy and Mona in the hotel room.
    The pretty personal assistant, Lily, returned with a bag full of food and Hayley was escorted to a private kitchen away from the set where she was able to marinate her chicken thighs. Usually she preferred to allow the thighs to marinate overnight, but she was in a time crunch and her segment was set to begin at 10:45. She heard wild applause in the distance as the show’s hosts were introduced and the show got under way.
    The first production assistant returned with Hayley’s blouse and slacks, which were freshly pressed and scented. Then she was whisked back to makeup and hair for a final touch-up, where a flat screen TV on the wall allowed her to watch the ladies gush over Bradley Cooper, whom they were interviewing.
    Once they finished with Bradley, Olivia was brought on with her potbellied pig, Pork Chop, with whom the audience instantly fell in love. Olivia talked about Bacon Week and how her favorite meat had always gotten a bad wrap. Hayley didn’t see the rest of the segment because she was whisked backstage with two other chefs who looked equally nervous.
    Hayley was placed behind a small cooking station with all her ingredients and plates and utensils. The hot lights started to slowly melt the caked gunk on her face and she feared her mascara would smear and make her look like a raccoon on national TV. But there was no time to worry because suddenly Rhonda closed in and, holding a microphone in front of her face, asked her about what she was going to prepare today.
    Hayley had no idea what was happening. She had no clue what she said as she rolled chicken thighs up to stuff cheese and jalapeño peppers inside before wrapping bacon strips around the thighs and securing them with toothpicks. She was surprised when Rhonda opened an oven door and pulled out the finished dish and then picked up a nearby fork to taste it. A staffer must have pre-prepared the recipe so they could try some on the show. Hayley hadn’t even thought of that.
    Rhonda moaned in ecstasy and rubbed her belly and then put an arm around Hayley and shoved the microphone in her face one more time. Again, Hayley had no clue what Rhonda asked or how she responded.
    The audience erupted in applause, and that’s when Hayley caught a glimpse of Liddy and Mona in the front row of the bleachers, on their feet, spastically clapping their hands and whooping and hollering.
    Then the red light on the camera flicked off and everyone moved back to the main set for the show’s wrap-up.
    Hayley closed her eyes.
    A magnificent sense of relief washed over her.
    It was over.

    Island Food & Spirits by Hayley Powell
    After an exciting few days