Sunset: 4 (Sunrise) by Karen Kingsbury Read Free Book Online

Him.”
    A hush fell over the room as people bowed their heads.
    “Dear Lord, we thank You.” As the words came, Katy felt herself growing stronger. Her shaky voice became clear, her prayer directed straight to the Creator. “You’ve given us our building and our theater group. Most of all You’ve given us hope. For that, we are so grateful, and we pray that this production will bring You great joy. The way we know it will bring us great joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
    Another round of applause filled the room, and then Katy started in with her introduction. The first audition of the afternoon was Ashley’s son. Cole had just finished a season of basketball and still planned to play baseball, whether he won a part in the play or not. But Joseph was his favorite story from the Bible, and he wanted to audition.
    Though Ashley was on the creative team and acting as a judge today, she wouldn’t be able to cast a vote for her son. Katy glanced at her as Cole took the stage. In this moment she was merely a nervous parent, same as the others in the theater.
    Cole tucked his hands in his back pockets and grinned at the judges. “Hi. My name is Cole Blake, and I’m nine years old. I’ll be singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’” His smile faded, and he looked straight at Ashley. “Because my grandma used to sing it to me.”
    Ashley gave him a reassuring smile and a slight nod.
    From where Cole was standing, Katy guessed he couldn’t possibly see the tears welling in his mother’s eyes. Ashley’s mom had died several years ago, but the pain was still there. Maybe even more lately, from what Ashley had said. After all, this was the year her father was going to remarry. Maybe because of that or because she was still grieving the loss of her infant daughter, Ashley seemed quieter than usual.
    Her husband, Landon, was in the audience with their younger son, and Katy caught a glimpse of him giving Cole a thumbs-up.
    Katy turned her attention to the boy. June had his sheet music, her fingers poised at the piano, and Cole gave her a look that said he too was ready.
    As Cole began, Katy realized she’d never heard him sing. When he and Landon had stopped in at the theater with Ashley during some of CKT’s long evenings of painting sets, Cole was always full of enthusiasm, ready with a story about a ball game or an anecdote from school. But he had never had a reason to sing.
    As the song began to grow, Katy was pleasantly surprised. Cole had a clear voice, right on key. Better still, he had a way of connecting with the judges and the audience, making eye contact and showing a confidence that was rare in a child his age.
    Katy had a feeling that his grandmother had given him more than a love for the old tune she used to sing to him so many years ago. She’d probably given him a love for singing too. Katy glanced once more at Ashley. She was glowing with approval for her son, but there was no mistaking the tears on her cheeks.
    When the song ended, Katy had a certain feeling that Cole would be part of the Joseph cast. She checked the callback box at the bottom of the form, the one intended for any performer who she thought should come back the next day for a second, more involved audition.
    The others in the first group made their way to the front one at a time, and the afternoon took on a sense of familiarity that warmed Katy. She and Dayne exchanged a grin when the third child announced she’d be singing “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid . On a typical audition day, they were bound to hear the song seven or eight times, something Katy had shared with Dayne before they were married. Now it gave them a reason to smile—at least with their eyes.
    The Flanigan kids were in the second group of ten, and both Bailey and Connor sang beautifully. No question they’d be part of the callbacks tomorrow.
    At the break after their group finished, Bailey hurried over to the table, and after a quick hello to Dayne,