This Time(13)

She trembled, fighting the storm of emotions brewing inside. "I can't change that," she said as she turned to leave.





Chapter Five





On a starry Sunday night Burke's sports car hummed down the highway toward the airport, the wind whipping through the open top.

"What a lovely night. So many stars," Grace said, pulling her long thick, tangled hair into a ponytail. She dropped her head against the headrest and fixed her eyes on Oklahoma's night sky.

"Did you enjoy the weekend?"

"Hmm, very much."

Burke smiled at her. "I'm glad you came."

Grace slipped her hand into Burke's. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Not too much autograph hounding, I hope."

Grace shook her head. "You have very considerate classmates. They were almost apologetic about asking."

"And you were very gracious."

Grace laughed softly.

Burke grinned. "What is it?"

"You, me, this small talk."

Burke's smile faded and he focused on the road ahead.

Grace reached for his hand and lifted it toward the dashboard lights. "I always loved your hands, you know. They are so like you; strong, capable, gentle and handsome."

"Handsome?" Burke asked, glancing at Grace. Strands of her burnished red hair had pulled free from her ponytail and whipped about her oval face. Her almond shaped eyes stared at his hand as she traced across his knuckles with her slender fingertips.

"Are you serious about moving back here?" she asked.

Burke squeezed her hand and moved his thumb over her fingers. "Yeah, I am."

She shifted her gaze and watched the night lights from her side of the car. "You have to find out, don't you?"

"Grace, I…"

She faced him. "I never understood how one person could love another after years and years of being apart. What causes that kind of love to remain? Yet, when I saw the slide show Saturday night, your life with Belle became real to me. She was in your arms, with your friends, cheering with you after the big wins. She shared your life in a way I'll never know. I can't fathom how special that must feel."

"You've lived a different kind of life, that's all," Burke offered as an explanation.

Grace raked her fingers through her hair, brushing the loose strands out of her eyes. "Growing up in a superficial, artificial Hollywood family I never felt anything below the surface of my soul until I met Jesus."

"I regret the years I spent away from Him, not serving Him, not loving Him."

"But you found your way back."

Burke nodded. "Once I discovered that the things of this world are meaningless."

Grace laughed. "I used to think my privileged life with celebrities, money and fame was the envy of the world. Then I met you. You introduced me to Jesus and a life that I never knew existed. I didn't know I was lost until I was found."

"The Lord is doing great things in your life, Grace. Your new production company, the films you are doing depict real Christians and present a true, Biblical Gospel."

Grace nodded in agreement. "The Lord is very good to me," she said, then paused. "Can I tell you something?"

"Shoot."

"She loves you, you know."

"Belle?"

"Who else?"

"Grace, I can't imagine-after what I did to her."

"I know, but I saw it in her eyes when you introduced us, and after the slide show."

"Sentiment, pure sentiment. The entire class got emotional during that slide show."

"Call it what you will, but I know love when I see it."

Burke wrapped his fingers tighter around hers as the airport exit came into view. "I'm going to miss you."

She held her head up, jutting out her firm chin. "We've learned to live with distance between us. You in Colorado most of the year, me in L.A." He could hear the forced courage in her words. "Besides, I leave for Australia in two days. I'd be gone anyway."

Burke held onto her hand as he slowed the car to take the airport exit.

"You don't have to go in with me," Grace said. "I don't want a mushy, airport good-bye scene."

"What mushy airport good-bye scene?" Burke asked. "I'm going in with you. You're not waiting alone."

"No, Burke." Her tone pleaded with him.

He pulled up to the skycap curb as she requested and turned to face her, taking her hands into his. He started to say something, but the tears pooling in her eyes melted away his words.

Grace slipped one of her hands free and cradled his face. "See ya, Benning."

He softly kissed her cheek. "Grace, please, let me come in with you."

Grace stepped out at the curb, and reached in the back for her carry-on bag. "No need. I'll be on the plane by the time you hit the highway. Thank you, Burke, for a lovely weekend."

"Anytime, Peterson."

"Be careful."

"I will. See ya, Grace."

"See ya, Burke." With that, Grace disappeared inside the airport and Burke drove toward home.

***

Tuesday morning the halls of Haskell High echoed with Burke's footsteps as he made his way toward Coach Anderson's office. He paused briefly by his old locker, inspecting the familiar scratches and dings, finding the spot where his initials were carved with another's on the bottom corner. BB and BJ encircled by a heart.