Starlight in Her Eyes (15 page)

Remember, we are both called to His purpose. He will direct our paths.

Love, Colin

They'd sparred every morning, flirted like crazy, and then met in the studio for lunch except yesterday when Colin had a meeting with the producers to discuss long-term strategies. He'd been encouraged by the fact they wanted to discuss his future at the station, and so had she. At today's lunch, Serena confided in him for the first time about the educational foundation she and Graham's family had jointly established at the University of Pennsylvania for journalism students in Graham's honor. Colin had been amazingly supportive and helped her make an important decision regarding scholarship applications and criteria.

Every afternoon, Colin ran out for coffee and they'd share a few minutes together in either his office or hers during her break. They stole kisses here and there, some quick and sweet, and others with enough heat to send her out in the cold temperatures with a smile on her face.

Were they rushing their relationship? According to some standards, perhaps, but she'd known Graham for three years and been engaged to him for a little more than a year before they'd married. The length of time two people had known one another could be relative and carried no guarantees for lasting happiness. She hadn't expected to fall in love, but every time Colin's smile settled on her, and every time she thought of Colin with Lily, she knew the Lord had brought him into her life in His perfect timing.

The “Out and About” segment Colin and Gabrielle had filmed yesterday had been a huge hit in the instant ratings poll. They'd shown the segment on
Wake Up, Philadelphia!
this morning and planned to show it again on the late evening newscast.

Although Serena was outwardly happy, she was secretly unsettled. She was thankful they hadn't renamed the segments “Out and About with Colin and Gabrielle.” Or—Heaven forbid—Gaby.

It's only a few shows, Serena.

Publicly generous in his assessment of his co-host, Colin admitted to Serena in private that Gabrielle didn't interact well with the people they met on the city streets. She found it difficult to find a common ground with anyone but Colin.

Serena frowned whenever she witnessed Gabrielle's obvious flirtations.

However, Gabrielle's inability to relate to others made her come across as somewhat stiff on camera.

None of that seemed to matter to the producers as long as the ratings were good.

“I'll hate every moment,” Colin told Serena late yesterday before dashing out of her office to meet Gabrielle for a trip to the Christmas Village at Love Park to film the segment. Then he'd rushed back in again, cradled both hands on either side of her face, and kissed her soundly before taking off once more with a quick wave and a promise to call her later.

Love Park, indeed. She'd hoped to go there with Colin and Lily. There would be more opportunities.

True to his word, Colin had called her shortly before the eleven o'clock newscast last night to share fun anecdotes of visiting with the vendors from all over the world at the Christmas Village. “The entire time I was there, I wished you'd been beside me, love. I wanted to feed you British specialty foods, have you select a bracelet or bauble made in Spain, and share a spirited debate over which of the cuckoo clocks made in the Black Forest was the most fabulous.”

He'd made her laugh, as usual, but as she'd watched the segment, Serena's irritation rose. Gabrielle touched his arm, laughed a bit too much, and leaned into him more than Serena considered appropriate. How could the producers think this was a good idea? She needed to get over herself, support the segments, and focus on her job, secure in Colin's love.

While talking with him, by some miracle, she'd managed to hold her tongue. Above all else, Serena didn't want to come across as jealous. Gabrielle didn't threaten her relationship with Colin. The only thing that could threaten her relationship with Colin? Her own insecurities.

~*~

Wednesday Evening

How had serving a meal at the downtown mission become a promotional opportunity? Something was stewing, and it wasn't the tomatoes at the end of the serving line. Serena composed her features, trying her best not to show her disgruntlement.

The good news was that many of the television station's staff members had shown up to help serve the meal. Now they'd also spread themselves out across the room for the meal instead of being clustered together.

Serena had been assigned to keep an eye on the hot vegetable trays while Colin and Gabrielle worked together to serve the meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Colin was being his usual jovial self but Gabrielle seemed more interested in playing the dutiful, fawning co-host. She couldn't take her eyes off Colin and stuck to his side like a permanent attachment.

Although she'd never been the type of woman to be jealous, Serena wished she could pelt Gabrielle with flying fruit. Nothing with a hard skin that could physically hurt the woman, but something very mushy. Messy.

Before joining Lily at their table, Serena waited until all the guests had been served, some for a second time. After saying a quick prayer, she surveyed her plate. None of the food appealed to her. Not that it didn't look and smell delicious, but her stomach had gone sour.

“Mommy, why isn't Mr. Colin eating with us?”

“They're filming the show, honey. That means Mr. Colin needs to sit with Miss Gabrielle so they can talk with the staff and guests of the mission.”

Lily pouted. “So I can't go sit with him?”

“Not now, Lily. Please eat your meal while it's hot.”

“I don't like it.” Her daughter came as close to whining as Serena had heard in a long while. Serena was well aware Lily was not referring to her displeasure with the meal. “Will Mr. Colin talk with us later?”

“I'm sure he will.” For the rest of the meal, Serena concentrated on talking with the others at their table. She was pleased by how well Lily interacted with the children close to her own age. Serena's gaze encompassed the large basement of the downtown church and then settled on Colin.

He was actively engaged in a lively discussion with another man while Gabrielle nodded and smiled beside him.

The cameraman circled around them, capturing the conversation on tape from all different angles.

The presence of the camera crew here at the mission seemed intrusive—a “look at me” attitude that stressed how they were helping the less fortunate, and as such, deserved applause or recognition. Were they exploiting the people who'd come to the mission—and the reason and purpose for the mission in the first place? Serena's gaze once more moved to Colin. No, he wasn't here to exploit anyone. She loved how he treated everyone equally, just as he always did. He was doing so much good. She needed to get over her pettiness and stop her own whining. Rejoin the human race, as her mother would say.

“You don't have a place to live?” Lily's voice caught Serena's attention. Lily had directed the question to a dark-haired girl with big, sad brown eyes.

She appeared to be close to Lily's age, perhaps a year or two older. The child shook her head.

“That's too bad. Do you have a daddy?”

Serena put her hand on Lily's arm, hoping she hadn't gone too far with the blunt question.

The girl nodded and pointed to the man seated beside her, engaged in conversation with a man on the other side of him.

Serena wondered if the child was autistic or couldn't speak.

“That's good. I used to have a daddy, but now I don't,” Lily said.

Serena wondered if she should step into the conversation. No, Lily had a purpose for her questions.

The girl didn't appear upset, although her father seemed to ignore her.

Serena's heart ached for the child.

“I don't have a mommy,” the child said in a voice so quiet both Serena and Lily strained forward to hear. “She died.”

“That's what happened to my daddy.” Lily shoveled a bite of meatloaf into her mouth. Her brow furrowed. Finally she said, “Danica, do you have a special friend? Like a puppy or anything?”

The girl shook her head.

Lily jumped off the bench. “I'll be right back.”

Serena's breath caught as Lily scampered back to the table with Truffle in her arms. She'd left him in the kitchen, locked in a cabinet with Serena's purse. One of the workers must have recognized Lily and opened the cabinet for her.

Lily held out the teddy bear to the girl. “This is Truffle. He's a very special bear but you can have him if you want. Just keep his same name because he really likes it.”

After only a moment's hesitation, the girl reached for Truffle. Hugging the stuffed animal to her chest, she buried her head against him.

Serena glanced the other way, blinking away her tears as Lily plopped onto the bench and resumed eating.
Thank you, Lord, for my daughter's giving spirit that runneth over.
A verse she'd studied earlier that week came to Serena's mind from the Book of Luke.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

She could learn so much from Lily. Her daughter loved that teddy bear. Lily's selfless gesture touched Serena in a place hidden for much too long. A place where her dreams and hopes had been buried under a load of bitterness and regret.

Serena's gaze moved to Colin. He had one hand over the joined hands of a young couple, praying with them.

Serena's tears began. Cleansing tears, healing tears. She allowed them to flow freely.

14

The Saturday Night before Christmas

Dressed for the Liberty Bell Ball, Serena lifted her gown and twirled in a full circle before Lily. She adored how the skirt of the dress—a slightly off-the-shoulder, modestly cut, ultra-feminine confection of off-white organza and tulle—swirled around her. Tiny diamond-like sparkles and ivory sequins reflected the light and shimmered with her smallest movements. The lines of the dress were elegant and regal, the cut flattering in its closely fitted bodice, nipped waist, and flare at a point slightly below her hips. Although she could have worn a red dress, she'd decided this one would be better for the ball. Serena stopped twirling to face her toughest critic. “What do you think?”

Lily clapped her hands in delight. “You look like a beautiful princess, Mommy.”

“Thank you, sweetie. You know what? I feel like a princess.” She hadn't dressed in a gorgeous gown since the last Liberty Bell Ball she'd attended with Graham. Tonight was a turning point. A time to say good-bye to that part of her life once and for all. A time to feel like a woman again. A time to feel valued and appreciated by a man.

By Colin Stephen Young.

Marla and Trina came out of the kitchen which had been turned into a hair and makeup salon for the past hour. Both wore wide smiles and came to stand on either side of Lily.

Marla gave her the type of knowing grin she'd perfected and Trina seemed to have a twitch in her eye.

“You have yourself a great time and we'll take good care of your sweet girl,” Marla told her. “Lily and I are going to experiment with different hairstyles.” She gave Serena a nod of approval. “And you, young lady, made the right choice to wear your hair like that. It looks gorgeous.”

Knowing Colin preferred her hair down, but wanting a different style for the ball, Serena had made a slight compromise.

Marla had swept small sections of her hair away from her temples and secured them at the crown with an antique diamond comb that had once belonged to Serena's paternal grandmother. While it revealed the length of her neck, the rest of her hair cascaded in loose, soft waves halfway down her back.

Serena wanted to please Colin and look pretty for him, especially tonight.

“You're beautiful,” Trina said to Serena before winking at Lily. “Lily's promised to be my consultant and help pick out some new lipstick and eye shadow colors for me to order.”

“Then we're making brownies!” Lily rubbed her stomach and licked her lips.

“That sounds like you'll have a fun evening. Lily, you're privileged to have two of the station's most valuable employees here with you tonight.” Serena's eyes widened. “Where's my handbag? I daresay my mind is gone.”

“Don't touch your face!” Trina warned after Serena brought her hands near her cheeks.

“You're beginning to sound like Colin.” Marla's smile grew broader as she planted a hand on her ample hip. “I daresay.”

Goodness, she was right. Serena shrugged. “It's addictive.” She laughed in spite of her nerves. Colin was addictive in all the best ways.

“I think I know where your purse is!” Lily dashed from the room and returned within seconds with the delicate, gold beaded handbag dangling from one hand.

Serena smiled with relief as she took it from her daughter. “Thank you, sweetie.” Opening it, she did a quick inventory and put one hand over her middle as she attempted to control her breathing. “I think I have all the essentials now.”

The doorbell rang and they all exchanged glances.

“Mr. Colin's here!” Lily jumped up and down. “Don't just stand there. Somebody let him in!” When no one moved fast enough for her liking, she ran to the door and flung it open.

Serena's heart nearly stopped. Colin wore no overcoat and
handsome
didn't begin to describe how great he looked in his dark tuxedo. She smiled at his deep red vest and silk ascot—distinctly British touches—with a matching pocket square. He'd picked up on the fact that her favorite color was red and his vest and accessories also complemented and coordinated well with her gown.

“Good evening, ladies,” he said as he made his customary low bow. “May I come in? It's rather cold outside.”