Read First Date Online

Authors: Krista McGee

Tags: #Juvenile Fiction, #Religious, #Christian, #General

First Date (27 page)

BOOK: First Date
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Chapter 50

Y
ou’re inviting Hank out on your date with Jonathon?” Kara shouted as the girls walked back to their trailer. “Are you out of your mind? Of course you’re out of your mind. This is your date. Time alone with Jonathon Jackson. Time for America to see you’re perfect together so they’ll vote for you. If Hank is there, he’ll hog the camera. You know what he’s like whenever cameras are around.”

Addy waited for Kara to breathe, then smiled. “I know what I’m doing. And I know what I’m
not
doing.”

“Okay, Yoda,” Kara said, assuming the voice and characteristics of the tiny, pointy-eared green philosopher. “Understand you not do I.”

“I did some research and found that Hank hates Christians. Mike and I think he’s had some bad experiences with them—like you had with that friend at school. I want him to see we’re not all that bad. Jesus said to love your enemies, so that’s what I’m doing. Giving Hank airtime is the best gift I have to share with him. If nothing else, it’ll show him I’m not a selfish little brat looking to win no matter what. And hopefully, he’ll be willing to at least listen to what I have to say about my faith.”

Kara looked at Addy for a long moment. “I don’t know. It seems like you’re throwing away the date of a lifetime—your first date, if I’m not mistaken—all for a jerk who probably won’t even listen to anything you have to say anyway.”

“I’m not throwing away my first date, Kara.” Addy leaned forward, thinking. “I’m giving it to God.”

“I don’t even know what to say to that.” Kara pulled Addy’s ponytail. “I don’t get it. But I admire you. Your faith is real, Addy, no doubt about that. If more Christians were like you, there might be a lot more Christians in the world.”

“There he is.” Addy spotted Hank walking toward his limo. She ran up to him and asked him to join Jonathon and her on their date.

“What are you trying to pull this time, Addy?” He narrowed his eyes. “I’m done with your little games. Look, you’ve won. You’re in the Top Five.”

“I hate that you feel so much animosity toward me, Hank. I want you to know that I am truly sorry for having frustrated you.” Addy smiled and looked up at him, his glare a little less fierce. “Think of this as a peace offering.”

“Wait a minute.” Hank smiled a knowing smile. “You heard about my next project and you want in. That’s what this is about.”

Addy laughed. “Not even close. No offense, but one thing I know for sure is that being in the spotlight is not for me.”

“So what’s the deal, then? What’s in this for you?”

Addy’s mouth went dry. “I-I’ll tell you tomorrow. Okay?”

“Suit yourself.” Hank shrugged and walked off.

All right, God. He’s coming. Now I’m even more nervous than I was before. What am I going to say? How am I going to explain this to Jonathon? Maybe I should have just dropped a Bible in his chair or something less . . . dramatic
.

Addy tried to listen as Ruby recounted the story of how she helped her younger sister win the Miss Corn Cob pageant in 1991.

“She wasn’t the prettiest girl up on that stage,” Ruby drawled. “But I sure made her look better than those others. Even then, all I wanted to do was to make people pretty.” She stood back to survey her work. “And look at this. I’ve done it again.”

Addy took the mirror. While she never thought she’d get used to all the makeup and hair spray required for television, she couldn’t deny Ruby’s words. “A new coat of paint sure helps the old barn look good.”

“Thanks, Ruby.” Addy walked out.

Uncle Mike rounded the corner and whistled. “You look beautiful, Addy.”

She adjusted the straps on her sundress. “Thanks, Uncle Mike. I was hoping I’d get to see you before I left.”

“This is my girl’s first date.” Uncle Mike smiled. “Of course I’m here. Not even that old Hank could keep me away.”

Hank turned the corner as Mike was finishing his sentence.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the national hero.”

“Good to see you too, Hank.”

“Mr. Banner.” Hank glared.

Mike nodded.

“I’m going to be a few minutes late, Addy. I like to make a grand entrance, you know.” Hank laughed, oozing “Big Brother Hank” charm. “See you around twelve thirty.”

“What time do you have to go?” Mike asked.

“The limo picks me up in half an hour.”

“Nervous?”

“Yes,” Addy said. “I know this is what God wants me to do. I think this is the whole reason he brought me here. But that doesn’t make me any less scared.”

“Boy, do you sound like your mama.” Mike hugged Addy.

“Be careful. If you mess up my hair, Ruby will kill you.”

Mike laughed and walked in silence with Addy back to the trailer.

Her mother’s journals peeked out from under Addy’s bunk.

I’ve got time for one more
. Addy reached for one from the year she was born. She was surprised to learn her mom had chosen to deliver her in the village rather than go into the local hospital at Mitú. Addy’s dad had some supplies brought in, but overall, the delivery was to be much like those the other villagers had. Both parents had prayed over every aspect of the pregnancy and trusted that God would help them do what they felt he was asking by having the baby in their home.

Little Addy is such a joy. The whole village loves her. The delivery was perfect. Josh was amazing. I was in labor less than ten hours, and Ula was by my side the whole time. She was such a help. She had me doing things my friends in the States never would have done. But they worked. Labor was painful, of course, but not as bad as some of the horror stories I had heard. And then Addy was there in my arms. Neither of us could speak, we were so happy. A beautiful little girl. God is so good to us.

Once I had healed enough to leave the hut, we took Addy to our little makeshift chapel and dedicated her to the Lord. The whole village came out to join us as we gave our Addy to God, praying that she will know him and serve him and that he will do great things in and through her.

What an awesome responsibility to raise a child. Sometimes I don’t feel worthy of this precious little gift from God. I know I will fail. I fail every day. But I am more challenged than ever to live a life that pleases God so Addy will want to follow my example. I look at her sweet face and beg God to help me be the mother he has called me to be so I can train her to be a young woman after his heart. That is my greatest desire for my Addy—to love God with all her heart and serve him with all her life. Nothing else matters.

Addy dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, not wanting to mess up her makeup, but unable to stop the tears from falling. She held the journal to her chest and allowed her mother’s words to wash over her.

Nothing else matters .
. .
God, help me to be the young woman my mother prayed for
.

“It’s time,” Eric called through Addy’s door.

“Yes, it is,” Addy said.

Cameras followed Addy from The Mansion’s lawn into the limo, and another camera was positioned in the front seat, ready to catch her thoughts as she rode to her destination. Eric sat beside her, prompting her with questions so they’d have before and after date footage for her package that week.

“How do you feel about this being the last week?” Eric asked.

“I don’t know. I’m ready to be back home, to sleep in my own bed. To get back to normal after five weeks of this.” Addy gestured at the limo.

“So you think your first impression was right?”

Addy groaned. “No. I’m so embarrassed about that. I was just so overwhelmed.”

“Why is that?”

“All these people,” Addy said, thankful that Eric was so good at making her feel relaxed in front of the camera. “I live in a quiet neighborhood, I go to a small school. My extracurricular activities are . . . well, pretty boring to most people.”

“And what has it been like for you here?”

“Not quiet.” Addy laughed. “Not with the Amazing Kara for a roommate.”

“You guys certainly seem to have bonded.”

“She’s the best.” Addy looked into the camera. “I can’t imagine what this experience would have been like without her.”

“Do you want to talk about the rumors that have been circulating about your relationship with the other girls?”

Eric, I know what you’re doing
.
You’re giving me a chance to defend myself against some of what those girls have said about me. Their comments in the magazines that I faked the spider bite and that I’ll do anything to win
.

“Addy?”

“Actually, Eric, I wish I had gotten to know the other girls better. I know more than anyone how wrong first impressions can be. I think that maybe if we’d all given each other more of a chance, maybe we could have been friends. Maybe we still can be. Anything is possible. I believe . . .”

Eric put his hand on Addy’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Addy, but we’re here. We can get more later, though, if you’d like.”

God, was that you stopping me from saying something about you, or did I miss an opportunity by not talking about you at the start of the interview? I feel like I keep blowing it. Help me to say what you want me to say
.

As soon as Addy stepped out of the limo, she was whisked into the empty restaurant, through French doors, to a table surrounded by lights and cameras and waiters being made up for their moments of fame. Jonathon hadn’t arrived yet, but that was part of the plan. He was to walk through the doors and greet Addy so the cameras could get a full-body shot before he sat down.

“He’s here,” one of the waiters said, moving to open the doors.

Addy stood and Jonathon entered, looking gorgeous as usual in khakis and a red-and-blue-striped shirt.

We match
. She looked down at her blue sundress.

“You look great, Addy.” Jonathon hugged her.

Addy’s stomach went into full-blown butterflies and she worried she wouldn’t be able to eat anything.

“A perfect dress for going fishing.”

“Fishing?”

Jonathon chose each of the dates’ locations based on what he knew of the girls. There had been endless speculation online about where they would go and what they would do. Maintaining a “squeaky clean” image, the producers promised the couples would be supervised at all times and only the highest moral standards would be in place. But America was still excited to see their president’s son out on a date.

“You like fishing, right?” Jonathon’s laugh revealed his joke. “You would have gone, wouldn’t you?”

Addy relaxed. “It’d be better than horseback riding.” She took a sip from her water.

“Don’t put that line in the package,” Jonathon said to the cameraman.

I keep forgetting that date was a secret
.

“May I take your order?” the waiter asked.

Jonathon placed his hand on Addy’s.
Just when I started to relax .
. .

“You need protein,” he said. “We have a full afternoon ahead of us.”

“Fishing really takes it out of a person, huh?” Addy ordered lemon pepper chicken and sautéed vegetables.
I’d really rather eat a cheeseburger and fries, but that wouldn’t look good
.

“I’d like a cheeseburger and fries,” Jonathon said.

BOOK: First Date
4.1Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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