A few of them nodded their agreement. Keith smiled his thanks in their direction. “I hope that as Jake experiences the change the letter brings, millions of viewers experience that same change.” He took a step closer to them. “But with all that, I wouldn’t want anyone to limit or label this film as a Christian-only film. We’ve added nothing to the script—it’s the same one each of you read and agreed to make. The Last Letter isn’t going to be marketed as a Christian film, it’s a film made by people like you and me—some of us Christians, some of us not. People who believe that moviegoers have a right to more inspiring films than some of the garbage that’s out there on the big screen.”
Chase and Lisa were beaming now, both of them silently cheering him on. Keith was almost finished. “This film is one that has the chance to win awards because of the depth of professionalism you all are bringing to it every day. Don’t think about walking out now, not when we’re on the brink of something great.” He took a step back and lowered his voice just a little. “I hope that clears things up for everyone.”
For a moment, no one moved or spoke, and all eyes remained on Keith. Then from the back corner, actress Janetta Drake stood and slowly, loudly, she began to clap. Keith felt tears gather in his eyes, but he resisted them. Thank You, Lord, for Janetta. She was playing the role of nurse in this movie, the one who shares critical insights with Jake, insights that help him change for the better and fully grasp the power of his father’s letter. She was the lone Christian among the cast, a woman in her mid-forties, tall, blonde, and beautiful on the inside and out. She was a mother and a grandmother, and before her acting career she was an avid horseback rider and the head of a nursing home. Compassion was something that came easily to Janetta, and it showed every time she was in front of the camera.
Now, despite the risk of alienation among her peers and fellow cast members, she was taking a stand in support of Keith’s explanation. And her support was all the cast and crew needed. The director of photography stood next, adding his applause to that of Janetta’s, and after that came the lead grip and three cameramen. A few of the minor actors crossed the room and stood with Janetta, lending not only support but solidarity in their decision to stay and work with Keith and Chase.
Seconds ticked away, and one at a time everyone seated stood and clapped for the courage of Keith Ellison, for taking a stand that was far from popular in an arena where no one had the guts to declare truth for what it was. Finally when Jake Olson and Rita Reynolds rose and began clapping, Janetta’s emotions got the better of her. Tears streamed down her face and Lisa came up along-side her, placing an arm around her shoulders. The two women rested their heads on each other as Keith added his applause to that of his cast and crew. “This is for you!” he shouted above the noise. “Now let’s go make a movie that will change the world.”
As the crowd disbursed and headed back to the set, Keith caught Chase staring at him from across the eating area. The look they exchanged said everything Keith knew his friend was feeling. Chase was sorry—angry at himself for nearly giving in to the pressures at hand. But more than that, he understood that Keith forgave him. The two men were best friends, on the same team. The way they would always be.
Keith nodded at Chase, and there was more understanding—they would talk about this later, back at the hotel. For now Keith walked up to his wife and wrapped his arms around her. “Thanks for praying.” He whispered against her hair. “I felt it every second.”
She lifted her face to his and kissed him lightly on the lips. They had loved each other since they were in high school, and the look in her eyes told him that the feelings between them now were as strong as they’d ever been. “You were brilliant.”
“God won.” The tent was nearly empty now, and he returned her kiss. “Let’s go knock out some scenes.”
As they walked back to the set, Keith registered the victory, the enormity of it. What had happened this afternoon wasn’t going to earn them an Academy Award, and it wouldn’t put more money in the bank account. There were still towering mountains ahead. But they’d gotten around this one. Keith put his arm around Lisa and crossed the street, watching his cast and crew busy themselves around the set. As he did, he smiled to himself.
Because sure enough, the view on this side of the mountain was breathtaking.
Thirteen
ANDI AND BAILEY DIDN’T ATTEND THE afternoon meeting. They weren’t really part of the cast and crew, and none of the other extras had attended. Whatever had happened during break, Andi knew only that the people who answered to her dad were returning to the set fired up and ready to work.
The next scene involved Janetta Drake, an actress people in Hollywood were talking about. She’d gotten a late start on her acting career, but she brought emotion to the screen that few actors could pull off. This scene involved her and a professor, both of whom were aware of the letter that had been given to Jake’s character. The extras were still needed, but Andi’s dad had asked if Bailey and Andi could sit this one out.
“Is that a good thing?” she asked her mom when they returned from base camp.
“It is.” Her mom kissed her forehead. “If you and Bailey get speaking lines, we can’t have you milling about in the background of other scenes.”
“Of course.” Andi could’ve shouted at the good news. She hurried across the grassy lawn to share the details with Bailey, who was talking to a couple young moms and little kids near the edge of the crowd.
The police had set up tape to keep the public from spilling into the area where they’d be filming. Bailey was on the inside of the tape, talking with a few young moms and their children gathered on the other side. Andi had almost reached her, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She expected it to be her mom, but when she spun around, she was looking straight into the eyes of Jake Olson.
His grin was slow and easy. “Hey.” He lowered his hand, his eyes never breaking from hers. “We didn’t finish our conversation earlier.”
Andi wasn’t sure it had been an actual conversation. More like an introduction. She forced herself to be calm, not to think about the fact that this was Jake Olson, America’s newest heart-throb. She laughed as a way of catching her breath. “You’re right. I guess we didn’t.”
“I have a few minutes.” He glanced toward the place where Janetta was filming her scene. “Fifteen at least.” He nodded for her to follow him. “Come on, stand with me over here … out of the way.”
“Okay.” Andi shot a quick look around to see if her father was watching them. But he and Chase were gathered around a small monitor close to the action, and her mother was working with the extras on the campus pathway behind where Janetta was set up. Bailey was still busy talking near the police tape. Andi tried not to appear overanxious. She kept her pace even with his, and when they reached a grouping of trees, Jake leaned against one of them, lifting up one foot and bracing it against a different tree trunk.
“So you’re a missionary kid, is that right?” His eyes were more gorgeous in person, or at least in the lighting beneath the trees.
Andi had no idea how he knew about her background, but she had nothing to hide. “I was. I spent seven years in the jungle.” She could feel her eyes come to life. “It was amazing.” A shyness came over her, though she didn’t look away. “But now I’m ready to experience life here in the States, you know?”
He raised one eyebrow. “There’s a lot to experience.” A smooth bit of laughter tickled his throat. “You have no idea, Miss Andi. I’ll bet you haven’t done much yet.”
“Not really.” She felt the conversation slipping precariously toward something suggestive. In a hurry, she brought it back. “I should tell you about Indonesia sometime.”
“Yeah.” His expression grew less flirty, more serious. “I’ve always wanted to do something like that.” He looked across the street toward the food tent and the trailers that had been moved there. “I took some great pictures when I was in Africa shooting my last movie.”
He thought for a couple seconds. “Hey, a few of them are in my trailer … wanna see them?”
“Really?” Andi looked around, but no one seemed to be paying them any attention. “All right, I guess. We’ll be right back?”
“Of course.” He grinned at her and the two of them fell into a quick pace, headed toward base camp and the trailers lining the parking lot near the food tent.
As they walked, warning bells sounded in Andi’s heart. Her parents would never approve of her going to base camp alone with Jake Olson, taking a look at something in his trailer. They’d be horrified to think she’d even consider the offer. But she let the warning bells fade against the backdrop of her beating heart. She was an adult, after all. If her dad wasn’t filming his movie here, she wouldn’t have her parents around to give their opinions about her decisions. It was broad daylight, and Jake needed to be back on set as soon as the current scene was shot. There wasn’t enough time to get in any real trouble. What could happen if she walked across the street and looked at some pictures?
“What are you thinking about?”
“The movie,” she lied. “My dad’s giving me and my friend a few lines.”
“Hmmm,” he gave her a light bump with his shoulder. “Another pretty girl who wants to be an actress.”
“I’m serious.” Andi liked the diversion. “I had the chance to do a few projects at my high school last year. That and a class I took in California. There’s something about being in front of the camera, allowing yourself to become the part.” She felt magical just talking about it. “I love it.”
“Me too.” They reached the other side of the street and walked through the food tent toward the trailers. “Except for the paparazzi.”
“Seems like they just found you this year.” She gave him a sympathetic look. “Can’t be easy having everyone watching.”
“Especially when you fall for a girl.” He slowed his pace and looked at her an extra beat. “It makes dating weird, you know?”
Andi couldn’t begin to imagine. She felt more nervous the closer they got to his trailer, and by the time they stepped inside, she wondered if he could hear her heart thudding hard against her chest.
He crossed the small floor and true to his word he reached for a framed picture on a shelf near the window. In it was a picture of Jake and a small black boy with a torn white T-shirt. “That’s JJ.” Jake grinned at the photo. “I can’t say his Nigerian name, so JJ’s what I call him.”
“He’s cute.”
“Our location shot wasn’t far from where he lived. I had the chance to buy him a mattress before we left.”
Andi felt a sense of admiration for Jake. “Most people wouldn’t think about that, making sure the child has a bed.”
“It wasn’t fair he had to sleep on the ground.”
The trailer was quiet inside, and suddenly Andi felt strangely awkward. What was she doing alone with Jake Olson in his trailer? She took a step back toward the door, just as her cell phone rang. She pulled it from her pocket and made a nervous face as she held it up. “My dad.”
“Oops.” Jake laughed as a way of showing empathy to Andi. But it came across as cavalier. Clearly he didn’t care whether she was in trouble. “Forgot you needed to check in.”
“No, I don’t—he probably just wants to tell me when they’re doing the scene I’m in.” She clicked her phone open. “Hi, Dad.”
“Where are you?” He sounded more worried than irritated. “I talked to Bailey. No one saw you leave.”
“I’m at base camp with Jake. He wanted to show me something.” She gave Jake a sheepish smile. “We’re on our way back.”
Her father’s silence said more than his words ever could’ve. “I’ll be watching for you.”
“Okay.” Andi snapped her phone shut and let it fall easily to her side. “Thanks for showing me the picture.” She was shaking, she was so nervous. “I guess we should get back.”
Jake didn’t look like he was in a hurry to leave. He was as cool and collected as she was anxious. Then without warning, he reached for her hand and she gave a light gasp, jerking back as if she’d been burned.
“Hey, it’s all right.” Jake held up his hands in a show of innocence. “I was just reaching for your phone.” His smile told her he thought she was very young and inexperienced. But even so he seemed interested. “I wanted to give you my number. That’s all.”
She was breathing fast, still terrified about the time she’d spent alone with him and ready to get back. Her dad was waiting for her, probably watching for her even now. But still she felt silly for thinking he intended to touch her.
“Well?” Jake’s expression turned utterly harmless. “Can I give you my number?”
“Sure.” Andi laughed at herself. “Sorry. It’s a little weird being here.”
“I know. I should’ve asked first.” He took her phone and programmed his number into her contacts. “My turn … can I have yours?”
Was this really happening? Jake Olson programming his number into her phone, and now asking for hers? She blinked twice. “Sure. Of course.”
He handed her phone back and pulled his from his pocket. “Shoot.”
She rattled off the number and then took a few steps toward the door. “They’re probably looking for us.”
“One thing.” He leaned against the doorframe of the small trailer and searched her eyes. “The actress playing my girlfriend walked off the set today. They’ll need a replacement.” He took a step closer. “You should ask your dad if you can read for the part.”
Andi was speechless at the thought. She only nodded and bit her lip. “Thanks … I’ll … I’ll ask him.” She hadn’t heard about the young actress, and now she couldn’t feel her feet on the ground. The idea of getting the part was more than she could’ve dreamed.
On the way back, a quote from Rachel Baugher’s book came to mind, one Andi had read a number of times: “God is more concerned with our character than our comfort.” The words played over in Andi’s head several times as she and Jake headed for the set. She wasn’t sure how they applied in this situation, except that whatever acting God allowed her to do, she had to be careful of one thing.
That she didn’t lose her character in the process.
Jake let his eyes find hers again as they neared the others. “It was nice spending time with you. Maybe we can take a trip to Lake Monroe one of these days. When they don’t need me on the set as much.”
“I’d like that.” Her answer came without giving the situation even a moment’s thought. She could feel her father’s eyes watching her from fifty yards away. She smiled at Jake. “Talk to you later.”
“I’ll text you.”
She gave him one last smile and then turned and ran lightly toward Bailey, who was still by the police tape talking with the group of spectators. Bailey flashed her a concerned look. “Where were you?” she whispered. “Your father was looking everywhere for you.”
“I went with Jake.” She could hear the excitement in her voice, and she allowed a quiet squeal. “I’ll tell you about it later.”
For now she didn’t want to talk to her parents. They were still very much the missionaries they’d always been, very protective and old-fashioned in their views. They wouldn’t for one minute understand her attraction to Jake. Besides, they were busy with the scenes taking place. Andi worked her way closer to the action so she could watch when Jake took his turn opposite Janetta Drake. His work was amazing, brilliant, even. He better get used to the paparazzi because he was going to be making powerful movies for decades to come.
When the take was finished, Andi looked across the field to Bailey. She liked her new roommate. Maybe this was the friend she’d always longed for, the one who would be like the sister she’d never had. She cared enough for Bailey that right now she didn’t dare consider mentioning the attraction she’d had to Cody Coleman. There was something between Bailey and him, even if Bailey wouldn’t admit it.
She angled her head
and studied Bailey another few minutes. What was it about Bailey that made Andi feel jealous? Jealousy wasn’t a feeling she was used to, whether that was because she’d grown up without peers to compare herself to, or because she’d never felt intimidated by another girl. Andi wasn’t sure, but Bailey’s eyes held something sweet and indescribable, something Andi had never seen in her own. A depth and confidence, a faith that knew no bounds. Whatever it was, the result made Bailey far more beautiful than she knew.
Andi was glad the situation with Cody never really came up. It didn’t matter now. Her interest was no longer in Bailey’s handsome friend, but in Jake Olson. The Jake Olson! She and Bailey were in the scene second from last that afternoon. The scene wasn’t very long. The two of them would sit on a bench making idle conversation until Jake walked up and asked if they were in a certain math class. Andi would tell him yes, and he would ask if they’d seen the professor passing by a few minutes earlier. Bailey would say no, but that they weren’t really looking, and that would be it. End of scene. Even so, being on the same set as Jake gave Andi chills every time their eyes met. The day couldn’t have been any dreamier.
At least not until her dad pulled her aside as everyone was headed back to base camp. “Is it true?” Disappointment ran deep in his eyes.
“What?” She hadn’t done anything wrong, so it was easy to keep her tone light.
“You went into Jake’s trailer? The two of you by yourselves?”
Andi felt her cheeks growing hot. “Yes. Nothing happened.” She made a dramatic sound, as if she couldn’t believe he was even suggesting she’d behaved poorly. “He showed me a picture of a little Nigerian boy he met on his last movie shoot.” She raised her brow so he’d know he’d overstepped his bounds by suspecting anything. “What’d you think we were doing, Daddy?”