Someday: 3 (Sunrise) by Karen Kingsbury Read Free Book Online Page B

Katy. “You leave soon, right?”
    “Next Tuesday.” Katy stared at the fire.
    Jenny pulled her knees up. “You worried?”
    “Of course.” Katy allowed a sad laugh. “ For Real and all its slanted views debuts right after Labor Day. With the whole world watching.”
    A wisp of smoke curled their direction, and Jenny squinted. “You think it’ll be that bad?”
    Katy shook her head. “The previews have given one message loud and clear.” She changed her tone. “‘Will America’s favorite couple survive making a movie together? Look for the answers on For Real .’”
    “I saw it.” Jenny frowned. “I was hoping that was just the hype. To get people watching.”
    “Yeah, but then they have to keep people watching.” Katy stared through the smoke at the trees near the back of the property. “I don’t know why we ever agreed to it.”
    “I do.” Jenny tilted her head, her expression softer than before. “You wanted to give them a window without giving them a door.”
    “Well . . . the plan backfired.”
    “How’s Dayne feel?” Jenny’s tone was too quiet for anyone else to hear.
    “He’s nervous. We get back to LA, then there’s the premiere for our movie, and weeks later we’ll be worlds apart.”
    Jenny was silent, maybe letting the reality of Katy’s situation sink in. After a while she drew a slow breath. “Not exactly how you pictured it.”
    “No.”
    Again Jenny was slow in answering. “But you allowed it.” Her tone wasn’t critical or condemning. “You both did.”
    Her insight stayed with Katy long after the party was over, after she’d hugged Rhonda and Chad and promised to pray for them, and after she’d said good-bye to the Flanigans and a couple dozen CKT kids still hanging around.
    On the drive home Katy said little. Jenny was right, of course. The movie and TV deals facing them were only happening because they’d allowed them. Katy gazed out the window at the night sky over Bloomington. Dayne’s movie had been set for a year, since way before their wedding. So what was she supposed to do? Sit home and count the days until he finished filming? When their director could hardly wait to see her in another movie?
    Katy closed her eyes. They’d be gone at the same time, right? Keeping busy was the best way to get her mind off the fact that Dayne’s costar for his upcoming film would be Randi Wells, who—despite Dayne’s lack of interest—had already made her feelings for Dayne very clear. So what would it hurt if Katy was in London at the same time filming her own movie?
    “You’re not saying much.” For an instant, Dayne took his attention off the road and glanced at her.
    “Hmmm.” She smiled, but she could feel it stop short of her eyes. “Thinking about what’s next, how crazy it’ll be.”
    For a few seconds Dayne didn’t respond, but then he flexed his jaw muscles and nodded slowly. “More than we can imagine.”
    Once they were home, Dayne took a call from his director, and Katy went to their bedroom. She opened the patio door and was met by a sweet, cool breeze from the lake below.
    Dayne was still on the phone when she climbed into bed and turned on her side, facing the lake. It was too dark to see the water or even the outline of the distant trees. But the fresh air against her face reminded her that they were really here at the lake house and not in Hollywood with cameramen waiting outside for them to step onto their balcony.
    She couldn’t shake what Jenny said, especially now with Dayne deep in conversation about his next film. Every hairpin turn in the journey ahead was one they’d invited, one they’d not only allowed but welcomed. Was this really how they’d planned it when they stood on that Mexican beach and promised each other forever?
    In the other room, Dayne raised his voice a notch. “The answer’s no. Tell her we’ll see each other soon enough.” He sounded beyond frustrated. “I don’t need a week to run lines with Randi.