Take Four

  Someone hit the lights, and a video began to play on a screen at the front of the room. The message read:

  Cast and crew of unlocked…here’s to you!

  The words faded and the screen came to life with emotional music and a sequential series of highlights from the last six weeks, footage that wasn’t exactly a trailer, but some of which was bound to make the cut when the trailer was made.

  From the opening scene, where the couple playing Brandon’s parents receive the diagnosis of his autism and they realize they’ll never again have their toddler the way he once was, the footage was gripping. Bailey leaned over her knees, and she barely noticed as Brandon put his arm around her back. The story jumped from that early diagnosis to Holden Harris’s high school years. The director and director of photography had done a brilliant job getting inside the prison that was Holden’s mind, helping the audience see how strange and sometimes beautiful it would feel to go through a crowded high school corridor trapped inside the prison of autism.

  Scene after scene, the performances were so gripping Bailey had to remember to exhale. The impact brought tears to her eyes. Around the room she could hear people sniffling, and she knew everyone was feeling the same way. Especially during the Holden Harris scenes, the way Brandon had brought his character to life. She put her hand on his knee and squeezed it in a way that told him she was beyond impressed. “Amazing,” she whispered.

  “You were my inspiration,” he whispered near her ear. “How could I miss?”

  The compliment warmed her to her core, but she refused to believe it. Brandon’s performance was all part of what God was doing here on the set. What He wasn’t finished doing.

  After five minutes, the piece ended and the lights came back up. Around the room people were drying their eyes, looking at each other in disbelief and rising to their feet. At first a few began to clap and then several more, until the entire room was standing in wild, raucous applause for what they’d just witnessed. Bailey hadn’t been part of a movie shoot before, but she couldn’t believe this was normal—that at the end of six weeks it was this clear they’d been part of something unforgettable.

  From the back of the room someone shouted out, “Incredible work, Brandon!”

  Another person shouted his name, and then another, and the applause continued—loud and intense mixed with a cheering that made Brandon wave at the others. Then he gave Bailey a crooked smile and a slight shrug, as if to say he didn’t know what all the fuss was about.

  Bailey gave him a side hug, holding on longer than usual. If he was capable of a performance like that, then certainly God was working within him. His heart was being changed by the living Word of God. It would only be a matter of time before he admitted it and turned running back into the arms of Jesus.

  Mr. Ellison took the front of the room again. “So you see…when we said people would talk about this movie for generations to come, we meant it.” Tears glistened in his eyes, and he laughed to ease the intensity of the moment. His words were now slower, deeply deliberate. “I’m so very, very proud of each of you. No matter who gets talked about and who receives top billing, you’re all stars in our eyes.”

  Dayne came to the front of the room and stood beside Keith. “I’ve been acting for more than a decade, and that,” he pointed at the wall where the video had just been shown, “is more special than anything I’ve ever seen.” He nodded, smiling at each of them and finally giving Mr. Ellison a hearty side hug. “Congratulations!”

  The room erupted into hugs and laughter, everyone beyond excited, but sad to see the shoot come to an end. Bailey and Brandon had only a few brief scenes that day, so they spent most of their time working with the assistant director on the list of shots that would need slight additions or even partial reshoots.

  That night Danielle, the caterer, made a steak and seafood feast, and after an hour the producers hurried everyone to the school gymnasium. There Bailey could hardly believe her eyes. As a surprise to the cast, the producers had secretly decorated the place like a high school prom, complete with massive pink and purple streamers and a DJ playing from the stage.

  But more than that, the entire room was filled with family and friends of the cast and crew. Some had clearly flown in, and as Bailey walked in, her brothers ran up to her. Brandon had been to the house a few times, so they knew him and they gave him high fives. “Isn’t this the best thing ever!” Ricky spun around. “I’ve never been to a prom!”

  Bailey and Brandon swapped a look, and they both laughed out loud. Her parents joined them and the buzz continued through the night, with people reflecting on all they’d accomplished, and the DJ bringing everyone onto the floor for the chicken dance and the twist. Bailey was pretty sure her brother Justin was going to throw out his hip from twisting so hard, but instead he fell to the floor laughing.

  She and Brandon danced much of the evening together, but always one or more of Bailey’s brothers was with them—keeping the group feel to the night. Around the room the cast danced much the same way, in groups. Some people had no family or friends along, so they joined in with those who did, and the evening took on the feel of a reunion.

  Only once, when the DJ played the song “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles did Brandon take her into his arms and insist that they deserved this one slow dance together. As the words began, he sang them to her, his lighthearted laughter in his eyes replaced with something far deeper and more meaningful. “Something always brings me back to you…” his voice was smooth and on key. “You hold me without touch…keep me without chains…”

  He knew every line, every lyric and he sang each word straight to her. When the song reached the part where the singer cries out, “Set me free…” Brandon brought his face close alongside hers and sang, “Don’t set me free…”

  She smiled, appreciating his efforts and moved by them. When he finally gave his heart to Jesus, she wondered if her feelings for him would change, if she’d be able to resist him the way she could still resist him now. As charming as he was, as great a time as she’d had these past six weeks, he still didn’t share her faith.

  And he wasn’t Cody Coleman.

  At the end of the dance, he looked at her like she was the most precious treasure, and he leaned close and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m not giving up, Miss Bailey.”

  She hoped her eyes told him how much his kindness meant to her. She would never think about mocking his efforts or disregarding his attempts to make her fall for him. She cared far too much about him for that. “I’ve had fun, Brandon…every day. I won’t forget it.”

  He gave her a quick, meaningful hug—nothing that could’ve been taken by anyone in the room to be more than a show of deep friendship. “It’s not over yet.” Again he smiled at her. “Now let’s get your brothers and your parents out here.”

  Two hours into the party, the group gathered for a showing of the blooper reel, also put together by the directors. The cast laughed until they cried, and Bailey was grateful at the end when they were each given a gift bag with both the highlight reel and the bloopers, along with a custom coffee mug that read Unlocked across it, a T-shirt with the same, and a thank-you card from the producers. Memories of a six-week period in her life Bailey was certain she would remember forever.

  But as the night ended and she returned home with her family, it wasn’t the movie or Brandon or the cast party that consumed her mind. It was one simple truth—now that the filming was done she and Cody were going to share Thanksgiving. Cody could explain about the Cheyenne girl, whoever she was, and he could tell her why he’d stayed so completely away. And if things went the way she prayed they would go, they might find common ground again, and pick up where they left off.

  As if nothing about the strange break between them had ever even happened.

  The police had captured Benny Dirk. The arrest happened last night, and the detective called Cody within the hour. They had evidence that he was linked to three murders and more drugs than they had im
agined. With Cody’s mother’s testimony and the evidence against him, Benny was going away for a long time. He was no longer a threat to Cody or to Bailey.

  Cody stretched out on his bed. He was supposed to be studying for a physics test, but thoughts of Bailey made homework impossible. His heart was still raw over all he’d missed out on…and all that laid ahead. He had read in the paper that the filming for Unlocked was wrapping that day. The cast was probably celebrating somewhere in Bloomington, maybe even there at the school.

  I miss her so much, God…help me get through this…

  His room was quiet, a bunch of empty boxes lining his wall. He’d made his decision. He’d sent his resume to six high schools in Indianapolis over the past few weeks, and the athletic director at one of them—a new Christian school—had offered to make him the head football coach in the coming year. He would have to live there, of course, find an apartment near Iu’s Indianapolis campus to finish his degree.

  There was more to his decision. He wanted to be closer to his mother, and he needed time to think about his life, his future. Bailey was moving on without him—at least it felt that way. The most loving thing he could do was let her go—which meant the move to the city was the right decision from every angle.

  He didn’t have much to pack, and he couldn’t leave until the first week of December, after finals. Clear Creek High had finished sixth in state—far better than any time in the last few years. Coach Taylor had told him after the last game—an away loss to a big Indianapolis school—that the team would never have gone so far without his help.

  “Connor is a different kid this year,” Coach told him.

  Cody was still pretty sure Connor’s passion laid in performing—lately he wanted to be a Christian recording artist—but Cody had to agree with Coach Taylor. The work he’d done with Connor hadhelpedhimmatureintoadifferent,moreconfidentyoungman. The changes in him were only one of the rewards Cody would take with him from this past season. Jim Flanigan had thanked him too.

  “We miss you around the house,” he’d told Cody after the last game. “When things settle down, come back around. I’d like to talk sometime.”

  Cody had agreed, but he didn’t let the conversation linger. Leaving the Flanigans was going to hurt in a way that would stay with him all his life. Not just leaving Bailey, but her whole family.

  Now that there was no football practice, Cody had put all his focus on his schoolwork. He wanted nothing less than a B, especially since he was transferring. He’d already made the arrangements with the counselors here and at the Indianapolis campus. He set his physics book down and laid on his back, staring at the ceiling. If only he could get through this week, through the conversation he was finally going to have with Bailey.

  Jim Flanigan had called and invited him for Thanksgiving, and Cody had accepted. He understood why the invitation hadn’t come from Bailey. They weren’t talking at all now, not even a few random text messages or brief awkward phone calls. Several weeks back he’d stopped responding to her, and in very little time she gave up altogether. Cody didn’t blame her. The break was his fault completely.

  But he’d only done it because he loved her more than life. At first, because he wanted to protect her from Benny. But then because he wanted her to enjoy the life God was giving her. He would only slow her down now. If the paparazzi found out about their relationship and Cody’s mother…her arrest and Benny Dirk. The news could tarnish Bailey forever.

  His leaving was just one more way of protecting her.

  He breathed in and felt a little rush of adrenaline at the thought of seeing her. She’d made the cover of the tabloids twice since filming started, once when the group of them flew off to New York City for the day and the headlines shouted: Cast of unlocked Gets Friendly. The picture was of Brandon and Bailey leaving the Gershwin Theater together, holding hands. The quality was grainy, and clearly they hadn’t known anyone was taking their picture.

  But the photo said it all.

  The second time a photographer had caught them laughing together on the set of Unlocked. Good Times Ahead for B&B the cover announced. Cody had purchased both magazines, so he’d have proof in case he ever needed a reminder about why he was doing what he was doing.

  The tabloids were merciless. They knew Tim Reed was in the Wicked cast, and they announced that already Tim was seeing one of the other ensemble dancers. If they found out about Cody and his mother, Bailey’s reputation would suffer. There was no need for that or for him to drag her down in any other way. Their lives were simply too different.

  He thought about Thanksgiving. Lord, let our time together be special…not strained or awkward. Please…I want her to remember what we shared before. Not how it is now.

  He wanted a proper goodbye, a chance to tell her how much he cared and to convince her he only wanted the best for her. On the bed beside him, his phone vibrated, alerting him of a text message. For half a second he hoped it might be Bailey, but then he knew better. Not tonight, with the cast party undoubtedly in full swing.

  A quick look at his phone and he smiled to himself. Cheyenne.

  You studying?

  He tapped out his return on his phone. Trying…you?

  They’d been texting a little more, gradually finding a friendship. As it turned out, he was moving into an apartment a block away from her. They’d both be taking classes at the Indianapolis campus, and Tara had made it clear she expected them to be at Sunday dinner often. “Art would love this,” Tara told him when he stopped by last time he was in town. Cody had picked up a bouquet of flowers at the market, just to tell her he was thinking about her, about Art.

  Tara had buried her face in the flowers and breathed in deep, and when Cody told her he was talking with Cheyenne occasionally, Tara’s eyes teared up, a smile stretched across her face. “This is good. My Art would’ve wanted this. That girl’s already had a hard life. She’s too special to sit home alone for the rest of time.”

  Cody was still certain the post-Veteran’s Day dinner she’d arranged was intended to introduce Cheyenne to Art’s war buddies. Tara was right about her—Cheyenne was special. Cody had learned she was a Christian, and since losing Art she’d done little more than go to school and work each day. No wonder Tara was concerned about her. Another text came in.

  Maybe when you move here we can study together. Might pass the time easier.

  He thought about that, and he liked the idea. She was right; the time would pass more quickly if they studied together. He texted back, Sounds fun…talk to you later…have a good night.

  He didn’t want to talk at length with her, not now when all he could picture was Bailey and whether she was falling for Brandon or how she was feeling now they had finished filming. The thing about studying together was that this should’ve been the year when he and Bailey shared that time. Last summer, everything was headed that way, and by now they might’ve been so in love, so strong in their relationship, nothing could ever come between them.

  But it wasn’t meant to be. He’d made arrangements to move on, and he was at peace with his decision. He’d accepted the head coaching job at the new Christian school in Indianapolis, and in a few weeks he would be moved out of Bloomington—maybe for good. He’d taken care of his utilities, and his first and last rent at his new apartment in the city, and he’d met with the athletic director at the Christian school to fill out paper work and talk about next year—the offseason and Cody’s vision for the program. Now there was only one thing left to do, the thing he’d put off as long as he could.

  He had to tell Bailey.

  Somewhere down the road, he and Bailey might find a friendship again, but Cody wasn’t sure. He could never again see her as only a friend. And she needed to move on, fall in love with someone else, and find her way making movies or landing a role on Broadway. He knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t be interested in Brandon Paul—the guy wasn’t a Christian, and his personal life would only make Bailey want to pray for him, not
date him. But one day she’d meet the right guy, and when that happened, Cody didn’t want to be in the way.

  His next three years were laid out for him.

  Now it was only a matter of trying to survive the heartbreak of living it.

  Twenty-Five

  BAILEY LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THANKSIVING. She woke up early Thursday morning, showered and dressed in her best black skinny jeans and a pale pink JCrew cashmere turtleneck she’d gotten for her last birthday. She felt more alive and full of hope than she had in a long time, and she realized again how much the shoot had taken out of her.

  But more than that, today she’d see Cody again.

  She hummed a Jeremy Camp song while she finished curling her long dark hair, and then she hurried down the stairs to the kitchen. Like every Thanksgiving, her parents were already working on the turkey, pulling it from its plastic wrapper so her dad could set it in the roasting pan. Bailey took a seat at the kitchen bar, watching the two of them. “Happy Thanksgiving!”

  “Happy Thanksgiving!” They both said it, her dad peering over his shoulder while cool water ran over the raw turkey.

  “Have I told you lately how glad I am you don’t coach the Lions or the Bears?” Bailey grinned. “You’d never be home for Thanksgiving.”

  “Makes me grateful for traditions,” her dad chuckled. “I’ll take a Sunday game any day over missing this.”

  “Yes, because no one knows turkeys like you, honey,” her mom came up behind him and massaged his shoulders. “You’re the best turkeymaker this side of the Mississippi.”

  “That right?” He pulled a bag of gizzards from the inside of the bird and set them on the counter. “Or maybe you’re just buttering me up so I’ll keep doing this every year.”

  “Maybe that.” Her mom nodded quickly and grinned at Bailey. Then she nuzzled her face against his. “Either way I agree, I’m glad you’re home.”