“Thanks, Ellie.”
Elliana nodded before shooing Audrey out of the kitchen.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Audrey returned to the kitchen to take over, but Cayden had woken, and Ellie shoved the bottle in her hand and ushered her to the living room instead.
Gratitude flooded Audrey. It had been hard being away from Cayden all day, and she relished holding him and watching him eat, but a small part of her felt guilty that Ellie was slaving away in the kitchen making a dinner she promised to someone else. It was spaghetti, which wasn’t rocket science, but still, Ellie had her own husband to cook for.
The doorbell rang as Cayden finished his bottle. After setting it on the table, Audrey stood and opened the door for Blake who had changed as well. His dark green shirt brought out tiny tan flecks in his eyes, but it was the flowers in his hand that captured her attention. The small bouquet held six delicate orange roses, and she wondered if he understood their meaning of bridging a friendship into a romance.
“You look beautiful,” he said, holding them out to her.
“Thank you. You do too. I mean handsome. You're handsome.”
He smiled as she stumbled over the words. Dropping her eyes, she took the roses with her free hand and waved him inside. He followed her into the kitchen where Ellie was putting the finishing touches on dinner. “This is my sister, Elliana. She’s been watching Cayden for me while I work, and she made dinner tonight.”
“But only because you needed time with your son,” Ellie said, jumping in and smoothing Audrey’s awkward statement. “Hi, I’m Ellie,” she added, sticking out her hand.
“Blake,” he responded, returning the shake.
Ellie wiggled her eyebrows at Audrey in approval before turning back to the stove.
“And this is my son, Cayden,” Audrey said, thankful that Blake hadn’t seemed to catch Ellie’s gesture. “He’s the reason I’m back in town.”
“He has your smile.”
“And he’s going to go lay down and give you guys dinner time,” Ellie said as she took Cayden from Audrey’s arm.
“Ellie, you don’t have to. You’ve already been with him all day.”
“Nonsense, I already checked in with Philip, and he has to work late, so I have nowhere to be. This way, I can keep him entertained and you two can have a nice dinner as adults.”
Before Audrey could protest, Ellie fled with Cayden, leaving Audrey and Blake staring awkwardly at each other.
Blake broke the ice first. “Your sister is amazing.”
“Yes, she is.” Audrey laughed, easing the nervous tension in the room.
“And the dinner smells marvelous. It would be a shame to let it get cold, so shall we?”
“Of course, yes, let’s eat.” Audrey grabbed two plates from her small collection and handed him one. She scooped a portion of spaghetti and added a slice of bread to the plate in her hand and then traded plates with Blake and filled the second one. Two glasses of water sat on the table waiting for them.
“To a nice dinner with an old friend,” Audrey said, raising her glass in a toast.
“To new possibilities,” Blake added as he clinked her glass.
The words sent a tingle through Audrey’s body. Did that mean he liked her?
“Would you mind if I prayed before we eat?”
Her daydream crashed down at his words. He was religious? She had never been one for religion herself; it held too many rules that reminded her of her overbearing mother, but as Blake was a guest in the house, she kept her opinion to herself and nodded her head. One little prayer wouldn’t hurt anything, but the flames she had felt fanning inside her now smoked as if doused with water.
When he finished, an uncomfortable silence fell across the table and Audrey wondered if she should just end the date, but a voice inside her head wanted to know why.
“Why do you pray?”
The question seemed to catch Blake off guard, and he blinked at her. “You mean you don’t?”
Audrey shook her head. “I was never religious. My parents never saw the need, but I tried praying in Hollywood. God didn’t answer.” She picked up a piece of garlic bread and took a bite.
“What were you praying for?” he asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
Audrey shrugged. “I prayed to find work, and I received enough roles to pay the rent. Then I met Tony and things improved until I got pregnant. I prayed not to be pregnant, but that one wasn’t answered. When Tony left me, I prayed for work, but God didn’t answer that one either.”
Blake’s lip folded in as if he were biting the inside of them. After a long pause, he spoke, “I’m not God, and I can't explain why it sometimes seems as if he says ‘no’ to our requests, but I think you might want to try praying in a different way.”
Audrey’s eyes flicked to his. “There’s a wrong way to pray?”
“No,” - he shook his head - “but a different way of praying. Jesus said we are to pray ‘Thy will be done’ yet many of us pray just like you did for our will to be done.”
“I never knew that.” Even though her words were audible, they were quiet, meant more for herself than his benefit.
Another silence descended between them, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable one this time. Audrey wracked her brain for something to say when Blake sucked in his breath and pointed outside.
“Oh my goodness, it’s snowing!”
Audrey whipped her head around, excitement filling her. “I love the snow, but I haven’t seen it in years. LA doesn’t get snow.”
“Then let’s go enjoy it.” Blake pushed back his chair and held out his hand.
“But our dinner...”
“Will be here when we return. Come on.”
With a laugh that tinkled like a bell and set her eyes sparkling, Audrey accepted his hand and the two ran to the living room to grab their coats before stepping outside.
Though chilly, the air was not biting cold yet.
“I’d forgotten how pretty it was,” Audrey said with a sigh, throwing her arms out and twirling in a small circle.
“It’s not as pretty as you are right now.” Blake held her gaze as she paused and turned to him. A pink color tinted her lips and a tingle of embarrassment traveled through her veins.
“I’m not where I'd like to be. This baby weight is stubborn.” Her eyes dropped to the ground as her self-consciousness took over.
With one large step, Blake covered the distance between them and grabbed her hands. “You are beautiful, Audrey McAllister. I’ve thought so since the day I first saw you in high school.”
“But this isn’t high school,” Audrey began, glancing up at him from the corner of her eye.
“I’m glad it’s not,” he said with a smile. “I wouldn't have the nerve to do this if it were.”
With his right hand, he tilted her face up until their eyes met. The intensity radiating from his eyes caused her to take a breath and part her lips. As if in slow motion, his head lowered until his lips gently brushed hers. The kiss was over in an instant, but the heat from his lips flamed across hers long after he had pulled back.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you like that for years.”
“Blake, I don’t know if I’m ready to jump into a relationship again,” Audrey said. Though her body screamed yes, her head kept flashing a yield sign.
“That’s okay, Audrey. I don’t mind waiting for you. I'll wait as long as it takes.”
Blake smiled as he left Audrey’s house. Kissing her had been better than he’d imagined, and even though she said she wasn’t ready for a relationship, he believed she was more open than she admitted.
He wanted to share his good news with someone, and he pointed his car toward The Diner. Max was locking the door as he approached.
“Well, someone looks like the cat who ate the canary,” Max said, opening the door to let him in. “I guess you had a good night.”
“It was amazing,” Blake said, brushing the snow off his jacket.
“That's good.” Max picked up the chairs, turning them upside down on the tables.
“But?” Though he hadn’t said it, Blake felt the unsaid word.
“Nothing, I just don’t want to see you hurt again. I don’t know Audrey well, but she left once. How do you know she’ll stick around this time?”
“I don’t,” Blake said, trying to hold on to the elated feeling he had walked in with. “I guess I’ll just have to trust that God brought her back into my life for a reason.”
Max shook his head. “I don’t understand your faith, but for your sake, I’ll hope so too.”
Chapter 7
When Friday night rolled around, Audrey clocked out right at five o’clock and headed to the parking lot. The last few days, she had been waiting to walk out with Blake, but tonight was her dinner with her parents and she couldn’t be late.
“Oh good, you’re back. Mother called and said Philip and I have to attend this dinner too, so I have to run home and change,” Elliana said as Audrey entered the house.
“Ellie, I’m sorry. Is she requesting you attend once a month like me or just this once?”
“I’m not sure. I hope it’s just this once, but now my nerves are all bunched up. Why does she always make me feel like I’ve been called to the principal’s office when she makes me come over?”
Audrey smiled as she took Cayden from her sister’s arms. “I feel the same way.” She turned her attention to the baby. “How are you, little man?”
“Cayden was an angel today. I wonder how Mother will deal with a baby.”
“Is it awful that I kind of hope he throws a fit and makes a big enough mess that she won’t make us come back?”
“I don't think so,” Ellie said with a laugh. “I’d have the same thoughts. Okay, I have to run and change, but I’ll see you there.”
Ellie’s car wasn’t at the mansion when Audrey arrived. She stifled the sigh threatening to escape. Seeing her mother again would be a lot easier with Ellie to act as mediator. A check of the clock revealed only a few minutes before seven, so surely she would arrive soon.
After turning off the engine, Audrey grabbed Cayden’s car seat from the back and drug her feet up the walkway to the front door. It was just dinner, so why did it feel like impending doom?
Julie answered the door before the bell had finished ringing. “She’s waiting for you in the dining room,” she said in a clipped tone. Audrey knew she had been cutting it close, but she wasn’t late, unless her watch was off.
Audrey followed Julie into the spacious dining room decorated in creams and golds to make it appear more opulent. A large table filled the middle of the room though Audrey could never remember having people at dinner.
Her father, Bruce, sat at the head of the table, a newspaper open in his hands. Though he had the money to buy whatever technology he wanted, he had never given up the paper newspaper, claiming reading it online just wasn’t the same.
“Ah, finally. I thought perhaps you were breaking our deal,” Evelyn said, rising from the chair next to her father. “Please come sit down and join us so we can eat before the food is ice cold.”
“I’m not late, Mother. My clock said it was 6:57 when I pulled in.” Audrey worked hard to keep the irritation out of her voice.
With an exaggerated gesture, Evelyn glanced at the diamond encrusted watch on her wrist and pursed her lips. “Perhaps it is time you obtain a new watch. Mine shows ten after seven, and I highly doubt you took ten minutes to get here from the atrium.”
This would be harder than Audrey thought. Where was her sister to help out? After placing Cayden’s carrier on the floor next to her father, Audrey pulled out the chair across from her mother and sat down. “Are we waiting for Ellie?”
“Elliana called and said Philip is sick, so they will not be making it tonight.”
Dread settled in Audrey’s stomach.
“Ah, Audrey,” her father said, lowering his newspaper. “Good to see you again. How are you enjoying work?”
“The position is challenging to be sure, but I think I’m getting a better hang on it.”
“Good, good.”
“Can we eat now?” The vein of contempt was ripe in Evelyn’s voice
“Of course.” Bruce folded his newspaper and placed it under the plate.
Evelyn picked up the dainty silver bell at the end of the table and rang it. Audrey closed her eyes and took a deep breath. How did her parents justify this? They didn’t need anyone to wait on them hand and foot.
Julie appeared a moment later pushing a cart laden with small china bowls. Without a word, she placed one before Evelyn, Bruce, and Audrey and then stepped back and waited.
“Thank you, Julie, that will be all,” Evelyn said, and Julie curtsied and left.
Not thinking, Audrey lowered her head and closed her eyes. After their dinner on Tuesday, she and Blake had eaten lunch together the rest of the week, and though she still wasn’t sure she was ready to be religious, she had shown respect and bowed her head each time.
“What are you doing?” Evelyn asked.
Audrey’s head popped up, a faint heat searing across her cheeks. “Sorry, I’ve been seeing Blake Dalton, and he prays before every meal. Bowing my head was just habit.”
“Blake Dalton,” her father said, rubbing his chin, “why does that name sound familiar?”
“Because he works for you Dad. He’s on the construction crew.” Audrey shook her head, wondering how he could not know one of his own employees.
“You’ve been seeing one of your father’s employees?” Evelyn asked.
“Well, we only had one real date, but we’ve been having lunch together. I like him. He’s nice.”
“You can’t keep seeing him,” her mother said, lowering her head and dipping her spoon into the bowl as if the discussion were over.
“What do you mean I can’t keep seeing him?” White hot anger bubbled in Audrey’s stomach. “I’m a grown woman. You can’t tell me who I can and can’t see.”
“Maybe not, but you are a McAllister. We marry higher than common construction workers.”
The anger grew so intense that red flashed across Audrey’s eyes. “That is horrible, Mother. Just because he’s a construction worker doesn’t make him less of a person. And no one said anything about marriage. I’m not ready to marry. We had one date for goodness sakes.” It took all of Audrey’s strength to keep her voice even as Cayden was sleeping in the carrier beside her, and she didn’t want to wake him. “Dad, tell her that Blake is a good guy.”
While Bruce rarely stood up to Evelyn, he was more level headed and not as obsessed with status. “Blake is a good guy, but...”
“I can’t believe you two. This is the reason I moved away to LA," she said emphasizing each word. "I didn’t want to end up like you guys, so obsessed with money.”
“Why can’t you find someone like Phillip?” Her mother asked.
“Stop it. You’ve always compared me to Elliana. I was never smart enough or pretty enough for you. Now I can’t even date the right guy? You know what? Fire me if you want. I’ll pay back what I borrowed as soon as I can, but I’m going to keep seeing Blake.”
Evelyn’s mouth dropped open, but before she could say anything, Audrey leaned down and grabbed Cayden’s carrier. “I’ll show myself out.”
Her anger didn’t fade as she stomped out of the front door and climbed into her car though as she closed the door, the fear set in.
If she lost her job, how would she pay her rent? Without thinking, words spilled out of her mouth in a prayer.
“Lord, I don’t know what to do without help. Please show me what to do.”
Chapter 8
“What’s the matter?” Blake asked as Audrey opened the door Sunday morning.
Audrey shook her head. “It was a rough weekend. When I came to town, I had no money, so I had to ask my parents for help. They agreed, but only if I worked for my father and attended a dinner with them once a month. Fri
day was the first dinner and needless to say, it didn’t go well.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, touching her arm. “What happened?”
She bit her lip as she glanced up at him, wondering if she should tell him. She didn’t want to hurt him, but if they were going to have a relationship—and she thought that’s where they were heading—then she wanted to share everything with him. “My parents forbade me from seeing you because you don’t meet their idea of what I should be dating. I left, but not before telling them I didn’t need their money, but in reality, I do.”
The news that her parents didn’t approve of Blake didn’t appear to faze him in the least. Instead, he opened his arms and Audrey stepped into them, enjoying the warmth and security they provided. “It will be okay,” he said, patting her hair. The simple touch felt like home, and she buried her face further in his chest.
“How? I even prayed on the way home, but I haven’t had any bright idea come to me.” Her voice was muffled against his shirt, but he seemed to understand her anyway.
“We’ll figure something out.”
Audrey pulled back and looked up at him. “Unless it’s the fact that you’re a secret millionaire, I doubt it will change their mind.”
Blake said nothing, but a small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.
Audrey’s eyes narrowed at him. “Are you a secret millionaire?”
“Maybe not a millionaire,” Blake laughed, “but I do have quite a bit of money to my name.”
“But, if you have so much money, why are you working for my father?”
Blake brushed a strand of her blond hair back behind her ear. “I work because I like it, and because I don’t want to end up one of those people who becomes attached to money and looks down on everyone else.”
Audrey snorted. “It’s like you’ve met my mother.”
“I have,” - Blake said - “at the Christmas party last year, but I don’t think your mother is bad. She’s just missing something in her life.”
Once Upon a Star Page 4
