by Krista McGee
“That sounds great.”
A horn sounded in the front yard. Kara opened the door to see a huge Hummer limo in front of her house. Her entire family—all her brothers and sisters, their spouses, and her nieces and nephews piled out. Kara couldn’t stop the tears as they fell down her cheeks.
“You didn’t think we’d let our big star just sneak off, did you?” Joey said. “Go inside for a minute. We’ve got more stuff for you to bring.”
Kara hadn’t noticed until then that every person had a gift. “My suitcase is full already, Joey.”
“Don’t worry.” Sam smiled. “These won’t take up too much space.”
Kara was led into the living room by her family and given the seat of honor, her father’s recliner.
“Pop insisted on coming.” Mary reached into a briefcase and pulled out her laptop. “Hang on.” Mary pressed a few keys and her father’s face popped up on the screen.
“Kara, my girl.” Pop sat up in his hospital bed. “I wouldn’t miss your send-off for anything. Not even for a heart attack.”
Kara wiped more tears from her eyes as little Ethan handed her his gift. Kara opened the bag and found a boarding pass inside.
“I’m coming in two weeks.” Ethan smiled up at Kara. “And Mommy said you’ll take me to meet Buzz Lightyear.”
Kara hugged her nephew. “You bet I will, buddy.”
Emily was next and her gift also contained a boarding pass. Gift after gift contained the same thing. Plane tickets to Orlando. The only differences were the dates. Someone from her family was coming every month for the next six months.
“You guys are the best.” Kara hugged each one in the room.
“Enough of that.” Pop spoke up. “You’re making me jealous. Now get my girl to the airport. She’s got big plans today.”
“Thanks, Pop.” Kara walked to the computer. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Kara. Now get going. And I expect a call tonight. I want to hear about this mystery boy.”
The rest of Kara’s family joined in, each wanting a call.
“He’s just my costar,” Kara said. “No big deal.”
The room erupted in laughter. “Right, Kar. No big deal. Like we believe that,” Joey said.
“Stop, you’re embarrassing me.” Kara ducked past her family and exited the front door. “Now, come on, you slow pokes. I call the sunroof!”
Kara entered the monstrous limousine and stuck her head out of the top. “Good-bye, New York. Good-bye, house. Hello, Orlando!”
Chapter 41
Come on, Flora, please?” Chad begged. Again.
“You have waited over a month.” Flora adjusted the straps on her neon green jumpsuit. “You can wait a few minutes more.”
Chad had never felt so nervous. Not when he was on America’s Next Star, not when he was standing in front of crowds of people in a concert. This unknown girl was far more frightening.
“What if we don’t get along? The executives said chemistry between the stars is important. What if we have none? What if we went through all this for nothing?”
“That is certainly a possibility.” Flora nodded. “But even if that’s the case, this young woman became a Christian as a result. Isn’t that more important than a TV show?”
“Of course.” But the more Chad had thought about the show, the more excited he was. Ideas were flying through his head, sketches he wanted to write, parodies of songs he would sing. The possibilities were limitless. As long as his costar felt the same way.
Chad’s mother walked down the stairs. “Chad, stop standing by the front door. Come sit down. Have some tea.”
“He’s excited.” Dad walked behind his wife. “Understandable. He’s been waiting awhile for this girl.”
“Maybe I will get some tea,” Chad said, needing to move. He walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “No, I don’t want tea. The last thing I want is to meet the girl and then have to excuse myself to go to the bathroom. That would make a great first impression.”
I wish this wasn’t the first impression, Chad thought, not for the first time. I still can’t stop thinking about Kara. Especially now that I know she’s a Christian. But there’s no way it’s her. She was still in New York. And Jonathon made Chad promise not to call her. Addy said Kara was still processing everything—her dad’s heart attack, her conversion. Jonathon said Chad would be a distraction. I understand that, but, God, come on. Kara McKormick is available, and I’m going to be working every day with some other girl. This isn’t fair.
“Chad,” Mom called out. “There’s a car pulling up.”
He ran into the living room and pulled back the curtain. He didn’t understand what he was seeing. “But that’s Addy Davidson’s car. What is she doing here? She’s not . . . Is she? ” Chad racked his brain, trying to determine whether or not it was possible for Addy to have been auditioning for the show.
The front door opened and Jonathon walked in.
“Jonathon? What are you doing here?”
Jonathon smiled and pointed toward the back of the house. “Good to see you too. And I’m here because there’s no way I would miss this. Not for anything.”
“But how’d you get here?”
“Addy.”
“What about the Secret Service?”
“Bull’s right behind us.” Jonathon opened the back door and pointed Chad toward the orange groves. “With someone special.”
“My costar is with Bull? Is it Addy?”
“Nope.” Jonathon kept walking.
“Don’t tell me it’s your sister.”
“Alexandra?” Jonathon laughed. “She’s twenty-two. And not at all interested in a television career. No, not Alexandra.”
Chad stopped. “What is going on?”
“Look, before I tell you that, I need to tell you something else.”
“Seriously, we’re going to have a heart-to-heart now? Are you trying to kill me?”
“No.” Jonathon leaned against a tree. “I wanted to thank you.”
“Thank me?”
“I talked to my dad. You were right—he wasn’t upset that I didn’t want to go into politics.”
“That’s great.”
“I know,” Jonathon said. “When I told him I’d like to pursue film editing, he was actually excited for me. He said his parents encouraged him to follow his dreams, and he did. He wants to do the same for Alexandra and me. He said if that’s what I want to do, then I should go for it. As long as I get my college degree, of course.”
“Of course.” Chad smiled.
“I did some research. You know what college has an amazing film program?”
“No idea.” Chad noted that his friend had never been more animated—except, maybe, when he was talking about Addy.
“Hartson University.”
“Here in Orlando?” Chad’s eyes lit up. “That’s awesome.”
“But I need a favor.” Jonathon folded his arms. “I need actual practice editing. Since you have your own show and all . . .”
“You want to help edit my show?”
“Is that an offer?”
“Are you kidding? I’ll talk to the producers tomorrow. How soon can you start?”
“I have to see if I can get into Hartson first,” Jonathon said. “I’ve heard it’s pretty tough.”
“I think between your family and mine, we might be able to pull a few strings there.” Chad laughed.
“Good.” Jonathon pulled his phone out of his back pocket. “They’re ready.”
Chad tried to look around the house, but Jonathon had brought him to a spot in the orange groves that made seeing the front of the house impossible.
“So you’ve seen her?” Chad asked.
“Yep.”
“And?”
“And what?” Jonathon feigned innocence and Chad held up a fist.
“Don’t make me use this.”
“She’s beautiful. And funny. And tall.”
“Redheaded?
” Chad asked hopefully.
“See for yourself.”
Chapter 42
I’m so confused.” Kara sat in the black SUV. “You know I love you, Bull, but why are you picking me up? Oh my goodness. Is Jonathon the star? Of course. That makes sense. Why it needs to be secret, why the parents are concerned about the costar. But he’s so quiet. I had no idea he was into acting.”
“It’s not Jonathon.” Bull looked at Kara in the rearview mirror.
“Then who?”
“And ruin the suspense? No way. Not this guy. Just enjoy the ride.”
“It is beautiful.” Kara looked out the window. Bull had pulled off on a dirt road leading right through an orange grove. “The trees are so pretty. But what does this have to do with the show? Is the studio out here?”
“Nope.”
“Is the star out here?”
“Maybe.”
“Come on, Bull.” Kara leaned forward. “We’re buddies, right? You can tell me.”
Kara’s pleas were silenced as Bull turned a corner and Kara saw the house.
“Now this is what I’ve been looking for.” She surveyed the multilevel home, just like the ones in pictures of Florida she had looked up on the Internet. The exterior was white with red shutters and a quaint red door. The front porch wrapped all around the house. Each window had a box of flowers in front of it, and the front porch had white swings facing each other. “Is this for sale? Ma would love this house.”
“Nope, sorry. That’s not why you’re here.” Bull put the SUV in park, stepped out of the vehicle, and opened her door.
The front door of the house opened and a very excited Addy came running out.
“Kara!” Addy hugged her friend and Kara returned the embrace halfheartedly. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“Of course, but why are you here? I’m supposed to meet the costar. And Bull said it wasn’t Jonathon. So why else would you and Bull be here?”
“Jonathon’s here too.” Addy wrapped her arm through Kara’s and led her to the backyard.
“But why?”
“I can’t believe you haven’t figured it out.” Addy looked at Kara. “Me and Jonathon, you and . . .”
“Don’t toy with me.” Kara pulled away from her friend. The possibility that Chad Beacon could actually be the boy she’d be working with caused her heart to race. “If you’re joking and some less-than-Greek-god boy is waiting for me, I don’t know if I could forgive you.”
“He’s waiting for you in the orange groves.”
“Is it Chad? Please say it’s Chad.”
“I’m not saying anything.”
“You’re not saying it’s not Chad,” Kara said, her heart racing even faster. “If it wasn’t, you’d tell me, right?”
“Maybe there’s another guy just as great as Chad who you don’t know but Jonathon and I do.”
“Addy, I don’t like this side of you.” Kara looked at the groves but could only see trees. No boy who may or may not be Chad Beacon peeking through the leaves.
Jonathon stepped out of the groves.
“It is you.” Kara’s heart dropped.
Jonathon smiled and walked toward Kara. “Are you disappointed?”
“No, of course not.” Kara tried to sound convincing.
“You’re excited to be in a show with me?” Jonathon kept walking.
“Sure I am.” Kara glanced at Addy, who was shooting Jonathon a disapproving look.
“Too bad, then.” Jonathon reached Addy and placed an arm around her shoulders. “Because I’m just working behind the scenes.”
This time it was Addy’s turn to look surprised. “What? ”
“Tell you in a minute.” Jonathon held Addy tighter. “Right now, Miss McKormick, you have someone waiting for you. Second row of trees, about forty paces back.”
Kara looked at Addy and Jonathon, who were looking at each other.
“Second row of trees, huh?” Kara found the second row and began walking. “Forty paces. What is this, some kind of treasure hunt?”
“You could say that,” a very familiar voice said.
Chad Beacon stepped out from behind a tree. He walked up to Kara and looked at her, his hazel eyes dancing. “I was really hoping you were the one.”
Kara swallowed hard. The Greek god was looking at her. And she wasn’t turning to stone. I might melt into a puddle, though. “Me too. I thought it was Jonathon.”
“He and Addy have had way too much fun planning this. He had me thinking Addy was the costar.”
“You’re not disappointed?” Kara asked, glancing from Chad’s eyes to his tan face in time to see his perfect smile.
“Are you kidding? I haven’t been able to get you off my mind since that day at the White House.”
“Really?” Kara inhaled Chad’s cologne and willed herself to remain standing. “’Cause I’ve barely given you a second thought.”
“Oh yeah?” Chad pulled a leaf from a branch above his head. “That’s not what Jonathon said.”
“Jonathon is a politician’s son.” Kara folded her arms, enjoying the game. “Don’t you know anything? Politicians lie.”
“Too bad, then, ’cause you’re stuck with me.”
“Only if the show does well,” Kara said. “We have to have chemistry. That might be tough.”
“I’m willing to work on it if you are.” Chad walked toward Kara and placed his arms around her neck.
Kara wrapped her arms around Chad’s waist, and it felt natural. Perfect. Meant to be. “It won’t be easy, working with you every day.”
“Your family hanging around my family.”
“Jonathon and Addy will probably be there too.” Kara smiled.
“Probably.”
“And I’m sure the network will make us do stuff together.”
Chad stepped forward, his face just inches from Kara’s. “We might have to act like we like each other. You know, for the good of the show.”
“I’m willing to do that.” Kara gazed into Chad’s eyes. “For the show.”
Chad took a step back, his hands on Kara’s shoulders. “Did I say I hoped it would be you?”
“I think so.” Kara smiled, her hands still on Chad’s waist. “But you can say it again.”
“I really hoped it would be you.”
“God sure did some work to get me here.”
“I was praying for you, you know. A lot.” Chad picked up a piece of Kara’s hair and held it in his hands. “I’m probably the reason you’re here.”
“So I voted you into America’s Next Star and you prayed me into heaven.”
Chad laughed and turned to walk back, his hand reaching for Kara’s. “I definitely win.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Kara loved the feel of Chad’s fingers in hers. “If you hadn’t won America’s Next Star, then you wouldn’t be on this show. So, technically, it was all me.”
“Oh really?”
“Well, it was all God. Then me.”
“Then me?”
“Maybe you after Addy.”
“So I’m third on this list?”
“Third sounds good.” Kara squeezed his hand. “I don’t want you getting a big head. You know how those big stars can get.”
“Sure of themselves? Always thinking they’re right? ”
“Exactly.” Kara nudged her shoulder into Chad’s arm. “I’ll protect you from that.”
“Thanks. Glad to know you have my back.”
“I definitely do.”
Reading Group Guide
1. This story is loosely based on the story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24. What similarities did you see between that story and Starring Me?
2. Chad’s parents were accused of being “overprotective.” Do you agree with that assessment? Would you like to have parents like the Beacons? Why or why not?
3. Kara wanted, more than anything, to be an actress. Do you know someone who wants to be an actor/actress? Is that person like Kara?
4. C
had has never dated because he believes the purpose of dating is to get married. Early in the story, however, Kara argues that it’s important to date lots of guys so you know which is your type. With whom do you agree? Why?
5. Kara was kind to Flora right from the start. Why do you think that is?
6. Did you suspect Jillian wasn’t really a Christian? If so, why?
7. Chad and his family served the Miller family by helping them relocate. Addy took Kara to help at a homeless shelter. Have you and your friends or family ever been involved in any service projects? What were they? How did you benefit from helping others?
8. Chad struggled with being famous because he couldn’t go many places without being noticed or mobbed. How would you feel if you were in his shoes?
9. Kara got serious about God when she realized her father might die. Have you ever been in a tough situation that forced you to think more seriously about what happens after we die? Have you had the opportunity to talk to someone in a situation like that?
10. How do you think the story would have ended if the doctor hadn’t recommended the McKormicks move to Orlando?
Acknowledgments
I could not have finished this book without my amazing in-laws. That’s right, amazing and in-laws in the same sentence. It happens. And I’m so grateful it happened to me! Like Chad, I prayed for my future spouse since I was thirteen, and boy, did God answer. Not only did I get a terrific, incredibly handsome husband, but he came with a terrific family as well. Twice a year, the whole gang comes down here to Tampa. It’s kind of like the McKormick clan—lots of noise, lots of fun, and lots of food. This year, when the gang was down for spring break, I handed my kids off to their grandparents/aunts/uncles and waved good-bye. I had a deadline coming up and a lot of blank pages to fill. My in-laws, in true McGee fashion, kept my kids so entertained, they had no idea Mom was holed up in her room, immersed in Kara and Chad’s story. The kids had a blast, and I was able to meet my deadline.
As always, a huge “shout-out” goes to my students at Citrus Park Christian School. The only thing I hate about my job is that every single year, students graduate and say good-bye. The good ones, though, always come back to visit (hint, hint).