Hey, 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.”