Leaving (13 page)

Cody was glad he wasn’t called upon to add a finishing thought to the story. He couldn’t have talked if he wanted to. He stole a look at Grandpa Ivan, and caught the man wiping a tear off his cheek. Kassie, though, was smiling as sweetly as ever, captivated by the story. She made hand signs that Cody understood. She wanted another story.

But this time Cheyenne stood and gave the girl a sad smile. “We have to go, sweetie.” She grinned at Grandpa Ivan. “Your grandpa here will tell you the next story.”

“Oh, sure.” He laughed. “Like I could follow that act.”

Kassie turned to her grandpa and nodded, excited and certain — as if she definitely believed her grandpa was capable of a story at least that good. Cody joined Cheyenne and they bid both Kassie and her grandfather goodnight. Outside in the hallway, Cody took a few steps and then stopped. “She’s so precious …” He pinched the bridge of his nose, staving off the tears that stung at the corners of his eyes. “How did you find her?”

“I know about this place,” she smiled. “There’s not enough days in the week to visit all the kids that need to hear a story of hope.”

They walked back to their cars, quieter than before. So many kids needed help. The guys on his Lyle football team and sick little girls like Kassie Garman. He had no idea where God might take the friendship he felt for Cheyenne, but he knew this much. Their passions were the same. And if nothing else, he had found a friend in Cheyenne. A friend he admired deeply, one he wanted to see more often.

Whether it was his time coaching or the half hour with Kassie, or simply the way Cheyenne made him feel, he wasn’t
sure. But that night for the first time in weeks, Cody didn’t wake up once with nightmares of prison cells and Iraqi soldiers. He slept in perfect peace, and when he woke he could only think one thing about his wonderful evening with Cheyenne and his perfect night’s sleep.

There had to be a connection.

T
HE FLIGHT TO
L
OS
A
NGELES WENT SMOOTHLY, AND NOW
J
ENNY
watched from the backstage wings of the
Tonight Show
set as her husband hurried their boys into seats near the front of the audience section. The premiere for
Unlocked
was set for tomorrow night, but first Bailey would appear with Brandon Paul on the talk show—an opportunity that had only come up yesterday.

Ricky turned back to Jim and said something, probably about wanting to be near the aisle. Whatever the concern, Jim positioned himself in the middle of the boys and with a calm look and gentle mannerisms he put an end to the discussion and got everyone seated. Jim saved a seat for her, right next to him. She had promised Bailey she’d stay with her until the show was about to start — or at least until Brandon Paul arrived. They had fifteen minutes until show time, so Jenny hoped Brandon would hurry.

For now, Bailey was changing her clothes, getting into an outfit she had brought with her. Jenny studied the full auditorium and shook her head, amazed.
Dear Lord, You sure have given us a crazy life … a life we love, of course. But still …
so
crazy.
She thought about the times they’d spent watching Jim coach the Indianapolis Colts, and how often he’d been shown on a national TV screen. Then the thought that Bailey would be chosen to star opposite Brandon, and now this.
Please, Father, let her shine for You. And let people see You when she’s on the
Tonight Show.
This isn’t about her or about our family …

It was an opportunity to be a light to the world — that’s what
Jenny and Jim talked about with Bailey on the flight here. But no question there was added interest when the producers of the
Tonight Show
figured out Bailey was the daughter of a successful NFL football coach. Talk show hosts liked that sort of thing.

Bailey came up behind her. “Okay …” she sounded nervous. “How do I look?”

The vision Bailey made took Jenny’s breath. “Honey, … you look stunning.” Bailey wore a sea-blue dress with short sleeves and a modest skirt that came to her knees. The dress was cut close to her body, but not in a way that was suggestive.

“Really? You like it?” Her doubts made her sound younger than she was. “You’re sure this is the right color? I brought another one …”

“No.” Jenny smiled and gave her daughter’s hand a squeeze. “This is perfect. You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

A woman in a black pencil skirt walked up and checked her notepad. “Bailey Flanigan?”

“Yes?” Bailey turned.

“Time for makeup.” She smiled at Jenny. “You’re Mom?”

“Yes.” Jenny wasn’t sure if they’d let her tag along. “Can I watch?”

“Certainly.” Again she smiled. “We’re pretty low key back here. As long as you make it out to your seat before the show starts.”

Back in the makeup room, Jenny sat off to the side and watched. She could hardly believe this was her little girl — all grown up and ready to take on the world. Something about the combination of the dress and the way her hair fell around her face as the makeup artist curled it … Bailey looked like a classic beauty, the sort of timeless superstar the world would love to elevate to cover-girl status. Jenny was grateful again that this wasn’t the life Bailey wanted. No matter what sort of impression
she made tonight, no paparazzi would follow her back home to Bloomington.

A commotion sounded in the room behind her, and she heard the familiar voice of Brandon Paul. She turned just as he hurried into the makeup area. “Where is she? Where’s my Bailey?”

The woman doing Bailey’s hair had a thick hot curling iron near her face, so she didn’t move. But she waved her hand. “Here … I’m in here.”

Brandon saw Jenny first, and he jogged the last few steps to close the distance between them. “Jenny!” He hugged her for a long time. “I’ve missed you so much! I’m definitely coming back to Bloomington.” He pulled back and searched her eyes in a hurry. “That’s okay, right? I mean, you’re my family away from the insanity of Hollywood.”

“Of course, it’s okay.” Jenny loved the energy Brandon brought into a room. No wonder he was becoming even more of a household name. He had a way of lighting up the silver screen the same way he lit up a room. From what producers of his next picture said, his acting ability had gotten even stronger. Jenny figured that had something to do with the new depth she saw in his eyes, the result of his ever-increasing faith.

He moved to Bailey’s side and waited until the makeup artist released the curl from the iron. Then she stood and the two of them hugged for a long time, so long that again Jenny didn’t have to wonder what Brandon’s feelings were for Bailey. He cared for her very much. Jenny had always believed Brandon might even be in love with Bailey. But nothing would ever come of it. Not as long as Brandon lived and worked in Los Angeles.

As they pulled apart, Brandon looked her up and down. “You are absolutely gorgeous, Bailey Flanigan. Wait till the public gets a look at you.” He winked at her and took the makeup chair beside her. “They’ll talk about how I’m your co-star. It’ll be, ‘Brandon who?’” He laughed, completely teasing her.

“You haven’t changed.” Bailey didn’t look nervous. She never had been around Brandon. Maybe because they were such good friends with the Baxters — and the Baxters’ oldest son was Dayne Matthews — one of the most famous actors to ever grace a movie screen. Or maybe because her father worked around famous athletes all the time. Whatever it was, Jenny loved her daughter’s level-headedness. It was like Jim always said: There wouldn’t be autograph lines in heaven. Might as well not get used to all the attention here on earth.

“The minute one of my guys starts believing all the adoration, he’s done,” Jim had said a number of times. “Fame destroys the people who believe it.”

Bailey certainly didn’t believe it. Even now Jenny knew her enough to know she was playing a role … the role of budding new actress, thrilled to be starring opposite Brandon Paul in the anticipated smash hit
Unlocked.
The truth was, she was a girl from Bloomington who loved God and her family and who saw Brandon Paul as a friend, not a celebrity. For that reason, she would be calm once she took the set of the
Tonight Show,
and she would shine for all the world to see.

Jenny had no doubt whatsoever.

H
ER SPOT ON THE
T
ONIGHT
S
HOW
was slated for fifteen minutes, and Bailey had no idea how she’d fill that much time on national television. The makeup session was over, and they were being set up with hidden microphones. Then one of the production staff led them to the wings, and they waited for the cue. The band played the intro music, and the host welcomed her and Brandon to the set.

Though they walked out together, they didn’t hold hands — the way Brandon suggested. “We can’t give the magazines any fuel,” Bailey giggled with him backstage.

“Even if I want them to talk?” Brandon looked like a little boy asking for his favorite Christmas toy.

“Even then.” Bailey wagged her finger at him, playfully.

Almost as soon as they sat down and made it through introductions, the host ran the trailer for their movie. Bailey had seen it twenty times, easily, but it still choked her up. The movie would bring hope and healing to a generation who needed it—and with God’s help the message would cause people to be kinder to others. Something desperately important for their culture. When the trailer finished, the host bantered a little with Brandon, asking if there was anything to the rumors about him and Bailey.

For a second, Bailey worried that Brandon might tease that yes, there was something to it. But instead he allowed his smile to fall off a little, and he gave Bailey a longing look. “I wish I could say there was, Jay, but truthfully … Bailey’s my friend.” He paused. “Her family introduced me to Jesus while I was on set in Bloomington.”

The Jesus comment made the host nervous, and he made a lame joke about whether Jesus wanted his autograph when they met. But Bailey couldn’t keep from beaming at her friend. Here on national television with all the world watching, as easily as he might’ve talked about surfing or hiking or any other new part of his life, Brandon Paul was talking about Jesus. She couldn’t wait to hug him later.

The discussion of Brandon’s faith turned the interview back to Bailey, and the fact that she was the daughter of Jim Flanigan, NFL coach. “Your father’s always had a strong faith, he’s always shared that with his players, wouldn’t you say?”

“Definitely.” Bailey felt more relaxed than she had all day. She smiled, and she could feel the way her eyes sparkled. “My mom and dad built our family on faith in God. It’s the most important part of our lives.” There. She’d done it. She’d found a way to
work her faith into the conversation without sounding forced or preachy. It was exactly what she and her parents had prayed for.

After that, they discussed the film for a few minutes and talked about the powerful message of treating people with respect and stopping bullying. The host spent a few minutes asking Brandon what was next. He didn’t turn the same question to Bailey, which didn’t surprise her. She was the “no-name” in the interview. It was enough that she had a part in
Unlocked.
Besides, what answer could she give? That she had just recently lost out on a Broadway role?

The interview ended with the host giving a plug for everyone to get to a theater that weekend to see
Unlocked.
He cut to a commercial break and shook both their hands. “Stop in any time,” he told them. “Brandon, you make sure to see us before your next film releases.”

With the cameras still off and the commercial still playing, Brandon held Bailey’s hand and led her off stage. She didn’t fight him this time. No one but the studio audience was watching, and clearly they had established that their friendship was rooted in faith — deeper and stronger than most Hollywood friendships.

Backstage, Brandon picked her up in his arms and swung her around in a full circle. “You were amazing! Please, Bailey … don’t tell me you’re done making movies. You do every aspect of it so well. The acting, the connecting with people on set … your humility. All of it.” He was talking fast, his words practically running together. “Bailey, please … do another movie. One with me.” He let his head fall back and he laughed out loud. “You were absolutely a pro out there. I was more nervous than you.”

The excitement of what had just happened, the way they’d showed the world a fresh side of moviemaking and the way it could connect to Christ was still working its way through her heart. She buzzed with joy and the thrill of the moment. “What about you? Telling Jay how you met Jesus, like it was nothing
unusual?” She laughed, thrilled. She never dreamed the interview would go this well.

There were still two segments to the show, but at the commercial break Bailey’s family had been allowed to exit to the wings. She could hear her brothers in the green room, and she laughed. What a wild experience for all of them — being here at the
Tonight Show.
The boys would have quite a story when they got back to school after the weekend. Girls in their classes still asked for autographs from Brandon, and so far none of her brothers had complained about the attention.

They met up around the snack table, and a producer motioned for quiet on the set. After the show, the host came back and visited with all of them, even taking time to sign autographs for Bailey’s brothers. The show had taped around five that evening, and by the time they all left out the back door, it was nearly eight o’clock and dark outside. Bailey had been looking forward to the quiet outside the studio after a full day of travel, her appearance on the
Today Show,
and the three-hour time difference. But they stepped from the backstage quiet to absolute chaos, because gathered out back were too many cameramen to count.

“This way,” her dad motioned them toward a waiting limo. Clearly he had worked this plan out backstage with Brandon’s bodyguards. The two guys wore suits and had builds big enough to be featured on her dad’s offensive line. Together the bodyguards parted the crowd as they led the group to the waiting car.

“Brandon!” someone yelled.

“Over here, Brandon …”

“Are you and Bailey Flanigan dating?”

Bailey chided herself for being caught unprepared. She hadn’t spent an evening with Brandon in a long time, and never here in Los Angeles. As they walked through the mob, Bailey doubted she’d ever seen so many camera flashes in her life. This was twice the paparazzi at the red carpet event in Bloomington for
The Last
Letter
— the film Keith Ellison and Dayne Matthews had produced before
Unlocked.

She appreciated how Brandon led the way, right behind his bodyguards and in front of her parents. Not one camera could’ve caught a photo of the two of them together — something he had clearly maneuvered out of respect for her. When they were safe in the stretch limo, everyone seemed too shocked to speak, breathless over the frenzy.

Justin squinted at Brandon in the dim lighting. “You deal with that madness all the time? Like … everywhere you go?”

Brandon shrugged off the inconvenience. “Paparazzi are part of the territory.” He sat back and stretched his legs. Now that they were out of sight he had taken the spot next to Bailey. “There are ways around them. But not after a live appearance like that. They all know the way out of the studio.”

Gradually the boys started talking, admitting that they weren’t sure they could handle the pressure of living under that sort of scrutiny. “What if I had something caught in my teeth?” BJ always had the most off-the-wall comments. “I’d be afraid to eat.”

“Nah,” Brandon laughed. He seemed completely at ease, even if Bailey and her family were still dazed by the onslaught. “If you think that’s bad, wait till tomorrow night. An LA premiere is big enough on its own. But for a movie as talked about as
Unlocked
… yeah, it’ll be a circus for sure.”