blame her daughter. But as real as the problem of living in Los Angeles was, it didn’t erase the other problem. The bigger problem. The desperate way Bailey longed for Brandon Paul.
She wandered into the hallway and up the stairs to Bailey’s room. There on her dresser was a photo of her and Brandon on the rooftop of the Keller’s apartment — the place where Brandon had created a magical prom night for Bailey. The love and light in their eyes was enough to make anyone linger on the photograph, wishing and wanting for that kind of love.
Jenny understood. That was still the sort of love she and Jim shared — the kind that comes along once in a lifetime and makes everything and everyone else step aside for it. A love Cody Coleman never showed Bailey.
Jenny ran her finger over the top of the photo frame and sat down on the edge of Bailey’s bed. Then she did the only thing she could do, the thing she’d done every day since Bailey returnedhome. She prayed for her daughter, and for the young man God had set apart for her to marry one day. That the Lord would protect him and guide him and direct his steps on a path that would in time come face-to-face with Bailey’s. And as she prayed for her precious daughter, Jenny’s mind filled with the face of a handsome actor, a young man who loved Bailey like no one else had ever loved her.
The face of Brandon Paul.
F IFTEEN DAYS HAD PASSED SINCE B AILEY pulled herself away from Brandon and somehow climbed aboard a jet plane bound for Indiana. Bailey knew because she was counting. She and Brandon had talked a few times and texted every day. But each time he asked her to Skype, she found a reason to say no. What was the point? She was completely involved with the CKT show
Peter Pan
, and already the area coordinator had talked to Katy about Bailey running a summer camp in Bloomington.
If it weren’t for Brandon she could see spending her life here.
She could get through the days, keep herself busy, and find meaning and purpose working with the kids. Rehearsals reminded her of when she was an actor in the theater group herself. Back when she and Connor were kids. Some of the families who had been involved back then were still active in CKT now, and that, too, gave Bailey a sense of being home. Where she needed to be.
If only she could convince her heart.
Bailey pulled her family’s car into the driveway and parked in the third bay. She was driving a used Acura, something her parents had bought for the kids to drive. Eventually, though, Bailey would have to get her own car. It only made sense. She stepped out, grabbed her things, and stretched. Rehearsal had gone later than usual, and as Bailey walked through the door and into the family room she felt beyond drained.
The house was dark, so her parents must’ve gone to bed. Her brothers too, except Connor. She could hear him softly playing the piano in the living room. She set her things down and allowed herself to be pulled toward the music. Their eyes met as she stepped into the room and took the chair next to the piano. Connor smiled with his eyes and kept playing, kept singing. He was working on a Michael Bublé piece for Clear Creek’s talent show in a few weeks. A song called “Haven’t Met You Yet,” and Connor sang it beautifully.
When he finished, he relaxed his posture and turned toward her. “Rough night?”
“Yeah.” She leaned on the piano. “Actually, no. The kids are great. We’re already looking good for the opening number.”
Connor smiled. “I remember
Peter Pan
. It was one of my favorite shows.”
“You were the best Captain Hook ever.” She grinned at her brother. “Everyone else can only try to come close.”
“Aww, thanks.” He chuckled. “I think my voice might’ve cracked a few times, but it was fun.”
She let the silence settle between them for a few beats. Without warning she felt her eyes well up. “Nothing feels right.”
“Finish the show and go back to LA.” Connor
She wandered into the hallway and up the stairs to Bailey’s room. There on her dresser was a photo of her and Brandon on the rooftop of the Keller’s apartment — the place where Brandon had created a magical prom night for Bailey. The love and light in their eyes was enough to make anyone linger on the photograph, wishing and wanting for that kind of love.
Jenny understood. That was still the sort of love she and Jim shared — the kind that comes along once in a lifetime and makes everything and everyone else step aside for it. A love Cody Coleman never showed Bailey.
Jenny ran her finger over the top of the photo frame and sat down on the edge of Bailey’s bed. Then she did the only thing she could do, the thing she’d done every day since Bailey returnedhome. She prayed for her daughter, and for the young man God had set apart for her to marry one day. That the Lord would protect him and guide him and direct his steps on a path that would in time come face-to-face with Bailey’s. And as she prayed for her precious daughter, Jenny’s mind filled with the face of a handsome actor, a young man who loved Bailey like no one else had ever loved her.
The face of Brandon Paul.
F IFTEEN DAYS HAD PASSED SINCE B AILEY pulled herself away from Brandon and somehow climbed aboard a jet plane bound for Indiana. Bailey knew because she was counting. She and Brandon had talked a few times and texted every day. But each time he asked her to Skype, she found a reason to say no. What was the point? She was completely involved with the CKT show
Peter Pan
, and already the area coordinator had talked to Katy about Bailey running a summer camp in Bloomington.
If it weren’t for Brandon she could see spending her life here.
She could get through the days, keep herself busy, and find meaning and purpose working with the kids. Rehearsals reminded her of when she was an actor in the theater group herself. Back when she and Connor were kids. Some of the families who had been involved back then were still active in CKT now, and that, too, gave Bailey a sense of being home. Where she needed to be.
If only she could convince her heart.
Bailey pulled her family’s car into the driveway and parked in the third bay. She was driving a used Acura, something her parents had bought for the kids to drive. Eventually, though, Bailey would have to get her own car. It only made sense. She stepped out, grabbed her things, and stretched. Rehearsal had gone later than usual, and as Bailey walked through the door and into the family room she felt beyond drained.
The house was dark, so her parents must’ve gone to bed. Her brothers too, except Connor. She could hear him softly playing the piano in the living room. She set her things down and allowed herself to be pulled toward the music. Their eyes met as she stepped into the room and took the chair next to the piano. Connor smiled with his eyes and kept playing, kept singing. He was working on a Michael Bublé piece for Clear Creek’s talent show in a few weeks. A song called “Haven’t Met You Yet,” and Connor sang it beautifully.
When he finished, he relaxed his posture and turned toward her. “Rough night?”
“Yeah.” She leaned on the piano. “Actually, no. The kids are great. We’re already looking good for the opening number.”
Connor smiled. “I remember
Peter Pan
. It was one of my favorite shows.”
“You were the best Captain Hook ever.” She grinned at her brother. “Everyone else can only try to come close.”
“Aww, thanks.” He chuckled. “I think my voice might’ve cracked a few times, but it was fun.”
She let the silence settle between them for a few beats. Without warning she felt her eyes well up. “Nothing feels right.”
“Finish the show and go back to LA.” Connor
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