swims in shallow water.”
50
“Or that.” He smiled, but after a few seconds his expression grew serious. “Hey, Katy … thanks for understanding.” “About your job?”
“Yeah. You never complain. That means a lot.”
“I understand. And I feel better now that we talked about it.”
He removed one hand from her waist and brushed a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I love the house.” He ran his fingers along her jaw and slowly brought his lips to hers, then breathed the next words close to her ear. “But I love you more.”
They kissed again, but this time the restraint that had always kept them in line was back in place.
After a few seconds, Dayne turned and studied the house one last time. “Take pictures before they start the work. One day we won’t believe it ever looked like this.”
Katy smiled and he felt it reach to the farthest places in his soul. The sun beat down on them, all traces of the storm gone, and he couldn’t imagine saying good-bye in just a few hours.
They walked toward their cars, but before he opened her door he stopped and tenderly took hold of her hands. “Pray with me, Katy.”
She smiled and closed her eyes.
Dayne took a moment before he began. When he did, his voice was thick with emotion. “I just want to thank You, Lord. This place, the view, the lake. It’s perfect and already it feels like home.” He tightened the hold he had on her hands. “Please, God, let the time go quickly. You know how I feel, how all I want to do is leave everything behind and marry Katy tomorrow. Help me be patient, and help us stay strong-” there was a smile in his voice-“every time we wander into shallow water. In Christ’s name, amen.”
“Amen.”
As they climbed into their separate cars, Dayne was overwhelmed by God’s mercy, His goodness. He was engaged to a woman who knew him-the real him. A woman who loved him
51
more than life, one he honored and respected. And over the next several months she would create a home out of an old pile of rotting wood, a place where they could build a future together, where one day they would raise a family. All of that and the possibility of starring in a movie with her someday down the road.
The future was better than any movie he’d ever made.
A wave of sorrow hit him, because in a few hours he’d be gone again. But not for long. One day soon these short trips would be a thing of the past. Now all they had to do was count down the days until then.
52
53 REIF Mr
CHAPTER SEVEN
BAILEY F LANIGAN could hardly believe they’d been invited.
Dayne Matthews was in town, and he and Katy were having dinner with his birth family-the Baxters. But Katy had asked the Flanigans to come too, and it was all Bailey could do to keep from calling everyone she knew and telling them. She was having dinner with Dayne Matthews!
Her three adopted brothers were in Indianapolis at a soccer tournament, and Connor was spending the week camping with the Shaffers. So it was just her youngest brother, Ricky; their parents; and Bailey driving to the Baxter house.
In the backseat of her parents’ SUV, Bailey was texting Tim Reed, her friend from CKT. I’m having dinner with Dayne Matthews, she wrote.
His answer was quick. No way!
I am… well, not just me. :) She tapped out her response. My family and the Baxters. Oh, and Katy.
After half a minute her phone beeped three times. She flipped it open and read his message. I wish I were there.
54
She smiled and began tapping the keys. Don’t worry… . I’ll get you an autograph. She sent the message.
Tim had been with her last year when Dayne was in town filming Dream On. The two of them had sneaked Dayne a message from Katy, and he’d treated them like equals. He’d even told Tim that he was doing a good job acting in the play.
Three more beeps. She opened her phone and peered at the screen. Not because of Dayne … because of you.
Bailey sucked in a quick breath. “Tim, my friend,” she
50
“Or that.” He smiled, but after a few seconds his expression grew serious. “Hey, Katy … thanks for understanding.” “About your job?”
“Yeah. You never complain. That means a lot.”
“I understand. And I feel better now that we talked about it.”
He removed one hand from her waist and brushed a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I love the house.” He ran his fingers along her jaw and slowly brought his lips to hers, then breathed the next words close to her ear. “But I love you more.”
They kissed again, but this time the restraint that had always kept them in line was back in place.
After a few seconds, Dayne turned and studied the house one last time. “Take pictures before they start the work. One day we won’t believe it ever looked like this.”
Katy smiled and he felt it reach to the farthest places in his soul. The sun beat down on them, all traces of the storm gone, and he couldn’t imagine saying good-bye in just a few hours.
They walked toward their cars, but before he opened her door he stopped and tenderly took hold of her hands. “Pray with me, Katy.”
She smiled and closed her eyes.
Dayne took a moment before he began. When he did, his voice was thick with emotion. “I just want to thank You, Lord. This place, the view, the lake. It’s perfect and already it feels like home.” He tightened the hold he had on her hands. “Please, God, let the time go quickly. You know how I feel, how all I want to do is leave everything behind and marry Katy tomorrow. Help me be patient, and help us stay strong-” there was a smile in his voice-“every time we wander into shallow water. In Christ’s name, amen.”
“Amen.”
As they climbed into their separate cars, Dayne was overwhelmed by God’s mercy, His goodness. He was engaged to a woman who knew him-the real him. A woman who loved him
51
more than life, one he honored and respected. And over the next several months she would create a home out of an old pile of rotting wood, a place where they could build a future together, where one day they would raise a family. All of that and the possibility of starring in a movie with her someday down the road.
The future was better than any movie he’d ever made.
A wave of sorrow hit him, because in a few hours he’d be gone again. But not for long. One day soon these short trips would be a thing of the past. Now all they had to do was count down the days until then.
52
53 REIF Mr
CHAPTER SEVEN
BAILEY F LANIGAN could hardly believe they’d been invited.
Dayne Matthews was in town, and he and Katy were having dinner with his birth family-the Baxters. But Katy had asked the Flanigans to come too, and it was all Bailey could do to keep from calling everyone she knew and telling them. She was having dinner with Dayne Matthews!
Her three adopted brothers were in Indianapolis at a soccer tournament, and Connor was spending the week camping with the Shaffers. So it was just her youngest brother, Ricky; their parents; and Bailey driving to the Baxter house.
In the backseat of her parents’ SUV, Bailey was texting Tim Reed, her friend from CKT. I’m having dinner with Dayne Matthews, she wrote.
His answer was quick. No way!
I am… well, not just me. :) She tapped out her response. My family and the Baxters. Oh, and Katy.
After half a minute her phone beeped three times. She flipped it open and read his message. I wish I were there.
54
She smiled and began tapping the keys. Don’t worry… . I’ll get you an autograph. She sent the message.
Tim had been with her last year when Dayne was in town filming Dream On. The two of them had sneaked Dayne a message from Katy, and he’d treated them like equals. He’d even told Tim that he was doing a good job acting in the play.
Three more beeps. She opened her phone and peered at the screen. Not because of Dayne … because of you.
Bailey sucked in a quick breath. “Tim, my friend,” she
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