“Endless possibilities as far as the eye can see,” Jay said.
“But I’ll only be looking in your eyes,” Sarah said. “When I promise to love you and always stay by your side.”
Epilogue
August 2006
Holding her daughter’s hand, Jane walked across the beach toward Jay. “You’re the only guy I know who could pull off getting married in a tuxedo and bare feet.”
Jay shrugged as he looked down at his toes and the sand squished between them. “Sarah wanted to get married on a beach, and I can’t stand the feeling of sand in my shoes.” He grinned. “I was just trying to please my wife.” The word rolled off his tongue easily. He’d waited a long time to say it—eight months of being engaged, and a lifetime before that, searching for the perfect girl.
“She seems pleased with your wedding gift,” Jane said, inclining her head toward Sarah, several feet away, bouncing up and down on her own bare feet as Jane’s husband, Peter, showed her how to use the telescope Jay had given her shortly after the ceremony.
“Tell Pete I really appreciate his help picking that out. And I really appreciate your help finding this place and—with everything.”
“It’s been my pleasure.” Jane let go of Maddie, and the little girl squatted down, scooping up two fistfuls of sand and dumping them on top of her sandals.
“She doesn’t seem to have a problem with sand in her shoes,” Jay observed.
“Of course not. I’ve been encouraging her to play in the dirt since before she could walk.” Jane leaned over, her own fingers digging in the sand to retrieve a shell. “Look, Maddie.”
“Eat?” the little girl asked.
“No, silly,” Jane said. “It’s a seashell.” She brushed Maddie’s fingers over the sea-polished ridges. “Isn’t it pretty?”
Jay thought Jane looked especially pretty in that moment, kneeling beside her daughter, head bent close to the little girl who looked nothing like her. Jay could see the love Jane felt for the child who had become hers only through a series of extreme, trying circumstances.
His heart constricted as he indulged in a fantasy that perhaps wasn’t so farfetched anymore. In his mind he could see himself and Sarah walking along this beach, a little child between them, her hands nestled in theirs.
Jane stood again, brushing the sand from her dress. “I’m glad everything went so well. It was nice your friends could come. I enjoyed visiting with them.”
“Kirk and Christa are great,” Jay agreed. That they’d flown all the way out to Seattle so Christa could be Sarah’s maid of honor and Kirk could walk her down the “aisle” on the private beach Peter had arranged, was definitely going above and beyond. Though Jay suspected Kirk and Christa were enjoying the trip—the first vacation they’d taken without their boys—almost as much as he and Sarah were.
“I’m so happy for you,” Jane said. “If I’ve done any good in my life . . . today’s evidence of it. You’re doing so well, and Sarah’s perfect—told you you’d end up with a blond,” she added, the sparkle in her eyes and her half smile telling Jay she remembered the long-ago moment they’d shared.
It was that day at the airport, her words of praise about his character and chivalry, that had become his catalyst to truly change and had helped make him into the man Sarah loved.
“Everything you’ve ever told me has been right on.” Jay felt his heart swell with gratitude. But this time, his feelings toward Jane ended there. He would always be grateful to her, would always feel he owed her a debt, but it was Sarah he loved.
“Pay It Forward,” Jane said, as if she’d read his mind about the debt he felt. “I helped you once, and you’ve gone on to help Sarah—and a lot of other people, it seems.”
“You and your movies.” Jay laughed. “And I didn’t set out to do anything great. It all started when I heard her play the piano.”
“Mine started with a phone call.” Jane’s expression grew tender as she looked Peter’s way. “You never know what will happen in life.”
“I hope I know exactly what is going to happen in mine and Sarah’s. We just want to finish school, find a nice little house somewhere, and settle down into a very quiet sort of existence.” The only kind of shooting Sarah was interested in had to do with stars, and that was fine by him.
Jane stepped closer. “Will you do me one favor while you’re having that nice, quiet life?”
“Okay.” Jay stuck his hands in his pockets, wondering what she wanted.
“Keep hanging out with Kirk,” Jane said. She leaned her head back, looking at the sky and the stars beginning to appear. “And listen to what he says. Everything he tells you will be right on too.”
* * *
Jay picked out a tune on his guitar as he watched Sarah, standing a few feet away, eyes glued to her new telescope. He was beginning to wonder at the wisdom of giving it to her on their wedding day, quickly turning into wedding night, when he’d hoped her fascination would lie elsewhere. It had been almost an hour since the last of their small wedding party left, and while stars were great, he found his wife much more interesting. “Sar-ah,” he sang. “Stars are shining in your eyes.”
“Is that a real song?” She turned from the telescope and the breeze caught both her hair and dress, blowing wisps of blond around her face and pulling the fabric close to her body, outlining her figure.
“Sort of.” Jay strummed the melody again. “I changed the words a bit, but the tune is borrowed from an eighties band called Jefferson Starship.”
She shook her head as she walked toward him. “You must know a million songs.”
“At least,” Jay said. “Good thing I have a lifetime to play them for you.”
She sat beside him on the blanket and then lay down, staring up at the night sky. Jay put his guitar away and lay beside her, reaching for her hand. She shivered and he reached over, flipping a corner of the blanket up, partially covering her.
“We could go inside.” He inclined his head toward the cabin, just up from the beach, that was theirs for the next three nights.
“In a minute.” Sarah rolled on her side, wrapping the blanket around her as she faced him. “So much for swimming.”
Jay grinned. “The Pacific Northwest isn’t known for its warm water and great beaches.”
“But it’s beautiful just the same,” she said.
You’re beautiful. “Think you could ever live here?” Jay asked.
“I could live anywhere you are.” Sarah scooted closer, placing her hand on his face. “I’ll be happy anyplace, so long as we’re together.”
Jay leaned over, kissing her, feeling his heart swell with love as she reached for him, pulling him close. They held each other tightly as quiet waves lapped the shore and all the stars in heaven shone overhead.
Endless possibilities in every direction.
About the Author
Michele Holmes spent her childhood and youth in northern California and Arizona. After marrying her high school sweetheart in the Oakland Temple they moved to Utah, and she now feels very blessed to enjoy a beautiful mountain view from her Provo home.
Michele graduated from BYU with a degree in elementary education—something that has come in handy with her five children, all of whom require food, transportation, or Band-Aids the moment she sits down at her computer.
In spite of all the interruptions, Michele is busy at work, with more story ideas in her head than she will ever likely have time to write. Michele’s first published novel, Counting Stars, won the 2007 Whitney Award for best romance. All the Stars in Heaven continues the story of one of the characters from that first novel.
To learn more about Michele’s writing, please visit her Web site at michelepaigeholmes.com, or the Writers in Heels blog. You may also contact her via Covenant email at [email protected] or through snail mail at Covenant Communications, Inc., P.O. Box 416, American Fork, UT 84003–0416.
Acknowledgments
Shortly after Counting Stars was accept
ed for publication, I eagerly began work on this manuscript, assuring my family that the process would most certainly be shorter this time around. Unfortunately I was wrong, and this story, like the last, was a long, involved process of many rewrites. My wonderful family stood by me once again, though some of them—the younger ones—were more than a little upset to discover I wasn’t done with this writing business yet.
But you already wrote a book, Mom. Why would you want to write another one?
Admittedly, there were days I wondered that myself! It was during those discouraging times that my husband and children were at their most supportive. My many thanks to my daughter Carissa for being my “teenage” reader. Her honest opinion got me back on track more than a few times. And my husband turned out to be a well of ideas when it came to the suspense elements of this novel. I thank them both, along with the rest of our patient family, for hanging in there with me on this one.
As the story morphed through its various rewrite stages, several talented writers and friends were there to help me pull it together. I am grateful for their time and continued willingness to share their expertise. Jeff, Jennifer, James, and Josi—thanks for your not-so-subtle ways of letting me know which parts of the manuscript needed major work. Lynda and Stephanni, I so appreciate your input and the years we had together in our critique group. Annette, Heather, and LuAnn, thank you so much for always being just an email away, and for always being ready and willing to read—and reread—those troubled chapters. Once again, I wouldn’t have a book without your generosity and talents.
Research for All The Stars in Heaven involved learning about and becoming very familiar with a place I’d never visited before. I am grateful to my stepfather, Jack Hansen, for his enthusiasm for this project and his help in putting me in touch with Jane A. Callahan, archivist for Harvard University Art and Museums. I thank Ms. Callahan for her help in answering my many questions about the Harvard campus and the Fogg Art Museum.
My appreciation also runs deep for those at Covenant who’ve been so patient and worked alongside me to get this story in print. From my first drafts and first editor, Angela Eschler, to the final copy and a new editor, Noelle Perner, I’ve felt so fortunate to enjoy a good working relationship with those involved in the sometimes painful process of editing. Thank you for your ideas, input, and understanding.
Finally, I feel enormous gratitude for the readers of Counting Stars, those many of you who took the time to let me know how much you enjoyed the story. I appreciate your feedback and personal stories. I loved hearing that you related to Jane and were, at times, moved to tears as you read. Though Jay’s story is very different, I hope you enjoy it as well, and I’d love to hear from you again.
Other books by Michele Paige Holmes:
Counting Stars
All The Stars In Heaven
Captive Heart
Table of Contents
Prologue
Part One
Falling Hard
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Part Two
Holding Tight
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter Sixty-Two
Chapter Sixty-Three
Chapter Sixty-Four
Chapter Sixty-Five
Chapter Sixty-Six
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Epilogue
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Other books by Michele Paige Holmes:
All The Stars In Heaven Page 38
