Found Read Free Page B

balcony of the Bloomington Community Theater back in November.
    “Hi.” Katy was breathless. She looked over her shoulder, nervous. “I’ve never seen so many cameras.”
    “They didn’t know it was you, did they?”
    “No.” She exhaled, finding her composure. “I slipped past.”
    He let her in, closed the door, and suddenly they were alone, face-to-face as if no time at all had passed between them. “Katy-” he reached out and took her hands-“you look wonderful.”
    The faintest blush tinged her cheeks, and she shifted her gaze to the floor.
    When her eyes found his again, he had the answer he was looking for. The connection was still there. It was in her eyes and in her expression and in the way she ran her thumbs along the tops of his hands. “I didn’t think we’d have any time alone.”
    “We won’t have much.”
    8
    Her smile told him everything she was feeling. But at the same time it cried of resignation. Because here they were again, their emotions leading the way, and yet their time would be measured and counted by the events around them, by the parameters of his world.
    “How are you, Dayne?” Katy didn’t blink, didn’t seem to want to lose a moment of whatever minutes they had together.
    “I’m good.” He grinned, wanting desperately to keep things light. How was it fair that this visit would end up amounting to little more than another sad goodbye? “What are you working on?”
    “Robin Hood.” She stifled a laugh. “It’s coming together.”
    “The kids?” He wanted to know, wanted to soak himself in everything about her.
    “Are they okay?”
    “They are. The older kids are still in the Bible study, the one they started after Sarah Jo Stryker’s accident.” She made a funny face. “Of course, we should probably spend an extra day a week on practice the way things are going.”
    “Blocking, you mean?”
    “No.” She laughed. “Trying to stay onstage. I’d be happy with that.” Katy talked with her hands when she was excited. Now she released his hands and began illustrating her story. “So there’s this scene where Robin’s supposed to fly in from the wings on a rope, right?”
    “To rescue Maid Marian?”
    “Exactly.” She took a quick breath. “Marian’s standing on a fake tree stump, her hands tied, and he’s supposed to swing in, land beside her, and save the day.”
    Dayne chuckled. He could see what was coming.
    “Instead-” Katy demonstrated the swinging motion-“he sails in from the wings and knocks her square on the floor.”
    “Oh.” Dayne made a face. “Was she hurt?”
    “Her pride, yes. Her onstage chemistry with Robin, yes.” Katy 9
    gave him a teasing look. “We decided we’d better just have him run in from now on.”
    “Sounds good.” Dayne saw so much more than her physical beauty. Her enthusiasm and spirit, her joy and excitement for the little things of life. All of it was like getting air after being too long underwater.
    “So … enough on that.” Her tone softened. “How are you … really?”
    “Well …” He found her eyes and held them. “I’m not a Kabbalist.”
    Her eyes widened, and she looked deeply at him, to the lonely desert plains of his heart. “Really?”
    “Tossed it all.” He felt his eyes begin to dance. “Some girl said it probably wasn’t for me. Told me I needed to find the truth.”
    “Must’ve been a smart girl.”
    “Mmm.” He took hold of her hands again, but he kept his distance. “Definitely.
    In fact, she gave me a Bible.”
    “A Bible? How interesting.” Her eyes twinkled. “What a great idea. You know . .
    . since, well, it is the truth. I mean, if you’re looking for it you might as well go to the source.”
    “That’s what I figured.” He felt his smile fade. “It’s changing me, Katy. I can feel it.”
    Her expression softened, and what had been playful became serious. She closed the gap between them and slipped her arms around his neck. “Dayne, I prayed for this …