always would be with Cody Coleman. Back then she promised the Lord that this was not a story she would try to write. Rather, she would give God the pen and watch what He might do. After that, God seemed to show her that maybe Brandon was the one they’d been praying for, the right guy for Bailey.
Now Jenny wasn’t sure about anything.
Bailey had been home from California for two weeks and not once had she seemed like herself. Sure, she was helpful and friendly, and she and Connor had found again the friendship that once mattered so much to both of them. But her heart remained broken. More wounded than Jenny had ever seen in her daughter. Even after Cody walked away from her the last time.
Jenny had been on deadline for a magazine article she’d written for
Reader’s Digest
, and she was behind on the family’s email. Now, on the first Friday afternoon in April, an hour before the boys would be home from school, Jenny headed for the computer. But even as she did, she pictured Bailey that morning. Her eyes were different, like they belonged to a person who couldn’t find her way home. Even as she recounted the CKT auditions a couple weeks ago, she hadn’t seemed like herself.
Like a part of her was absent or dead.
Clearly the impact missing Brandon Paul had made on her daughter’s heart.
Jenny sat down at her desk, called up her Google account, and began looking at unopened emails. She was near the top of the list when a letter screamed for her attention. “Concerned about Bailey” the subject line read. Jenny opened it, confused. Who would’ve known something was wrong with Bailey? She was two lines into the letter when she realized who had written it. The area coordinator of CKT.
Dear Jenny, Just a quick note to let you know that several of us are worried about Bailey. She’s doing her job — doing it brilliantly. But she’s not the same girl. She isn’t as open with the kids, and the light in her eyes isn’t there
.
The letter went on to ask if Bailey had been sick, or if maybe she was more upset about losing her role on Broadway than she’d let on at first. Jenny closed the email, sat back in her chair, and closed her eyes. Bailey didn’t miss Broadway. She missed Brandon.
What can I do now, God? How can I help my daughter get past this heartache and loneliness?
The message came to her in a hurry, straight out of her Bible reading from earlier that day.
Trust me in all your ways … lean not on your own understanding
.
Jenny let her hands fall to her lap. The words were exactly what she needed. She’d leaned on her own understanding long enough. She pictured Brandon, the way he hung on Bailey’s laughter and conversation, the times she’d caught him gazing at Bailey when he didn’t think anyone was watching. Brandon adored Bailey, no doubt. But the problem the two of them faced now was too great to fix. Jenny remembered a conversation she’d had with Bailey last night.
“I miss him more every day.” She was loading the dishwasher while Jenny rinsed the plates. “But I feel sane again. I couldn’t takeit, Mom … the frenzy and running and paparazzi everywhere we went.”
“How does Katy handle it?”
“It’s different now.” Bailey leaned against the counter and tilted her head, thoughtful. “They’re out of the limelight so the tabloids leave them alone. Most of the time, anyway.”
Jenny had let that thought settle for a minute before she pointed out the obvious. “So that means at some point they won’t be after you and Brandon either.”
“But at what point?” The fear in Bailey’s eyes was all-consuming. “After they run us off the road? Or when they turn the whole country against me for something I might say or do, for some dress I wear wrong or for taking a picture and looking heavier than I did a week ago?” She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to live like that.”
Jenny stood up from her computer, the conversation still playing in her mind. She didn’t
Now Jenny wasn’t sure about anything.
Bailey had been home from California for two weeks and not once had she seemed like herself. Sure, she was helpful and friendly, and she and Connor had found again the friendship that once mattered so much to both of them. But her heart remained broken. More wounded than Jenny had ever seen in her daughter. Even after Cody walked away from her the last time.
Jenny had been on deadline for a magazine article she’d written for
Reader’s Digest
, and she was behind on the family’s email. Now, on the first Friday afternoon in April, an hour before the boys would be home from school, Jenny headed for the computer. But even as she did, she pictured Bailey that morning. Her eyes were different, like they belonged to a person who couldn’t find her way home. Even as she recounted the CKT auditions a couple weeks ago, she hadn’t seemed like herself.
Like a part of her was absent or dead.
Clearly the impact missing Brandon Paul had made on her daughter’s heart.
Jenny sat down at her desk, called up her Google account, and began looking at unopened emails. She was near the top of the list when a letter screamed for her attention. “Concerned about Bailey” the subject line read. Jenny opened it, confused. Who would’ve known something was wrong with Bailey? She was two lines into the letter when she realized who had written it. The area coordinator of CKT.
Dear Jenny, Just a quick note to let you know that several of us are worried about Bailey. She’s doing her job — doing it brilliantly. But she’s not the same girl. She isn’t as open with the kids, and the light in her eyes isn’t there
.
The letter went on to ask if Bailey had been sick, or if maybe she was more upset about losing her role on Broadway than she’d let on at first. Jenny closed the email, sat back in her chair, and closed her eyes. Bailey didn’t miss Broadway. She missed Brandon.
What can I do now, God? How can I help my daughter get past this heartache and loneliness?
The message came to her in a hurry, straight out of her Bible reading from earlier that day.
Trust me in all your ways … lean not on your own understanding
.
Jenny let her hands fall to her lap. The words were exactly what she needed. She’d leaned on her own understanding long enough. She pictured Brandon, the way he hung on Bailey’s laughter and conversation, the times she’d caught him gazing at Bailey when he didn’t think anyone was watching. Brandon adored Bailey, no doubt. But the problem the two of them faced now was too great to fix. Jenny remembered a conversation she’d had with Bailey last night.
“I miss him more every day.” She was loading the dishwasher while Jenny rinsed the plates. “But I feel sane again. I couldn’t takeit, Mom … the frenzy and running and paparazzi everywhere we went.”
“How does Katy handle it?”
“It’s different now.” Bailey leaned against the counter and tilted her head, thoughtful. “They’re out of the limelight so the tabloids leave them alone. Most of the time, anyway.”
Jenny had let that thought settle for a minute before she pointed out the obvious. “So that means at some point they won’t be after you and Brandon either.”
“But at what point?” The fear in Bailey’s eyes was all-consuming. “After they run us off the road? Or when they turn the whole country against me for something I might say or do, for some dress I wear wrong or for taking a picture and looking heavier than I did a week ago?” She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to live like that.”
Jenny stood up from her computer, the conversation still playing in her mind. She didn’t
Similar Books
