Stars Collide

by Janice Thompson

  “You mean like power tools and stuff?”

  “And stuff.” A laugh followed. “And my dad’s the king of power tools, so this is right up his alley. He’ll probably get some great ideas for things to sell in his store. That’s the idea, to generate interest in new products. To convince people they can’t live without all of the tools they’ve lived without up till now. That sort of thing.”

  “He sounds great. And your mom’s coming too?”

  “Yep. They’re making a real vacation out of it. Mom wants to spend as much time as she can with my brother and me. And I’d like to factor you into that mix, Kat.” He gave me a serious look and my heart fluttered.

  “O-oh?”

  “Yes.” He smiled. “I know we haven’t been seeing each other very long, but my parents don’t make it out to L.A. very often, and I was hoping . . .”

  “Hoping . . . ?”

  “I want you to meet them, Kat.” His expression grew more serious. “They’re going to love you, and vice versa. And just for the record, I hope you and I will go on seeing each other for a long time to come, so I want this to be the first of many family get-togethers.”

  Suddenly I could hardly wait to meet his parents. “I’d like that. Very much.”

  “Me too.” He gave me a wink that set my thoughts twirling.

  “And I want you to bring your grandmother too,” he said. “I think my mother would love her. They’re as different as oil and vinegar, but I have a feeling they’ll get along great.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked. “You know how risky that is, right?”

  “I know. But I’m willing to take the risk.”

  Wow. He really did care about me. After a pause, I posed a question that had been on my mind. “So, your brother is coming from Mexico?”

  “He is. And he’s bringing his fiancée, Julia, to meet my parents for the first time. Should be an exciting week.” Scott paused and for a moment seemed to drift away in his thoughts.

  I reeled him back in with, “Everything okay?”

  “Just thinking about my brother.”

  “What about him?”

  “For one thing, Bryan is younger than me. Only twenty-four. But he’s got a great head on his shoulders. I’m so impressed with the life he’s lived. And the work he’s done. He’s making a real difference in the world. I’m just . . .” Scott raked his fingers through his hair, a look of disappointment on his face.

  “You’re doing great things, Scott,” I said. “You love God. You’re using the gifts he’s given you. And the way you reach out to the kids on the set is so awesome. I think you’ve just started to scratch the surface of all the great things you’re going to do.”

  “I guess.” After a few quiet moments, he finally looked my way. “Here’s the deal. My dad isn’t keen on this acting thing. He thinks it’s a phase I’m going through until I get a real job.”

  “A phase?”

  “Yeah. He always hoped I’d become a doctor, then come back to Alma and start up a practice there. I still don’t think it’s registered that I’m planning to keep this as my career.”

  “Does he watch TV?” I asked. “Or read magazines? If he did, he would know you’re already the greatest thing since sliced bread.”

  “The greatest thing since sliced bread, eh?” Scott chuckled. “Now there’s a compliment I wouldn’t want to trade.”

  “Maybe when your parents are out here, they’ll see for themselves,” I said. “They’ll see you in your element and understand that God is using you here, just like he’s using your brother in Mexico at that orphanage.”

  Scott shrugged. “Maybe.” He paused and a funny expression crossed his face. “I used to think about moving my parents out here. Buying them a place of their own. But I can’t blame them for wanting to live the ideal life in a small town. They don’t really fit out here, and I sure don’t fit in Alma anymore. Honestly, if it weren’t for my relationship with the Lord, I’d have to wonder where I fit at all.”

  “Right here,” I whispered, then shyly gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  “You’re right, Kat,” he said tenderly. “And I’m grateful to God for arranging such a perfect fit.”

  My heart swelled with joy at his words.

  “I can’t really blame my parents for being stunned that I chose acting,” Scott said after a few moments of silence. “I’d never done any acting in school or anything.”

  “No way.”

  “Yeah.” He laughed. “I played sports like all of the boys in Alma. But acting? Um, no way.”

  I couldn’t believe I was talking to the same Scott Murphy, the one with the impeccable acting skills. “So how did you get from point A to point B?”

  “Actually, I got my first acting job by accident. Our church in Alma was putting on an Easter production and they needed guys. You know how that goes.”

  “Sure.”

  “So I offered. And the next thing you know, there’s a talent scout in the congregation.”

  “No way.” I laughed. “Do you still know him?”

  “Sure. Bert Frasier. He’s still my agent.”

  “And he knows you play a talent scout on TV?”

  Scott chuckled. “Of course. He got me the audition. And we’ve joked about the whole talent-scout thing, trust me. I would never have ended up working in television at all if not for him and that Easter production. The whole thing has been quite a ride.”

  “I hear ya.”

  “I’ll be honest. After my first couple acting gigs, I had a crisis of faith. I’d bought into the idea that I was supposed to be a doctor. Couldn’t quite fathom that God would call me to act.”

  “Why not?” This one really stumped me. “God doesn’t like actors?” I took the plastic top off my cup and swallowed down what was left of the chocolate shake.

  Scott laughed. “That’s not what I meant. I guess I just thought acting was . . . you know, menial. Small stuff. Anyone can act.”

  My chocolate shake practically came shooting out of my nose at that one. After all the years I’d spent studying the craft, and he thought anyone could act?

  “I’m just saying I want to do great things with my life,” Scott said. “Like Bryan.”

  “You are,” I reminded him. “So don’t ever let me hear you compare yourself to him . . . or anyone else, for that matter. You are who you are, and you’re doing what you’re called to do. Period.”

  “Okay, okay.” He gave me a little salute and I laughed.

  “So, back to your brother and his fiancée. When are they getting married?”

  “Next summer.” Scott paused. “Guess it makes sense that Bryan would marry first. He’s on the mission field most of the time these days, so he really needs that other person to walk alongside him. He met Julia in Ensenada. She’s the pastor’s daughter at the church he attends down there.”

  “Oh, wow. Crazy how he had to go halfway around the country to find her.”

  “I feel the same way about meeting you, Kat.” Scott’s penetrating gaze cut straight to my heart. “I came all the way from Arkansas to California, which is practically another country, to meet you.”

  I gave him a shy smile. “Was I worth the trip?”

  “Oh yeah.” The gentle kiss that followed offered all the reassurance I needed. I nestled into his embrace, more content than ever. The two of us fit together perfectly, and not just physically. He was strong in so many areas where I struggled. And he had such a great heart for others. Maybe God really had brought him all the way from Mud Creek to the Pacific Ocean to meet me. Crazier things had happened.

  “I’d like to think the Lord has us all exactly where he wants us,” I said. “Your brother is in Mexico working with kids. You’re here working with kids and using your talents. I’m with my grandmother, taking care of her—” I started to say, “in her final years,” but stopped short. Every time I thought about losing her, my heart went straight to my throat.

  “You know what makes me think the trek from
Alma to L.A. was worth it?” Scott asked. “Other than the obvious acting stuff, I mean.”

  “What?”

  “I’ve found someone who loves the Lord and isn’t afraid to say so. I wasn’t sure I’d find any girls in Hollywood with your convictions.”

  “Oh, we’re here,” I said. “There’s a quiet undercurrent of Christians in Hollywood.” I grinned and added, “And maybe a few not-so-quiet ones too. I’m just trying to say that for all of the wild living going on out here, there’s a contingent of folks who still love God and want to make an impact in their own way.”

  “I think it’s awesome. And I love that I can travel halfway across the country and still find people I can relate to.” He paused. “My parents raised me in church,” he said. “We were there every time the doors were open.”

  “Awesome. I’ll be sure and tell them they did a fine job raising you.” I gave him a playful wink.

  “So what about you?” he asked. “You said that you went to church with your grandmother, but you haven’t really talked about your faith.”

  “Ah.” I chose my next words carefully. “I gave my heart to Christ when I was little, but it hasn’t always been easy to trust him. When I was seven . . .” I got the usual catch in my throat, and I couldn’t seem to get the rest of the words out.

  Scott reached to grip my hand.

  I could barely speak above a whisper. “When I was seven, my mom was killed in a car accident. It happened off of Mulholland. She was on her way home from work.”

  Scott gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry, Kat. Did she work in the movies like your grandmother?”

  “Oh no. She was never really into the whole movie thing. My mom was a legal secretary.”

  “Interesting. The daughter of Lenora Worth a secretary.”

  “Yeah, I know. Probably because she was the daughter of Lenora Worth, she’d seen too much of the whole Hollywood lifestyle. She was much more down to earth and office work suited her. But as she was coming home from work that day . . .” The memories washed over me afresh and another lump rose in my throat, but I managed to speak above it. “She lost control of her car going around a curve. I guess she was going too fast.”

  “Kat, I’m so sorry.”

  “I loved my mom. She was my best friend. My dad was never really . . .” Now the tears really welled up. I pressed them back, though, just like I always did. No point in letting an MIA father rule my life. I’d done that long enough.

  Scott gave me a kiss on the forehead and I sighed. “Let’s just say I’ve always had a hard time picturing God as a father figure because the word father conjures up so many bad memories. My dad was never around much when they were married. And after they divorced, he just walked away and forgot he ever had a daughter. I think it’s crazy that someone could do that.”

  “Wait. You’re saying you haven’t seen him since you were seven?”

  “Right.” I nodded. “Not that there’s anything right about it. And if you want to get specific about it, he left the first time when I was five. Then after a few months he came back and they tried to put their marriage together again. It didn’t take. I don’t really remember the details. I just know that when I was seven, he was gone for good. I didn’t find out till later that he’d been seeing someone else that whole time.”

  Scott shook his head but didn’t say anything. I could tell he wanted to, though.

  I pushed away the mist of tears that now covered my lashes. “My mom had been crying on the morning of her accident. A lot. I heard her in her room. I always wondered if she lost control of her car because she was so upset. So emotional. You know?”

  “Kat, I’m so sorry.” Scott reached to brush my cheek with his fingertip. “I had no idea.”

  “I’m not saying I blamed him, exactly. Just always wondered if things would’ve been different if he’d been a different sort of man. If he’d stuck around. It stinks that I’ll never know. And what stinks even more is that he married that other woman and they had a daughter together. You can read all about him in the papers. And online. He’s a prominent attorney in Newport Beach.”

  “Ouch.” Scott shook his head. “Well, he’ll never know what he missed by not being there for you. And with you.” He gazed into my eyes with such tenderness that I calmed immediately. “And listen, Kat. You’ve learned from his poor example, so now you know what not to do. You’ll be an awesome parent someday. There’s still time to turn things around for the next generation.”

  “True. I hadn’t thought about that.” After drawing in a deep breath, I stared out at the vastness of the ocean. With the crashing of every wave, I felt the tension release. Funny how the water could do that. “Let’s go back to planning the fund-raiser, okay?” I said at last. “We can talk about personal stuff later.”

  “Deal. But one thing I need to take care of first.” Scott leaned over and gave me the sweetest kiss I’d ever received. After a few lingering moments, he ran the backs of his fingertips along the edge of my cheek and whispered, “Thank you for telling me your story. I know it was hard, but I feel like I know you better now.”

  I nodded, my heart working overtime. One of these days I’d have to finally deal with the remnants of the pain my dad’s leaving had caused. But for today I would sit on the white sands of Laguna Beach and look out over the brilliant blue waters of the Pacific with a good man at my side. A really good man.

  Scott’s next words were tender. Soft. “The past is in the past, Kat. Hanging out there isn’t really for the best, anyway. I know God has great things coming for both of us. After all, tomorrow is another day.”

  I brushed aside any remaining tears and, with the hint of a smile, said the only thing that made sense at the moment . . .

  “Vivien Leigh. Gone with the Wind. 1939.”

  8

  To Tell the Truth

  On the morning of the proposal scene filming, I was filled with nervous energy. I sensed an unusual vibe in the cast members as well. Tia Morales’s arrival had brought new life, new enthusiasm, to us all. Hopefully it would spill over to the viewers too. Of course, I had something else to be nervous about. Tonight I would meet Scott’s parents for the first time. I’d been looking forward to this ever since our day at Laguna Beach.

  As Nora worked on my hair and makeup, I looked over my lines one last time. I’d deliberately avoided asking Grandma to help me with them. They were too personal. Besides, she’d been acting odder than usual lately. I didn’t know what to make of it. Many times the thought occurred to me that we needed another trip back to the doctor to see if her current medication regimen was working. Getting her there, however, was another thing altogether. Lenora Worth apparently had an allergy to doctors.

  I found myself lost in thought, focusing on her latest memory lapses, as Nora continued to work on my hair, never missing a beat. The bright lights on the makeup mirror did a number on my eyes and I started to rub them, but Nora stopped me. “Don’t you dare! I’ve got your eye makeup just like I want it.”

  “Ugh.” I winced as she tugged on a section of hair, and then I glanced at her reflection in the mirror. It always struck me as odd that hair and makeup people were so bare-skinned themselves. Nora wore her hair in a messy ponytail, and I couldn’t find a smattering of makeup on her freshly scrubbed face. In fact, I could hardly remember a time when I’d seen her in anything but the tiniest bit of lipstick and mascara. Interesting. And under the glow of the makeup lights, she seemed tan, but I knew the girl hadn’t been out in the sun in ages.

  “Sorry, Kat.” She released her hold. “Guess I’m nervous today.” She tried once again to get my hair to cooperate but still struggled, her hands trembling.

  “How come?” I asked.

  She grinned. “You and Jack are getting engaged.” She paused and chuckled, then corrected herself. “I mean, you and Scott are getting engaged.” Shaking her head, she tried again. “I mean, Angie and Jack are getting engaged. Good grief.”

  Now I joined
her in laughing. “It is pretty confusing, isn’t it? But that doesn’t explain why you’re nervous.”

  She crossed her arms at her chest and stared me down. “Are you kidding? A girl only gets proposed to once—in an ideal world, anyway—and I want you—er, Angie—to look great.”

  “Aw, that’s sweet.” I rested the script on my lap and stared at my reflection in the mirror. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.” Even if it’s not real.

  “Tell the truth, Kat . . .” Nora leaned down to whisper, “You like Scott in real life too.”

  “Oh, well, I . . .” We hadn’t exactly shared our relationship with the cast and crew. Not yet, anyway.

  “I saw that write-up in The Scoop.” Nora gave me a knowing look. “Didn’t look staged. You were kissing him on the cheek.” She worked with my hair as she talked, finally getting it the way she wanted. In the meantime, the bright lights continued to blind me.

  “Well, yes, but . . .” I stopped before saying something I’d regret. If only Nora knew that Lenora Worth had set the whole thing up with reporters in advance.

  “He looks smitten too,” Nora continued, still working to make me look beautiful. “I know acting. He’s not acting. And neither are you. I’ve been watching. I know you think no one has noticed, but I’m good at reading the love signals.”

  “Love signals?” Now she had me. I’d never heard of love signals before. And if I’d been exhibiting them, someone should’ve told me before now.

  “Oh, c’mon, Kat. You know. The shy glances. The shifting gaze. The rosy cheeks. A certain tone of voice. Love signals.”

  “Nora, you’re nuts.” I turned back to check out my reflection in the mirror, for the first time noticing my cheeks were pretty rosy. Then again, Nora had just applied blush, so that didn’t really count. Or maybe they were just scorched from these makeup lights.

  “I’m just saying, Kat . . .”

  I put my finger to my lips, hoping to keep her quiet before Candy, who was being made up in the seat next to me, overheard. Nothing like letting the kids in on the secret.

  “I’ll talk to you later, I promise.” My words came out as a hoarse whisper. Picking up the script, I studied my lines once again, though my thoughts kept shifting back to tonight’s meeting with Scott’s parents. Would they like me? And what about Grandma? Would throwing her into the mix confuse or delight them? Only time would tell.