Take Three

  “You ready?” Keith took a step toward the door and gave Chase a hearty pat on the back.

  “Ready.”

  Suddenly, Keith wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. This was a moment they had dreamed about since their days in the jungle. He swallowed hard. “Let’s find the rest of our team.”

  Down in the lobby they met up with Kendall and her father, Ben. Luke was caught up in a conversation with one of the heads from MGM studios, and he joined them a minute later. Ben had arranged for a limo, and it was waiting to take them to the theater. Fitting for a red carpet affair.

  “Our carriage awaits.” Kendall’s eyes sparkled. She wore a long black dress accented with brilliant sequins.

  Keith watched Chase, how he lingered a little longer at Kendall’s side. He was wondering how to talk to Chase about his concerns when Lisa walked up. She also looked beautiful, so much like their daughter, Andi. Lisa wore a navy pantsuit with flowing sleeves—very Hollywood chic. The six of them headed for the limo, and Chase was the last one to step inside, right after Kendall. Now that they were alone together, Keith wanted to pray. “This is a big night. If God wants us to make an impact in this city, it’ll start here.”

  The others agreed, and in the little time they had on the short trip, they held hands and asked for God’s blessing on the night, that the actors would feel God’s presence in the work they’d accomplished, and that the audience would be changed by the film. In addition, they asked the Lord for continued favor from the media and for the Unlocked project, still being discussed behind the scenes. They dedicated the night to God and uttered a round of amens just as the limo pulled up in front of the red carpet.

  Outside, a wall of paparazzi lined either side of the stretch of red. Keith had to put his hand on the cool metal of the limo door before he actually believed what he was seeing. The media had turned out in droves to celebrate their premiere, to see for themselves the film everyone was talking about.

  As soon as he opened the door and stepped out, the cameras began clicking. Hundreds of them, thousands. So this was how it felt. The sensation was heady and intoxicating, but Keith stuffed it. This isn’t about us, he told himself. Ignore it. But the cameras kept clicking, and Keith was conscious of every move he made. Every move his team made. He looked back at Chase just as he was helping Kendall from the limo. Keith winced, unwittingly. He wished he could freeze the moment and tell Chase to distance himself from Kendall before another camera caught their picture. But there was nothing he could do. Every camera was capturing Chase, his hand wrapped around Kendall’s as she exited the limo.

  Keith looked away, intent on smiling for the cameras and giving the accurate appearance that all was well. They moved along the red carpet as a group, and immediately someone yelled out from the sea of reporters. “Your wife’s stunning, Chase. What’s her name?”

  “My wife’s home with our girls,” he yelled back. He took a step away from Kendall, but no matter where he turned, she was only inches away. Cameras were pointed at them from every angle.

  Another photographer shouted, “Chase, Keith…pose with your wives!”

  “Chase, Keith…over here!” The shouts continued at a frenzied pace.

  “One more over here.”

  “Get together in a group! That’s it, smile. Hold it…and another this way.”

  The voices blurred, the camera flashes so steady and constant that Keith wondered if his eyes would ever be the same. When the reporters asked them to form a group, there was no getting around the natural way of things. Keith and Lisa, Chase and Kendall. Luke and Ben off to the side, giving the team of producers their moment. Again the question flew at them. “Keith, your wife’s Lisa, right?” a reporter yelled.

  “And what about you, Chase? Introduce us to your wife.”

  There was no point trying to clear up the mess. As many times as Chase might yell that his wife was at home, his voice was drowned out by the paparazzi. They would simply have to make sure the mainstream reporters got it right later. Otherwise the pictures from the event would identify Kendall as Chase’s wife. Something bound to hurt Kelly.

  But once they were inside, Keith was distracted from thinking about Chase and Kendall as he stared at the scene playing out. Here was the entire cast of The Last Letter, a reunion Chase had longed for, and here the Lord was giving it to them. The faithfulness of God was beyond anything Keith could grasp.

  The mingling time ended twenty minutes later as everyone took their seats in the theater and the lights dimmed. Keith noticed that Chase sat between him and Luke—almost as if he was unaware of Kendall or how things had looked earlier. Keith hoped the reporters took note. The theater went dark, and the movie came to life. From the opening scene, the audience was gripped. They laughed where they were supposed to laugh, and when Jake Olson read the last letter from his father, people around the dark theater weren’t merely crying.

  Some of them were quietly weeping.

  Keith knew every line of the movie backwards and forwards. He’d helped create it and his work in the editing room had helped bring it to life. Now he watched the actors and the audience and checked for the reaction among the reporters who’d been invited to the premiere.

  When it was over, he had the thrilling sense that once again the movie was better than anyone expected. The festival director was Liam Montgomery, a tuxedoed black man who was one of the top movie reviewers in Hollywood. His write-up of an independent film could make or break the picture’s theatrical release. With audience members still wiping their eyes and blowing their noses, Liam moved to the front of the theater and summoned the actors and producers. As Keith and Chase arrived at the front, Liam held out his hand toward them. “The producers, ladies and gentlemen.”

  With that, the crowd spontaneously rose to their feet and the applause from earlier grew and built into a rousing ovation. Keith blinked back tears. He was torn between trying to believe this was happening and wishing Kelly was here to share the moment with Chase. Once the cast was lined up, the questions began. People wanted to know if the emotion they saw on the screen was evident on the set, and whether there had been any difficulties filming the movie.

  “I can take that one,” Keith reached for the microphone. He laughed as he exchanged a look with everyone up front. “The list of problems would last longer than the film. So we’ll just say we had a lot of help from God in making this movie.”

  He watched to see the crowd’s reaction at the mention of God, but no one bolted from their seat or stood up and chastised them. They were Christians. People seemed to understand that, and they liked them anyway.

  A lady stood in the back row, and Liam called on her. “Go ahead. You’ll have to yell so we can hear you.”

  The woman had no trouble raising her voice loud enough for the entire theater to hear her. “There was a powerful message of redemption in this film.” She hesitated, choked by her own emotions. “I’ve been cut off from my father for ten years, and after seeing this film…I’ll call him as soon as I get home. Was that your intention when you made this film? That it would motivate people to make amends with those they love?”

  Again Keith felt a lump in his throat. He reached for the microphone, and then changed his mind and passed it to Chase.

  His friend cleared his throat, clearly struck by the same wave of emotion. “Well, actually, yes.” He smiled back at Keith. “Our goal was that this movie might be life-changing. That people would find their way back to their families and lost loved ones, and even back to faith in God.”

  Keith took the microphone. “That was our intent from the beginning and it remains our intent now. We’re shameless about it.”

  Throughout the audience people smiled and nodded, appreciating the fresh newness of watching a movie and being more than just entertained. Many of them were clearly changed in the process, and they apparently liked how that felt.

  Before the question-and-answer time ended, Keith remembered the confusion about Kendall bein
g Chase’s wife. He took the microphone and smiled. “One more thing,” he kept his tone casual. “I’d like to introduce the people who’ve helped make this movie possible.” He gestured toward the audience. “Ben Adams, and his daughter, Kendall.”

  The two stood and offered a brief wave. Keith clapped, leading the audience in a polite applause for the father-daughter team.

  “Also, our wives, Lisa Ellison,” Keith waited until Lisa stood and received her applause, “and Kelly Ryan, who is home tonight with their two daughters.”

  Next, Liam made the announcement they’d been waiting for. The committee had made its decision. The Last Letter was indeed best film of the festival, and Jake Olson, best actor. In addition, Chase Ryan was awarded the top director award, meaning their film had raked up more honors than any other at the festival.

  “I must say,” Liam waved his hand toward Chase and Keith. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been touched by a film this powerful. I think this is the beginning of a long and accomplished career in movie-making for both of you.” He grinned. “My review will be in next week’s paper.”

  Again the room burst into applause, and Keith shared a look with Chase. God was making it happen. Everything was panning out just like they’d prayed it might. Thank You, Jesus…thank You for this. Keith said the silent prayer as he pointed upward, his eyes lifted to the ceiling. This was all because of God, nothing more. The experience was so great, the reality was overwhelming. God was winning, and if they continued to follow Him through filmmaking, He would win again and again and again. That’s why he needed to talk to Chase later. Not only that, but he needed to talk to Andi, find out why she’d been so quiet, so withdrawn lately.

  Only then could he be sure they were doing all they could to follow God now, the way they’d followed Him when they first began.

  Three

  BY THE TIME DINNER WAS READY, more Cru kids had shown up and the camp bustled with conversation and activity. In one corner a few kids played the guitar, warming up for the worship time around the campfire later. While they ate, Bailey could feel Cody’s presence like a physical touch. A couple times she glanced over her shoulder at him, and once she caught him looking too. He still hadn’t explained what had happened with his mother.

  One of the other guys’ cabins had clean-up that night, so when they finished dinner, Bailey and her group of girls went to their cabin and made up their beds. They still had most of the hour before the worship time, and some of the girls wanted to make phone calls or write in their journals. Bailey made a quick call to her parents and then headed out to the fire pit. Cody was there, one of a group of guys gathering still more wood. He smiled at her and moved one more armful closer to the pit before taking the spot beside her.

  She could feel his warmth even though their bodies weren’t touching. “Okay, so talk to me.” She kept her voice low. This wasn’t the place for a deep conversation. That wouldn’t happen until they were alone. But she still wondered why his plans had changed. “You were supposed to have dinner with your mom.”

  His expression cooled. “She forgot.” He leaned over his knees and kept his eyes from hers. He wasn’t angry, but there was no denying the hurt in his voice. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.” He stood and stretched. “I have to get my bunk made up.”

  She was on her feet too. Her heart felt like it had slipped down to her socks. “Umm…okay.”

  He took a few steps toward his cabin, then stopped and turned. A long sigh rattled above the sound of the whisper of leaves overhead. “I’m sorry.” He raked his fingers through his hair and stared off at the early evening sky for a moment. “It’s not your fault.” He looked at her, his eyes deep, more open to her. “If you have time…meet me at my cabin. Ten minutes?”

  She nodded and shrugged a little. What was going on? All of a sudden she was shy around him. You’re crazy, she told herself. You’ve known Cody forever. She turned back to her cabin and found the other girls preoccupied. When she was sure none of them were looking to talk to her, she wandered back outside, down the path toward Cody’s cabin. She saw him long before she reached his little log building. He was sitting on a tree stump, staring at the lake, his shoulders broad and muscled.

  She stopped and watched him, the familiar way he held his head, the way the fading sunlight illuminated his profile. What was he thinking, sitting there like that? Was he worried about his mom, or a new girl in his life? Or maybe he was merely taking in God’s beauty. She almost didn’t want to disturb him, but then—as if he could read her mind—he looked her way and smiled. “Hey.”

  The path was smooth, but she watched her step anyway. Just in case some critter might cross in front of her. She was much more of a hotel girl, more comfortable at the Doubletree with samples of lotion and shampoo, than here in the woods. But she could appreciate both, and she was glad she’d come. Even with the threat of copperhead snakes.

  She reached him and grinned. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”

  For a second she thought he might tell her what he’d been thinking about, but then he set his jaw and his smile stayed guarded. “I’m glad you did.” He pointed to a path that led closer to the lake. “Wanna take a walk?”

  “Sure.” They set out slowly side-by-side, and suddenly Bailey laughed out loud. “I just remembered something funny.”

  “Which thing?” He hooked his thumbs in his jean pockets and chuckled a little. The way he always did around her. “Something funny’s always happening when you’re around.”

  “Hey.” She pretended to be hurt. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

  “It is.” His eyes danced and he looked straight ahead again. “Believe me, it is.”

  “Well, okay…remember when we were at the beach with my family, on the other side of the lake? We took a walk and you challenged me to a race.”

  “Me?” He stopped and pointed to himself. “That was you, Missy. You’re the one who wanted to race.”

  “Anyway,” she kept walking, undaunted. “I got about ten steps and I twisted my ankle. You had to practically carry me back to the picnic tables.”

  “The summer before I shipped out.”

  “Right.” She allowed her laughter to fade softly, mingling with the evening summer breeze. They turned a corner and were out of view of the campsite. The lake spread out before them, but still they walked on. Up ahead, the lake side of the path was bordered by a rocky outcropping, and when they reached it, they climbed onto the top and sat together. Cody seemed careful to allow space between them. For a while they were quiet, watching the lake, taking in the beauty around them. Bailey could’ve spent the next half hour sitting there in silence. If Cody didn’t want to talk, that was fine. It was enough simply to be with God, to be with him.

  He broke the silence first. “My mom met some guy.” He drew a slow breath and frowned. “I’m not sure about him. I was sort of hoping she’d meet someone at church, but she met him at the health club.”

  “They’re out tonight?”

  “Yeah. She said she forgot about our dinner. Then she said it didn’t matter. She didn’t want me to miss the retreat on her account.”

  “That was nice.”

  “I guess.” He leaned back on both hands. “I worry about her.”

  “I know.”

  “It’s like that with an addict. Relapse is always possible.”

  They were quiet for a while, and Bailey thought about Cody’s world. She could always count on her parents. That wasn’t true for him. She lifted her chin and filled her lungs with the sweetsmelling air. “I forget how great it feels to be out here.”

  “That’s why I came.” He looked intently at her. “To really pray about this coaching idea and what else lies ahead for me.”

  Bailey felt her heart warm, despite the cool stone beneath her. Even with his concerns for his mom, Cody’s future seemed to be taking shape. He was finishing school soon and his desire was to coach at Clear Creek High. His life was a living
miracle, every aspect. “I still pray for you all the time.” Again she felt shy. “Every day, actually.”

  His eyes grew deeper, the connection between them as close as she shared with any of her brothers, but different. More intimate. “The way I still pray for you.” He faced the water again. “Speaking of which, what happened to Tim? I thought he was going to be here.”

  “He got sick. Strep throat.”

  “Oooh.” Cody frowned. “That’s too bad.”

  “Yeah.”

  Cody was quiet for a long moment. In the distance there was the shrill haunting cry of an eagle, swooping low over the water. The sun had already gone down, and dusk was settling across the lake. “You and Tim,” Cody said finally. “You’re still serious, aren’t you?”

  She sighed. He never quite understood that she had loved him first, that if he’d come back from Iraq and declared his love for her, she would’ve moved on from Tim long ago.

  “Sorry.” Cody faced her. “You don’t have to answer.”

  “No, it’s fine.” She folded her arms in front of her and pulled one foot up onto the rock. “Things are the same.”

  “Your dad said you and Tim are auditioning in New York this summer.”

  “In August.” She shrugged. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

  “They’ll love you.”

  His compliment touched her, and she smiled despite the confusion clouding her soul. “I don’t know. Last time I was there, the city didn’t have the same appeal.” She looked out at the water, at the way the breeze sent ripples across the width of the lake. “New York’s crazy. Constant noise and strange smells, people living on top of each other. You have to look straight up to see the sky.”

  “Hmm.” Cody gave a single shake of his head and narrowed his eyes. “Not my style.”