Sometimes she and Landon would sit next to each other on the sofa long after the boys were in bed, a warm breeze drifting through the open window, and they’d take turns placing their hands on her swollen stomach, knowing for sure that their baby daughter would find the pressure point and kick it for all she was worth.
They’d named her, and now they didn’t refer to her as the baby or their little girl. They called her Sarah Marie. Sarah was Landon’s mother’s name, and Marie was Ashley’s mother’s middle name. When the two cousins were born, their names would represent much of the history and heritage that would help to make them who they would eventually become.
Landon was particularly happy that his firstborn daughter would have his mother’s name. His parents had moved to Phoenix, but they still came to Bloomington twice a year to visit with the kids.
“My mom taught me how to love,” Landon had confided in Ashley on one of their lazy walks through the neighborhood. “Having one name from my mother and one from yours is the perfect way to honor the love that’s brought us to this point.”
Ashley only smiled and played her baby’s name over and over in her mind. Sarah. The name meant princess, which was even more fitting. Because Landon had said from the beginning that he already had one princess by marrying her. Having two would be a precious gift from God.
With summer in the air everywhere around Bloomington, Ashley couldn’t get enough of being outside. Landon would come home from a day at the firehouse, and she’d already have Devin in his stroller. There was a small park six blocks from their house, and they began making the trek there every evening. Cole would skip ahead, stopping once in a while to examine a worm or point straight up at a bird’s nest.
The park had a small stream, and they typically spent the first half hour pushing Devin on his favorite swing while Cole hunted for baby frogs.
“Baby frogs are the best thing about June,” he had said more than once. He would hold his arms out as wide as he could. “In just a few months, they’ll be huge! But in June you can still catch ’em and put ’em in a jar.”
Several times Cole brought along his favorite jar and captured a pair of baby frogs, which he transplanted to their own backyard. “Just to make sure we have lots here, too. They eat flies, you know.” He was back to being a carefree child now that baseball was almost over. He hadn’t mentioned sports lately, and Ashley was grateful. This was what summer was about—endless days of make-believe and magical expeditions through backyard bushes and streams and along lakeshores, looking for snakes and frogs and baby birds.
Cole still held out hope that the baby growing inside Ashley wouldn’t be Sarah but Steve. Once in a while, his eyes twinkling, Cole would come running in from outside, place his grubby hand on Ashley’s belly, and lean real close. “Hi, Steve! Hurry up and grow big so you can come out.”
In the past month he’d perfected winking, and after having a one-sided conversation with “Steve,” he’d wink at Ashley, flash his ear-to-ear grin, and race back outside. Devin was more active than before, so Ashley spent many afternoons out back, holding his hand and helping him keep up with Cole.
Now it was the second Monday in June, and Ashley had a different route mapped out for their early evening walk. Landon came through the door a few minutes earlier than usual, and their eyes met. Her breath caught in her throat, the way it still did when Landon walked in. She could hardly believe she’d almost walked away from him, almost let him go.
“Hi.” She smiled. “How was work?” She hooked her fingers through the belt loops of his uniform pants.
His eyes were full of light and love and a depth she’d never seen in any other man. He framed her face with his hand and eased his fingers into her hair. “Has anyone ever told you—” a smile played on his lips—“you have the most beautiful hair?”
Ashley gave him a look that was part teasing, part endless, limitless love. She took a step closer and brushed her cheek against his. “Not today. Not until now.”
The comment about her hair always made Ashley smile. It was what dear old Irvel had told her time and time and time again back in the days when Ashley worked at Sunset Hills Adult Care Home. The woman had Alzheimer’s, and every time she saw Ashley, she was struck by her hair. Landon had noticed the pattern once when he came to visit Ashley at work. He used the line every now and then ever since.
“Mmm.” Landon nuzzled his face along hers. “You smell good.”
“You too.” Ashley linked her hands at the base of his neck and leaned back so she could see his eyes. “I like when you smell like you did when you left home.” She wrinkled her nose. “The smoke thing makes me a little nervous.”
He chuckled. “No fires. Washed and detailed the rig and cleaned the firehouse. That’s about it.”
She swayed with him, hearing the music of the years in her soul. “My kind of day.” She savored the feel of his heartbeat. “I made chicken salad for later.”
“Again?” Landon lightly touched her shoulders, his eyes bright with a familiar teasing. He raised his eyebrows. “Not that I’m complaining. I like chicken salad.” He grinned. “Even if I don’t have a choice.”
“What can I say?” She giggled. “It’s the only thing that tastes good. At least I’m not craving sauerkraut, like Kari.”
In the other room, Cole was helping Devin with his shoes. He came bounding into the living room, his brother on his heels. “Did Mom tell you?”
Landon held out his hands, swept Cole up into a hug, and swung him around. “Hey, how was your day?”
“Great.” He winked at Ashley. “Mom wants to walk to the store for rocky road ice cream.”
“Is that right?” Landon glanced at Ashley. “Pickles too?”
Ashley laughed as she pulled the stroller from the front closet. “Actually, Katy told me that the tabloids hit the shelves today. I’m more interested in the magazines than the ice cream.”
Cole pointed to himself. “Me and Devin are more interested in the ice cream.”
“After another night of chicken salad, I’ll be more excited about the ice cream too.” Landon rubbed Cole’s blond head. He gave Ashley an easy smile and nodded toward their bedroom. “I’ll change real quick.”
Ten minutes later they were on their way, Landon pushing Devin’s stroller. “Have I mentioned lately that I love living here?”
Ashley tilted her head back. The sun warmed her to her core. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Best June I can remember.”
Cole had been bopping along ahead of them, but he stopped, his face serious. “Maddie says July and August are supposed to be really hot.”
“Good.” Ashley didn’t care how hot it was. She felt better than ever, and if it hit a hundred, they’d simply hang out at the lake. “Maybe we’ll get one of those blow-up rafts this year and spend our afternoons on the water.”
“Or at the Flanigans’!” Cole’s eyes lit up. “Ricky said we can come every day if we want to.”
“There you go.” Ashley smiled at her oldest son. “We’ll have the best time ever.”
“Yep!” Cole skipped ahead again and found a broken piece of a tree branch on the side of the road. He tapped it along the sidewalk as they went.
Landon took a deep breath and turned to her. He looked relaxed and happy, but his expression told her he had something on his mind. “So tell me about the tabloids.”
She looked straight ahead, remembering her recent conversation with Katy. “The photos from earlier this month will probably hit today. Katy’s worried about it.”
“Oh.” A light dawned in Landon’s eyes. “The weekend they were apart?”
“Right. She had dinner with her director, and Dayne went to LA for business meetings.”
“That’s right. . . . He ended up giving Randi Wells a ride home.” Landon winced. “Yeah, I guess that could get ugly.”
“It wouldn’t be so bad if Katy wasn’t already feeling tension between them. They hardly have any time tog
ether, and everywhere they turn, people point a camera at them.” Ashley felt her lower abdomen tense up. She put her hand on her swollen belly and slowed her pace. She sucked in a breath through her teeth. “Oooh.”
“Baby . . .” Landon’s eyes filled with concern. “What is it?”
Her middle was hard and tight, and she stopped completely. “It’s okay. False contractions.” She waited a few more seconds, and her muscles began to relax. She took a long breath and started walking again. “I’ve had a few of them this afternoon.” She didn’t want Landon to be concerned, so she smiled. “Nothing to worry about.”
Cole stopped up ahead. He banged his stick against a tree trunk, then stooped down. “Red ants! The whole tree’s covered with red ants.”
“Don’t stand there, buddy.” Landon gestured for him to move back. “They’ll be up your leg in a minute.”
“Yikes!” Cole brushed at his shoes and ankles. “Two were already on me!” He danced away from the spot and kept going, staying in the middle of the sidewalk.
Landon turned his attention back to Ashley. “You sure they’re false?”
“Definitely.” Ashley found the same pace as before. “I’m only seven months along.”
He was quiet for a few minutes. They crossed a busy street and headed for the market. Before they reached it, Landon put his arm around her. “I love the way you’ve handled this.”
If Ashley had it her way, they’d go right up to Sarah’s birth without mentioning the possibility of a problem. That way, she and Landon could spend the days dreaming about Sarah’s life and the plans God might have for her, remarking about how walking lulled her to sleep and how she was most active just before bedtime. But every now and then they had to talk about the possibility. Ashley was seven months pregnant, after all, and she still hadn’t been back for another test.
She slowed her pace and looked straight to his heart. “I couldn’t have handled it at all without you.”
“The Bible tells us not to worry about tomorrow.” His smile was as warm and genuine as the sun. But his voice held a warning as well. “As much as possible, I think we’ve done that.”
Ashley hesitated. “But . . .”
His smile fell off a little. “But I think it’s time you get back to Dr. McDaniel.”
“I know.” Ashley refused to let her fear get the upper hand. “I’ll make an appointment for the end of the month.”
Landon gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “That’ll be good. We’ll still have time before she comes.”
“Right.” Ashley’s mouth felt suddenly dry. She wanted to talk about something else, anything but what another ultrasound might turn up. “She’ll probably be fine. More active than Cole, if this pregnancy is any indication.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Ashley felt the dark clouds of fear lift once more. She couldn’t have gotten through the last few months without Landon. He’d gone along with her every wish, dreaming beside her and talking about little Sarah as if neither of them had a single reason to be concerned. Together they prayed for a miracle but never with the sort of hushed tones and panicked words that marked hospital vigils. Rather with hope and certainty that something wonderful was going to come of their daughter’s birth.
They headed into the store, and Ashley led the way to the nearest checkout. Before she picked up the first tabloid, the trouble Katy was worried about screamed at her from at least three covers. One showed a split image, where the photo on the right was Dayne face-to-face with Randi, their noses touching. It was hard to see Dayne’s full expression, but Randi was grinning, flirty eyes focused straight at him. On the other side was Katy appearing to be in the arms of her director. Their lips were touching, a full-fledged kiss apparently in progress. The bold headline over the two images read, “Trouble in Paradise?”
“Oh no.” Ashley reached for the magazine. But next to it was another and beside that two more. All of them had some form of the unflattering photos with equally dismal headlines. She held one out to Landon. “This is terrible!”
Landon looked more sad than shocked. He knew Katy and Dayne weren’t interested in other people. He gave the magazine back to Ashley. “What’ll this do to them?”
An urgency filled Ashley. “It’ll hurt; that’s what.”
“But nothing’s happening. I mean, not really.”
Landon didn’t follow the headlines on the tabloids. He didn’t spend as much time at the grocery store as she did. Ashley gritted her teeth. “It works this way every time. They focus on a couple and talk about how they might be getting together and wouldn’t it be great if they got together. Then they fight to be the first one to break the news that yes, in fact the couple did get together! Hooray!” She kept her voice low, but she was getting worked up. “They don’t give the couple a month before the headlines start hinting about whether the couple’s work schedule or differences or family issues might be putting strain on the marriage.”
“Really?” Landon made a face. “That’s crazy.”
“I know, but people buy it. They eat it up.” Ashley nodded to the rack of magazines, feeling her anger rising. “They move quickly from hinting about a problem to finding one. Anything. One of them has a drinking problem, or the other is too driven to make movies. If there isn’t a problem, they’ll create one.” She held up the magazine again. “Like this. And then . . . it can ruin a couple.”
Landon looked worried. “Katy’s not like that, though. Dayne either. They won’t let this garbage bring them down.”
“How can they not?” She had to call Katy. She pulled her cell phone from her purse. “From where they’re living, it probably feels like the whole world’s pulling them apart.”
“Are you calling her?”
“Yes.” Ashley held up her finger to her husband. “I’ll be right back.” She hurried just outside the sliding doors, where the cell reception was better, and dialed Katy’s number. No wonder Katy had seemed distant when she was home. She’d been worried about the photos, and now the pieces were all coming together. Dayne and Katy hadn’t been married three months, and already they were in trouble.
Dear God, give me the right words. This is too serious to ignore. They needed to cut their ties with the reality show, finish the movie, and take a year off. Both of them. No one could stand this kind of scrutiny.
On the fourth ring it went to Katy’s voice mail. Ashley wasn’t surprised. Katy had said she was busy every day from morning until night.
Her message played out, and at the beep, Ashley took a deep breath. “Katy, it’s Ashley. I saw the tabloids.” She hesitated. Most of what she wanted to say was too much to leave on a message. “I’m worried about you, friend. Maybe you and Dayne need to drop the reality show before you both pay the price. Call me, okay?”
She returned to Landon and the boys and gave him a nervous look. “I left a message.”
“I don’t know.” He glanced at the row of magazines again. “It’ll be rough for a while, but I think they’re pretty stable.”
Ashley ran her fingers through her hair. “Weird things happen in that business.” She turned away from the tabloids. “I just hope she calls back.”
Three hours later, after they’d walked home with their ice cream and a bag of magazines, after they’d eaten another dinner of chicken salad and finished off half the ice cream, while Ashley and Landon were giving Devin a bath, Katy tried to reach her. Ashley didn’t see the missed call until she was turning in for the night. She listened to the message, but there wasn’t much to hear.
Katy sounded like she was crying. “Thanks for caring, Ashley. . . . We can’t get out of the show, and as for me and Dayne . . . it’s not good. Talk to you later.”
As Ashley closed her phone, her stomach tightened again like it had earlier. The pressure took her breath, and for fifteen seconds it made her forget about Katy and Dayne. As it eased up, she felt a sense of reassurance. False contractions were normal, another sign that this was like an
y other pregnancy, free of complications.
Which was more than could be said for Katy and Dayne’s marriage. Ashley closed her eyes and prayed for her brother and his wife, for the love they’d worked so hard to find and the marriage they desperately needed to protect. Then she made a plan to call Dayne in the morning and pray with him. Whatever she could do to offset the damage spread across the tabloids.
Before it really was too late.
Dayne could tell something was wrong the minute he walked into the location dining hall. The studio had rented an entire ranch for the shoot, and meals were held in a lodge with twenty cafeteria tables.
For the most part, lunch was over. Katy was shooting an indoor scene with the character playing her mother. She’d be lucky if they finished up in the next hour. Only a half dozen extras and gofers were scattered at a couple of the tables. As Dayne walked in with a few other actors, the action at both tables stopped. Two of the guys whispered to each other, and one of the tables cleared.
Dayne kept walking, but as he passed their tables, he spotted a smattering of tabloids spread out across both. “Great,” he muttered.
“They’re relentless lately.” The actor beside him was older, a veteran. He gave Dayne a friendly punch on the arm. “They’ll get tired of you eventually.”
“Doesn’t feel like it.” Dayne grabbed a turkey sandwich and an apple and headed for the table where the extras had been sitting a minute earlier. He wasn’t even situated before he saw the cover of the closest magazine. “What?” He dropped to the bench and pulled the rag closer. An angry groan came from the base of his throat. “I knew it.”
The cover had a photo of him and Randi and another of Katy and Stephen. The smaller headline beneath Katy’s photo said, “Oops! Wrong Romance on the Set!”