“Would you forget about her? She wasn’t my girlfriend.”
“What about the night I took the kids to lessons and you had a”—yes, I succumb to air quotes—“business meeting?”
“What are you saying? That I faked the meeting and had a secret rendezvous with Rachel?”
“If that’s not what happened, then explain why you said, ‘how did you know’ when I asked how your evening was with Rachel?”
“Good grief. You honestly thought I asked you to pick up my kids, feed them, bathe them, and put them to bed, so I could meet Rachel?”
I give a miserable nod and his expression softens.
“Tabby, I was having dinner with potential clients who were looking for a new software analyst. That’s what I do. While I was waiting for them to show up, Rachel came into the restaurant. She sat with me and ordered a drink. When Trey showed up, it was all too clear what was happening and that I was their cover. Do you have any idea how many double dates I was forced to endure before I put a stop to it?”
“Then how come you never asked out Tabitha?” Is Nick still here?
“At first she had a boyfriend. Then I realized she was struggling with my children. And any woman I become involved with has to have the capacity to be a mother.”
“What are you sayin’?” Nick says, sounding downright insulted. “Tabitha’s gonna be a terrific mother.”
“I know.” David tightens his hold and smiles. “My children love her already.”
“I’m pretty crazy about them too, David.”
“I’m pretty crazy about you,” he says softly.
“You are?”
“He is, honey,” Nelda says from the kitchen. “I can see it in his eyes. And Nick’s right. That’s a face you can trust.”
“There you have it,” David says. “What do you say? Want to give us a try and see what happens?”
Is he kidding me? I can’t speak. All I can do is nod. David dips his head and finally, finally, finally, his lips close over mine in a kiss that was definitely worth waiting for.
Epilogue
All right, let’s see… so to recap what has happened in my life during the past six months. Well, I have a boyfriend. Yes, a boyfriend. A very cute one who loves to spend time with me and never cancels dates unless he absolutely has no choice. And have I mentioned that he kisses like a dream?
And you know it’s David. We’re a couple. People lump us together that way. David and Tabby. “Let’s see if David and Tabby would like to come along with us.” Or, “Darling, do you think David and Tabby might like to have supper with us on Saturday?”
It’s such a wonderful thing to have a real relationship.
What else? Oh, I’ve gained two adorable possible stepchildren-to-be. David hasn’t actually mentioned a ring, but I’m hoping after he sees me today in my maid of honor gown (size six) for Shelly’s wedding, he’ll no longer be able to put it off. I’m actually hoping for a Christmas wedding—although that might be pushing it a little, considering this is already the beginning of September. So maybe I should stop thinking of poinsettias and consider lilies instead. Oh! And lavender bridesmaid gowns. No. Dancy would kill me. She’s already said no fuchsia, lavender, or pastels of any kind. Which really doesn’t leave me much choice for summer colors. But I did promise, and a promise is a promise. Besides, she’s having such a wretched time at work with her British jerk of a boss that I really don’t want to add insult to injury anyway. So I guess I’ll go with the black and white wedding theme. That’s classic and elegant and who wouldn’t love that?
Oh, Kirk Cameron turned us down for the role of Rudolph, so Jerry cast a relative unknown. And he’s fantastic. Fans overwhelmingly prefer him to Trey. Apparently they say he has an honest face.
The wedding coordinator gives me the signal that it’s my turn to walk down the aisle. I crank my head forward and kiss my nephew’s head. I’m carrying him instead of a bouquet. Shelly absolutely refused to get married without her son by her side and Brian agreed. Of course Brian agrees with anything Shelly says. I swear I’ve never seen a man so in love. Well, except for David. My boyfriend. Oh, did I already mention I have a boyfriend? I have a real, live boyfriend.
So I’m carrying my darling nephew, Frankie, down the aisle. People are smiling of course. His chubby legs are kicking as I hold him face-first to show him off. And he’s squealing with all the excitement of the day. My gaze finds David’s, and he looks a little shell-shocked. Yep, I think this might have done the trick.
Jenn is the flower girl and Jeffy the ring bearer. When I get to the front of the church, I stop next to Jenn. She looks gorgeous in a miniature bridal gown. Her blond hair is curled into ringlets and piled on her head. She takes my breath away. Jeffy is standing like a gentleman in his pint-sized black tux. Oh, what’s he doing? Eyeing the communion bread and licking his lips. I only pray he keeps his fingers off the loaf.
Shelly is a vision walking down the aisle on Dad’s arm. Dad. Those Weight Watchers points are paying off. What a transformation. He’s a nice, healthy two hundred pounds, which, at six foot two, isn’t bad. He’s just ten pounds from his goal weight. His diabetes is under control, and he’s stopped taking blood pressure medicine altogether.
My gaze falls on David, but he’s not looking at the bride. His eyes are fixed on me, and the expression of love absolutely takes my breath away.
“I love you,” he mouths. I feel my cheeks warm, and I smile at him. And since no one else is looking at me anyway, I go ahead and mouth “I love you too” back at him.
My eyes get misty as I watch my little sister become Mrs. Brian Ryan. (What were his parents thinking?)
By the time the ceremony is almost over, my arms are about to fall off. To finish off the wedding, Shelly reaches over and takes Frankie from my arms. Together, she and Brian dedicate him to God and promise to raise him to love and serve the Lord.
Oh! Did I forget to mention that? My sister and Brian have started attending my church, where I’ve become quite the celebrity since I gave my talk at the ladies’ meeting. Mike and Joy are still hanging out with my parents at their church. Joy prefers a more traditional service. How crazy is that?
I still don’t know if I’m making much of a difference being a Christian in the soap opera industry. I mean, Freddie’s still gay, and Julie has moved on to yet another relationship. Tonya is still bullied by her mother, who still smokes three packs of Winstons per day. Some days I think I should just give up and go back to wearing the bunny suit. But on those rare occasions when God opens a door and I’m allowed to share His goodness with someone, I know I’m there for a reason. To be salt and light.
We turn as the preacher introduces the new married couple and I wait, expecting to follow the bride and groom down the aisle to the receiving line. Only I see Shelly give David a nod, and my boyfriend stands and walks to the front. He drops down on one knee in front of me and holds up a case with the most fantastic engagement ring I’ve ever seen. Is he kidding me? I glance over at my sister. “Are you okay with this?”
Her eyes are filled with tears. “It was our idea. Would you give the man an answer?”
The wedding guests laugh. I turn back to David with a teasing grin. “He hasn’t exactly asked me a question yet.”
A smile tips the corners of his lips. “Will you be my wife?”
“And be our mom?” Jeffy and Jenn take up positions flanking their dad.
“Yeah,” Jeffy says. “We really want you to be our mom.”
I’m sorry, but that’s just the best proposal a girl could possibly get. I drop to my knees in front of my little family-to-be. I touch their pudgy cheeks (the twins’ of course; David’s cheeks are chiseled). “I love you too. And nothing would make me happier than to be your mom.”
I reach up and touch the precious face of the man I love. His eyes are misting and tears travel down my cheeks. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
The wedding guests applaud as David slips the ring on my finger and ki
sses me. A sweet kiss, filled with promise and love.
One thing is for sure, this is far better than winning an Emmy.
But you know… if they offer me one, I’m not going to turn it down.
Author’s Note
Dear Readers,
Broaching the topic of daytime soap operas in any sort of positive light is a little tricky for a writer of Christian fiction. Some Christians are strongly opposed to daytime serials due to content issues. But I fully believe that God has placed many actors and actresses in the studios for His purposes just like most other fields. In Catch a Rising Star, I’ve tried to show Tabby as a character who wants to make a difference in the field she loves—acting. We see her stand up for her principles more than once, as I’m sure actors and actresses are given the opportunity to do daily while walking out their faith in an industry where Christians are rarely, if ever, celebrated.
I hope you enjoy the fun and imperfections of this character as much as I have enjoyed discovering her in my head and heart. I hope to see Tabby truly make a difference in her world as we catch glimpses of her in coming books in the Drama Queens series. Stay tuned!
God bless you abundantly above all you could ask or think.
Until we meet again,
Tracey Bateman
READING GROUP GUIDE
Tabby plays a soap heroine. What do you think about a Christian taking a role on a soap opera?
Should Christians watch soap operas? Why or why not? By the same token, are secular movies or TV shows really any different from today’s daytime television dramas?
Tabby’s relationship with her mother seems volatile at best. How could she have done things differently to smooth things out?
Should parents try to push their kids into relationships with the potential mate they think would be a good fit? Do you know of instances where it has worked out? What about instances where, as in the case of Brian and Tabby, no love connection occurred?
Should single people actively search out dates and potential mates? Or should they wait contentedly for God to bring the right person?
How did Tabby’s faith play out on set? Should she have been more open? Less? In her attempt to be salt and light in her world, do you think she succeeded?
Tabby starts out really disliking children and even gets off on the wrong foot with David’s kids. But in the end, she grows to care about them a great deal. Can you think of an instance where your first impression of someone was wrong and your heart eventually changed? What does that say about giving people the benefit of the doubt to begin with?
Shelly is pregnant out of wedlock. And yet she and Tabby and their brother were raised in a Christian home by Christian parents. Does it make a difference how you raise your kids if they’re ultimately going to do whatever they choose anyway?
Tabby’s relationship with her dad is close and tender. Why do you think it’s so vastly different than the relationship she has with her mother? What could Tabby have done differently?
Tabby and her two best friends support each other through all of life’s struggles. What are your thoughts on female relationships? Is it possible to have close friends in a group setting without gossip and hurt?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tracey Bateman lives in Missouri with her husband and four children. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers since the early days of its inception and served as vice president and president of the organization. Her hobbies include reading, watching the Lifetime Movie Network, hanging out with family, helping with drama in her church, and listening to music.
IF YOU LIKED Catch a Rising Star . . .
You Had Me at Good-bye
Book Two in the Drama Queens Series
Fifth Avenue princess Dancy Ames worked her way up the ladder to her current position at Lane Publishing, and now she can practically see her name in shiny gold letters on the editor’s door. But when bad-boy Brit Jack Quinn’s name ends up on the door instead, it’s all she can do to keep from walking out. In spite of her good intentions, her new boss’s constant criticism pushes her to issue an ultimatum: either lighten up or lose the best assistant editor the company has ever had. Unfortunately, Jack has his own ideas. Ideas that involve a severance package—not for himself, but for Dancy. Okay, not exactly what she had in mind. But she wasn’t raised to fail, so she pours her heartbreak into writing a novel of her own and forgetting Jack Quinn ever existed. If only the guy weren’t her brother’s new best friend, popping up at every family gathering and trip to the country club. Somehow the English backstabber keeps showing up in the pages of her book… which makes things a tad awkward when her manuscript is actually considered for publication. Looks like she may have to rewrite the ending once Jack figures out that he’s starring in the next New York Times best-selling romance novel . . .
AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 2008
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Catch a Rising Star Page 24