Take Three (28 page)

T
HE REST OF
J
UNE SLIPPED THROUGH
Bailey’s fingers, in a blur of long talks with her mom and Andi and acting lessons with Katy. Andi had apologized for the way she’d treated Bailey, and the girls had found the beginning of a friendship that had escaped them all last year. Bailey apologized too. For not trying harder, for in some ways writing Andi off once she started dating Taz.

Somehow July had snuck in unannounced and now suddenly it was the Fourth already. Andi and her parents had flown to Los Angeles for the holiday—time to be alone together, just the three of them. But Bailey and her family were joining the Baxters in their annual barbecue. It was a nice break from the usual allday backyard party her parents threw most years.

Humidity filled the air, and the sun was already warming the fields surrounding Bloomington. Bailey had wanted to do something different with her hair, something so she’d look as young and free as she felt. So that morning she’d asked her mom to braid it. Two braids framing her face, from beneath a red American Eagle baseball cap. It matched her red T-shirt and navy capris. They were minutes from leaving so she darted back upstairs to her closet and picked out a pair of shoes she hadn’t worn all winter—her white Jack Purcells. While she was slipping them on, her eye caught the same framed picture of her and Tim from last winter—the one when they were in
Scrooge.

They’d been broken up for more than a week, so that was long enough, right? She sprang across the room, took the picture, and slipped it into one of her desk drawers.
Never liked the
photo anyway
, she told herself. She plopped down on the edge of her mattress and finished tying her shoes. She hadn’t heard from Tim, and she figured that was best. They both needed time to sort through their feelings about the breakup. Besides, by the time Tim gave the situation any real thought, he was bound to see it the way she did. They hadn’t been more than friends for a long time anyway.

Somewhere some girl would meet Tim and fall in love with him, and Tim would look back and thank her for setting him free.

Wherever Tim’s future took him, Bailey would never settle for a passive life again. Never play not to lose, but only to win. Seizing every day, the way God wanted her to live. Love needed to be so much more. She wanted someone who felt alive beside her, a guy who dreamed about her when she was away and hung on her every word when they were together. Someone who in time would make it difficult to know where she ended and he began. A love so bright and beautiful a hundred years would never be enough time together.

Bailey bounced down the stairs to the kitchen and found her mom finishing up a bowl of homemade potato salad. “Grab the pepper, will you, Bailey?”

“What about paper towels?” Bailey grinned as she reached for the pepper and handed it to her mom. “Look at you. You’ve got potatoes halfway to your elbows.”

“That’s what makes it so amazing.” She was using two spoons, digging them deep in the salad and tossing the pieces of potatoes. “You can’t get this kind of touch from a supermarket carton.” Her mom peered at her and blew her hair off her face. “You look adorable, Bailey. Very all-American.”

“Thanks.” She leaned in and helped her mom tuck a strand of hair off her face and behind her ear. “I feel that way. Glad to be alive, grateful to be an American, happy that we can still worship
God and that most everyone I know still loves Him. Happy to have a reason to celebrate.” She leaned against the kitchen counter and watched as her dad and brothers filed into the kitchen. Their conversations were loud, their laughter contagious. Bailey helped her mom get to the sink without dropping blobs of potato salad on the floor. They laughed while Bailey handed her a dishrag and her mom pumped a handful of soap into her hands.

While they were wrapping the bowl with tinfoil, Bailey reminded herself again to soak in these precious moments—all of them still at home, her brothers excited about a day at the lake. An Independence Day to celebrate. These were the times of their lives—moments they would always remember.

“You’re so happy today.” Her mom gave her a knowing look. “I don’t remember you being this excited last Fourth.”

“Mom…I’m hurt.” Bailey could feel her eyes begin to dance. “I love all holidays.”

“But this time…maybe a little more.” She dried her hands and arms on a dish towel. “What time will Cody be there anyway?”

Bailey felt her cheeks grow hot. Her mom knew her so well—there was no hiding that Cody was one of the main reasons she was so happy, the reason she’d been singing all morning. “Three o’clock. Same as us.”

Her mom held her gaze for a special few seconds, time where they needed no words to know what the other was thinking. “I’m praying for you. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“I won’t. Cody doesn’t even know about Tim and me.” She took hold of the potato salad and grinned. “It’s just a great day, that’s all.”

Her dad caught the fact that the women were ready. He raised his hand and made a sweeping motion toward the garage. “Okay, guys, everyone into the Suburban! The Baxter family barbecue can’t start without us!”

Bailey had done everything in her power not to dwell on the
fact that Cody was coming to the barbecue. They’d talked last night—the first time since that strange call the night of the football scrimmage. When he’d seemed like he had so much more to tell her than he was actually saying. When he didn’t call for a week, Bailey finally decided she could call him. Her brothers had said he’d been quieter lately—and that worried Bailey. Had something happened to his mom, or had he met someone who had turned his head?

Either way, it felt wonderful talking to him last night. She asked him about his plans for the Fourth, and he had nothing. He wanted to drop by the cemetery and put flowers on the graves of a couple fallen soldiers he knew. But he was doing that in the morning.

“Meet us at Lake Monroe!” Bailey couldn’t hide her enthusiasm. “Remember when you went that one time with us?”

“The famous ankle-twisting.” Cody chuckled, but the sound dropped off. “I don’t know…Tim doesn’t like me being around your family.”

“Tim isn’t coming.” She wanted to tell him about the breakup face-to-face, so she kept her tone even. “Meet us there, please Cody. Come on—we need a day of fun, you and me.”

In the end he agreed, and promised to bring a bag of hotdog buns for the barbecue. Bailey conveyed the information to Elaine Baxter, and everything was set. Now, though, she could hardly wait to see him. She wondered a dozen times if she’d dressed too young or if he’d think she was being too forward for inviting him. She tried to remember her mother’s advice—take it slowly. She’d known Cody since she was in middle school, and he’d made it clear he only wanted to be her friend—both then and now. There was nothing to rush, so her mom didn’t need to worry. Even still the time couldn’t go fast enough.

They reached the lake and hauled their coolers and picnic baskets down the hill to the place where the Baxters were set up.
Bailey was struck by how much the crowd had grown over the years. Everyone was there—most of them having arrived hours earlier to set up. A quick scan of the sandy beach and she saw all the Baxter kids and their spouses, their children. Too many to count, anymore. She spotted Dayne and Luke playing with their kids near the water’s edge. Every one of the kids wore matching life jackets, and as Bailey came closer she could make out the words stitched in white across the back of each one. “Baxter Baby,” they read.

Bailey had a feeling they were Dayne’s doing. It was at the annual Fourth of July picnic that he’d first found his family, after all. The event held more meaning for the Baxters than anyone outside the circle could ever know.

“Flanigans!” John Baxter raised his hand and motioned to a table adjacent to the trees and not far from the water. “We saved that one for you. So glad you could join us!”

They were setting up their table, she and Connor spreading out the checkered plastic tablecloth when she felt someone behind her. Before she could turn around, Ricky and Justin came running up from the water. “Cody!” They shouted his name at the same time.

Bailey turned and saw that he was only a few feet from her, his eyes on hers. He didn’t make the moment awkward, or let his eyes linger on hers. Nothing that could be construed as anything out of the ordinary for a couple of old friends. He hugged her quickly and turned to the boys. “Hey, guys! I brought a football!”

He and the boys helped get the rest of the things down the hill from the Flanigans’ SUV, and then, with a quick look back at her, Cody followed the boys to the water. They played football for a long time, splashing through the water and knocking each other into the gentle waves lapping at the water’s edge.

Bailey met up with Katy and the two of them talked about the progress with Jeremiah Productions—how the guys felt
good about Luke Baxter’s contract. “Brandon Paul can’t change the movie,” Katy seemed satisfied. “Now we’re all praying the movie changes him.”

With everything in her, Bailey tried to stay focused. She believed in Jeremiah Productions, and she most certainly would pray for Dayne and Keith. But she was grateful for her dark sunglasses, because she kept being distracted by Cody. At times, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was tan from being outdoors every day with football, and his white tank top only emphasized the fact. He was tall and muscled and supremely athletic. His hair was cut short, the way Bailey loved it—accenting the handsome ruggedness of his face.

She had to remind herself again and again not to stare.

Finally, when she’d been social enough and helped all she could help, Bailey kicked off her Jack Purcells and joined the boys near the water.

“She’s on your team!” The announcement came from Ricky.

Bailey put her hands on her hips and made a face at him. “You’ll be sorry.”

“You will.” Connor grinned at her. “She can throw the ball, little brother.”

“So whose team am I on?”

Cody ran close for a pass and caught it inches from her. He stopped, his chest heaving, his breath minty against her face. “Mine.” He took a few steps and flung the ball back to BJ, then he glanced back at her. “Okay? Just follow my lead.”

Her knees felt weak, and she silently yelled at herself.
Get a grip, Bailey Flanigan. This is Cody who you’ve known forever. Cody who only wants to be your friend.
Even so she wanted to tell him that wouldn’t be a problem. She’d follow him anywhere.

He was going on about the rules. “It’s a passing game. Sort of football and volleyball mixed. Main thing is don’t drop the ball.”

“Okay.” She was ready. She really could throw the ball and she
wouldn’t mind getting splashed a little. It was easily the hottest day so far that summer.

“Better take off the hat.” Connor backed up, his feet in the sand, body in position.

“It’s fine. I won’t be getting that crazy.”

But just at that moment Ricky winged the ball in their direction. Bailey ran forward to catch it just as Cody shuffled sideways, neither of them more than a little aware of the other. In a rush the two of them collided and fell together into the knee-deep water.

As hot as the day was, the cool lake water made Bailey catch her breath. She was soaked as she wiped sand from her eyes and propped herself up on her knees. Her cute hat was still somewhere in the water. “It’s freezing.”

“Yep.” Cody was drenched too. He started laughing, and the sound of it was contagious. He held up his hand for Bailey to help him up. “I’m stuck in the sand. Seriously.”

She was laughing too, now, and she helped him to his knees. Side by side, he put his arm around her waist and the two of them struggled to their feet. Cody snatched her hat from just beneath the surface and handed it to her—drenched and covered with slimy pieces of lake grass. “I forgot to tell you…the most important part.”

“What’s that?” Gradually they tried to trudge toward the shore, but Bailey tripped on something. She fell against Cody and knocked them both back into the water. Now Bailey was laughing so hard she wasn’t sure she could do anything but sit back and let the moment have its way with her.

“The most important part is…” Cody was barely able to catch his breath, laughing at least as hard as she was, “you have to call it.”

“Call it?” Bailey was sitting in waist deep water, alongside Cody, and as soon as she could talk through her laughter she looked at him, at a piece of lake grass strung across his face. She
picked it off, falling into another wave of laughter too strong to fight. When she could finally talk, she put her sorry-looking hat back on her head and looked right at him, her eyes bleary. “Call it?”

“Yes.” He splashed her a little. “You have to call it.”

“Okay, fine.” She laughed again. “Call it what? It’s a football.”

That was all Cody needed to hear. Now he let himself fall completely back into the water. As he did, he intentionally pulled her with him, splashing her and teasing her. “You told me you could play!”

A crowd of Baxters and Flanigans had gathered along the near shore, laughing and enjoying the moment. “Way to go, honey,” her dad called out. “Way to use everything I taught you.”

They were on their feet now, more careful to watch their steps so they would actually make it to shore. Somehow, Bailey still had her hat, though she could only imagine how they looked together. The moment they reached the shore, Connor stepped up and snapped their picture, arms around each other’s waists, lake grass hanging from their clothes and hair. And smiles wider than the lake behind them.

Bailey had a feeling it was a picture they’d remember forever.

Once the commotion died down, she found her sunglasses, and she and Cody took their towels down the beach a stretch and spread them out next to each other. Bailey was glad she’d worn her hair in braids. Once she’d brushed herself off, and after she dried, she’d be good as new. A little rumpled, but that didn’t matter. Rumpled worked for a Fourth of July picnic.

“I thought you were one of the boys trying to tackle me,” Cody said as he settled onto his towel. He sat up and leaned back on his hands. “It was a pretty good bit of contact.”