Leaving (14 page)

Bailey appreciated how Brandon didn’t credit himself for being the cause of the media attention — even though that was the primary reason. He was definitely different than the guy she’d met the first day she auditioned opposite him for the role of Ella. God had softened his edges and given him a peace. Something he’d been missing before.

Only then did Bailey sit up straighter in the seat and realize the chaos behind them. The paparazzi hadn’t given up, and at least eight or ten cars were dodging traffic, trying to keep up
with them. The limo driver must’ve been part of Brandon’s staff, because he drove utterly unfazed. Her brothers didn’t notice. They were quiet and like her, probably tired from the long day of travel and the time difference.

“You okay?” Brandon turned to her, his voice a whisper. “With the cameras and all?”

“Yes. Of course.” She took his hand and squeezed it. But when she went to let go, he gently held on.

“I want this weekend to be perfect.” He smiled at her, and the depth in his eyes was unmistakable. “Please … if you’re ever uncomfortable with the attention, just tell me. My driver can take us somewhere private with almost no notice.”

“Okay.” She giggled. At the other end of the limo, her parents looked happy, in a quiet conversation of their own. Her brothers were dozing off, lulled by the highway drive they were taking and still unaware of the paparazzi behind them. “Where are we going?”

“To my beach house. You’re staying with me.”

“We are?” Bailey had left the arrangements to her mom and now she turned in that direction. “Mom … you knew about this?”

“It made the most sense.” Her mother kept her voice low, so she wouldn’t wake the boys. “Brandon’s used to dealing with paparazzi. We aren’t.”

“Exactly.” Brandon slipped his arm around her shoulders. “I have room for everyone. Don’t worry.” He grinned, but his tone wasn’t flirty like usual. It was more adoring, like he really would do anything to make sure Bailey was comfortable this weekend. “Plus, this way we can spend more time together. If we had to worry about getting in and out of a hotel, we’d never see each other.”

Bailey felt herself relax. Her mother was right—the idea made sense. “No wonder your driver isn’t worried about the paparazzi behind us.”

“What?” Brandon’s voice reverted back to the familiar teasing. “You mean someone’s following us?”

Bailey released his hand and gave him a playful shove. “Very funny.” She crossed her arms so he wouldn’t be tempted to take her fingers in his again. She couldn’t lie. She liked how it felt, riding in Brandon’s comfortable stretch limo and holding hands with him. She cared enough about him that somehow holding hands seemed okay. But still … she didn’t want to give him the wrong idea. She yawned. “How much longer?”

He glanced outside and surveyed the part of the freeway they were driving on. “Fifteen minutes. Maybe twenty.” He settled back against the leather seat and found her eyes again. In the quiet dark of the late night, the friendly intimacy that had been a part of their time on set was instantly back again. “So … where’s the boyfriend?” He made a curious childlike look, and with great exaggeration he peered around their feet and in the shelving behind their headrests. “Nope. Still doesn’t seem to be hanging around.”

Bailey couldn’t help but laugh at him. Brandon entertained her, even when she was tired. “Okay … wanna know the truth?”

“That would be nice.” He leaned back, and this time shifted so he could see her better. “Sort of a general rule of thumb I have with all my friends. Tell the truth … as much as possible anyway.”

“Okay, then …” Bailey had known this moment would come when she and Brandon got together. She wanted to believe she had let Cody Coleman go, that he couldn’t break her heart again. But even thinking about saying the words that Cody wasn’t in her life made her heart ache. “He’s gone.” She refused to let her heart feel the pain here, now … while she was celebrating with Brandon. “He’s not in the picture.”

Brandon could’ve made a joke, teased her that starting tomorrow in theaters everywhere he, Brandon, was definitely “in the picture” with her. But he refrained from saying anything of
the sort. Instead he held out his hand and waited until she tucked hers inside it. “I’m sorry, Bailey. His name’s Cody, right?”

“Yes.” She remembered to smile. “It’s okay. We haven’t talked since January. Three months now.”

“How’s your heart with all this?” Again this was a side of Brandon she hadn’t seen. The guy she’d worked with spouted quick one-liners, always able to laugh at any situation. But not now. Once more she had to believe this new maturity could only have come from his deepening faith.

“I’m okay.” She nodded, her eyes still on his. “Moving on, I guess.”

Only when it was obvious she wasn’t going to break down, and that enough time had passed that this situation with Bailey wasn’t a crisis, did Brandon let the hint of a sparkle start up in his eyes. “So …” he gave his best
Dumb and Dumber
smile, “you’re saying there’s a chance!”

Their eyes held for a moment, and they both burst out laughing, the sort of late night laugh attack that made Brandon eventually reach for a couple pillows — one for him and one for her — to stifle the noise.
Dumb and Dumber
was a movie they’d called up once on Brandon’s iPad during a break on the set. They’d watched only the funny scenes, and that day they couldn’t stop laughing either.

When they could finally breathe, the driver had already exited the freeway and was winding up a steep canyon road to an enormous house on a hill. Bailey looked the other direction. “Are we at the beach?”

“Yes.” He yawned, put his arm around her again, and leaned his head against hers. “I moved here in February. You’ll love the view when the sun comes up.”

“Feels like that’ll happen in a few hours.” She could’ve fallen asleep right here, like her brothers. The laughter had tired her out, and every wonderful thing about her friendship with Brandon
was back to the way it had been the last time they saw each other. All that, and she had no reason not to sit close to him or hold his hand. She was single, after all. If she wanted to date Brandon Paul she could.

Matt Keagan had a girlfriend and Cody couldn’t care less. But tonight with Brandon she felt more at ease than before, more appreciative of the changes that had happened to him since he’d begun living for God. They bid each other goodnight at the bottom of the stairs that led to the guest wing of his house, and Brandon was a complete gentleman. No long hug or hints at anything inappropriate.

As she walked up the stairs, a chill ran down her arms.
Brandon Paul …
Bailey smiled at the thought. And that night, as she fell asleep in the bed opposite the one two of her brothers shared, she allowed herself to think about the possibility.

Even for just this one night.

T
HE SUNRISE REFLECTED ON THE
P
ACIFIC
O
CEAN WAS EVERY BIT
as beautiful as Brandon had said. Bailey climbed out of bed and saw she was the only one awake. Her brothers — and probably the rest of the family — were still sleeping. She checked the clock on the nightstand. Just seven in the morning. The time change must’ve had her body confused.

She had slept in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, plenty warm enough for the California night. The entire back wall of this part of his house was glass, the panoramic ocean view mesmerizing. Bailey walked to the balcony, slid the door open, and stepped outside. Back home the weather was still chilly, snow still piled up in most parking lot corners. But here in Malibu, the breeze off the water was warm and full and fresh against her face.

Bailey breathed in deep and leaned against the railing. No wonder the movie industry had settled here in Southern California. It was impossible not to dream and create and believe the impossible standing here on the edge of the ocean. Bailey lifted her eyes to the vast blue that hung like a canopy over the sea.
Dear God, this is the day … the premiere … please, Father, use this film to change our country … to lead people to You.

She hadn’t given a lot of thought to the movie, really. For her and the other actors, the film had been behind them for many months. But for the public, today was a beginning. Goosebumps flashed on her arms and bare legs. The possibilities were endless, and suddenly she was glad for this moment, for a sliver of
sanity and solitude at the beginning of what would inevitably be a frenzied day.

Brandon’s beach house was situated so that the ocean was his backyard. No paparazzi could’ve gotten into the small grassy yard behind his house unless they scaled a steep cliffy embankment and found a way over his eight-foot brick wall. The front, of course — where they had entered the house through the garage last night — was fair game. Bailey bet there were cameramen already outside waiting. Especially since she and her family were staying here. One more reason for them to think they’d catch a glimpse of something newsworthy, like her and Brandon, or her family, leaving the house together. The Flanigans were new and different to the Hollywood crowd, and Brandon had warned her last night that all of them would be under scrutiny the entire weekend. She laughed to herself. BJ was right about his teeth — at least for the next forty-eight hours.

“Hey,” Connor joined her on the balcony. He shielded his eyes and scanned the ocean view. “Is this amazing, or what?”

“It is.” She motioned for him to join her, and he did, leaning on the railing beside her, their arms touching. Connor had been her best friend all her life growing up. Only lately — when he’d been busy with football and music and she’d been in college — had they allowed some distance between them. “Could you live here … in Los Angeles?”

“I was thinking about that.” Connor turned toward the water.

“And …?” Bailey loved her brother so much. He was strong and virtuous and he wanted so badly to glorify God with his life. This moment alone with him was one more amazing gift to start the day.

Connor nodded slowly. “I think I could.” His eyes danced, and his seriousness cracked and became a laugh. He looked again at the deep blue Pacific. “I mean, come on, Bailey. You couldn’t do this?”

“Remember, this isn’t exactly real.” She turned her face to the breeze again. A pair of seagulls swept by and squawked as they lighted on the damp, sandy shore. “Brandon might come home here, but he spends his days fighting LA traffic, finding his way through the maze of city cement and asphalt and stucco and steel. High-rise buildings and almost no trees or grass or ocean views.”

“Really?” Connor gave her a pointed look. “This from the girl who dreams about living in New York City.”

Bailey hesitated, but then she laughed. “Good point.” She thought for a long moment, trying to put into words the difference. “New York’s a city, but it’s more like a village. You can get around on foot or by subway.”

“Yeah,” Connor looked at her. “LA’s more of a concrete jungle, I guess.”

“Exactly.”

“But for me … if I want to act or sing … this,” he spread his hand toward the vista, “all of this is where dreams come true.”

This was something Bailey hadn’t heard from Connor … at least not with so much certainty. “You might want to act?”

“Yes.” He grinned. “I mean, I want to try out for
American Idol
first, of course. And I’ll always love singing … but Broadway’s not for me, Bailey. The culture would drive me crazy.”

Bailey understood. It was a very artsy community … Connor — the quarterback of the football team — might have a hard time finding his place in New York City. “So acting, huh?”

“Maybe.” He turned his back to the view, his arms crossed. “We’ll see. But I could do this — the LA thing. I liked how Brandon handled the paparazzi yesterday.” He paused, thoughtful. “I think if a guy is living for God, the whole fame thing isn’t impossible.”

“Hmmm.” Bailey smiled at her brother. “I miss this, you and me talking.”

“Me, too.” He opened the patio door. “Hey, Brandon’s making
breakfast. He says we’re eating in half an hour. Then he’s taking us down to the beach for a walk. He has a secret path or something.”

“Brandon’s making breakfast?” Bailey contained a lighthearted giggle. “Really?”

“Okay, not Brandon. His staff.” Connor gave her a look like this was normal, hanging out on the balcony of a beach house and having breakfast with Brandon Paul. “You know … just living the life.”

They both laughed, and Connor went to get ready. Bailey remained on the balcony for another few minutes. She could stay in her shorts and T-shirt if they were headed down to the beach. Put her hair in a ponytail, grab a baseball cap, and call it good until later when they needed to get ready for the night. For now, she wanted to soak in every moment of how it felt to be here. Just the big wide ocean, the Lord, and her.

She replayed in her mind the time with Brandon last night. He was as charming as ever, but this time he was so much more thoughtful, more aware of her as a person. She stared at the crashing waves and tried to imagine her life, if somehow she found a way to live in Los Angeles and keep trying out for movie roles.

If she actually dated Brandon Paul.

For a single instant Cody’s face came to mind. What was he doing this weekend while she was here celebrating the premiere of her movie? Did he even know the film opened this weekend? Did he care? Bailey felt again the pain in her heart, the ache that would probably always be there when she thought about Cody. The more time that passed, the more she realized how right her mother was. Cody had broken her heart, and he had done so seemingly without regret. Never mind that he thought he wasn’t good enough for her. That argument was old. Whatever had really caused him to move on, it shouldn’t have mattered as much as her, as much as she should’ve meant to him. Especially after she had loved him all this time. The truth was, he didn’t care, not that
much anyway. He couldn’t have cared. Otherwise he’d be calling her and insisting they meet and talk about what happened. He wouldn’t let her go if he loved her.

The reality was that simple.

Brandon’s interest — no matter how lighthearted — eased the hurt in her heart. It even helped distract her from the disappointment of not winning the
Hairspray
role. She could hardly feel sad on a day like today—no matter what doors God might close in New York City. Again she stared at the crashing waves. A few guys on boogie boards ran into the water, laughing and splashing up foamy surf as they headed for the breakers. Bailey watched them paddle out and then wait … one minute, two … until finally the perfect wave appeared. They caught it and rode it all the way to shore.

Life was like that. A lot of work and training and preparing, all so that when the time was right a person might catch the perfect wave. One problem … Bailey wasn’t sure what to look for, whether that wave would take her onto a Broadway stage — something that seemed less likely than ever — or whether it might even lead her to Los Angeles.

Enough daydreaming, she told herself. Dear God … You’re in charge. I won’t worry about which wave is the right one. Instead, I’ll trust You that when the time is right, the perfect wave will appear. Just help me be ready to ride it in, Lord. She smiled, enjoying the analogy. Thank You … for the beauty of today.

I have loved you with an everlasting love, Daughter … I am with you always.

Bailey savored the sensation, the feeling that the Creator of the universe was communicating with her right here on Brandon Paul’s balcony. It was the best thing about loving God: knowing that He would never leave her, never let her walk alone. With that in mind, she fixed her hair, found the baseball cap from her suitcase, and met her family and Brandon for breakfast.

The smorgasbord of eggs Benedict, fresh fruit, waffles, and homemade jams was certainly not something Brandon whipped up that morning. But he teased that he had a knack for cooking. He took the seat beside Bailey, and he looked better than ever. Fresh and full of light, his eyes bright with possibility.

Amazing,
Bailey thought,
how much better a person could look with God in their lives.
When she first met Brandon, he had a drinking problem. His eyes were dark, no matter how much he teased and laughed and charmed his way through the days. But now … now she caught herself watching him, thinking about him, listening to him more than usual.

When breakfast was over, he led them through a door in the gate at the back of his yard. “Everyone thinks this hillside can’t be climbed. But the previous owner built a trail.” He laughed. “It takes a while, but it’s worth it.”

Bailey stayed close to Brandon, with the rest of her family following behind. The path zigzagged from one side of the hill to the other, cut into the rocks and protected by a small railing system on the cliff side — otherwise the path couldn’t possibly have been safe. Not when they were a good two hundred feet above the beach.

“Coach Taylor would love to get a hold of this hill.” Connor was behind Bailey. He looked back at the other boys. “Can you see it? ‘Okay, men, let’s run the hill!’”

Shawn and Justin laughed, and their dad stopped, studying the steepness of the path. “Good idea. Maybe we’ll run back up. Just so we can tell him you didn’t miss a day of training.”

“I’m up for it,” Ricky was always first to believe he could compete with the other boys. “Maybe we should run it one at a time and see who’s the fastest.”

Ahead of her, Brandon laughed and shook his head. “My dad would’ve given anything for a son like Ricky. The kid’s competitive from the minute he wakes up.”

The statement reminded Bailey of a time when Brandon had confided in her about his past, how his father had mocked him for liking theater, wishing instead that Brandon would’ve played sports. Back then a hike like this — with half a team of football players — might’ve been tough on Brandon, a reminder of all he hadn’t been as a kid. The ways he had let his father down, however cruel his dad had been.

She put her hand briefly on his shoulder as they headed down. “You were the perfect son, Brandon. You know that.”

He looked back at her, and his smile was warmed by a contentment, a peace that certainly hadn’t been there last year. “You’re right. I know that now.” His eyes took in the boys behind them. “I was born to act. But your brothers … they were born to compete. God makes everyone to carry out different tasks.” He looked forward again, navigating the trail. “I’m good with that. I think my dad’s even good with that now.”

The conversation made Bailey realize how much they had to catch up. She wanted to know about conversations Brandon must’ve had with his parents in the time since he’d become a Christian. But this wasn’t the place to talk about it.

“Don’t leave me behind!” The voice was her mother’s from the back of the caravan. Laughter marked her words, but she was definitely falling back. “My ankles aren’t as strong as all of yours.”

Shawn was the first to stop. He let the others pass and waited for their mom to catch up. “Go ahead.” He motioned the others to keep their pace. “I’ll walk with her.”

Bailey loved that about Shawn. Of the three boys her family had adopted from Haiti, Shawn had the most tender heart — and for good reason. He had been abandoned by his mother, abused and rejected. Now that he had a family who loved him, he was loyal and kind to the core. Bailey wouldn’t be surprised if Shawn wound up in ministry somewhere. He had that sort of heart for people.

“Almost there!” Brandon peered back up the hill. “I love that the paparazzi hasn’t figured out about this path. I’ve only come down here a handful of times, but still … it makes me feel like a regular person.”

“That’s cool.” Connor was close enough that he could hear Brandon. “I like how you handle the pressure. You make it look possible.”

“Connor’s thinking about acting.” Bailey could feel the downhill climb in the back of her legs, and she loved it. She hadn’t thought they’d have time for a workout today. “We talked about it this morning.”

“Really?” Brandon looked back at him. “That’s great, man. Let me know when you’re ready. I can hook you up with an agent.”

They reached the beach, and the expanse of sand was all but empty. “Is this … is it private?”

“It’s called Paradise Beach,” Brandon scanned the distance, probably making sure there were no photographers lurking anywhere. “It’s part of Malibu, and it’s open to the public. But it’s more private. Too hard to get to.”

“I love it.” Bailey kicked off her tennis shoes and worked her toes into the warm sand. “I’d be down here every day.”

“Until the paparazzi figured it out.” Brandon stared back up the hillside, waiting until everyone in Bailey’s family was safely down the trail. “So far, so good.”

They walked to the water and played in the surf and searched for sand dollars on the damp shore. The sun was warm, but here on the beach the water was colder than it looked. Way too cold to swim without a wetsuit. Bailey walked out to where the water was knee deep, and suddenly from behind her she heard someone run up and grab her by the arm.