To the Moon and Back

  They left their muddy boots by the back door and came in like a rush of sunshine, talking all at once and laughing about something. As they entered the kitchen, Ashley saw they were all three drenched.

  “Dad did it.” Cole shook his head. He was still laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes. “We were in the canoe, almost back to the shore.”

  “And Dad sees an eagle.” Devin leaned against the counter, catching his breath. “You know how Dad always thinks he can talk to animals?”

  “His talent works with Toby.” Ashley felt the afternoon get so much lighter. At the sound of his name, their one-year-old Labrador puppy came trotting into the kitchen. His paws were muddy, his coat as wet as the boys. Ashley took a step back and grinned at Landon. “So what happened?”

  “I was calling the eagle.” Landon shrugged.

  “You know, Mom. ‘Ca-CAW . . . ca-CAW!’ ” Devin slapped his knee. “Only Toby thought Dad was calling him.”

  “So the eagle flies off and Toby jumps to that side of the canoe and—”

  Cole made a splashing sound and threw his hands in the air. “The canoe flips and we’re all in the water. Just like that.”

  “Don’t worry.” Devin grinned. “We all had life jackets. Dad said that part would make you happy.”

  “So there we were. All your boys in the water.” Cole patted Landon on the back. “At least we were close to the shore.”

  “Yes.” Landon raised his brow at Ashley. “Guilty as charged.” He winked at the boys. “I still say the eagle would’ve come closer if it wasn’t for Toby.”

  “I wanna hear more about it. But maybe go shower up first.” Ashley laughed. “Another adventure for the books.”

  “Definitely.” Landon leaned close enough to kiss her, all while keeping his distance so she didn’t get wet. “I’ll be back.”

  After he left she stared for a minute at her computer. She needed to tell him about texting Brady and looking him up again. She really meant to. But there never seemed to be the right time. Besides, Landon would understand. Ashley was sure.

  She stood and followed him to their bathroom. While he showered she did her hair and makeup.

  Thirty minutes later she was ready for the show, sitting at the kitchen table when Landon returned. The kids were still upstairs and they had time before they needed to leave. Landon grinned at her. “You look gorgeous.” He walked over to her.

  She stood. “You, too.” Ashley hesitated. Her nerves were struggling. Everything was so good about this day. Why ruin it by— Before she could finish the thought, he came to her and kissed her again. This time with his body against hers.

  “Mmmm.” She loved moments like this. “I wish I could’ve seen the canoe flip.” A giggle crossed her lips. “You’re such a good dad, Landon.” She brushed her cheek against his. “Did you catch any fish?”

  “Four.” He laughed. “Lost them all when the boat tipped.”

  Ashley winced. “A memory for sure.” She put her hands on either side of his face. “At least we weren’t counting on fish for dinner.”

  “Whatever’s cooking smells a whole lot better.” Landon put his hand gently against her cheek and searched her eyes. “What did you do? Besides miss us?” He pointed to her computer. “Email?”

  “No.” She hesitated. “Right. I was just going to tell you.” Ashley took a step back and folded her arms. “I went to Brady Bradshaw’s Facebook page again. Just, you know, looking for clues.” She paused, gauging his reaction. “In case there was something more about Jenna.”

  “Oh.” Landon’s smile fell. He blinked, his expression frozen for several seconds. Then he slid his hands in the pockets of his black jeans. “I guess I thought you were past that.” He leaned against the kitchen counter and searched her eyes.

  “I was.” She looked at the floor and then at him. “I mean, I was before. But I just . . . What if I can help him?”

  “And why is that your job?” His eyes clouded. “The guy’s a complete stranger, Ash.”

  “I know, but . . .” Frustration colored her tone. “Someone has to help him. I keep thinking maybe God wants me to do this. Have you thought about that?”

  “No.” Landon gave a single laugh. “God doesn’t ask married women to befriend single men.”

  “I’m not befriending him.” She shook her head and dropped to the chair nearest her laptop. “I can’t believe you’re mad.”

  His expression was a mix of hurt and anger. “So what’d you learn? That you didn’t learn last time.”

  “I was looking for clues.” Her answer was quick. Just short of snappy.

  Landon nodded at the computer. “Open it up. Let’s see the clues.”

  Ashley couldn’t believe this. “You’re really angry.” Her disbelief came out as a solitary laugh. “Are you saying you don’t trust me?”

  “No.” He took a few steps closer. “I want to see the clues.”

  “That’s ridiculous, Landon.” She thought about Brady’s calendar photos. “I’m not going back to his page.”

  “Then tell me.” His voice sounded harder now. “What did you find?”

  Ashley hated this. She should’ve kept it to herself. Looking up Brady Bradshaw meant nothing. There was no reason for Landon to be upset. She released a pent-up breath. “Fine.” She shifted in her chair so she was facing Landon. “He doesn’t seem to have faith in God. No family or girlfriend. He’s mostly about his job at the firehouse. Some firefighter calendar he was in and pictures of his time on the show Survivor.”

  “Calendar pictures?” Landon’s eyes grew darker. “Do you hear how that sounds?”

  “Okay, so I found nothing.” This was getting worse. “I was actually going to tell you I’m glad you never did the Bloomington firefighter calendar.” Ashley stood and took a step back. The closeness between them a few minutes ago was gone. “It wouldn’t have been fair to the other guys.” She tried to smile. “You would’ve gotten the cover every time.”

  Landon didn’t smile. “This isn’t funny, Ashley.” His tone was more hurt than mad. “I asked you to stop looking up the guy, but it’s become . . . I don’t know, an obsession.”

  “Landon!” She felt her own anger rising. “Because I want to help somebody, suddenly I’m obsessed?”

  “You’re not helping.” Landon shook his head. “You’re stalking. Or meddling. Something . . . but there’s no point to it.”

  She felt her heart sink. Did he really think that? “Wow.” She shrugged. “I don’t know what to say.”

  Landon walked to the cupboard and grabbed a glass. He filled it with water and drank it, his eyes on Ashley the whole time. When he stopped for air he angled his head. “That’s easy.” His tone was more controlled now. “Tell me you’ll let it go. You don’t know him, Ash. There’s nothing you can do to help him.” He hesitated. “Let the guy figure out his own life.”

  “Let it go?” Determination gradually replaced the hurt. “I haven’t found Jenna. I know you’re mad but . . . I’d like to at least try.”

  “Are you serious?” He set his glass down. “How will you find her, Ash? Do you have special Internet powers?” He clenched his jaw. “This Brady guy’s been looking for her every year for more than a decade.”

  “What if . . . what if I text him?” She couldn’t tell him that she already had. “Maybe he could point me in the right direction. Maybe there’s something he’s missed.” She took a quick breath. Let Landon hear my heart, God. Please. “This isn’t about Brady. It’s about . . . doing what’s right.”

  This time disbelief flashed in Landon’s eyes. “Doing what’s right, Ash? The right thing is to forget all about it.”

  From upstairs the sound of the kids interrupted the discussion. They were headed down, ready for the show. Ashley felt like running out the back door and finding her favorite spot. The rock by the stream at the far side of their property.

  The last thing she wanted was to spend the afternoon with Landon. Not when he was so mad at her. Wh
at had she even done? She lowered her voice. “I want to be honest here, Landon. I’m sorry. I’m not . . . trying to hurt you.”

  He studied her, clearly still upset. “We can talk about it later.” A quick turn and he left, headed toward the stairs. “Let’s go.” He switched to a pleasant tone as he called for the kids. “We need to leave.”

  Ashley stared at the floor. How did this happen? They should still have been standing here laughing about the incident with the canoe. Kissing and teasing and flirting. The way they were before.

  Instead they were in the saddest, most rare place. Stuck in the middle of a fight. And the craziest thing was even now, even still, Ashley wanted only to do one thing. The thing she absolutely couldn’t do. Not until she and Landon were on the same page.

  Contact Brady Bradshaw.

  • • •

  ASHLEY’S STOMACH HURT. The distance between Landon and her as their family arrived to the play still weighed on her. Landon had all his attention on the kids. He and Ashley hadn’t even made eye contact since they left the house.

  Once they found their seats Ashley spotted Bailey Flanigan Paul talking to another theater parent in the main aisle, several rows away. She needed a diversion so she got up. “Excuse me.”

  Landon stood and let her pass. But he didn’t say a word.

  A sigh worked its way through Ashley’s troubled heart. She walked up the aisle and waited for Bailey to be free.

  “Ashley!” Bailey hugged her. “I can’t believe it’s opening night!”

  “And this auditorium.” Ashley looked around. Bailey and her husband owned the theater and the entire city block. “The place is amazing. And the buildings around it. Better than ever.”

  “It’s our dream.” Bailey looked toward the front of the lobby. Her husband was holding Hannah, their little girl. She was ten months old now. Bailey nodded in their direction. “Brandon’s the best dad.”

  “Makes life pretty amazing, doesn’t it?” Ashley smiled. Landon was a wonderful father, too. She glanced back at the row where Landon was still sitting. She hated that they were fighting. They needed to figure this out when they got home. Ashley turned to Bailey again and tried to focus. “So Hannah’s almost one.”

  “Time keeps flying.” Bailey’s eyes were soft. “Being a mom is the best.” Moments like this Ashley wondered where the years had gone. It seemed just yesterday Bailey was a teenager, back when the Baxters and the Flanigans first became friends. Of course, in reality that was many years ago. Ashley had painted sets for CKT and Bailey had been one of the young actors. The Flanigans and Baxters were practically family, and Ashley couldn’t be more proud of Bailey.

  “Hey, guess who’s pregnant?” Bailey’s eyes lit up. She didn’t wait for an answer. “Andi! She and Cody have tickets for today’s show. They’re in town to see her family.”

  The news warmed Ashley’s heart. All through high school and college, Cody had been in love with Bailey. But the two were never meant to be. Meanwhile Bailey’s best friend, Andi, had been secretly in love with Cody. Years of missed chances later, Cody and Andi were finally married. Beyond happy. “That’s wonderful. They’ve been married almost a year, too. Right?”

  “Exactly.” Bailey’s eyes lit up with her smile. Anyone could see that her happiness for her friends was as genuine as her beautiful heart. “They got married the same day Hannah was born. I’m thrilled for them.”

  Bailey caught Ashley up on the rest of her family. Her brothers were playing sports at Clear Creek High, where Shawn and Justin were both on the basketball team. Bailey’s oldest brother, Connor, was still at Liberty University. “You probably know about Connor and Maddie.” Bailey did a slight shrug. “On again, off again.”

  Ashley had heard. Maddie was her niece, Brooke’s daughter. She’d been struggling with direction lately. Ashley wanted to get back to her seat, back to Landon. In case they could find at least a little breakthrough before the show started. For now, she kept her focus on Bailey. “Brooke says Maddie’s at that age. Doesn’t know what she wants.”

  Bailey smiled. “I think Connor knows. But he’s being patient. He has some new girl at Liberty. Just friends, he says.” She shook her head. “I keep praying for him.”

  “Brooke’s doing the same for Maddie.” Ashley hugged Bailey. “Again, just so proud of what you’ve done here. Your theater, the whole city block. It’s the talk of Bloomington.”

  “Thanks.” Bailey turned as Brandon walked up with their baby girl.

  “Little Hannah!” Ashley touched the child’s cheek. “She’s beautiful.”

  “Thanks.” A deep joy shone in Brandon’s eyes. Like he couldn’t have been more thrilled with life. “Good to see you, Ashley. Your whole family’s here today.”

  “Of course. It’s Amy’s big night.” Ashley remembered the main reason they were here. The other kids were in this show, but Amy was a lead. Tonight was her niece’s debut as Wendy in Peter Pan. Ashley glanced at the stage. “I hope she’s not nervous.”

  “A little. But she’ll be fine.” Brandon smiled and put his free arm around Bailey. “She’s a natural. The perfect Wendy.”

  Bailey leaned into her husband, her eyes still on Ashley. “Amy’s wonderful. You’ll love the show.”

  “Can’t wait to see it.” Just then the houselights flashed. Ashley pointed to where her family was. “I better get going. We’ll talk after.”

  She returned to her row and again Landon stood to let her pass by. Nothing more.

  In front of them Ashley watched the Flanigans and their boys take their seats. Jenny and Jim waved and Landon lit up and returned the gesture. Ashley did the same, but as soon as the Flanigans were settled, Ashley watched the smile fall off Landon’s face.

  From the beginning, the show was even better than Ashley had hoped. Bailey was right. Amy was the perfect Wendy. Still, it was hard for Ashley to focus. Not once did Landon reach for her hand, even when the lights went down. But after a few scenes, Ashley stopped thinking about Landon and directed her full attention to the play.

  When Wendy asked Peter Pan if he didn’t miss having a mother and a father, Ashley got tears in her eyes. She wanted to lean her head on Landon’s shoulder. This was a time when he would normally give her hand a soft squeeze. Instead the distance remained.

  Ashley kept her eyes on Amy. What other little girl in the theater group could so personally understand the weight of missing her parents?

  When the show ended, Landon walked over to the Flanigans. Ashley didn’t join him. Pretending to be fine was exhausting. Instead she started slowly for the doors at the back of the theater. Cole and Devin stayed with her. As they went, Ashley saw Cody and Andi talking with Brandon and Bailey.

  Despite her own sadness, Ashley smiled to herself. God was so good, allowing the four of them their own beautiful happily-ever-afters. Not what they had pictured once upon a yesterday. But more perfect than they could’ve imagined.

  As they made their way to the parking lot, Ashley remembered dinner. Everyone was coming over to celebrate Annie and Janessa and Amy and the show. Even Dayne and Katy were in town with their little ones. Again on the way home Ashley and Landon barely talked.

  It’s going to be a long night, she thought. She kept her eyes on the side window most of the ride home.

  The dinner was more fun than Ashley had expected. The joy of having her entire family around helped her forget for a while the trouble with Landon. The kids ran out back along the stream and looked for tadpoles in the pond. Ashley’s dad and Landon stayed outside with them until it was nearly dark.

  Ashley watched out the kitchen window and Kari and Brooke joined her. “Wasn’t that just us?” Ashley looked at her sisters. “Running through that magical backyard. Pretending we were on some crazy adventure every afternoon?”

  “Have you ever showed your kids the rock?” Brooke’s tone was wistful as she stared at the kids. “The one with our handprints?”

  Ashley grinned. “A few times.” The roc
k sat along the stream at the edge of their property.

  Now Ashley used it as a place to talk to God.

  “I still love that spot.” She looked at her sisters. “We used to hang out there all the time when we were little.”

  “Whenever life got hard.” Brooke paused. “Remember?”

  Ashley had taken her own children to the area years ago, but she wanted to show them again. Ashley sighed. “We definitely need to bring all the kids there. Maybe next time.”

  As they were sitting down to dinner, everyone complimented Amy on her work as Wendy. If anyone else noticed the similarities between Amy’s character and her real life without actual parents, they didn’t say so. There was also much praise for Janessa and Annie, both of whom were Tiger Lily’s sidekicks.

  The cousins sat at the kids’ table a few feet away, and halfway through dinner Dayne and Katy updated everyone on their new movie. They were both starring in it, and though the film was slated for a limited theatrical release, Dayne still thought it would do well at the box office. “We’re making it for under a million.”

  “The message is powerful.” Katy glanced at Luke. “Right to life . . . and then it looks like our next movie will deal with religious freedom.”

  “Speaking of which.” Ashley looked at her younger brother. “What’s happening with Wendell Quinn, the principal of Hamilton High?”

  It was a case Luke had taken on, one that thrust him into the national spotlight for a time. Luke set his napkin on the table. “Wendell is engaged to Alicia—remember her?”

  “I do.” Ashley grinned at Luke and then at Landon. “We figured that was going to happen. And he’s still leading the voluntary Bible study for the students?”

  “He is.” Satisfaction shone in Luke’s eyes. “God won that case, for sure.”

  “Yes.” Reagan smiled at the others. “And Luke’s home more. Only forty hours a week at the office.” She put her arm around Luke’s shoulders and kissed his cheek. “So life is good.”

  “Definitely.” Luke kissed her on the lips and looked around the table.