Page 39 of To the Moon and Back
“And this auditorium.” Ashley looked around. Bailey and her husband owned the theater and the entire city block. “The place is amazing. And the buildings around it. Better than ever.”
“It’s our dream.” Bailey looked toward the front of the lobby. Her husband was holding Hannah, their little girl. She was ten months old now. Bailey nodded in their direction. “Brandon’s the best dad.”
“Makes life pretty amazing, doesn’t it?” Ashley smiled. Landon was a wonderful father, too. She glanced back at the row where Landon was still sitting. She hated that they were fighting. They needed to figure this out when they got home. Ashley turned to Bailey again and tried to focus. “So Hannah’s almost one.”
“Time keeps flying.” Bailey’s eyes were soft. “Being a mom is the best.” Moments like this Ashley wondered where the years had gone. It seemed just yesterday Bailey was a teenager, back when the Baxters and the Flanigans first became friends. Of course, in reality that was many years ago. Ashley had painted sets for CKT and Bailey had been one of the young actors. The Flanigans and Baxters were practically family, and Ashley couldn’t be more proud of Bailey.
“Hey, guess who’s pregnant?” Bailey’s eyes lit up. She didn’t wait for an answer. “Andi! She and Cody have tickets for today’s show. They’re in town to see her family.”
The news warmed Ashley’s heart. All through high school and college, Cody had been in love with Bailey. But the two were never meant to be. Meanwhile Bailey’s best friend, Andi, had been secretly in love with Cody. Years of missed chances later, Cody and Andi were finally married. Beyond happy. “That’s wonderful. They’ve been married almost a year, too. Right?”
“Exactly.” Bailey’s eyes lit up with her smile. Anyone could see that her happiness for her friends was as genuine as her beautiful heart. “They got married the same day Hannah was born. I’m thrilled for them.”
Bailey caught Ashley up on the rest of her family. Her brothers were playing sports at Clear Creek High, where Shawn and Justin were both on the basketball team. Bailey’s oldest brother, Connor, was still at Liberty University. “You probably know about Connor and Maddie.” Bailey did a slight shrug. “On again, off again.”
Ashley had heard. Maddie was her niece, Brooke’s daughter. She’d been struggling with direction lately. Ashley wanted to get back to her seat, back to Landon. In case they could find at least a little breakthrough before the show started. For now, she kept her focus on Bailey. “Brooke says Maddie’s at that age. Doesn’t know what she wants.”
Bailey smiled. “I think Connor knows. But he’s being patient. He has some new girl at Liberty. Just friends, he says.” She shook her head. “I keep praying for him.”
“Brooke’s doing the same for Maddie.” Ashley hugged Bailey. “Again, just so proud of what you’ve done here. Your theater, the whole city block. It’s the talk of Bloomington.”
“Thanks.” Bailey turned as Brandon walked up with their baby girl.
“Little Hannah!” Ashley touched the child’s cheek. “She’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” A deep joy shone in Brandon’s eyes. Like he couldn’t have been more thrilled with life. “Good to see you, Ashley. Your whole family’s here today.”
“Of course. It’s Amy’s big night.” Ashley remembered the main reason they were here. The other kids were in this show, but Amy was a lead. Tonight was her niece’s debut as Wendy in Peter Pan. Ashley glanced at the stage. “I hope she’s not nervous.”
“A little. But she’ll be fine.” Brandon smiled and put his free arm around Bailey. “She’s a natural. The perfect Wendy.”
Bailey leaned into her husband, her eyes still on Ashley. “Amy’s wonderful. You’ll love the show.”
“Can’t wait to see it.” Just then the houselights flashed. Ashley pointed to where her family was. “I better get going. We’ll talk after.”
She returned to her row and again Landon stood to let her pass by. Nothing more.
In front of them Ashley watched the Flanigans and their boys take their seats. Jenny and Jim waved and Landon lit up and returned the gesture. Ashley did the same, but as soon as the Flanigans were settled, Ashley watched the smile fall off Landon’s face.
From the beginning, the show was even better than Ashley had hoped. Bailey was right. Amy was the perfect Wendy. Still, it was hard for Ashley to focus. Not once did Landon reach for her hand, even when the lights went down. But after a few scenes, Ashley stopped thinking about Landon and directed her full attention to the play.
When Wendy asked Peter Pan if he didn’t miss having a mother and a father, Ashley got tears in her eyes. She wanted to lean her head on Landon’s shoulder. This was a time when he would normally give her hand a soft squeeze. Instead the distance remained.
Ashley kept her eyes on Amy. What other little girl in the theater group could so personally understand the weight of missing her parents?
When the show ended, Landon walked over to the Flanigans. Ashley didn’t join him. Pretending to be fine was exhausting. Instead she started slowly for the doors at the back of the theater. Cole and Devin stayed with her. As they went, Ashley saw Cody and Andi talking with Brandon and Bailey.
Despite her own sadness, Ashley smiled to herself. God was so good, allowing the four of them their own beautiful happily-ever-afters. Not what they had pictured once upon a yesterday. But more perfect than they could’ve imagined.
As they made their way to the parking lot, Ashley remembered dinner. Everyone was coming over to celebrate Annie and Janessa and Amy and the show. Even Dayne and Katy were in town with their little ones. Again on the way home Ashley and Landon barely talked.
It’s going to be a long night, she thought. She kept her eyes on the side window most of the ride home.
The dinner was more fun than Ashley had expected. The joy of having her entire family around helped her forget for a while the trouble with Landon. The kids ran out back along the stream and looked for tadpoles in the pond. Ashley’s dad and Landon stayed outside with them until it was nearly dark.
Ashley watched out the kitchen window and Kari and Brooke joined her. “Wasn’t that just us?” Ashley looked at her sisters. “Running through that magical backyard. Pretending we were on some crazy adventure every afternoon?”
“Have you ever showed your kids the rock?” Brooke’s tone was wistful as she stared at the kids. “The one with our handprints?”
