Helena gave a dramatic sigh. “Men! Can’t live with them and can’t live without them.” She winked. “Don’t worry about it, Lena. It’s become a cliché for the leading man to fall for the leading lady.”
“Are you in love with him?”
“Me? Are you kidding? I meant you.”
“You can have him.”
Helena laughed. “No thanks. I’m good and married.”
“Married?”
“Shhhh. The studio wants to keep it hush-hush. It ruins the fantasy for male fans, but it keeps me safe from callow coyotes like Alec Hunting.”
Franklin was waiting in her dressing room, taut as a tiger ready to spring. “Did they make you do the scene again?”
“Yes.” She didn’t tell him how many times. His expression told her he already knew. “He treats Helena with respect.”
“He’s not in love with Helena.”
“He’s not in love with me either, Franklin, and Helena’s married. That’s the difference. Maybe if we told him we were married, he wouldn’t think he could take any liberties.”
Franklin’s expression altered. “You want to get married?”
She sat. Did she? She looked in the mirror and fussed with her hair.
He put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re trembling.”
“You almost punched him!”
His fingers tightened. “I would have, if they hadn’t stopped me.” He gentled, kneading the tense muscles in her neck. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we should get married. Then nobody would think they could step over the line.”
“Are you serious?” She met his eyes in the mirror and saw he was. He’d already made up his mind.
“The call sheet doesn’t have you scheduled until Friday.” He was back to business. “That gives us three days. We can drive up to Vegas, have a private ceremony in a wedding chapel, and be back in time for the shoot on Friday.”
“How romantic.” She shrugged his hands off and stood. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. But Lena Scott wouldn’t do either.
“It was your idea, Lena. How long have we been living together? More than two years. Why not make it legal?”
“What a beautiful proposal.” She turned her back on him.
He spun her around, hands firm at her waist. “You already know I love you.” He didn’t ask if she loved him. If they did get married, would he be less jealous, less suspicious, less possessive? She asked if he was sure. He said he was and kissed her.
They returned to the apartment. Franklin packed for her, two outfits, nothing suitable for a wedding. She kept hoping he would change his mind. He noticed her silence. “We’ll have a honeymoon later.”
On the drive to Las Vegas, he said things would be even better between them once they were married. Maybe he did want to build a life and not just a career with her.
Neon signs announced wedding chapels. Franklin chose one that reminded her of a miniature Haven Community Church, except for the blaring lights instead of a cross on the steeple. The proprietor had a rack of black tuxedos and white wedding gowns from which to choose: some plain, some with lace and pearls, some tiered confections. Abra felt like wearing black, but picked white satin. The proprietor’s wife insisted she wear a veil and handed her a small bouquet of silk flowers, probably used a hundred times before by a hundred other brides who’d come for a quickie wedding. Franklin stood at the altar looking handsome in a rented tux. His eyes shone when she took her place beside him. Maybe everything would be all right. When he smiled, she put her hand in his, and smiled back.
“You’re so beautiful. We should have done this a long time ago.”
The ceremony lasted only a few minutes. Franklin slid a simple gold band on her finger. Did the chapel have a tray of those for sale, too? They signed papers and received their marriage certificate. Elated, Franklin took her to a casino for their wedding dinner. He ordered champagne. The sound of slot machines and bells announcing winners assaulted Abra’s senses. She told Franklin she wanted to go upstairs. She wanted silence. Franklin thought she wanted sex. She played her role as Lena Scott. Maybe too well.
“You don’t know how much I love you, Lena. Tell me you love me.”
“I love you, Franklin.” In truth, she said it to calm him. She made it sound like she meant it. She wanted to. She said it again because he didn’t believe her. She kept saying it because she wanted so desperately for it to be true.
Joshua got up early and made coffee. He hadn’t slept much. He’d started dreaming about Abra again, vivid dreams that haunted him.
Dad came in the back door from his morning walk. “You’re up early.”
“Rough night.” He rubbed his face.
Dad poured himself a cup of coffee and took a seat at the table. Joshua stood. “What do you say I cook some bacon, scramble some eggs?”
“Sit down, Son.”
Joshua eased back into his seat. “Something wrong?”
Dad looked at him over the rim. “Michael told me Dave offered to find you a job last summer.”
“Yeah. I’ve been praying about it.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to call him. If a job turns up, you’ll have an answer.”
When Franklin finally slept, Abra slipped from his embrace and closed herself in the bathroom. She stood under the stream of hot water and scrubbed herself. Numb, she put her palms against the tile and let the water pound her flesh. Words welled up, unbidden, sharp and clear. “Oh! precious is the flow that makes me white as snow . . .” She could hear Mitzi. “It’ll all come back to you someday. Take my word for it.”
All those old hymns haunted her.
Tears came. She knew if she let go and started sobbing, Franklin would hear. He would come in and want to know what was wrong. What could she say? That she had married him because she didn’t have the courage to say no?
Hymn lyrics stuck like burrs in her mind. She couldn’t shake them. “Nothing but the blood of Jesus. . . .” She pressed her hands over her ears and begged. “Leave me alone.” But she couldn’t shut out what was inside her head.
Sometimes she wanted to go back. But it was too late. Dylan had called Haven a dead-end town with nothing to offer. She had to think of it that way, too, or spend the rest of her life in regret.
Abra shut off the shower and dried off.
Lena got back into bed with Franklin.
1958
By the time Dave called with a lead on a job, Joshua had all but forgotten the possibility. “I’m sorry it took so long. These things can be unpredictable. But if you’re still interested, I have a job lined up for you with a production company. It may only last a couple of months, but it’ll give you a foot in the door.”
Joshua wondered if he’d want to stay away from Haven any longer than that. The prospect of living in a big city had never appealed to him. Two months should give him time enough to find Abra. He wasn’t sure what he’d do when he did. But this was the open door he’d been praying for, and he was ready to walk through it. Luckily Jack Wooding’s crew had just finished one tract and had some time off before starting the next. It wouldn’t be a problem to get away for a while.
“Don’t worry about finding a place right away. We have plenty of room. You can live with us. How fast can you get here?”
“The time it takes to pack a suitcase and drive down.”
Exhausted and hungry, Joshua arrived at Dave and Kathy’s house late in the afternoon the next day. He met their two children—David Junior, called DJ; and Cassie, short for Cassandra, named after Kathy’s mother. Dave showed Joshua downstairs to their guest suite with private bath. At a glance, Joshua knew it had more square footage than Dad’s entire house.
Dave looked smug. “What do you think?”
“You may have to kick me out.”
He laughed. “I’ll fire up the grill and get the steaks on.”
Joshua took a quick shower and changed into a fresh short-sleeved cotton shirt before going upstairs and out through the French
doors to the deck overlooking the San Fernando Valley. In less than twenty-four hours, he’d decided to come south, packed, and made the five-hundred-mile trip. His truck had overheated when coming over the Grapevine, and he’d needed to pull off for a while. Other than that, he’d only stopped a few times for gas and food. The smell of barbecuing steak made his stomach growl.
Kathy had set fine china, crystal glasses, and silverware on the glass table with an umbrella. The napkins on each plate were folded like tulips. Kathy asked Joshua what he’d like to drink—bourbon, Scotch, gin and tonic? “Or fresh lemonade.” Joshua asked for lemonade. Dave asked for another Scotch on the rocks. Kathy’s expression told Joshua she thought Dave had already had enough.
Joshua watched Dave at the grill. “Smells great.”
Dave gave a sardonic smile. “Never thought you’d see me cooking anything, did you?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You managed hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire. What do you have there? Half a steer?”
“I figured you’d be hungry, and porterhouse steaks are the best. How do you like your meat? My wife likes hers still mooing.” Joshua told him medium. The steaks sizzled as Dave speared them with a long fork and turned them over. “I’ve got some bad news.” Dave took Kathy’s steak away from the heat. “About the job.”
“I’ve been fired before I’ve been hired?”
“The shoot’s been postponed. I told you the business was unpredictable.” A muscle jerked in his cheek. “There may be something else. Kathy’s father wants to do some remodeling.”
Joshua could see the furrow growing in Dave’s brow. “And?”
“He’s a tough man to please. A perfectionist. It’s probably a waste of time to talk to him.”
“A waste of time?”
Dave looked annoyed. “I’m not saying you’re not a good carpenter.” He uttered a short, foul word under his breath and then rushed on. “You’ll understand when you see the house. It’s not like anything you’ve worked on in Haven.”
“Are you worried that my feelings will be hurt, or that I’ll botch a job for your father-in-law?” Joshua laughed. “Don’t worry. If the job’s beyond my abilities, I’ll tell him.”
Kathy came back from breaking up a squabble between their two children. Joshua told her the lemonade was the best he’d ever tasted.
“David planted the trees right after we bought the house.” She pointed out the orange, lime, and lemon trees growing along the fence beyond the swimming pool, where the two children now splashed and played.
Dave still looked worried. “Have you ever done cabinetry and finish work?”
“I built my dad’s pulpit and the altar, renovated the choir loft, and did the front doors of the church.” He gave Dave an amused smile. “Not that you ever saw them. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in church.”
“And you won’t. It’s a waste of Sundays. Kathy’s been talking about it since our visit to Haven.” He gave a snort. “Did you plant that idea in her head?”
“Not that I know of.” Joshua lifted his glass of lemonade. “Maybe God is working on her in hope of getting to you.”
“Yeah. That’ll be the day.” His smile grew derisive. “What would God want with me?”
“Don’t ask me. Ask Him.”
“Always the evangelist.” There was no sting in Dave’s tone this time. “I’m a lost cause.”
Dave had always been stubborn and bullheaded. Now he was driven and ambitious besides. Joshua knew God could use those traits for a good purpose, just as he’d turned Saul of Tarsus from persecutor and killer of Christians into a man who spread the gospel throughout the Roman world.
Now, with television and airplanes, this new guy, Billy Graham, might reach even more of the far corners of the earth.
“DJ! Cassie!” Kathy called. “Time for dinner.” The children clambered from the pool, grabbed towels, and raced to the table. Dave looked exasperated at their squabbling. Kathy noticed and admonished them to settle down. “We have company. Behave!”
Joshua asked if he could say grace. Dave looked irritated, the children curious, but Kathy quickly said, “Please do.”
Joshua told a brief story of one of Dave’s exploits when they were boys. The children wanted to hear more. Dave told them to be quiet and eat. They could go back in the pool when they finished. Kathy said if they went in too soon, they might get stomach cramps and drown. “With us right here?” Dave countered, annoyed. DJ and Cassie squabbled again. “Knock it off!” Dave thundered. Cassie started to cry. Dave muttered something and got up. He grabbed his empty glass and headed for the house.
Kathy looked embarrassed and worried. “He’s not always like this.” She shooed the children onto the lawn, then headed for the house. DJ did a cannonball into the pool while Cassie stood on her towel, calling out, “Mommy, DJ is in the pool!” Dave came back outside, another drink in his hand, Kathy on his heels. Exasperated, she went to talk with DJ. He balked, but obeyed.
Dave closed the barbecue without cleaning the grill. He wanted to talk about business. Kathy joined them again and Dave stopped talking. She wanted to hear about Haven and what they’d done as boys. Joshua told her about Dave’s most spectacular plays on the football field.
Dave’s silence stretched taut. Kathy glanced at him in concern. “I think I’ll let you two talk.” She rose and called for the children to come inside.
As soon as they were gone, Dave opened up again. “You never really know who your friends are in this town. You never know what anyone is really thinking. Friends can turn into enemies overnight in this business.” The sun went down and he was just getting wound up.
Joshua let him talk for a long time before asking, “You sure this is where you want to be?”
“I’m locked in, Josh. It’s a little late to change my mind.”
“Change course.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re single. You don’t have a wife who grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father is the one who opened the doors. He’s the one that loaned us the down payment for this house. He’d want to string me up if I quit.”
Kathy opened the doors. “DJ and Cassie want a story, David.”
“You read to them! I’ve got to scrape the grill and clean up out here.” He got up and headed for the barbecue, as though to prove his point.
“The barbecue can wait, David.” Kathy sounded annoyed.
“No, it can’t. It’ll be dark soon.”
“It’s already dark, and the kids need to get to bed so they’ll be willing to get up tomorrow for—”
“Who’s stopping you? You’re the mom. Take care of it!”
Joshua rose. “Mind if I tell them a story?”
“Good luck with that,” Dave muttered, scraping the grill. “All they ever do is fight over which book they want. I’m too tired to deal with them.”
Kathy warned Joshua the children were keyed up and might not settle down for him. She ordered them to sit and behave so Daddy’s friend could tell them a story. DJ bounced on the edge of the couch. Cassie pushed him. He shoved her. Kathy made them sit on swivel rockers. DJ rocked; Cassie turned in a circle. Joshua took the challenge. He sat on the sofa and started talking. It took two minutes for the fidgeting to stop and five more to get DJ and Cassie on the sofa with him. Joshua leaned back, an arm around each of them, still talking.
When Dave came in through the French doors, he looked surprised. Kathy was sitting in one of the swivel rockers and listening. Cassie was asleep, curled up against Joshua’s side with her thumb in her mouth, but DJ was wide-awake, listening. Dave took a seat, looking more perplexed than relieved. When Joshua finished, Kathy stood and scooped up Cassie in her arms and told DJ to head for bed. DJ followed and then stopped in the doorway. “Are you going to be here tomorrow morning?”
“Yep.” Joshua smiled. “Your mom and dad said I could stay until I can find a place of my own.”
“I don’t think I’d like to spend three days inside a whale.
”
Joshua grinned. “Me either.”
“You said it was true.”
“It is. I have another true story to tell you about a boy who killed a giant with a sling and a stone.”
Dave looked half-amused, half-annoyed, as DJ trundled off to bed. “Bible stories. I should’ve guessed.”
Joshua laughed. “Would you like to hear one? I could tell you about Gideon and the Midianites. He felt persecuted and outnumbered, too. Actually, come to think of it, he was, but then again—”
“Spare me.”
Kathy returned from tucking in the children. “You’d make a wonderful father, Joshua.”
Dave gave her a narrow-eyed look. “Beware, Josh. Anytime a woman meets a bachelor, no matter how content he is with his life, she won’t be happy until she sees him roped and branded.” His tone wasn’t light.
Kathy stiffened. “I’ve been told married men live longer than bachelors.”
“Unless they work for their father-in-law.”
Kathy’s mouth opened in hurt surprise.
Swift regret filled Dave’s expression before he shut down. He got up. “I’m going to bed.” Joshua stood and thanked them both for dinner and the use of their guest room. Dave waved it off and turned to his wife, who remained in her chair, head down. “I have to get to the office early.” His tone was quiet, bland. “You’d better write out directions so Josh can find your father’s house.”
“I’ll give him the Thomas map. That way you’ll know I didn’t mislead him.”
Dave didn’t say anything as he headed for the hallway. He stopped and looked back at Joshua. “Be there a little before ten. If you’re even one minute late, you might as well turn around and come on home.”