Longing (15 page)

K
ATY
H
ART
M
ATTHEWS HADN’T ONLY COME TO ACCEPT HER LIFE
in Los Angeles alongside her movie star husband, Dayne. She had come to enjoy it. She wiped the peanut butter off their daughter Sophie’s face and glanced out the window of their Malibu beach home. The sun was heading toward the horizon, the few clouds in the sky promising a sunset fitting of the last day of the year.

“Can we take a walk, Mommy?” Sophie loved the beach. Her white blonde ringlets only accentuated her tanned cheeks and bright blue eyes. She was almost four, but she talked like a child twice her age. Dayne liked to tease that he was easily outsmarted by the two real talkers in the family.

“Yes, baby girl … Daddy’s changing clothes so we can take a walk.”

Dayne had met with a couple top actors earlier that day, trying to work out another movie deal. Faith-based films continued to gain popularity, and Dayne was convinced God had exciting projects ahead. Though she still sometimes missed their days in Bloomington, Katy wasn’t in a hurry to go back. Especially on a gorgeous afternoon like this one.

Katy smiled to herself. Brandon and Bailey were flying in right about now. They’d get a ride over, and tonight would be very special, indeed. The four of them had more to celebrate than even her husband knew. At least for now.

When Sophie’s hands were clean, the two of them linked fingers and walked back toward the bedroom just as Dayne stepped
into the hallway. He wore khaki shorts and a white T-shirt. Never mind his passion for making movies, Dayne could still star in them if he wanted to. He was tall and muscled and his eyes shone from across the house. She was in love with him, more than she dreamed. Today and every day. “Sophie wants to take a walk.”

“Me too.” He hurried to them and swept their little girl into his arms. “Ready for an adventure, sweetie?”

Sophie giggled and put her hands on her daddy’s face, messing up his hair and making silly faces at him. “You always have an adventure for me, Daddy.”

“Yep.” He bounced her onto his hip and pulled Katy close for a quick kiss. “Life with you girls is always an adventure.” He kissed her again, longer this time. “You look stunning … if I haven’t told you.”

“You did.” She returned the kiss. “This morning. Remember?”

“Well then it’s about time I told you again.”

“Hey … no kissy face.” Sophie let her head hang back as she laughed out loud. “Come on, Daddy! We have to have our adventure.”

Dayne gasped and tickled Sophie a few quick times. “You’re right! I almost forgot!” He put his arm around Katy and the three of them headed for the back door. “We can’t miss our adventure.”

Katy felt the butterflies in her stomach. Dayne had no idea just how much of an adventure they were about to take. They walked down the back steps toward the shore. The paparazzi almost never bothered with them these days. Dayne wasn’t an actor now. He was a producer and director and there was nothing remotely scandalous to create about his life. The paparazzi had other more popular faces to catch. Faces like Brandon Paul’s. If he and Bailey didn’t make a clean getaway from LAX in the next hour, the photographers were bound to follow them here. Which would cast a serious shadow on the evening.

“We need to pray the media doesn’t follow Brandon and Bailey.” Katy loved the way it felt walking through the chilly ankle-deep surf with Dayne and Sophie beside her. The sun warmed her shoulders and ahead was nothing but shoreline as far as she could see.

“I’ve prayed. It’s tough, where they’re at right now.”

“Yeah.” Katy laughed. “I remember. It was like yesterday.” She paused and looked at Sophie. Their little daughter seemed content in her father’s arms, her head on his shoulder. “So what do you think?”

“About Brandon and Bailey?” Dayne still read her mind as easily as he’d done when they first started out. He smiled, the bright sky reflecting off his sunglasses as he turned to her. “Together, you mean?”

“Yes. Do you think they can do this? Are they right for each other?”

“We made it work.” He leaned in and kissed her lightly as they walked. Passion was always at the surface of their relationship. “What do
you
think?”

“I’m not sure. I talked to her a week ago. She loved having Brandon in New York these last few weeks, so I asked her if it was serious. She told me it was as serious as it could be with their careers in different parts of the country.”

“Which means …” Dayne looked slightly confused.

“It means she’s sure about today. But that’s as far as she can see.” Katy smiled. “She loves him … she was clear about that.”

“And what about Brandon?” A pair of seagulls squawked as they fought for something in the water a few yards away. “Does he think it’s more serious?”

“I’m not sure.” She shrugged and felt her face take on a nervous look. “I think we’ll know more after this visit.”

“Good that they could both get a little time away.”

“Yes.” She breathed deep, loving the ocean air all around her. “They need this time for sure. All couples do.”

He stopped and adjusted Sophie, who had fallen asleep in his arms. “It never gets old, the sunset here on the beach.”

“With you … nothing ever gets old.” She still faced him, but now she turned and looked out at the water. For a while they stood like that, mesmerized by the display God put on in their backyard day after day after day. Finally she turned to him again. “Too bad about Sophie’s adventure. She slept through it.”

“Mmm.” He reached for her hand with his free one and eased his fingers between hers. “I’ll guess she’ll have to wait until tonight. The noisemakers you bought for our New Year’s Eve party will make for a pretty fun adventure.”

“True.” She laughed, and the sound mixed with the crashing surf not far from where they stood. There was no gradual way to say this. She exhaled, steadying herself. “Anyway … I was thinking about adventures. How our life has been one ever since we met.”

“That day in the Bloomington Community Theater … when you were onstage directing
Charlie Brown.”

“Yes.” She smiled, and even though they both wore sunglasses, she could feel his eyes looking straight into her heart. “Since then.”

“You’re big on adventures today.” He released her hand and slid his fingers through her hair, alongside her face. “Is that your tender heart … evaluating the end of another year?”

“Ummm, well.” She felt a shiver pass over her arms. “More like evaluating the year we’re about to have.”

“Oh. Definitely.” He nodded and looked out to sea again. “With us we never know what sort of adventure God’s got planned for us.”

“Except,” Katy started to giggle. He wasn’t picking up on her
clues whatsoever. “Except this time we do sort of have at least a little idea.” She put her hand over her stomach. “A very little idea.”

Dayne looked at her. He started to say something but then stopped himself. He looked from her face to the place where her hand remained over her middle. “A
little
idea?”

“About the adventure coming our way in July.” She laughed out loud, loving this, holding onto the moment. “The end of July to be exact.”

“What?” He shouted the word so loud that Sophie lifted her head and looked around, all sleepy eyes and curly blonde hair. He patted her head. “Sorry, honey. Go back to sleep, sweetheart.” As soon as she lay her head back down, Dayne moved slowly in toward Katy and took her in his arms. His sunglasses couldn’t hide the tears suddenly sliding down his face. “We’re having a baby?”

“Yes.” She made a sound that was more laugh than cry.

“We are?” He studied her, loving her more than she had ever dreamed anyone could. “We really are?”

“Yes.” She grinned, blinking back her own tears. “Life’s just one big adventure.”

“But when … how did you find out?”

“I went in this morning.” She laughed and dried her cheeks at the same time. “Dr. Baker met me even though he didn’t have office hours today. The test was positive. Just like I guessed.”

If Dayne hadn’t been holding Sophie in his arms he would’ve let out a shout the whole beach could hear. Katy could read that much in his face. But since he couldn’t shout out loud, he drew close to her again and kissed her. The sort of kiss she would remember long after this day was a part of their history. “I’ve … I’ve asked God for this. For His timing, of course. But … that there would be another baby someday.”

“Me too.” They had talked about it. Katy didn’t get pregnant easily, and so there were no guarantees. No promises that she and
Dayne would ever have another child. And in that case they were at peace with the fact that they might only have Sophie. But now … now their prayers had been answered so completely she could do nothing but cling to him and to their little girl. “Congratulations, Dayne … you’re going to be a daddy again.”

When he looked at her this time, he was crying in earnest. He put his hand over her stomach and looked long at her, as if he never wanted the moment to end. “I love you, Katy.”

“I love you too. Always and a day.”

It was something they said to each other often since they were married.
Always and a day.
As if no amount of time here on earth would ever be enough to share the love they’d found together.

“Pray with me, Katy.” He closed his eyes and sniffed a few times, finding control for the moment. “Thank You … dear God, thank You. We commit this baby to You, every day, every month, every season of his or her life. Because You are a great and mighty God, and we want our whole family to serve You all the days …” his voice caught and she could feel him trembling, “all the days of our lives.”

“In Jesus’ name, amen. Hey …” She kissed the tears off his cheeks. “It’s a happy adventure, remember?”

“Yes. Crazy happy.” He laughed and dragged the back of his hand over his face. “Those are the only ones that make me cry.”

B
AILEY’S HEART RACED AS THEY STEPPED OFF
Brandon’s private jet and climbed into yet another black SUV, this one driven by one of his personal staff. They’d already gotten word that the paparazzi were circling LAX. Someone had spotted them leaving LaGuardia, and their destination was obvious.

With a four-day break listed on the shooting schedule, the couple had to be flying back to LA and Brandon’s hometown for a New Year’s celebration and a break from the cold and snow.

“It’s okay.” He stayed a foot in front of her, in case anyone with a long lens was shooting them even now, on the private runway. “I’ve got you, Bailey.”

“I know.” She exhaled, willing her heart to slow down. “I’m fine. Really.” The paparazzi didn’t exactly frighten her. They were just so much more intense here in Los Angeles. After all, this was where Dayne Matthews had been nearly killed being chased by photographers. One reason she had never seen herself moving here, being a part of Hollywood.

Brandon’s driver motioned to them. “Get inside. I’ll get your bags.”

“Thanks.” Brandon waited for her. “You first, baby.”

“Okay.” She still couldn’t shake the uneasiness of the circling paparazzi. “I have a bad feeling about them … the helicopters. Reminds me of Dayne and the accident.”

Brandon’s frustration showed in his face. “My driver won’t let that happen.” His gentle tone encouraged her to relax. “Come on, it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry … it’s weird. I guess it’s just … it’s more intense here.” Bailey slid across the leather seat of the SUV and buckled herself in. Not until they were on the road and Brandon’s driver, Seth, outsmarted half a dozen photogs chasing them, did Bailey finally catch her breath.

“You sure you’re okay?” He looked worried. “Come on, Bailey, we’ve done this.”

“I know.” She laughed, but it sounded nervous and forced. “I’m sorry. It’s just … maybe it’s because we’re dating … but they never sent helicopters before.” She managed a nervous smile. “Doesn’t it bug you?”

“I don’t think about it.” He reached for her hand. His frustration about the paparazzi faded and his attention was hers alone. “Let’s think about tonight instead … this is supposed to be fun, remember?”

“You’re right.” She nodded, trying to convince herself. Maybe it wasn’t only the photogs that had her on edge. They were having New Year’s Eve with Dayne and Katy and something about the trip felt more serious than anything they’d done before. Like they were playing the same roles their friends had played six years ago. Hollywood star and small town girl trying to find sanity in the world of moviemaking.

Living here, married to a celebrity like Brandon Paul? It wasn’t a role she ever pictured herself playing in real life. She’d assumed she’d marry someone like her dad and live in Bloomington when the time came. But here she was, driving down Pacific Coast Highway in Brandon Paul’s hired car, ready to spend New Year’s Eve with him — if only their driver could dodge the next set of paparazzi trailing their car and circling overhead.

Brandon’s playlist kicked into action, and the first song came on — their favorite by Lady Antebellum, “Just a Kiss.” The song was the last one they’d danced to at their rooftop prom.

“There.” Brandon searched her eyes after the song played for a minute. “You’re okay now. I can see into your heart.”

“I’m better. Yes.”

He put his arm around her and eased her close, gently pressing her head to his shoulder. “Rest, baby. Everything’s going to be fine.”

He was right. Of course everything was going to be fine. She told herself that several more times on the drive and as they made a mad dash into Katy and Dayne’s house avoiding a rush of three paparazzi cars who pulled up at the same time.

“They know we’re here.” She was breathless as they darted inside. “Now we’ll have to stay inside. They won’t leave us alone.”

“They will.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket. At the same time he yelled for Dayne. “Hey, guys, can you pop the garage door for us?”

“Sure thing.” Dayne didn’t need to ask why Brandon and Bailey
were in a rush or what the hurry was about the garage door. He’d lived this life once too. The driver must’ve answered because Brandon wasted no time. “Seth, I need you to circle around the block and then pull into the garage. Wait half an hour and then leave in a hurry. They’ll think we stopped by for a quick visit, and we can lose them.”