Forever

  “Yes.” A single nervous laugh filled the phone line. “The place needs a little work.”

  “Okay, so we fix it up.” He took a bite of his sandwich, chewed it, and waited.

  “Well . . . it sort of needs a new roof and windows . . . and the decks in the front and back are pretty much ruined. And in a few places—not everywhere but here and there—I can see straight through the walls into the house.”

  Dayne chuckled and swallowed his bite. “You mean you’ve fallen in love with a pile of rotten wood?”

  “Maybe.” She sounded sheepish. “You have to be here. It has so much potential; I don’t see it the way it is.” Her tone gained confidence. “I see it how it could be.”

  He had leaned his head back and pictured her, wishing he were with her. “Hey, Katy, if you get tired of your day job, you’d make a great Realtor.”

  “Thanks.” She laughed. “Seriously . . . the place is amazing. There’s nothing like it along the entire shore.”

  Katy told him the price, and he had to set down his sandwich. “That’s all? You couldn’t buy a waterfront storage space in Southern California for that.”

  They decided Katy would contact the seller, since she lived there and since it was for sale by owner. At this point they didn’t want to involve Dayne. He could transfer funds into her account so the offer could come from her alone. They would ask for sixty days’ escrow so they could have the house and grounds inspected. Wood rot or termites could present a bigger problem than the need to replace a wall or a window. That would take them until the end of September. In the meantime, Dayne would set up an account so that once the title was in her name, Katy could start hiring contractors to do the work. If things went well, he planned to move to Bloomington Thanksgiving weekend, in time for the big dinner at the Baxter house. By then he would’ve wrapped all filming on his current project, and he wouldn’t start another one until mid-February.

  May, they had decided, would be best for the wedding. He would be on another break, and when they returned from their honeymoon they would have time alone together, time for long walks and quiet talks, time to draw closer and enjoy their first few months of being married before he was needed back in Hollywood.

  Everything was coming together perfectly.

  But even after talking about it that day, Katy had doubts. “I can’t believe you’d let me make an offer on a house without seeing it.”

  “I trust you.” Real-estate transactions weren’t that big a deal for him. He’d invested in commercial and oceanfront property for the past decade. His manager handled finding the places and working out the transactions, and Dayne was merely the person giving approval. But Katy had never bought a house before. He forced himself to see the purchase through her eyes. “If you like it that much, I’m sure it’ll be perfect.”

  “But maybe we could wait. . . . You’ll get a break in the next few weeks, right?”

  “With real estate, if you’re sure you want it, you should jump.” He loved that she was careful. He would never have to wonder if she’d fallen for him because of his money or his fame or any of the other things that the world saw in him. She loved who he was on the inside. “If it’s that great, if you like it that much, make the offer.”

  “I just hate making the decision without you.” Katy’s voice still held doubt.

  When he hung up that night, he knew Ashley was right. Katy would be thrilled that he’d found a way to come see the house before the purchase agreement could be worked out. This way they could look around it and maybe even inside it—like any normal couple.

  He stopped at a Wendy’s drive-thru for lunch, careful to keep his baseball cap low over his brow. Less than an hour after leaving the airport he pulled up in front of the house. From the two-lane road, it looked better than he’d imagined—bigger, grander. Katy was right; the place was beautiful. The property was expansive, and once someone started taking care of it, the acreage would stretch into a sea of manicured green. Beyond it was the prettiest view of Lake Monroe he’d ever seen.

  He turned onto the gravel driveway. As he drove closer to the house he could see what Katy was talking about. Damaged decks and walls and windows, a sagging roof, and debris gathered around the front and back. It would take a lot of work to have the place ready by Thanksgiving.

  Dayne parked his car in the back so it was hidden from the road. The clock on the dashboard said it was almost noon. Ashley would be with Katy—probably at Ashley’s house—and right about now she’d be asking Katy for a look at the lake house.

  Excitement welled inside him. Because of the house, yes, but also because in less than half an hour he would have Katy in his arms again. Hear her voice in person and feel her hands in his. Then they could do what Ashley had suggested.

  They really could celebrate Christmas in July.

  Another CKT meeting was over, and Katy was glad. She loved her artistic team, and she was thrilled with the upcoming plays and the direction she planned to take them, but this was the tiresome part of the job. One meeting after the next. The weeks of working with the kids—that was what she loved most.

  Al and Nancy Helmes and Bethany and Rhonda were gone, and Katy was packing her bag with loose copies of the scripts and notes they’d made after going over scenes for the fall show.

  Ashley came up, carrying keys in her hand. “You said you had errands, right?”

  “Right.” Katy grimaced and looked out the window. Thunderstorms had been rolling through since late morning. “At least I’m not wasting a sunny day.”

  Katy needed to hit Sam’s Club for Jenny Flanigan, and she wanted to stop by the garden shop for a bag of fertilizer. She and the Flanigan boys had planted a summer garden, but only the zucchini was thriving. They’d have bushels of the stuff before summer was over, for sure. But the tomatoes and corn were seriously struggling.

  “I have errands too.” Ashley looked a little too peppy at the idea. “How about I follow you, and we start with a look at your new house?”

  Katy felt her eyes light up. She’d asked Ashley to come see it twice since Saturday, but each time her future sister-in-law had been busy. She glanced at Devin and Cole sitting on a blanket nearby. Cole was showing his little brother a plastic alligator. “What about your kids?”

  “They can come.” She jingled her keys. “Landon’s working a twenty-four, and all of us need a reason to get out. I’ll probably go by the station after we see the house.”

  “Yeah, Mommy! Let’s do that!” Cole was on his feet. “Daddy said I can sit in the driver’s seat of the fire engine next time.”

  Ashley reached out and poked her son in the ribs. “Just don’t start the engine.”

  “I won’t.” He laughed and looked from Devin back to Ashley. “You’re funny, Mommy.”

  She tickled him once more. “I know. I am funny.”

  “Yep, you are and I am too.” He began running in small circles around Devin. “See me, Devin? . . . See how funny I am?”

  Devin cooed and stretched out his arms.

  Cole yelled again, louder this time, “See how funny I am?”

  Ashley looked at Katy. “Yes, we definitely could use a reason to get out.”

  Katy laughed. “Follow me in your van. That way we can go our own ways after we take a look.”

  “Perfect.” Ashley scooped up Devin and pointed for Cole to get his shoes on. “We’ll be right behind you.”

  Ashley could hardly wait for the surprise that lay ahead. She had the kids buckled in, and she was just pulling her van in line behind Katy’s car when her cell phone rang. She picked it up off the console and glanced at the caller ID. It was her brother Luke calling from New York.

  She opened the phone and held it to her ear. “Luke, you won’t believe this!”

  He hesitated. “Hello to you too.”

  “Right . . . hi. Sorry.” She kept her eyes on Katy’s car. “It’s just, you won’t believe this.”

  “Okay, fine. I’m still dazed and confused
after taking the bar, but what?” He sounded mildly frustrated. “Let me guess. You’ve found another brother out there and he’s governor of California.”

  Ashley frowned. This wasn’t the first time she’d sensed an attitude from Luke. So far she hadn’t questioned him about it. “You took the bar exam?”

  “Remember?” His tone let up a little. “I asked you to pray.”

  Ashley slapped her hand against the steering wheel. “I completely forgot. I’m sorry.” She glanced over her shoulder at the boys in the backseat. Cole was explaining tadpoles to Devin. Ashley pursed her lips. “How did it go?”

  “Great.” He sounded relieved. “A lot of people don’t pass it on the first try, but I think I did okay.”

  “Good. That’s great, Luke. Really.” She switched lanes to stay behind Katy. “I can’t believe I forgot. You’ve only been waiting to take the bar since you were in high school.”

  “Don’t worry about it. So what’s the big news?”

  “I’m following Katy Hart out to this gorgeous house she found right on the shore of Lake Monroe. And guess who’s meeting us there?”

  “Let me think . . . our big brother.” This time there was no denying the subtle sarcasm in his voice.

  Ashley felt her shoulders sag. “How’d you know?”

  “It wasn’t hard. Lately every time you’re excited it’s about Dayne Matthews.”

  “Luke! Is that what you think?” She decided not to tell him that they were all having dinner tonight at the Baxter house.

  “It’s true.” Luke’s tone became a strained-sounding calm. “We find out Dayne’s our brother, and every time I talk to you or Kari or Erin or Brooke it’s ‘Dayne this’ and ‘Dayne that.’” He laughed, but it fell flat. “No big deal. I’m getting used to it.”

  Understanding came over Ashley, and her heart hurt. “You’re jealous? Is that it?”

  “Of course not.” He sounded angry at the suggestion. “Never mind, Ash. I have to go. Just thought you’d like to know I did okay on the bar.”

  She had more questions, but she needed an hour. Uninterrupted. “Congratulations.” Her mind raced. “I’ll call you tonight and we can talk longer, okay?”

  He hesitated. “Sure. Reagan falls asleep by nine anyway.”

  Ashley made a mental note not to forget the call. “Okay . . . well, we can talk more then, all right?”

  “Yep. Have fun with Dayne and Katy.”

  Their good-byes were short. After Ashley snapped her phone shut, she realized that Luke hadn’t asked her to tell Dayne hello. Just a clipped line about having fun with Dayne and Katy. Was it tension from taking the bar? Or was his mood entirely caused by the mention of Dayne? Ashley set her phone down. She would find out tonight. Since September 11, she and Luke had been closer than ever. Nothing would come between them now. She wouldn’t let it.

  She stayed behind Katy, turning right at the next light.

  “Was that Uncle Luke?” Cole grabbed the edge of her seat and leaned forward.

  “It was.” She gave him a quick smile.

  “Is he mad?”

  “I’m not sure.” Ashley reached behind and patted her son’s hand. He was always so perceptive.

  “Maybe he’s feeling a little bit left out because of Uncle Dayne.” Cole and all the Baxter grandchildren knew about him now. They hadn’t gotten to really know him yet, but they knew he was moving to Bloomington. “Last year that happened to me. Remember?”

  Ashley dreaded what was coming. “Because of Devin?”

  “No, not him.” Cole slid back in his seat. “I love that little guy.”

  “Good.” She didn’t need something else to worry about. “At school, you mean?”

  “Yeah. Avery and me were best friends, and then Skyler came to school. Right away Skyler got all the attention, and the guys wanted him on their team for kickball. Even Avery.” Cole’s tone changed. “I was sad for a little while after that.”

  “Oh.” Ashley pulled into the left-turn lane behind Katy. “And you think maybe that’s how Uncle Luke is feeling?”

  “Maybe.”

  Ashley checked the rearview mirror in time to see a grin spread across Cole’s face.

  “But pretty soon everything was good again because Avery remembered about me. Me and Avery are still best friends.”

  “Like Uncle Luke and me?”

  “Right.” Cole leaned forward again. “Just make sure you remember him.”

  Ashley nodded. Sound counseling from an eight-year-old. “I’ll do that.”

  They turned onto the two-lane road, and she checked her watch. By now Dayne would be parked behind the house waiting for them. Katy had no idea, and Ashley could barely stand it. Ever since her last conversation with Dayne she’d been looking forward to this moment, to seeing the surprise in Katy’s eyes.

  Ashley replayed that thought. Or was she really more anxious to see Dayne, to connect with the brother she’d missed out on knowing all her life? Maybe Luke was right. Was she so excited about finding Dayne’s connection to them that she’d ignored Luke?

  No, that wasn’t why she was feeling this way. She was happy for Katy; that’s all. And if the surprise gave her another chance to connect with her older brother, then so what?

  They finally reached the house, and she followed Katy into the driveway. Katy parked near the front of the house, and Ashley pulled up beside her.

  Katy was out of the car and waiting for Ashley by the time she unsnapped Devin’s baby carrier. He was asleep, so she was careful not to wake him as she slipped the handle over her arm. She was adjusting the pacifier in Devin’s mouth when Cole took his place next to her.

  He looked up at the building. “Wow . . . that’s the biggest house I’ve ever seen.”

  “Me too.” Katy laughed and looked at the front door. “This is it.” Her eyes sparkled, and she made a squealing sound. “What do you think?”

  Ashley let her gaze wash over the wooden house. “Katy . . . it’s perfect.” She took a few steps to the side so she could see the entire front. “I have to include it in a painting after you fix it up.”

  “You think Dayne’ll like it?”

  Dayne! The house was so amazing that Ashley had almost forgotten. “Uh . . . yes. I definitely think so.” She set off toward the left side of the house, forcing herself to take slow steps. “Show me the backyard.”

  “That’s the best part!” Katy took the lead, and they walked to the front corner of the house.

  As they did, the lake came into view, and Ashley noticed how special the place really was. “There’s no view like this anywhere on the lake.”

  “I know.” Katy was beaming. “That’s what I thought.”

  They walked along the side of the house, and as they rounded the corner, there on the edge of the dilapidated deck was Dayne. He wore khaki shorts and a casual, long-sleeved, white button-down with a T-shirt underneath. For a single moment Ashley was sure she was looking at Luke. They were that similar. And only then did she realize Luke was right. Because in that moment she wasn’t thinking about Katy’s reaction or how the two of them must be feeling. Rather she was thinking about herself and how right it was to be in the same place as her older brother.

  Even for just a few minutes.

  Katy was picturing the backyard the way it would look when it was renovated, imagining Dayne beside her on the back porch watching the sun set over Lake Monroe, when she turned the corner and saw him.

  At first she thought she was seeing things. But her imagination couldn’t account for the way Dayne stood and held her eyes, the way his face lit up as she came closer. And that could mean only one thing: he was really here; he’d flown in to surprise her. And now she couldn’t breathe or talk or move.

  Dayne winked at Ashley and Cole, but he came to Katy first. “You wanted me to see the house, right?”

  Katy grabbed a quick breath and fell into his arms. “You’re here.” She breathed the words against his chest. “I can’t believe you’re here
.”

  He held her, but only for a few seconds. “It was Ashley’s idea.” He moved from Katy to his sister and pulled her into a hug. “Nice work.”

  Ashley grinned at Dayne, then at Katy. “Very nice, I’d say.”

  Cole took a small step toward Dayne. He seemed more shy than usual. “Hi.”

  “Hey, Cole.” Dayne patted his nephew’s shoulder. He peered into the baby carrier. “Wow . . . Devin’s bigger in just a few weeks.”

  “I know.” Cole smiled, more relaxed. “He’s growing like a weed.”

  Dayne chuckled. “No question about that.”

  Ashley turned her attention to Katy. “So are you surprised?”

  Katy looped her arm through Dayne’s. “My heart’s finally beating again, if that’s what you mean.”

  They all laughed, and Ashley seemed to take the moment as a cue. “Your house is beautiful.” She caught Cole’s hand and moved back a few steps. “Early dinner tonight at the Baxter house, like we talked about?”

  “Can’t wait,” Dayne said.

  Ashley took another step. “Okay, you two. Have fun.” She pointed to the back door. “Just don’t walk across any broken floorboards.”

  “We won’t.” Katy waved. “See you later.”

  “Bye!” Cole turned and started jogging toward the van.

  Ashley fell in behind him. But not until she was gone around the corner, not until Cole’s cheerful voice faded did the moment finally begin to feel real to Katy.

  She turned and took hold of Dayne’s hands. “Every time you do this it feels more like a dream.”

  “Get used to it.” Dayne’s eyes danced. “I took a private plane.” He worked his arms around her waist. “If it’s this easy, I might come once a week.”

  “Dayne . . .” She closed her eyes and pressed her head to his chest again. It was true—having him show up unannounced felt like a dream. But sometimes so did everything else about their relationship. As if maybe she’d only created the story in her head: Hollywood heartthrob Dayne Matthews stumbles onto a small-town Indiana theater, steps inside and watches fifteen minutes of a play, falls in love with its director, finds the faith he’d lost somewhere along the way, and asks the director to marry him.