by Krista McGee
Jonathon shrugged. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Chad smiled. “That’s God.”
“I never thought of it that way.” Jonathon leaned forward. “So what else are you praying for?”
Chad shifted in his seat. “Actually, I was praying that you’d ask me that.”
“What?”
“Can you keep a secret?”
Jonathon smiled. “You have no idea.”
“Of course, what was I thinking?” I keep forgetting this guy is the president’s son. “Okay. My next project is going to be a TV sketch comedy. Kind of like Saturday Night Live, but clean, and for teens. It’s going to be awesome. I’ll get to sing and help write the scripts and be part of a brand-new network.”
Chad watched Jonathon’s face register surprise, then something else. Was he holding back a grin? “This is funny? ”
“No, no.” Jonathon cleared his throat. “Go on.”
“I’ll be the main star, along with a girl, and every week different teen actors will be guest starring.”
“Who’s the girl?”
“That’s the secret.” Chad lowered his voice. “My parents want my costar to be a Christian, so they worked out a deal with the executives.”
“A deal?”
“Yes. The execs chose ten girls, and my parents will choose from those ten.”
Jonathon’s eyes got large. “And those girls think they’re auditioning for the show?”
Chad sat up. “How did you know?”
“I’m very smart.” Jonathon shrugged. “But how will your parents choose?”
“Flora is living with the girls as their housemother.”
“Flora!” Jonathon clapped once. “Of course.”
“You know about this?”
Jonathon looked at the ceiling. “I’m just listening. So Flora is going to choose your costar.”
“Right.”
“And she’s looking for a Christian?”
Chad nodded. “Right.”
“Has she made her choice?”
Chad stood and walked to the window. “She’s made her choice, but the girl isn’t a Christian. Yet.”
“Yet?”
“That’s what Flora says. But my parents aren’t thrilled with that. They really want me working with a Christian.”
“Why?”
“Because we’ll be spending so much time together.” Chad leaned against the windowsill.
Jonathon’s grin widened.
“You sure are excited about this.”
“Of course I am,” Jonathon said. “My buddy, a TV star.”
“I wish everyone were that excited about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The producer of my recording studio is really upset with me.” Chad sighed. “He thinks I’m throwing away my career. No one goes from being a big singing star to hosting a TV show.”
“So you’re a pioneer.”
Chad folded his arms. “Very funny.”
“You think this girl may end up being more than just a costar?”
“I was thinking that, but then Flora said something.”
“What?”
“She said maybe this whole audition process—maybe even my becoming famous—was orchestrated so this girl would be able to hear about Jesus.”
Jonathon stood still. “I can see that.”
“I know, right?”
“Maybe it’s that and you’ll end up dating her.” Jonathon flashed a knowing smile.
“I don’t know about that. I’m just praying she’s fun and creative. If I have to spend eight hours a day with a girl, I want her to be a friend.”
“Well, I think I know exactly how to pray, then.”
“If you want to know the truth, I really wish Kara was the girl Flora was talking about.”
“Wouldn’t that be something?” Jonathon said.
“What am I thinking, though? Kara was visiting Addy when I was in the hospital. And that was after the auditions started. So there’s no way.”
“You’re probably right.” Jonathon folded his arms. “Forget her.”
“Hey, what kind of friend are you?”
“I was agreeing with you.”
“Well, don’t.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to say, ‘Maybe she didn’t say anything because the subject didn’t come up. Maybe Kara is on the show, and she is the one Flora is talking about.’”
“Okay, so maybe she is on the show.” Jonathon smiled.
“Don’t mock me.” Chad shook his head. “Why can’t I just meet some nice Christian girl like you did? Why does the one girl I can’t get my mind off have to be off-limits? ”
“Why not just give her a call? Couldn’t you just be friends?”
Chad stood. “I don’t want to be just friends with Kara.”
“So you just keep thinking about her and not doing anything about it?”
“That seems to be the safest thing.” Chad shrugged. “Is that your phone?” Chad pointed to Jonathon’s pocket, where a faint ring was emanating.
“I didn’t even hear it.” Jonathon pulled out his phone and looked at the screen. “I’ve missed eight texts. From Addy.” He scrolled down the screen and handed the phone to Chad. “Kara’s dad is in the hospital?”
Chad began texting a reply. “I told her we’ll be praying for him.”
“Let’s do it, then.”
Chapter 35
What do you mean you don’t have any flights tonight?” Kara leaned over the ticket counter at the Tampa International Airport.
“It’s eleven o’clock, miss.” The woman took a step back. “The next flight is at six tomorrow morning. That’s just a few hours away.”
“I can’t wait a few hours,” Kara yelled.
A security guard touched Kara’s arm. “Is there a problem? ”
“Yes, Officer.” Kara’s voice grew louder. “My pop is in the hospital, and this woman won’t get me a flight out of here to go see him.”
Addy stepped in and looked at the ticket agent behind the counter. “Are there any flights tonight? Anywhere? Maybe she could fly somewhere else and connect to Islip? ”
The woman’s fingers flew over the keys. She stared at her monitor, then looked at Kara. “The Islip airport doesn’t have incoming flights until tomorrow morning. Even if you did fly out of here, you’d just be stuck at another airport. I can get a direct flight tomorrow at 6:14 a.m.”
Kara ran her fingers through her hair. “What if we rented a car and drove?”
Addy pulled Kara away from the ticket counter. “Kara, it takes twenty hours to get to New York from here. Let’s just buy the tickets for tomorrow and wait at the gate.”
“But what if we’re too late?” Kara wiped the tears streaming from her face.
“Joey said your dad is stable.” Addy handed Kara a tissue.
“But they don’t even know what’s wrong yet.”
“Exactly.” Addy led Kara to a bench and the pair sat. “They’re waiting, just like you are.”
“I should have been there. I never should have tried out for this show. I should have stayed in New York. Why didn’t I just go on Broadway Bound? Then I’d be there right now instead of having to wait until tomorrow.”
“There’s nothing you can do there that you can’t do here.”
“There’s nothing I can do, period.”
“We can pray.”
Kara shook her head. “I can’t come running to God now. Not after I’ve ignored him for seventeen years.”
“Of course you can.”
“Addy, I’m not having this conversation right now, okay?” Kara took a deep breath, trying to keep herself from completely falling apart.
“Look, why don’t you go over there and get something to drink?” Addy pointed to the Airport News store. “I’ll go back and reserve the flight.”
Kara tried to stand, but her legs felt too weak. “I can’t even move. What’s wrong with me?”
> “You’re worried about your pop.” Addy smoothed Kara’s hair. “I’ll get you something to drink, okay? Orange juice? ”
“Sure.” Kara put her head in her hands and cried.
Pop is lying in a hospital a thousand miles away. What am I doing here? What was I thinking? If something happens to Pop and I’m here . . . I’ll never forgive myself. If Pop dies . . . The thought was too painful. Kara tried to focus on something else. Anything else.
God? I know I shouldn’t come to you now, when I’m in trouble, when I’ve barely spoken to you before. But this is my dad. He’s a good man. Please don’t take him. Please, God, I’ll do anything you want. I’ll never act again. I’ll stay home and take care of Ma and Pop both. Anything. Just please, please, let Pop be all right.
“I got you a granola bar to go with your orange juice.” Addy handed the brown bag to Kara and opened her own. “I got a Coke and a Snickers bar.”
Kara laughed, in spite of her tears. “You’re hopeless, you know that? Pop eats bad too. I always tell him to eat better. But he won’t listen . . .”
Addy hugged her and Kara leaned in and cried on Addy’s shoulder. “I texted Jonathon. He’s praying for your pop.”
“Tell him thanks.” Kara wiped her eyes and sat up.
“Already did.” Addy handed her another tissue. “I’m going to go get the plane tickets now.”
Kara’s eyes widened. “How am I going to pay for them? ”
Addy patted Kara’s head. “I called Uncle Mike. He told me I could use his credit card. I have it in my wallet for emergencies. And he said I could come with you.”
“Thanks.”
“Now, you need to eat, okay?”
Kara sniffed. “Yes, Mom.”
“Good girl.” Addy smiled and walked toward the ticket counter.
Kara’s phone chirped and she picked it up on the first ring. “Joey? What’s going on?”
“It was a heart attack.” Kara could hear the hospital intercom in the background as Joey continued. “They’re taking him into surgery.”
“Surgery?”
“He’s going to need a triple bypass.”
“What does that mean?”
“Three of his arteries are clogged and need to be opened.”
“Is he going to be all right?”
He sighed.
“Joey, tell me the truth. What are the doctors telling you?”
“You know he smoked for thirty years.”
Kara swallowed hard. “But he quit when I was a kid.”
“I know, but all that smoking may have weakened his heart.”
“Can’t the doctors do something?”
“They’re doing all they can, Kar. But they don’t know how he’ll do with the surgery.”
Kara absorbed this news. Pop could die. He could die and I didn’t get to say good-bye. I’ve barely been able to talk to him the last few weeks. “Joey, I can’t get out of Tampa until after six o’clock.”
“It’s all right.” Joey’s voice was soft. “There’s nothing you can do here. Pop is going into surgery now. By the time you get here, he’ll be in ICU. Only Ma is allowed in there the first few hours.”
“But what if he . . . ?”
“Don’t, Kar. He’s got a lot to live for.”
Addy returned, handing Kara the boarding pass. “I’ll be in at 9:05.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Addy is coming with me.”
“I’m glad. She’s with you now?”
“She is.” Kara reached for Addy’s hand.
“Listen, sis, try to get some sleep. We love you.”
“I love you too. Tell Ma I love her.”
“She knows.”
A sleepless night, turbulent flight, and ten hours later, Kara ran off the plane into her brother’s arms. “How is he, Joey?”
“The same.” Joey had circles under his eyes. He held Kara for several seconds. “Still in ICU. He hasn’t woken up yet.”
“I’ve been praying for him, Joey. He’s gonna be all right. He has to be.”
“Ma is furious at me for calling you.” Joey walked beside Kara toward the exit. Addy followed behind.
“Too bad.” Kara walked faster, knowing she was finally within a few miles of her father. “I’m not a baby.”
“Don’t tell Ma that.” Joey stepped on the black mat and the automatic doors opened. The overcast sky and slight breeze greeted Kara and she breathed deeply.
The trio power walked to Joey’s Mercedes. Neither girl had stopped to bring a suitcase, so they were able to jump in the car and leave the airport parking lot quickly, arriving at the hospital in less than half an hour.
Kara opened the car door before Joey had come to a complete stop. Kara bounded out of the vehicle and ran to the front double doors before she realized she didn’t know which floor her father was on. She turned back to Joey, who shouted “six,” then ran on, pushing the elevator button a dozen times.
“Come on.”
Joey and Addy came through the doors, stopping at the information desk to receive visitor’s stickers. Kara remained, pressing the Up button.
“Why is this taking so long?” Kara asked as Joey handed her a bright orange sticker.
“One of the elevators is broken.” Joey pointed to the unlit arrows above the third elevator.
A loud bell announced that one of the remaining elevators had finally made it to the ground floor.
An orderly pushing an elderly woman slowly made his way out of the elevator.
You’re killing me here. Kara waited for the young man to turn the wheelchair, fix the leg braces, and ease the woman into the lobby. Kara rushed into the elevator as soon as the pair was out, pressing the number six button over and over.
“Kara, relax.” Joey pulled her hand away from the button. “Pop’s still in ICU.”
“I don’t care. I just want to be up there.”
The elevator seemed to go in slow motion, stopping twice for people on the fourth and fifth floors before finally opening to the sixth. McKormicks filled the small waiting area. Kara rushed through them to her mother, sitting on a blue plastic couch with a Styrofoam cup in her hand.
“Ma!” Kara grabbed her mother and held her for several moments. When she pulled away, both women were crying. “I’m sorry, Ma. I should have been here. I should have known when Pop wasn’t feeling good that it was something more. I’m so sorry.”
Her mother wrapped an arm around Kara and eased her next to her on the couch. “You couldn’t have known. I’m a nurse, and I didn’t know. And you shouldn’t have come. The show . . .”
“Ma.” Kara took the tissue her mother offered and wiped her eyes. “Forget the show. It’s done. How can I be down in Orlando when you need me here?”
“Kara, don’t talk like that. Your pop wouldn’t want you to give up your dream.”
“You’re not talking me out of it.” Kara shook her head. “Besides, I don’t think I would have won anyway.”
“Of course you would.”
“This is where I belong, Ma. Right here. I can’t believe I even thought about leaving you guys.”
Kara looked up to see Addy standing in the corner of the waiting room. “Addy, come here.”
Ma rose to greet Addy, pulling her into a hug. “Thank you for helping my Kara. You’re a good friend.”
“I’m praying for Mr. McKormick. And for you. This must be so hard.”
“I appreciate your prayers, Addy.” Ma rubbed her back.
“Any updates? Have you seen Pop? How does he look? ” Kara asked.
“He’s recovering.” Ma sat back down and took a sip of coffee. “The doctors said that the next forty-eight hours are crucial.”
“Is he awake?”
A tear slid down Ma’s cheek. “Not yet. I don’t know how long he was unconscious. He was in his recliner, watching the news. I was upstairs watching my show. I wasn’t with him when it happened. He may have been out for a while . . .”
“Ma
, no.” Kara looked at her mother. “You couldn’t have known. He’ll be fine. I’m sure.”
“I just want him to wake up, to be okay.”
“Me too, Ma.”
Every head in the waiting room turned as a doctor in green scrubs entered through the heavy door leading to the ICU.
“Mrs. McKormick?” he said, panning the sea of faces. “I need to speak to Mrs. McKormick immediately.”
Chapter 36
Mom, you in there?” Chad knocked on the door to the room where his parents were staying in the White House.
The heavy door opened and Mom ushered Chad in. The spacious room was decorated in deep reds and browns, with two huge windows on either side of the large bed. The curtains were tied back, and the sun shone brightly into the room.
“Need help with your tie?” Mom smiled as Chad handed the black bow tie to her.
“I hate these things.” Chad sighed. “And this is a luncheon. Couldn’t we be a little more casual at lunch?”
“This is the White House.” Mom looped the tie around Chad’s neck.
“I know, but seriously. A tuxedo at eleven in the morning?”
“Yes, dear, you have such a difficult life.” She winked as she finished tying the bow. “There you go.”
Chad sat on the bed. “Where’s Dad?”
“Working with the soundmen. Do you need him?”
“No.” Chad lay down on the feather pillows, his mind drifting to Orlando. “The auditions will be over this week.”
“Are you nervous about that?”
“A little.”
“About the show, or about your costar?”
“Both.” Chad put his arms behind his head. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing? Giving up my singing career for this show?”
“Still thinking about what Jim said?”
Chad nodded. “I’d forgotten what it was all like before I won the show. But when I was at the auditions with all those kids waiting for their chance . . . I don’t know. Am I throwing that away? Is that right?”
“You haven’t enjoyed being a pop star, Chad.” She sat next to him. “I don’t think any of us ever thought about how difficult all this would be.”
“But what if I don’t like being on the show either? I don’t want to be ungrateful or discontent.”