not when she was leaving with no realistic hope of coming back. But he wanted to believe the possibilities, however slim, so he only waved, jogged around his car, and slid in behind the wheel once more. Their eyes held another long moment, and then she ran her fingertips beneath her eyes, took hold of her suitcase, and turned toward the airport. Brandon watched her go, but all he could think was how crazy this felt, how wrong it was.
Bailey shouldn’t be leaving. He loved her, and she loved him. They belonged together. He would prove that to her, prove that what they shared wasn’t too perfect or too fast or too crazy. If Los Angeles was the problem, then he’d figure out a way around it. Hire more security or find a home further away, far from prying eyes and paparazzi. They couldn’t walk away from what they shared, because God alone had brought them together. Whatever it took he would prove it to her.
If it took the rest of his life and every beat of his heart to do it.
B AILEY COULDN’T SEE FOR HER TEARS, and she had no idea how she checked in and got through security. Not until she was on the plane did it hit her exactly what she was doing: She was walking away from Brandon Paul, the one guy in her life who had fought for her and pursued her and gone to unthinkable lengths to show her how much he loved her.
The thought caused a rush of panic, and without thinking Bailey unbuckled her seat belt. She could still get off the plane, right? Still run back down the aisle and up the jetway and out into the concourse. She could call Brandon, and he’d be there to pick her up before she could reach curbside.
But even as she felt her legs tense up, felt herself move to stand and crawl over the two strangers in her row, her eyes fell on a magazine across the aisle. A teenage girl was reading a gossip rag and there … there on the front page was a picture of the two of them. Brandon and her. They were on the beach and Bailey had her face sheltered as much as possible. The headline screamed at her from across the aisle. “Rough Waters for B&B.”
Bailey eased back and buckled her seat belt. Every day back in Bloomington was another day free from the paparazzi. Every week was one more where the tabloids would be forced to find other fodder. She turned toward the window and stared at the baggage guys. It looked difficult, tossing one suitcase after another onto a luggage cart or into the belly of a plane. But the guys laughed and joked with each other as they worked.
At least they get a normal life
, she thought. They might not have a lot of money and maybe their circle of influence wasn’t worldwide like it was for Brandon Paul. But they could work and live and date and marry without the world searching for trouble. They could have a life, even here in Los Angeles.
She closed her eyes and pictured Brandon, how she’d felt earlier in his arms, the way his cologne still lingered on her sweater.
Dear Lord, how can I leave him? Help me figure things out in Bloomington, please, Father. I can’t live with him, but I can’t live without him either. Being away from him, telling him goodbye … I’m not even sure I can breathe with him so far away
.
Daughter, come to Me and I will give you rest … Do not worry about tomorrow
.
Peace released a warmth through her body and Bailey feltherself relax. But even then fresh tears stung at her eyes.
I miss him already, God
.
There was no answer this time, and as Bailey gave herself over to sleep she remembered something Brandon said at their curbside goodbye. That she had confirmed to him how much God loved him. But he had helped her too. Because love never looked as beautiful as it had over the last year.
The year she’d spent with Brandon Paul.
Eight
J ENNY WAS BEGINNING TO DOUBT EVERYTHING SHE’D ALWAYS believed about her daughter and the future God had for her. Some time ago she’d prayed about the certainty in her heart. The certainty that Bailey was and
Bailey shouldn’t be leaving. He loved her, and she loved him. They belonged together. He would prove that to her, prove that what they shared wasn’t too perfect or too fast or too crazy. If Los Angeles was the problem, then he’d figure out a way around it. Hire more security or find a home further away, far from prying eyes and paparazzi. They couldn’t walk away from what they shared, because God alone had brought them together. Whatever it took he would prove it to her.
If it took the rest of his life and every beat of his heart to do it.
B AILEY COULDN’T SEE FOR HER TEARS, and she had no idea how she checked in and got through security. Not until she was on the plane did it hit her exactly what she was doing: She was walking away from Brandon Paul, the one guy in her life who had fought for her and pursued her and gone to unthinkable lengths to show her how much he loved her.
The thought caused a rush of panic, and without thinking Bailey unbuckled her seat belt. She could still get off the plane, right? Still run back down the aisle and up the jetway and out into the concourse. She could call Brandon, and he’d be there to pick her up before she could reach curbside.
But even as she felt her legs tense up, felt herself move to stand and crawl over the two strangers in her row, her eyes fell on a magazine across the aisle. A teenage girl was reading a gossip rag and there … there on the front page was a picture of the two of them. Brandon and her. They were on the beach and Bailey had her face sheltered as much as possible. The headline screamed at her from across the aisle. “Rough Waters for B&B.”
Bailey eased back and buckled her seat belt. Every day back in Bloomington was another day free from the paparazzi. Every week was one more where the tabloids would be forced to find other fodder. She turned toward the window and stared at the baggage guys. It looked difficult, tossing one suitcase after another onto a luggage cart or into the belly of a plane. But the guys laughed and joked with each other as they worked.
At least they get a normal life
, she thought. They might not have a lot of money and maybe their circle of influence wasn’t worldwide like it was for Brandon Paul. But they could work and live and date and marry without the world searching for trouble. They could have a life, even here in Los Angeles.
She closed her eyes and pictured Brandon, how she’d felt earlier in his arms, the way his cologne still lingered on her sweater.
Dear Lord, how can I leave him? Help me figure things out in Bloomington, please, Father. I can’t live with him, but I can’t live without him either. Being away from him, telling him goodbye … I’m not even sure I can breathe with him so far away
.
Daughter, come to Me and I will give you rest … Do not worry about tomorrow
.
Peace released a warmth through her body and Bailey feltherself relax. But even then fresh tears stung at her eyes.
I miss him already, God
.
There was no answer this time, and as Bailey gave herself over to sleep she remembered something Brandon said at their curbside goodbye. That she had confirmed to him how much God loved him. But he had helped her too. Because love never looked as beautiful as it had over the last year.
The year she’d spent with Brandon Paul.
Eight
J ENNY WAS BEGINNING TO DOUBT EVERYTHING SHE’D ALWAYS believed about her daughter and the future God had for her. Some time ago she’d prayed about the certainty in her heart. The certainty that Bailey was and
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