Page 28 of Love Story
“Okay, God, I believed in You once. So if You’re there... if You’re really there, then can You show me? Give me a sign, God. Please give me a sign.”
As soon as the words left his mouth Wilson wondered if they were the wrong kind of thing to say. God might not want him throwing out a request like that. Asking for a sign.
Wilson thought a minute. Maybe if he offered something in return.
“Here’s the deal, God. You show me that You’re real. That You’re here and You care about this old vet... and I’ll stop drinking. I will, God. Right there on the spot. I promise.”
For some reason Wilson waited. As if God might actually talk to a lowly old drunk like him. The house remained silent. Wilson kept his eyes on the cross until they started to feel heavy. Yes, he would sleep here tonight. In the shadow of the cross.
If God wanted to give him a sign, there couldn’t be a better place than this.
9
Spotlights shone in every direction as Bailey Flanigan Paul stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet next to her husband, Brandon. Bailey was seven months pregnant, but she didn’t look it. Her pale pink sequined chiffon dress did a great job of covering it up. Not that they were trying to hide her baby bump.
But tonight wasn’t about that.
Bailey took her place next to her husband for their official arrival at the Hollywood premiere of Brandon’s newest movie,The Chance.
Dayne Matthews had produced the film, so once Bailey and Brandon could make their way inside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre they would connect with Dayne and his wife, Katy.
“How’s our little girl? Kicking much?” Brandon leaned in and whispered even as he smiled and waved for hundreds of cameras on each side of the carpet.
“All the time.” Bailey smiled for the cameras even as she kept the conversation going. They had found out that the baby was a girl. Something they had both secretly hoped for.
Brandon put his arm around her shoulders. “You cold?”
“I’m fine.” Bailey grinned at him. Her gown wasn’t enough to keep her warm. The dress had cap sleeves and felt nearly weightless on. But with Brandon beside her she didn’t feel the chill in the night air. He lowered his arm and offered it to her. She took it and whispered to him, “As long as I have you.”
He ran his fingers over hers. “You always will.”
With practiced experience they made the walk, taking their time, smiling at the sea of photographers. Bailey could handle this. She was past her days of nausea. The second and third trimesters were definitely better than the first.
“You’re handling this like a pro.” Brandon winked at her as they reached the carpet’s halfway point. He talked with his face set in the sort of smile the cameras expected. They’d shared moments like this before, but tonight was special because of the movie’s message. And because their baby girl was making the walk down the red carpet with them.
“Not as much a pro as you.” Bailey kept smiling, shifting her gaze for the cameras as they walked. She glanced at Brandon, laughing a little. “Which is fine with me.”
Just before they reached the grand double doors one of the marketing assistants stopped them in front ofThe Chancebackdrop. A dozen hired photographers snapped studio shots as they posed.
“Go ahead,” the marketing director shouted. “Interact. Look natural.”
“This is the fun part.” Brandon spoke softly, his flirty voice for Bailey alone. He turned and kissed her. Then he whispered close to her face, “You’re gorgeous. If I haven’t told you.” He kissed her again to the sound of the clicking cameras. “I still can’t believe God gave me you.”
“Okay!” The bark of the marketing director interrupted the moment. “Move on, please.”
Brandon laughed again. “Never changes.” He took Bailey’s hand and they walked inside the theater lobby.
“Hey, you lovebirds!” Dayne Matthews walked up and hugged Brandon. Their producer friend looked beyond thrilled about something. “So... good news! We’ve added another three hundred screens. That puts us equal to any movie this year.”
“Really?” Brandon looked from Dayne to Bailey. “We prayed for that.”
“We did.” She loved moments like this, when God answered prayers even in this crazy world of moviemaking.
Katy walked up and Dayne put his arm around her. “We prayed, too... that nothing would hold the film back, and that people would be touched.”
“Reporters want to talk to you both.” Dayne nodded toward the front of the lobby. “Shouldn’t take long.”
The four of them walked toward the interview area, and as they passed through the crowd Bailey took it all in. She was glad she and Brandon spent barely any time inLAnow. Most auditions for faith-based films were in Atlanta or Nashville, and when Brandon needed to meet with studio executives in California, he could do so by Skype.
