is forgive people who harmed them, and to fly — like the eagle — to higher ground until the problems of life, the hurtful people of life, were so far below they couldn’t cause pain any longer.
“There is one thing to remember.” Sara took a sip from her drink and looked around the room. “Sometimes we feel like the world is against us … and there are many days when we’re the eagle. But other times we’re the crow. And for that we need to make things right … change our actions and ask God to forgive us.”
Bailey thought about that, and gradually a truth began to dawn on her. At least where Cody was concerned, he wasn’t the only one who’d been quiet, who hadn’t made an effort to stay in touch. She’d been mad at him since January, and because of that even when she might’ve otherwise worked to stay friends with him, she’d allowed the silence between them as much as he had. Sara was right … she needed to ask God for forgiveness over that and her ill feelings toward a number of her castmates … same as she needed to forgive.
By the time the Bible study was finished, and after the women had prayed — specifically asking God for protection and encouragement for Bailey — she was emotionally drained. She had already called the cast members in her Bible study and told them the meeting was cancelled for now. Gerald seemed most sorry about the situation. “I thought we could do all things through Christ,” he told her. He wasn’t mocking her or the Bible verse they’d looked at a few weeks ago. But he sounded hurt. “I can’t believe you’d give up so easy, Bailey.”
That was earlier this morning, and now after the Bible study on forgiveness, Bailey missed home and her mom more than she had since she arrived in New York. Before she headed down the hall to her room, Betty came to her. “Honey, I think you need a good talk with your family back home.” She soothed her hand along Bailey’s arm. “Use that Skype thing you like to do. That’ll help you feel better.”
“Thanks, Betty.” Bailey went to her room, grateful again for Betty Keller. She might as well have been family, and again Bailey thought she was a lot like Elizabeth Baxter. She flopped on her bed and for a few minutes she stared out the window at the buildings all around her. Times like this, New York City was suffocating. She wanted nothing more than to drive to LaGuardia Airport, hop on a plane, and be home in time for dinner.
But what would she learn from that?
She stood, went to her computer, and moved the mouse. As she did the screen came to life and she saw her Skype program light up. Betty was right — she could call her mom and ask her to chat on Skype for a while. Maybe her mom would know what she could do with her Bible study … how to stand strong for God without losing her job. She was about to call her mom and see if she had time to talk on Skype when a sound came from the lower panel of her computer.
“Brandon!” In her hurt over the fact that Cody had moved on, she had forgotten that Brandon was supposed to be back in Los Angeles over the weekend. For the past weeks he’d spent more time in a handful of exotic islands filming his next movie, but now — clearly — he must’ve been home. He couldn’t Skype her if he didn’t have internet — and he hadn’t had it on location for sure.
A message popped up on her screen asking her if she’d like to have a Skype video chat with Brandon Paul, and Bailey clicked yes. Her heart felt lighter already. After a few more noises, the Skype window filled her computer screen and there he was — Brandon — smiling at her and looking so close he might as well have been sitting across from her. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment?” He was always lighthearted, always more of a tease than a true romantic. But right now, even as Brandon’s eyes sparkled, she was pretty sure he wasn’t kidding. Not in any way.
“I’ve missed you!”
“Really?” He leaned closer to the screen. “So I should come see you, is that what you’re saying?”