Take Two Part 8

"Right." Bailey seemed to realize she might've been rude. "Hi, Mrs. Coleman, Cody. Thanks for being here."

"I was just telling Andi that she was brilliant tonight." His mom linked arms with Andi. If Andi thought the move was strange, she didn't act like it. His mom grinned widely. "The perfect Isabelle."

"Yes." Bailey seemed fl.u.s.tered, unsure of what to say. "Well, just wanted to see if you had plans. See you later."

"Okay." His mom waved good-bye to Bailey in a way that seemed almost sarcastic.

Cody was furious with his mother. She had intentionally lavished praise on Andi at Bailey's expense. Bailey had already turned around and was walking away. Cody's mind raced, looking for a way to salvage the moment. "Bailey ... wait." He took a few hurried steps in her direction and then walked slowly beside her until they were out of earshot of his mom and Andi. He touched her elbow and she stopped and faced him.

"You better go." Her eyes were ice cold. "Don't want to make them wait."

"Bailey, please ... don't be like this." He wanted to tell her she would've made a more believable Isabelle and that he'd had a revelation and he was going to be a much more present part of her life. But Andi and his mom were waiting, and there wasn't enough time to explain himself. "You were wonderful tonight."

She looked at him a little longer than necessary, but still the walls were up. "Thanks." She took another step away. "You and Andi ... have fun tonight." With that she was gone, hurrying back to her family and Tim - none of whom seemed to have noticed the two of them talking, or even that Cody was there.

Cody wanted to put the entire last ten minutes into reverse. He should've gone to Bailey and complimented her sooner. Tim or no Tim. The trouble was he had a habit of keeping his distance. This new determination, this change of heart G.o.d had given him wasn't something he could act on immediately. He had to think things through first. But still - now he'd made things worse than before. Or his mom had.

He walked back slowly. His mom no longer had her arm linked with Andi's, but she was speaking with a great deal of animation, talking with her hands and telling Andi some long story about who knew what. Their coffee break brought more of the same. His mother dominated the conversation, talking fast and laughing at times that weren't always appropriate. Cody tried not to imagine that maybe she'd taken something in the bathroom, an upper of some kind. She was just making up for lost time, trying to be the best mother possible. That's what he told himself.

But more than that, as the night wore on and after he'd dropped off his mom and walked Andi home, after he'd given her a quick hug good night and told her once more how great she'd done in the play, and after he ignored her slightly wounded look because he didn't go with her into the common area of her dorm and talk for another hour, he became more convinced than ever about his next step, what the near future was going to hold. He was a fighter, and he had no reason to stop fighting now. He was going to do what he should've done a long time ago.

Fight for Bailey Flanigan as if his life depended on it.

Ten.

THE LAST LETTER WAS DONE. THEY'D made their editing deadline with a few hours to spare and Chase could barely sort through the emotions consuming him. Exhaustion, relief, antic.i.p.ation, and full-out heart-stopping exhilaration. He and Keith had looked forward to this day since they set out to be filmmakers. It was Friday, December 5, and they'd just sent off the first copy of their movie by courier ser vice to arrive at the office of the Los Angeles Film Festival committee sometime before midnight. They'd called their wives with the great news, and now they were catching their breath, still hanging out in the rented Santa Monica editing room.

Chase leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs. "It's like a different movie - with the color fix and sound correction. The editing." His voice couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "Much better than I ever thought it would be. Even with the performances we got on set."

"Don't get too excited." Keith was standing, leaning against the console that contained the editing equipment. He wore old jeans, a rumpled T-s.h.i.+rt, and a weary smile. "We're not done yet."

"Ah, come on." Chase allowed a whine to color his voice. He didn't want to talk about the studio screening coming up or the possibility they wouldn't get a theatrical release. He couldn't stand to think of the meetings with Ben and Kendall or the work to be done in order to submit to Kendall's list of additional film festivals. Keith was right. The road ahead was long and precarious, but Chase didn't want to think about a single minute of it. Not yet. He closed his eyes. "Can't we have a day to just be done?" He blinked his eyes open and sat up a little more. "Like maybe we could do something really unconventional and go celebrate. Get a couple c.o.kes and walk down to the pier."

"At nine-thirty?" Keith laughed. "I guess. You know what I want to do first?"

"Take a nap?" A yawn caught Chase mid-sentence.

"No. I want to pray." Keith moved to the chair opposite Chase.

"Yeah. I like that." Prayer. Because they never would've arrived at this place without the miraculous leading of G.o.d. Chase's mood was suddenly sober. "Go ahead."

Keith put his hand on Chase's shoulder and bowed his head. He waited for a few seconds. "Lord ..." His voice trembled. He sucked in a quick breath. They'd worked nonstop since five that morning to finish on time, and the moment was overwhelming for both of them. He tried again. "Lord G.o.d, we asked You to take us to Los Angeles and give us the chance to make movies for You. Well, here we are, one movie finished, and we are nothing short of awed. This editing room feels like hallowed ground, Father, because You met us here. None of this -" He took another quick breath, steadying himself. "None of it would be possible without Your provision, Your leading. So before we move from this place we wanted to say thanks. Thank You, dear G.o.d. For what You've done and what You'll yet do. Thank You. In Jesus' name, amen."

Chase was just adding his own amen when he felt his phone vibrate. He pulled it from his pocket as Keith slid his chair back in place and turned his attention to the editing console. They wanted at least ten master copies of the movie before they left the room. Eight were already made, and the ninth was ready to be popped out of the machine. Chase opened his phone and stared at the small screen. The text was from Kendall. She'd promised a meeting with Stephanie Fitzgerald and Brandon Paul, but so far nothing had come together. Chase smiled. They thanked G.o.d for what He was about to do and almost before they finished praying Kendall contacted them.

He held up his phone. "You won't believe this. Kendall's texting me."

Keith uttered a tired, knowing laugh. "I love how G.o.d works."

The message was brief.

SORRY WE'VE BEEN OUT OF TOUCH FOR AWHILE. MY DAD AND I HAD BUSINESS IN PORTUGAL. WE'RE BACK NOW AND I'M IN TOWN. ARE YOU IN SAN JOSE OR HERE?

Chase quickly texted back.

IN SANTA MONICA. JUST FINISHED EDITING THE LAST LETTER HALF AN HOUR AGO.

Her response was almost instantaneous.

CONGRATULATIONS. PERFECT TIMING, THEN. I'M CLOSE. THERE'S AN ALL-NIGHT DINER ON THIRD AND WILs.h.i.+RE. MEET ME THERE IN THIRTY MINUTES? WE NEED TO TALK.

"She wants to meet in half an hour." Chase was on his feet, his energy returning at a rapid rate. "Will we be done?"

"Should be." Keith checked the console again. "The last DVD will be ready in about ten minutes. That'll give us time to clean up and drop off the keys."

Chase began tapping on his phone's tiny keyboard again.

WE'LL BE THERE.

Her response was upbeat.

GOOD. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU BOTH.

He closed his phone and slipped it back into his pocket. Then he raked his fingers through his hair and paced the length of the room. "The timing of this?" A single laugh came from him, a sound that was more grateful disbelief than mirth. "I mean, come on." He stopped and stared at his friend. "We've been calling them, what? Five times a day for a few weeks?"

Keith checked a few of the controls. "You sound surprised."

"I am." He laughed again. "I'm surprised I'm standing."

A calm filled Keith's eyes. "Aren't you the guy who worked beside me in the jungles of Indonesia? Didn't you see flood waters recede before our eyes without any explanation, and disease leave people who'd been sick for years?" His smile was warm. "Don't tell me you're surprised at this. G.o.d's got everything under control."

"Right." Chase allowed himself to relax a little. "Of course." In that instant he felt foolish for ever worrying, ever doubting they'd survive the process of making this first film - or that they'd connect with Kendall about the next one. He tried to imprint the moment upon his memory, how it felt knowing with absolute certainty that G.o.d was in control. He had a feeling he would need it as a reference point in the journey ahead.

The last DVD was ready, and they carefully loaded the original and ten master copies into a locked briefcase. Chase took a last look as they left. "I might even miss this place. It was starting to feel like home."

They both laughed as Chase hit the lights and they locked the doors behind them. Ten minutes later they walked through the door of the diner and scanned the place for Kendall. The smell of french fries and something sweet mixed in the warm air, and even in the somewhat dim light it didn't take long to see her. She was sitting with another woman, someone Chase recognized as the author of Unlocked. Her face had been on the cover of magazines and on talk shows since the book took off. He elbowed Keith, but his friend had clearly already noted the same thing. Kendall and the author here together could only mean one thing.

G.o.d was adding one more miracle to the list.

KEITH DIDN'T GET AS EMOTIONAL as Chase, but still, he was working hard not to feel overwhelmed by what he saw.

"Two?" A teenage hostess approached them, bright pink hair and a pierced lip. She smacked her gum and grabbed a couple menus, waiting for their answer.

"Uh ..." Keith saw Kendall notice them. "Actually, we're meeting someone."

"Fine." She handed them the menus. "Seat yourself. Your server'll be by in a minute."

Keith and Chase made their way to the table, and the women stood as they walked up. The author was black with stunning eyes, much prettier in person. Clearly she and Kendall were friends.

"Guys!" Kendall came around the table and shook first Keith's hand, then Chase's. "I'm so glad this worked out." She turned. "This is Stephanie Fitzgerald, author of Unlocked. She's a friend."

Introductions were made all around, and Keith marveled at the energy the two women shared. Stephanie had a glow about her. She had to be in her early forties, but she was tall and slender, and in her black dress pants and pale-blue silk blouse she didn't look a day over thirty.

They took their seats around the booth, and Stephanie leaned forward on her forearms, practically bursting. "Did Kendall tell you?" She looked at Keith. "I'm a huge fan of your work."

Keith resisted the urge to look over his shoulder, as if maybe she was talking to someone else. He took a sip of the water in front of him and stifled a nervous laugh. "She said something about it ... a few months ago."

"I know." Stephanie shared a frustrated look with Kendall. She talked fast, with a lyrical tone to her voice. "We're both so busy. I was on deadline for my next book, two of my six kids had birthdays. My husband and I celebrated twenty years. Just your average couple o' months at the Fitzgerald house." She grabbed a quick breath and launched into a story about how she'd stumbled onto a short film he'd made back in his college days and how she loved his sensitivity and the undeniable elements of faith.

"Everyone in town's asking for the rights to Unlocked." Kendall raised her brow in Keith and Chase's direction. "But Steph wants to work with you guys."

"Absolutely." Stephanie grinned at Chase. "I can't wait to see The Last Letter. There's buzz all over town." She included Keith. "Something special's happening with you two, and we know what it is." Her eyes shone with a light so genuine it warmed the s.p.a.ce between them. "It's your faith in Christ. Same as it is for Kendall and me."

Keith couldn't have asked for a better start to the meeting if he'd scripted it himself. Stephanie Fitzgerald's books were mainstream - number one New York Times bestsellers. But they were gripping and inspirational, and Keith had heard that she was a Christian.

"Finally today I called Kendall and said if she couldn't set up a meeting tonight, I'd find you myself."

They all laughed, and Kendall patted Stephanie's hand. "Good thing I was in town. I didn't like thinking about her knocking on studio doors up and down Santa Monica Boulevard."

Keith didn't want to sound ignorant, especially after the praise and confidence Stephanie had just heaped on them. But he wanted to move things ahead. "An option, then, right? Isn't that what happens next?"

"Exactly." Stephanie pulled a two-page doc.u.ment from an oversized bag next to her. "I had my agent draw this up a week ago. He said it's pretty standard." She pointed to a line halfway down the first page. "Options usually cost around five thousand, sometimes more."

"But I told her you two hadn't made any money yet and you were working off investor funds." Kendall's smile filled her face as she turned to Stephanie. "So ..."

"So I asked my agent if we could take a zero off. Give you the option for five hundred instead." She looked completely at peace with the decision. Thrilled about it, even.

Under the table, Chase kicked his foot. Keith swallowed, not sure what to say. "That's ... that's amazing."

"I want this to work for all of us." She leaned back, satisfied. "G.o.d's already told me it'll be bigger than any of us can imagine. Plenty of time for zeroes. It's all G.o.d's anyway."

"Yes." Plenty of time for zeroes. The author's faith seemed rock solid, and Keith silently breathed a prayer of thanks. Teamed up with Stephanie and Kendall, possibilities would become realities in a hurry.

"I want to tell you, Ms. Fitzgerald, Unlocked was amazing." Chase had been quiet until now. Probably trying not to pa.s.s out. "I couldn't put it down."

"Thank you. And call me Stephanie." She smiled at the group of them. "I think we'll make a wonderful team."

Kendall added to that. "Stephanie doesn't have time to be a part of every step of the process. She has two books to write next year, and she speaks at writer's conferences around the country. She wants a final look at the screenplay and a week or so on the set, but otherwise she's trusting us."

"I'm a.s.suming Kendall will join you on the production team?" Stephanie's eyes were hopeful.

"Absolutely." Keith and Chase had talked about this at the last meeting with Ben and Kendall. She had experience at almost every level of filmmaking. They would be fortunate to have her on their team. "It's already a plan."

"She's the best." Stephanie gave Kendall a heartfelt hug. The waitress appeared then and they ordered a plate of nachos and four iced teas. When she left the table, Stephanie nudged Kendall. "Well, tell them already. I can't stand the suspense."

Kendall laughed. "I already did."

Next to him, Keith could feel Chase holding his breath again.

"But tell them about the phone call earlier today."

"Okay, okay." Kendall personified joy and optimism. She practically glowed as she continued. "Brandon Paul called me today. He's been filming his series with NTM Studios and finally came up for air today. He told me he's talked to his agent and he wants the lead in Unlocked. It's very important to him. So we're a step closer."

Keith wanted to ask why the picture mattered to the young megastar, but that would come later. The dizzy feeling had returned, and he steadied himself discreetly against the edge of the table. "I wasn't sure ... We didn't know if he was still interested."

"More than ever." Stephanie looked satisfied. "Brandon and I are friends. We met on the set of his series a year ago. I was doing research." Her smile dropped off just a bit. "He's not a believer, but I'm working on him. I think the faith element of Unlocked intrigues him."

"That and the fact that it's a brilliant story." Kendall's smile faded, and her tone became more serious. "G.o.d has a reason for bringing Brandon Paul our way. I've known him for a few years. He's a great kid with more demands on him than most people will know in a lifetime."

Keith could only imagine. Like most NTM stars through the decades, the guy's face was everywhere. Everything from billboards to pop cans, tween jewelry and pillowcases to Blockbuster gift cards. He could only imagine the headiness of such fame, and the difficulty navigating it. "We shot The Last Letter in Bloomington, Indiana. Dayne Matthews lives there now with his wife and baby daughter."

"That's right." Stephanie nodded. "I knew he'd pulled out of the Hollywood scene. I wasn't sure where he'd settled."

"Chase and I had dinner with him and his family while we were there. He's got a lot of wisdom about handling fame. You know about his car accident right?"

"The whole world knew." Kendall frowned. "Paparazzi will kill someone before something's done about the insanity."

"He might be a help to Brandon at some point." Chase exchanged a look with Keith. "He's a great guy. Strong in his faith. Not many other people know what Brandon's going through."

"That's important." Kendall exchanged a look with Stephanie. "We'll keep that in mind as we move into this project."

Stephanie pulled another copy of the option from her purse and slid both across the table. "Take these. I don't expect you to sign them here, but read them over. Have your attorney take a look."

The waitress brought their food, and while they ate they talked about the book Stephanie was working on and a few of the stories she was planning for the future.

"How do you keep it all straight?" Chase took a long swig of his iced tea. "Don't the characters get mixed up in your mind?"

"Never." Stephanie laughed again. "My books are like movies in my mind. Very separate and distinct from each other. When I sit down to write, I see the film, like I'm in it somehow. I never feel like I'm making the stuff up. It's more like taking dictation, trying to capture everything I'm seeing and hearing and feeling."

"Amazing." Keith always marveled at the vastly differing ways G.o.d dished out talent. Back in college, he'd struggled to write his fifteen-page senior paper. A whole novel? It would've been an impossibility. "What made you write Unlocked?"

The question seemed to hit a painful nerve. The subtle way she dropped her gaze to her plate for a few seconds told them that much. "My sister, Jasmine. She was autistic."

Keith noted the way Stephanie used the past tense, but he didn't want to ask.

"Steph's sister was. .h.i.t by a car when she was nineteen." Kendall's voice softened appropriately. "She and their mom were shopping, and something frightened Jasmine. She panicked and ran straight into traffic before her mom could stop her. She died at the hospital that night."

Stephanie's eyes teared up. "Twenty-two years ago. Doesn't get any easier."

"I'm sorry." Keith reached across the table and covered the author's hand with his own for a moment. As he withdrew it he looked at Chase. "We saw the dedication to Jasmine and wondered."

"We shared a room." Stephanie's eyes were bright again, dimmed only by the strength of the memory. "The doctors used to tell us she was unreachable, that she lived alone in her own little world." She shook her head. "But I knew otherwise. When we were alone, I'd put on music ... Diana Ross or the Temptations. Lionel Richie, even Elvis. I would start dancing, and after a minute, she'd smile at me and join in. Music gave us a bridge. We danced across it often."