Forever

  They heard the patio slider and the sound of his feet. Cole was about to enter third grade, and the combination of that and his role as big brother had aged him quickly since summer began. Where once there had been only silliness and make-believe, now there were conversations between Cole and her and Landon that always surprised her. But one thing hadn’t changed—he still loved exploring outdoors, finding whatever the backyard allowed.

  His latest experiment was with tadpoles. Cole had caught some from his grandfather’s fishpond a few weeks ago and brought them home. It was late in the summer, and most frog eggs had already hatched, the tadpoles already frogs. But a batch of them had shown up late, and Ashley’s dad had helped Cole catch them a day or so after they appeared.

  They had bought a baby wading pool at the local Wal-Mart, and her dad and Landon had filled it with sand and dirt on one side that slanted down to pond water and rocks on the other.

  “You know why we have to use pond water, right, Mommy?” Cole had asked her that day. “Because that’s their natural habicat.”

  “Habitat.” She smiled at him. “It’s habitat.”

  “I know.” He giggled at himself. “I think habicat’s a better word ’cause most cats live outside.”

  That was something else that had changed about him. He was always looking for a way to make her laugh—just like Landon. The mistakes he made in grammar or word choices weren’t a precious matter of fact any longer; they were intentional—meant to be funny.

  Ashley listened to Cole grabbing something from the cupboard and running across the kitchen toward her and Landon. The wading-pool experiment had been perfect. They’d watched the tadpoles grow little legs and eventually lose their tails. Landon had told him that once that happened, they could walk onto land and hop around—tiny baby frogs, the tadpole stage over. Cole had practically kept an hour-by-hour vigil waiting for the moment.

  “Mom!” he called now as he ran. “Daddy . . . look! It happened!” He turned the corner, carrying one of their better drinking glasses, his hand over the top.

  Ashley winced at the thought of drinking iced tea from the glass again, but she hid her concerns and allowed only a look of wide-eyed excitement. “Baby frogs? Are you serious?”

  “Let’s take a look.” Landon and Ashley moved next to Cole and stooped down so they could see inside the glass.

  Sure enough, there at the bottom Ashley saw three tiny frogs. “I’ve never seen frogs so small.”

  “They grow fast.” Landon put his finger to the glass. “When they finish the tadpole stage they still have to be very careful. They feel independent, but they can get in trouble pretty quick if they go too far from the edge of the water.”

  Cole gave a serious nod and peered into the glass. “I like the light green one. He’s the big brother.”

  “Oh.” Ashley swapped a look with Landon but hid her smile. “I’ll bet that spotted one’s the little brother.”

  Cole looked closer still. “Yeah.” He lifted his eyes to hers. “How’d you know?”

  “See that?” She pointed to the frogs. “The light green one never stops looking at the spotted one. Because he would never let anything happen to his little brother.”

  “Yep.” Cole puffed out his chest just enough to notice. “That’s how big brothers are.”

  “That’s sure how you are, Coley.” Landon messed up their son’s blond hair. “How about you go put ’em back so they don’t get too scared.”

  “Yeah, I was just thinking that.” He raised the glass and looked through the bottom. “They have the cutest feet, Mommy.” He lowered the container, leaned close, and kissed Devin on the cheek. “Just like baby Devin.” Then he was off, racing through the house and out the patio door.

  When the door closed, Landon sat on the edge of the chair arm and chuckled. “That boy and his frogs. There’s nothing better in all the world to him.”

  “Except having a brother.” Ashley turned her attention to Devin and dabbed a soft rag against the corners of his mouth. She lifted him onto her shoulder and patted his back. “He loves having a brother.”

  “He does.” Landon stroked the back of Devin’s fuzzy head. Then he ran his fingers through Ashley’s hair. “What I was saying earlier . . .”

  Ashley thought. “About independent frogs?”

  “No.” Landon laughed. “About watching you be a mother.” His look went deeper, beyond the light and easy surface.

  “Oh.” She pressed her cheek to Devin’s. “Right.”

  “And you said you wish Cole could’ve had you like this.” Landon’s tone was kind.

  “I do.” It was her one regret about Cole’s early years.

  “But here’s the truth.” He touched her cheek. “He does have you like that. Cole . . . when he’s older . . . will have nothing but amazing memories of you, Ashley. You’re the best mom.” He came closer and kissed her. “I loved you when we were in high school, but after I saw you with Cole—” Landon looked toward the backyard, where Cole had run off to, then at her again—“that’s when I knew I wasn’t stopping until you were mine.”

  It was another one of those moments, the ones Ashley noticed all the time now. When she would have to draw a breath and hold it just to feel the pressure in her lungs, just to know that she was alive and awake and not dreaming. Landon really was here, and they were raising two amazing little boys. Times like this she was sure she wouldn’t have survived the past few years without him.

  But then, that had been God’s gift to her, allowing Landon and her to be together despite all the odds they’d faced. Despite her pride and doubts, despite the threat of death and distance and disease, here they were. She put her hand alongside his face. “Thanks for chasing me, Landon.”

  He stood and stuck out his chest, much like Cole had done a few minutes earlier. “Yeah, well . . . deep down I knew it was really the other way around. That you were chasing me.”

  She giggled. “Was I that obvious?”

  “Honestly? I’m not sure.” His teasing faded, and he kissed her longer this time. “Because you’re right. I was too busy running after you.”

  “Oh, okay.” She flashed him a flirty look. “The truth comes out.”

  He straightened and held his hands up in mock surrender. “You got me.” He looked at his watch and did a dramatic gasp. “You almost made me forget! It’s Saturday!” He hurried out of view toward the patio door. She heard the sound of it opening, and he shouted, “Cole . . . ten minutes, buddy. Almost time for the lake.”

  “Fishing!” His high-pitched squeal followed. “Can I bring the baby frogs?”

  Ashley laughed. The two of them were wonderful together, Landon and Cole. She glanced at Devin sleeping in her arms and was overwhelmed by God’s goodness. I was almost too proud to let Landon in. She shuddered, imagining the cold dull grays life would’ve been without him. Thank You, God, for changing my heart. Me, Cole, Devin . . . all of it is only because You brought Landon into our lives.

  Her husband darted back through the living room and down the hallway. “The fish are calling,” he yelled as he ran. “Your dad won’t beat me in another contest, Ashley. You know that, right?”

  She couldn’t answer him without startling Devin, so she only smiled. It was good that Landon kept this date with Cole every Saturday in summer. The fire station had been kind, giving him every Saturday off, even though he sometimes had to make up for it by working a double shift. The years were zipping by at warp speed already, and soon enough Cole would have baseball practice or soccer clinics or driver’s training to keep him busy on the weekends.

  For now, though, he was still a tadpole, swimming around in the waters of boyhood, his tail still in sight. And the days Landon and Cole shared, the hours of fishing sitting atop an old red ice chest on the shores of Lake Monroe, were precious—every one. They allowed Ashley the chance to appreciate everything about her life—but especially Landon. His wisdom and love and tenderness and courage.

  He flashed back
into the room wearing a baseball cap Cole had given him for Father’s Day—one with a satin, multicolored fish tail sticking out the back. He held up his tackle box. “Ready!”

  Ashley smiled. She loved all those things and something else—something that would always mark these most tender, precious, fleeting days. The way he made her laugh.

  The way he always made her laugh.

  Dayne stretched his legs out on the leather sofa and stared out the window of the private Gulfstream jet. They were flying around 43,000 feet, higher than most commercial jets, and he felt like he could see much of the Midwest from his vantage point. He would be in Bloomington in half an hour.

  Five days had passed since Dayne talked to Ashley, and he’d worked things out with his director to take this time off. The editors needed a look at the footage they had to make sure they were headed in the right direction. There were technical shots and a few stunt scenes to film, so a day off was necessary anyway.

  His director, Riley S. Rosvold, was the movie industry’s magic man of the moment. He was in his late thirties, and everyone in Hollywood knew him simply as Ross. He was a smart man, and no matter how badly he hinted that Dayne should be spending time with Randi Wells, his costar, Ross knew the truth. Everyone close to Dayne did. When Dayne asked for time off, Ross had only given him a resigned look. “Going to Indiana?”

  “Taking the private jet.” Dayne grinned. With the arrangements in place, he could already smell the clean summer air that breezed around the edges of Lake Monroe. His shoulders lifted in an easy shrug. “A few hours there early tomorrow, a few hours back later that night. Can’t think of a better way to spend a day off.”

  Ross had looked pensive for a moment. “Mitch Henry told me about her, told me she read for him for the part in Dream On. Rumor around town is that she’s the real deal, Dayne. She can act. You should get her out here. If she has that much talent, she’s wasting it out in Podunk, Indiana.”

  Dayne pictured Katy, the way she looked surrounded by kids onstage at the Bloomington Community Theater and then as she lay sprawled out beneath a fallen artificial Christmas tree minutes before he proposed to her. He saw her sitting in her favorite box seat, teary-eyed as the girl who played Orphan Annie belted out “Tomorrow” in a way that took the breath of everyone in the theater.

  “No . . . I don’t think she’s wasting it, but I’ll tell her what you said.” He winked at Ross. “Between you and me, I’d still love a chance to star opposite her in a film. One of these days I might even get brave enough to tell her.”

  Ross chuckled and started to walk away. “Fine, Matthews. Enjoy your day in the sticks.”

  “I will. Hey . . .” Dayne lowered his voice to a mock whisper. “I’m at home if the paparazzi ask about me. The trip’s a secret.”

  After that, the hours had passed slowly through the afternoon and into the evening. Filming was almost finished, and so far Ross had been ecstatic with the footage they’d captured.

  The movie was a romance with a well-known cast. Ross firmly believed the film would surpass its competition and succeed well beyond box-office expectations. “It’s got Academy Award written all over it, folks,” he told them every few days. “We’re making it happen here, people. Keep pushing.”

  Dayne had to agree. His emotions had never been more transparent, his ability to convey feelings for the camera never more convincing. It was Katy, of course. He didn’t have to struggle to find his emotions anymore. Every one of them was wrapped up in her.

  The jet engines rumbled quietly in the background. Dayne turned away from the window and looked around the small plane. It was set up like an intimate living room: plush leather sofas along either side, tables and pillows at every convenient location, and a big-screen television built into the wall. A catalog of DVDs was available in a magazine pocket on the wall, and the cabin had state-of-the-art surround sound. The floor was even covered with thick, soft carpeting. Not surprising when the price was twenty times that of a commercial flight. Dayne studied a patch of storm clouds below. Never mind the cost. He would’ve chartered a space shuttle if it meant getting to Katy on his day off. He missed her that much.

  Private air travel was a must from now on. He’d made that decision after his last flight to Indiana. Between the Baxters and his upcoming wedding, he didn’t want anyone knowing when he visited Bloomington.

  He made the arrangements through a private airline that catered to celebrities and dignitaries. Yesterday Dayne asked for an open account with the company. A simple call, a credit-card number, and he had a personal flight arranged for six in the morning. Show up fifteen minutes before departure and enter through a private terminal, then show his ID and avoid the entire airport scene. Just a simple, nonstop ride straight to his destination.

  The takeoff had been smooth, but the captain had warned him there’d be turbulence landing in Bloomington. Thunderstorms were forecast for the day. Dayne felt a flicker of anxiety; he’d seen firsthand the strength of an Indiana thunderstorm. But at least they were landing in Bloomington. There’d be no hour-long drive to town. Just a rental car ready for him when he landed and an hour later he’d meet Ashley at the old house—the one Katy had told him about.

  The plane jolted hard to the left and then to the right. Dayne tightened his grip on the armrest.

  From the cockpit, the flight attendant appeared. She was a woman in her late fifties. She smiled at him. “Your seat belt’s on?”

  Dayne gave his seat belt a tug. “Nice and tight.” He hated this, his fear of small planes. But it was understandable. He had been eighteen when his adoptive parents died in a small-plane crash over an Indonesian jungle. The story hadn’t even made the papers back in the U.S. Dayne always joked with his costars that he’d rather travel commercial. That way if something happened, at least it’d make banner headlines across the country.

  The plane started its descent, heading for the towering thunderheads. The cabin shuddered and jerked for a few seconds before the plane found smooth air again.

  Dayne swallowed and looked out the window. Okay, God . . . I’m okay with this. But please put Your arms around this plane. Get us onto the ground safely. Thanks, Lord.

  Nothing audible sounded in his heart, but there was an assurance that came with talking to the Creator of the universe. Even here, nothing would happen that could possibly take God by surprise.

  Dayne exhaled and settled back into his seat. His thoughts drifted to Ashley’s phone call. It had come a few hours after Katy’s quick call that morning about the lake house. Ashley had explained that Katy had been over for a CKT meeting, and she’d been very excited about a house she’d found on the lake.

  “She told me.”

  “Good. Well, we finished our meeting, and Katy just left, so I had to reach you.” Her tone had been full of excitement. “She misses you so much, Dayne.”

  “I miss her too.”

  “That’s why I have an idea.”

  Later, after Katy explained the house more fully, Dayne talked to Ashley again. He was dizzy trying to keep up with her. He loved Ashley, loved her spunk and spontaneity. He could only wonder what it would’ve been like to grow up with her. Ashley’s plan was that he fly out on his first available day, and she would hold a CKT meeting that same morning or find another reason to meet with Katy. Then, sometime before noon, she would ask Katy to take her to the old house out on the lake for a look around. When they got there, Dayne would be in the backyard waiting for them.

  “Katy won’t believe it. She’ll think it’s Christmas in July.” Ashley sounded like a kid. “Come on, Dayne. . . . Can you do it?”

  The idea was impulsive, but it had worked so far.

  Dayne sucked in a slow breath. The thunderheads were right below them now, and as the pilot maneuvered around them, again the plane shook and pitched.

  “There’s some water next to your seat—in the built-in ice chest.” The flight attendant was warm, motherly, and for the most part she kept to herself. The
company was used to flying high-profile clients. Celebrities were commonplace to the crew.

  Dayne reached for a cold bottle and twisted off the cap. “Thanks.”

  The clouds surrounded them, and for the next ten minutes the jet bounced around like a raft on stormy seas. But in the final seconds, the plane leveled off and came in for a smooth landing. The pilot steered the plane across the tarmac and up to the private terminal. Once they stopped, the men climbed out of the cockpit, and one of them motioned for someone to drive up Dayne’s rental car.

  This was another benefit. On a one-day trip, he had no luggage. Dayne grabbed a small backpack, thanked the crew, and jogged down a flight of stairs to the ground. Ten feet away his rental was waiting for him, the driver’s-side door open. He had already tipped the crew, so he gave them a quick wave and drove off.

  As soon as he was out of the airport and onto the streets, he exhaled. It was just after eleven in the morning. He had almost an hour to locate the house and wait for Katy and Ashley.

  He had found directions on Google, and now he headed for the lake. As he drove, the conversation with Katy about the house came back again. Dayne had been home after a long day on the set, eating a sandwich on the deck of his Malibu house.

  “It’s amazing, Dayne. I never thought I’d find anything like it.” There was a sliver of doubt in her voice. “One problem, though.”

  On the other end, Dayne had smiled. What problem could possibly matter? Like he’d told her, they could live in a tent and they’d have no problems now that Katy had agreed to marry him, now that he’d taken time to face the rest of his life and make a list about what mattered most. God, then Katy, then his family. No questions whatsoever. And that placed him in Bloomington—the sooner the better. As long as the place had a roof and walls, they’d make it a home. “One problem?”