Lady in Red Ch. 22

"I have some great footage of the costume party. I managed to record you three doing that amazing job with those songs. I videoed the posters that were on display in the store. I need to know if there's anything you don't want me to report. Can I show those posters? I know they're racier than the ones used stateside, but they can be shown on TV."

Gwen looked at Steve and then to her mother to see if they were going to respond before she began. "I don't think we should censor you if we can avoid it. I absolutely do not want anything mentioned about my sleeping arrangements, but the rest of what happens on the trip is okay. We're not asking you to mislead the public. The truth will usually work fine, as long as our very personal life is not mentioned.

"I can't speak for Jordan. She needs to tell you what she's comfortable with and what she isn't. Her career is taking off again and people are very interested in her. She needs to decide how much you report on her."

"I'm the opposite of Gwen," laughed Jordan. "I'd love for you to tell the people of American that Steve Hammer's doing me every which way every night, and have it be true. Since you've got too much integrity to lie, telling the whole truth about this week will be fine with me. If I'm dumb enough to get into trouble again, let the public know about it. I sure appreciate that you think enough of us to ask. Most reporters would rather make stuff up than tell the truth."

At dinner, the group was tired but happy as they enjoyed the French cuisine. "I'd like to thank everyone for being so supportive of Steve and me last night. I'd like to thank you for not asking a lot of questions today. Remember that Steve doesn't have a big family where everything, and I mean everything, is discussed openly. He's adjusting to life with us and personal questions tend to make him uncomfortable.

"That's about all I want to say about last night, except that I can't explain how close I feel to Steve and how much he means to me. Six months ago, I didn't know him. Now he's my world. I still have trouble believing it. It's my sincere hope that all of you have either experienced love like this, or that you someday will."

"Really, Sis? Great! Lend me your boyfriend for the night and I'll be smiling for a week!" promised Kate.

After dinner, the group retired to an empty meeting room and Amber set up her camera. She asked everyone to sit on a large sofa with the rest standing behind them. She sat in front of them and directed the conversation.

"Before we left home to come to Paris, Gwen, Jordan, and Steve were all over the airwaves. There's a TV movie coming out soon about Steve and Gwen's daring river rescue of those two toddlers that frigid day last November. Your dance to the song 'Lady in Red' is one of the most watched videos ever on YouTube.

"Since you two have met, we've seen the shootout with terrorists armed with handguns and explosives, Gwen's stirring appeal for the Spartan Nation to give blood, the abduction and torture of Steve, his dramatic rescue in a blizzard, hit recordings and videos, four TV specials to be aired next month, an invitation to a state dinner, promotion of a line of clothes, a deadly hand to hand battle with a former KGB operative in a swank Washington Hotel, and an invitation from the first family of France to visit them in Paris. Is there anything I've failed to mention?"

"Actually, there are a few more things you could mention," interjected Paula quickly. "These kids are donating all the proceeds from these projects to the building fund for the hospital in Sparta. Steve has received an appointment to the Naval Academy where he will also be playing quarterback for the football team. He intends to honor his father's and grandfather's service to our country by becoming a Navy SEAL, like his father before him. Gwen has secured a full academic scholarship to Stanford where she also hopes to attend medical school. Jordan's breathed new life into her career with a hit song and video and television appearances. She is also donating her share of any proceeds from those ventures to the hospital building fund. I'm so proud of these kids and the Spartan Nation that I could burst."

"As we were boarding the flight to come to Paris, Steve received a call from our friend and manager, Clyde Davis. He explained to Steve that he had reached an agreement with a major studio to feature Jordan, Steve, and me in a movie. He's having the screenplay written even as we speak. It's going to be way different than most movies you see these days. It'll be a throwback to the old musical/romance/action movies from the fifties and early sixties. We're very excited about it and we'll start filming before school ends this spring, so we can finish it before college and football start later this summer. As you can see, things have been happening very fast," concluded Gwen.

"What are your impressions thus far, Jordan?" asked Amber of her now friend.

"Gwen and Steve are amazing. I'm trying to hang on for the ride. I'd pretty much self destructed before I met these two. They've taken me in, accepted me, and taught me quite a lot. Gwen's family seems too good to be true, but what you see is what you get. They're giving, gracious, and kind. I just try to stay out of the way and let them sweep me along on this incredible adventure that's their lives."

"Stephanie and Kate, how are you enjoying Paris so far? Any interesting adventures yet?" quizzed Amber of the two cousins.

"I met the French President's wife today. Yesterday I met his daughter. I went to a costume party as Supergirl and danced with a lot of cute French guys. Today I modeled bikinis and gowns and signed autographs and we've only been here a couple days!" boasted Stephanie.

"I was invited by the French President's daughter to a costume party in Paris. I got to dress as Lara Croft, aka Napoleon's Tomb Raider, big guns and all, dance with a lot of good looking guys and have a great time. Today I modeled and signed autographs. We saw Steve overcome a bad pair of Jungle Panties to be the hit of the party," laughed Kate as she looked at Steve. "This morning we learned, mostly secondhand, that Steve has even more amazing skills than we had realized. His talent truly knows no bounds."