Jane Bites Back_ A Novel - Michael Thomas Ford [71]
“Stop it,” said Kelly, laughing. “Maybe they’re just savants. Instead of playing the cello they can spot loose change.”
Jane joined them, seating herself in a chair. She tried to ignore the gnawing sensation that was quickly taking over her stomach. Just make it through the show, she told herself.
A few minutes later the show began. Jane could hear the audience through the walls, and she could watch it on the monitor. First Comfort and Joy came on and engaged in some banter. This was followed by a commercial, and then the Tucker family was on. Jane tuned them out. Her stomach hurt, and she couldn’t stop thinking about Farrah’s missing body. More and more, she was sure that Byron was behind it.
“Jane?” A voice woke her from her thoughts. The same fellow who had come for the Tuckers was motioning for her to come with him. Jane stood up.
“Break a leg,” Kelly said, squeezing her hand. “You’ll be great.”
Jane followed the staffer down the hall. As they turned a corner they ran into the Tuckers being escorted back to the greenroom by someone else. “Are we famous now, Daddy?” Ted junior asked his father as Jane passed them.
“We’re at commercial,” the young man told Jane as he led her onto the set. “We’ll be live in ninety seconds.”
The Comfort and Joy set was decorated to look like a living room. The two hosts sat on a couch, while their guests sat in the armchairs positioned across an oval coffee table. Jane was put into one of the chairs and someone came from behind and attached a microphone to her blouse.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Joy, who was closest to Jane, said. Jane looked at Comfort, who rolled her eyes in sympathy.
“And we’re on in five … four … three …” Somewhere to Jane’s right someone counted down to the return of the show.
“As y’all know, I’m a readin’ fool,” Comfort announced. Applause erupted from the audience, but Jane was confused. Comfort sounded like another person, as if she were playing a character.
“Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to Jane Fairfax,” Comfort continued. “Jane’s book is called Constance. Now, I don’t want to say this book is better than getting some lovin’ from my man, but I was up all night and my husband was asleep next to me.”
The audience roared its approval. Comfort’s voice was getting on Jane’s nerves. Worse, her ears were beginning to ring and she felt herself begin to sweat.
“Comfort, I have to agree with you.” Now Joy was talking. Her voice was almost monotone, robotic and distant. “I think this book is maaaarvelous.”
“Jane, tell us how you came up with the idea for this novel,” Comfort said.
A camera swung toward Jane and she looked right into its blinking red eye. A production assistant motioned soundlessly for her to look at Comfort and Joy instead. Jane turned her head and looked at Comfort’s smiling face.
She started speaking, but she didn’t hear what she was saying. Her words sounded like the mumbled ramblings of someone speaking through a pillow. She found herself staring at Joy’s head. It was bobbing up and down as Joy apparently agreed with whatever Jane was saying. Jane saw Comfort’s mouth open and close as she asked a question, and she heard what sounded like the buzzing of bees as she answered. She heard herself laugh, and in the distance the audience laughed back. She had no idea what she’d said. Don’t forget to smile, she told herself, and pulled her lips back in what she hoped looked like confident enjoyment.
A bead of sweat ran down her back. Why was she so hot? A change in the light caught her eye, and she realized that she was sitting directly under the studio lights. Brighter than normal, they were also hotter, and her sensitive skin was reacting badly to the increased temperature. Already her hands were reddening, and she knew the rest of her would soon follow suit. She put her hands in her lap, trying to cover one with the other to slow the burning.
When finally they came to a commercial break, Jane waited for the all-clear from the stage manager and stood up. Joy