Counting on Starlight Read online

  “You’ve moved on awfully fast.” Matt took a step closer. “Is this what you had planned all along? Turn me in for someone new? Three months ago you were willing to spend the rest of your life with me.”

  “Look,” Jake said, taking a step in Matt’s direction, “Liann’s life is her business. If she believes you’re not the one for her, you should be thanking God she came to that decision before you exchanged vows.”

  “I’m moving here, because of you—” Matt began.

  “He’s moving here?” Jake stared at Liann.

  “Austin, actually,” said Matt. “Close enough to see you. Close enough to work on our relationship.”

  Liann clutched Jake’s arm for support. Unbelievable. How could she have been so blind? Thank You, Lord, for helping me dodge this bullet. How could I have been so blind? “Matt, I only want to be friends with you. Friends only. Nothing more.”

  “But we prayed. We believed this was God’s will.” Matt rubbed his hair. “What changed? I don’t believe God changes His mind.”

  Liann wanted to grab Jake’s keys and make a run for his truck, then disappear somewhere, anywhere. Any old road that led out of Starlight, away from Matt. But she stood firm. “I was wrong, and I realized it. That’s what changed. It's me.”

  “You listened to fear. Fear erodes our faith—in God, in the ones we love.”

  Liann sensed movement nearby. A few people stood outside the Dairy Queen, watching them. Great. Drama in a small town, and she’d brought it with her from California. “We’re done, Matt. All the spiritualizing won’t change my mind. C’mon, Jake. I think I’ll get a burger, too.”

  A vehicle rolled past. There went Tim and Maddie. Liann had no idea what time it was. She glanced up at Jake.

  “I lost my appetite. Let’s get out of here,” she said. He took her hand, and they turned and jogged back to his truck. She didn’t look back at Matt—she couldn’t. Part of what he said made sense. She’d allowed herself to move awfully fast with Jake, just like she had with Matt.

  He opened her door and helped her inside the truck. She climbed into the cab, her stomach roiling. Maybe it was a good thing they needed to skip the Dairy Queen and chase off after Maddie.

  Soon they roared out under the moonlight. “When did this ‘Matt’ arrive in town?”

  “This morning. He told me he’s applied for youth pastor positions in Austin and also for a campus ministry position at a college.” She watched out the window as they passed the downtown buildings of Starlight’s square.

  “That’s no coincidence.” He braked the truck, and they stopped at a traffic light, waiting as no one passed through the empty intersection.

  “No.” She glanced at him. “But I’m not changing my mind. I had to make a break for a good reason. My mother doesn't understand. She thinks there’s nothing wrong with Matt, that he’s absolutely perfect. Maybe in some ways, but not for me.”

  “He seems stubborn. That’s definitely not one of the fruits of the Spirit, and not one of the qualities of love. Remember, ‘Love doesn’t insist on having its own way,’ says one version.” He gave her a smile, and she caught her breath. She turned her face to the window again. There went her heart. But then, he was so bent on leaving... Her mind began to race.

  God wasn’t the author of confusion. The Scriptures told her that. Right now, though, she didn’t feel confused. No, she wasn’t going back to Matt. Of that, she was certain. But Jake? She found herself going along with things now, going with the flow tonight. How long was it before she started feeling like she did with Matt? She didn’t want to go down that road again. Matt didn’t deserve it.

  Neither did Jake.

  Chapter 10

  Liann buried herself in work for the next two weeks. She had color guard during the day, football games on Friday nights, and bee-keeping with Uncle Bert or Aunt Chin Mae on free nights and on Saturdays. Matt didn’t call, didn’t e-mail either. She didn’t know if he was still pursuing employment in Austin. Also, it was easy enough—or hard enough—to avoid Jake. The band kept rehearsing in the parking lot with the color guard, and if she let herself, she could keep herself from spotting Jake among the coaching staff with their matching shirts.

  Saturday came, and after covering her two-mile run, she cooled off and headed for the beehives. The season was fading and Uncle Bert said after the fall harvest from his garden, the bees would have less pollen to use.

  Aunt Chin Mae waved. “Finally, you are here! Come help.” She had a harvester contraption next to the hive. “It’s too heavy for me.”

  Liann pulled on her gloves, stepping closer to the hive. She felt like an old pro now, her heartbeat steady and breathing rate normal around the swarming critters. Amazing, how the bees created honey from the pollen. They kept the honey in the brood box for themselves, but anything in the stacked super boxes above was free for the humans.

  “Ah, good.” Her aunt smiled beneath her veiled hood. “We’ll get plenty of jars from this one alone.”

  She’d been stung—several times—since helping her aunt with the bees, and she took the pain in stride. Not that she’d grown used to it, but it came with caring for the insects.

  “You been quiet since that Matt left town.” Aunt Chin Mae cleaned the inner feeder of one of the hives.

  “I’ve been busy. The team is working hard.”

  “Yes, but you don’t look as happy.”

  “Sometimes, I wish I were a bee.” Liann sighed and held the super box steady for her aunt. “More smoke?”

  “Yes. Right there at the top.”

  Liann reached for the smoker and sent gray puffs into the top of the box. The bees, soothed by the smoke, settled into the lower levels.

  “Why do you sometimes wish to be a bee?”

  “They know exactly what they’re supposed to do—the queen, the workers, the drones. God designed them for their purpose, and they instinctively know. We humans have it so much more complicated.” Liann had received an e-mail from Beth. If Matt’s in Texas, you should come back. I hear that Ventura High will be looking for a replacement coach after the first of the year. Don’t let one bad experience hold you back from all that God still has for you.

  Was this an open door, showing her that she belonged back in California? She didn’t know.

  “I think we complicate things on our own.” Aunt Chin Mae pulled the next frame from the hive. “You made a mistake with Matt. You gave up everything you wanted for him, gave up who you are. We give up things for people we love, but we should never give up who we are.”

  “You and my mother both married American brothers.” Liann wanted to sneak a taste of the fresh honey but decided to wait until later. “You barely knew English, but you came here from Korea anyway. Did you feel like you gave up everything for Uncle Bert?”

  “Not at all. I am Korean, but I am American. It’s my country now, for many years. I say yes to Bert, I say yes to life here as his wife. But he did not want me to leave my Korea behind. So, your mother and I keep traditions that the younger ones, like you, don’t remember or don’t know.” Her aunt straightened then stretched her back. “It was different here for me, but I knew other women had done the same. I love Bert. He is a good Christian man who still loved me even though I could not have children. Unconditional love, he gives me.”

  Liann’s eyes stung. “I’m glad he did. My mother feels the same way about Dad.”

  “And I’m so glad she was able to give him you, and then loan you to us.”

  “Aw, Aunt Chin Mae...”

  “Having you around is almost like having a daughter. That’s why I worry about you. I want you happy, married, not so sad.”

  “I want to be happy without being married.”

  “What about today? You happy today?”

  Liann paused. The morning sun wasn’t quite as hot as it was when she first arrived in late July. Labor Day weekend was upon them. Last night, the girls had done an outstanding job. She had a good roof over her head, and n
ow she was enjoying time with her aunt, something she’d done as a child but, she realized, meant more now as an adult.

  “Yes, I am. I have a lot of blessings, even without a man in my life.” She missed Jake, but it was better this way. He’d sort of buried himself too. However, football season claimed many a man’s attention in Starlight. Lord willing, they’d busy themselves into the playoffs.

  A blaring car horn made both of them jump. A vaguely familiar-looking sedan came up the driveway. Maddie negotiated the car to park beside Trixie, still out of commission. Biff had said it was the transmission. Liann remembered the one thing that did not make her happy today: not having enough money to fix Trixie. She’d had to get rides to school from Uncle Bert on his way in for breakfast at The Pit to chew the fat along with the other veterans of his era.

  Maddie left the car and trotted over toward the hives, not seeming to mind the bees. “Ms. Rivers, I need your help.” She stopped at a respectful distance. “I don’t know who else to turn to right now. My Aunt Justine is gone, filming her show. She doesn’t get back until Homecoming night, and the dance is the day after.”

  “What is it?” Liann glanced at Aunt Chin Mae, who waved her off to join Maddie. She peeled her gloves from her sweaty hands and forearms.

  “Homecoming!” Maddie blurted out the word as if that should explain everything.

  “Yes, that’s two weeks from Saturday.” Liann ought to know. She thought of the extra money she was going to make for chaperoning the Homecoming dance. What she hadn’t thought of was her own dress. Not that the dress mattered, or that she had room for a purchase in her budget.

  “I know.... Tim asked me to be his date, and I need a dress.”

  “So what about Jake, or Billy?”

  Maddie shook her head. “Really, Ms. Rivers? My older brothers are pretty smart, but they’re clueless about fashion. Especially for something this important.”

  “Okay. Maybe we can go to Killeen one evening.”

  “Well, I was hoping we could go to Austin next Saturday.”

  Liann tried not to grin. “You sound like you had this already planned.”

  “I had to have something figured out.” Then her face lost its glow. “Look, I’m not sure what happened between you and my brother the night of the play, but he hasn’t been the same.”

  “Maddie, you’re sweet to ask, but don’t worry. He and I are okay.” Liann didn’t want to overstep in the teacher-pupil relationship. She had begun to think of Maddie almost like a niece, or a little sister even, but she didn’t want to tell the young lady more. However, even if Maddie wasn’t her student, she didn’t know what to say.

  #

  One hour after driving down Route183, Jake pulled off the highway at Austin's Lakeline Plaza. He’d ended up as driver by default. Billy was out of town with Justine, so that left Jake to play chauffeur since Maddie’s driving skills were not up to driving in the city. He yawned as he checked the mirror and merged onto the access road. So here he was, with the fog of last night’s game still hanging in his brain. They’d won–barely—in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, with a perfect pass from Tim to one of the receivers.

  “Okay, Jake, I have a list.” Maddie flashed a white piece of paper in his periphery, from where she sat in the back seat.

  “Don’t look so surprised,” Liann, at his side, gave a warm chuckle.

  “How many places do you think it’ll take to find one dress?” Jake shook his head. “We’re planning to start at the mall first, right?”

  “We might find the perfect dress right away. You never know. Right, Ms. Rivers?”

  “It’s true, Jake. Guys have it so much easier finding the right clothes.”

  “I think you women just make it harder than it needs to be.” He glanced at Liann. He tried not to keep his focus off the road for too long, but seeing her smile up close made him realize how much he’d missed her.

  “No, we don’t.” She started ticking off items on her finger, one by one. “There’s color, and hemline, and how the waist is fitted, and the neckline. Then there’s sleeves—long, short, sleeveless, spaghetti straps—”

  “—and strapless!” Maddie called from over his shoulder.

  “No,” both he and Liann said simultaneously.

  Liann grinned at them both and continued. “Plus there’s fabric—pattern, texture, weight. And last but not least, what hides figure flaws the best. If we’re going to wear a wrap, or a shrug. Although, Maddie, I think you’ll look beautiful in almost anything we find for you.”

  “My thighs are too fat.” Maddie slapped her legs.

  “I don’t think so,” said Liann. “You have classic proportions. I think you’re just right for your age.”

  Maddie sighed. “One of the cheerleaders said the color guard all have thunder-thighs.”

  “What?” Liann turned to look at Maddie. “To your faces?”

  “No. Someone else heard them say it.” Maddie frowned.

  “Well, I’ll have a talk with Coach Stevens.” Liann’s dark eyes snapped in his direction.

  “You’ll always find mean girls throughout life,” Jake said. He’d heard trash talking among some of the football players. Half of it was the boys joking, half rooster crowing to look cool. He usually reminded them that they needed to show how good they were instead of putting someone else down. Girls, though, had a particular acidity to their personalities sometimes. It bewildered him, hearing caustic words coming from sweet-looking creatures.

  “True. But someone needs to tell them how damaging words can be.” Liann frowned. “I know they don’t care, but it’s the principle of the thing.”

  “No—Ms. Rivers. Don’t say anything. I don’t want it to seem like I’m tattling. And everyone will figure out it’s me who told.”

  “How will they know that?”

  “Because everyone knows how...close...you are with our family.”

  Jake glanced in the rearview mirror then back at the road that led to the mall. People had noticed. Of course they did. It would be hard to miss. The school play, the odd confrontation with Matt outside Dairy Queen.

  After they made it into the first store, a place called Spice, Sugar, and Sass, Jake found himself surrounded by racks of frothy fabric, sequins, and a few dresses he would definitely not let his little sister wear. Maddie and Liann went round and round the store until they’d collected six possibilities. Maddie had some definite preferences, but Liann wasn’t swayed.

  “No, Maddie, the sheath dress won’t make you look thinner because it’s tighter. You won’t be able to walk or sit comfortably.” Liann looked at Jake over the top of the clothing racks.

  “It has a slit.” Maddie had her had clamped on the hanger.

  “You don’t need a slit,” Liann responded, much to Jake’s relief. The sheath went back to the display rack. “Try these on.” A saleslady led them to a fitting room, and Maddie disappeared inside.

  Jake leaned closer to Liann. “I owe you. Big-time. I could have never done this alone.”

  “I’m sure you would have done fine.”

  “No, probably not. She’s persistent, and today I’m exhausted. It wouldn’t have been pretty.”

  Liann sank onto a nearby cushioned bench, and he joined her. “Why don’t you tell your parents it might be better if Maddie lived with them? They are her parents. You and Billy moved around, and you both turned out great. Why’s Maddie the exception? She wouldn't be the first kid to start at a new high school.” She tried to keep her voice low.

  “They wanted to give her as stable a life as possible. It wasn’t easy, moving as much as we did. Then when we ended up at Fort Hood, Maddie was a toddler, and they’d had enough of moving the family. She’s the only one of us who’s only been to school in one town.”

  “But she still needs her parents. I know it’s a hard age. And girls are under so much pressure—”

  “Okay, the first dress is on.” Maddie exited the dressing room and walked a small circle i
n front of a set of full-length mirrors.

  “You look like you’re floating.” Liann clapped her hands together. “It’s beautiful. Almost like someone from Phantom of the Opera, except without the long ball gown.”

  She did look beautiful. The dress was ladylike but wasn’t stuffy. It showed off her slim waist, and the soft pink lent a glow to her skin and contrasted with her dark hair.

  Jake wondered if Liann had a point, about talking to Mom and Dad and seeing about Maddie finishing school in Colorado. They were trying to protect her from the pain and struggle of being in a new school, being the new one in town.

  Hopefully this first dress was the dress. “Well, Maddie, is this the one?” he had to ask.

  “I don’t know. I want to try on these others, just to be sure.” She made another pirouette in front of the mirror. Then she paused and looked back at them in the reflection. “Ms. Rivers, what are you wearing?”

  Liann clutched her hands together around her purse strap. “I haven’t decided. I’ll wear something, probably one of my church outfits.”

  “You’re working the Homecoming dance?” Jake hadn’t known this. He planned to keep an eye on the clock, allowing Maddie and her friends to go out to dinner together—Red Lobster—and then she was going to meet Tim at the house and ride with him to the gymnasium. He thought it a bit strange that Tim wasn’t taking her to dinner.

  “Yes, we get a one-hundred-dollar stipend for helping out, so I figured, why not?” She bit her lip. “I’m working to earn extra money to get Trixie a new transmission.”

  “Oh, Ms. Rivers.” Maddie stepped forward. “You can’t just wear a regular churchy outfit to Homecoming.”

  “Why not? I’m just one of the teachers. I don’t need to stand out, just be there in the background to keep order.”

  “You would definitely never fade into the background,” Jake said.

  Maddie glowed. “If I get the pink dress, it’s under budget. It’s on sale. Plus I have an extra twenty percent off coupon. That means I still have more money I can spend. Right, Jake?”