Starring Me (28 page)
“Oh no.” Tears formed in Kara’s eyes. Addy grabbed Kara and pulled her outside. “Was he breathing?”
“I don’t know.” Joey’s voice was cracking. “Valerie, next door, saw the ambulance and came outside. She’s the one who called me. The driver told her what Ma had said on the call, that Pop was unconscious. Val said the EMTs had Pop on a stretcher with an oxygen mask on his face. Ma was right with him. She hasn’t called anybody.”
“Oh no.” Tears were streaming down Kara’s face. She grabbed Addy’s hand and squeezed. “I’m coming home.”
“No, Kara. Ma hasn’t even made any calls yet. She would call us if she thought we needed to be there.”
“Pop’s in the hospital,” Kara said. “Of course we need to be there. Ma needs us to be there.”
“Which is why I’m going, and I’ve called the others.”
“But not me? You were going to leave me in the dark? ”
“No, Kar.” Joey took a ragged breath. “We just didn’t want to worry you. Not until we knew something specific. You’re in Florida.”
“I can go to the airport right now.”
“But the auditions . . .”
“Auditions aren’t as important as family.”
“At least wait until we get to the hospital, okay?”
Kara wiped the tears from her face. “Fine. But call me as soon as you get there.”
“I will.”
“I love you, Joey.”
Joey sniffed. “I love you too, sis. Don’t worry. Pop’s strong. He’ll be fine.”
Kara pressed End and looked at Addy, her eyes firm. “I don’t care what Joey says. I don’t care if I lose my shot at the show. I’m going home. Now.”
H
ey, man.” Jonathon reached out to give Chad a bear hug. “I’m glad you came. You sure you’re up to singing? How’s the rib?”
“It’s been almost two weeks. I’m doing much better. Besides, when the president calls, you come, right?” Chad put his suitcase down in the spacious bedroom. “But I’m thinking I should get a title: Official White House Singer.”
“How about Pop Star Laureate?” Jonathon slapped Chad on the back. “The prime minister’s daughters are apparently your biggest fans.”
“Hey, I do what I can to help my country. Even sing for eight-year-olds.”
“You’re the best.” Jonathon carried Chad’s suitcase to the closet.
Chad walked to the window. The night sky was filled with clouds and rain pelted the glass. “So, how’s Addy doing? It was really nice of her and Kara to come see me.”
Jonathon blushed. “She’s really good. I’m trying to get her to come up and visit again in a couple weeks, before I have to head up to school.”
“Is Kara coming with her?” Chad moved to sit on the bed.
“Wow.” Jonathon shook his head. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“I’d really like to get to know her.” Chad sat back and put his arms behind his head. “She’s so fun. And she treats me like a normal guy. That’s a nice change.”
“I know what you mean.” Jonathon sat in a wing-backed chair beside the window. “But she lives in New York, and you’re in Florida.”
“You’re in DC—soon to be New Jersey—and Addy’s in Florida.”
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
Jonathon folded his arms. “Because . . . we already had time to get to know each other.”
“Do you know God has had me pray for Kara every day since I met her?” Chad sighed. “That’s one of the reasons I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“What do you mean, God has had you pray for her? ”
“Haven’t you ever gotten a thought in your mind about someone or something, and you just know it’s God?”
“Don’t think so.”
“I bet you have; you just didn’t know it. Random thoughts about your friends or family.”
Jonathon shrugged. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Chad smiled. “That’s God.”
“I never thought of it that way.” Jonathon leaned forward. “So what else are you praying for?”
Chad shifted in his seat. “Actually, I was praying that you’d ask me that.”
“What?”
“Can you keep a secret?”
Jonathon smiled. “You have no idea.”
“Of course, what was I thinking?”
I keep forgetting this guy is the president’s son
. “Okay. My next project is going to be a TV sketch comedy. Kind of like
Saturday Night Live
, but clean, and for teens. It’s going to be awesome. I’ll get to sing and help write the scripts and be part of a brand-new network.”
Chad watched Jonathon’s face register surprise, then something else. Was he holding back a grin? “This is funny? ”
“No, no.” Jonathon cleared his throat. “Go on.”
“I’ll be the main star, along with a girl, and every week different teen actors will be guest starring.”
“Who’s the girl?”
“That’s the secret.” Chad lowered his voice. “My parents want my costar to be a Christian, so they worked out a deal with the executives.”
“A deal?”
“Yes. The execs chose ten girls, and my parents will choose from those ten.”
Jonathon’s eyes got large. “And those girls think they’re auditioning for the show?”
Chad sat up. “How did you know?”
“I’m very smart.” Jonathon shrugged. “But how will your parents choose?”
“Flora is living with the girls as their housemother.”
“Flora!” Jonathon clapped once. “Of course.”
“You know about this?”
Jonathon looked at the ceiling. “I’m just listening. So Flora is going to choose your costar.”
“Right.”
“And she’s looking for a Christian?”
Chad nodded. “Right.”
“Has she made her choice?”
Chad stood and walked to the window. “She’s made her choice, but the girl isn’t a Christian. Yet.”
“Yet?”
“That’s what Flora says. But my parents aren’t thrilled with that. They really want me working with a Christian.”
“Why?”
“Because we’ll be spending so much time together.” Chad leaned against the windowsill.
Jonathon’s grin widened.
“You sure are excited about this.”
“Of course I am,” Jonathon said. “My buddy, a TV star.”
“I wish everyone were that excited about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The producer of my recording studio is really upset with me.” Chad sighed. “He thinks I’m throwing away my career. No one goes from being a big singing star to hosting a TV show.”
“So you’re a pioneer.”
Chad folded his arms. “Very funny.”
“You think this girl may end up being more than just a costar?”
“I was thinking that, but then Flora said something.”
“What?”
“She said maybe this whole audition process—maybe even my becoming famous—was orchestrated so this girl would be able to hear about Jesus.”
Jonathon stood still. “I can see that.”
“I know, right?”
“Maybe it’s that
and
you’ll end up dating her.” Jonathon flashed a knowing smile.
“I don’t know about that. I’m just praying she’s fun and creative. If I have to spend eight hours a day with a girl, I want her to be a friend.”
“Well, I think I know exactly how to pray, then.”
“If you want to know the truth, I really wish Kara was the girl Flora was talking about.”
“Wouldn’t that be something?” Jonathon said.
“What am I thinking, though? Kara was visiting Addy when I was in the hospital. And that was after the auditions started. So there’s no way.”
“You’re probably right.” Jonathon folded his arms. “Forget her.”
“Hey, what kind of friend are you?”
“I was agreeing with you.”
“Well, don’t.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to say, ‘Maybe she didn’t say anything because the subject didn’t come up. Maybe Kara is on the show, and she is the one Flora is talking about.’”
“Okay, so maybe she is on the show.” Jonathon smiled.
“Don’t mock me.” Chad shook his head. “Why can’t I just meet some nice Christian girl like you did? Why does the one girl I can’t get my mind off have to be off-limits? ”
“Why not just give her a call? Couldn’t you just be friends?”
Chad stood. “I don’t want to be just friends with Kara.”
“So you just keep thinking about her and not doing anything about it?”
“That seems to be the safest thing.” Chad shrugged. “Is that your phone?” Chad pointed to Jonathon’s pocket, where a faint ring was emanating.
“I didn’t even hear it.” Jonathon pulled out his phone and looked at the screen. “I’ve missed eight texts. From Addy.” He scrolled down the screen and handed the phone to Chad. “Kara’s dad is in the hospital?”
Chad began texting a reply. “I told her we’ll be praying for him.”
“Let’s do it, then.”
W
hat do you mean you don’t have any flights tonight?” Kara leaned over the ticket counter at the Tampa International Airport.
“It’s eleven o’clock, miss.” The woman took a step back. “The next flight is at six tomorrow morning. That’s just a few hours away.”
“I can’t wait a few hours,” Kara yelled.
A security guard touched Kara’s arm. “Is there a problem? ”
“Yes, Officer.” Kara’s voice grew louder. “My pop is in the hospital, and this woman won’t get me a flight out of here to go see him.”
Addy stepped in and looked at the ticket agent behind the counter. “Are there any flights tonight? Anywhere? Maybe she could fly somewhere else and connect to Islip? ”
The woman’s fingers flew over the keys. She stared at her monitor, then looked at Kara. “The Islip airport doesn’t have incoming flights until tomorrow morning. Even if you did fly out of here, you’d just be stuck at another airport. I can get a direct flight tomorrow at 6:14 a.m.”
Kara ran her fingers through her hair. “What if we rented a car and drove?”
Addy pulled Kara away from the ticket counter. “Kara, it takes twenty hours to get to New York from here. Let’s just buy the tickets for tomorrow and wait at the gate.”
“But what if we’re too late?” Kara wiped the tears streaming from her face.
“Joey said your dad is stable.” Addy handed Kara a tissue.
“But they don’t even know what’s wrong yet.”
“Exactly.” Addy led Kara to a bench and the pair sat. “They’re waiting, just like you are.”
“I should have been there. I never should have tried out for this show. I should have stayed in New York. Why didn’t I just go on
Broadway Bound
? Then I’d be there right now instead of having to wait until tomorrow.”
“There’s nothing you can do there that you can’t do here.”
“There’s nothing I can do, period.”
“We can pray.”
Kara shook her head. “I can’t come running to God now. Not after I’ve ignored him for seventeen years.”
“Of course you can.”
“Addy, I’m not having this conversation right now, okay?” Kara took a deep breath, trying to keep herself from completely falling apart.
“Look, why don’t you go over there and get something to drink?” Addy pointed to the Airport News store. “I’ll go back and reserve the flight.”
Kara tried to stand, but her legs felt too weak. “I can’t even move. What’s wrong with me?”
“You’re worried about your pop.” Addy smoothed Kara’s hair. “I’ll get you something to drink, okay? Orange juice? ”
“Sure.” Kara put her head in her hands and cried.
Pop is lying in a hospital a thousand miles away. What am I doing here? What was I thinking? If something happens to Pop and I’m here . . . I’ll never forgive myself. If Pop dies .
. . The thought was too painful. Kara tried to focus on something else. Anything else.
God? I know I shouldn’t come to you now, when I’m in trouble, when I’ve barely spoken to you before. But this is my dad. He’s a good man. Please don’t take him. Please, God, I’ll do anything you want. I’ll never act again. I’ll stay home and take care of Ma and Pop both. Anything. Just please, please, let Pop be all right
.
“I got you a granola bar to go with your orange juice.” Addy handed the brown bag to Kara and opened her own. “I got a Coke and a Snickers bar.”
Kara laughed, in spite of her tears. “You’re hopeless, you know that? Pop eats bad too. I always tell him to eat better. But he won’t listen . . .”
Addy hugged her and Kara leaned in and cried on Addy’s shoulder. “I texted Jonathon. He’s praying for your pop.”
“Tell him thanks.” Kara wiped her eyes and sat up.
“Already did.” Addy handed her another tissue. “I’m going to go get the plane tickets now.”
Kara’s eyes widened. “How am I going to pay for them? ”
Addy patted Kara’s head. “I called Uncle Mike. He told me I could use his credit card. I have it in my wallet for emergencies. And he said I could come with you.”