How a Star Falls (7 page)

Two months later...

Derrick stood outside Samantha’s apartment in Oregon, counting his lucky stars that he had been able to get the day off so he could spend the weekend with her. He knew he should check into his hotel first, but he didn’t want to wait any longer. Searching the first-floor apartments, he found Number 8 and knocked on the door.

The Friday evening was as cold as one would expect for Eugene in early March, but he felt quite warm as he waited nervously for her to open the door. When he heard the lock twist and saw her bright face appear in the opening, he couldn’t hold back his grin.

“Derrick! What are you doing here? I can’t believe it’s you! You never told me you’d be visiting.” Her words ran into each other as she stepped back and allowed him in.

He noted the canvas set up in her small living room, but as curious as he was, he couldn’t keep from turning back to Samantha. She closed the door and grinned up at him, her sky-blue day dress shimmering in the twilight, taking his breath away. “I thought we’d agreed to meet up for spring break—which is only in a few weeks, you know.” She crossed her arms in feigned frustration, but her laughter ruined whatever picture she’d been trying to make.

“I wanted to surprise you.” He noted the paint splatters on her fingers and face. It satisfied him like nothing else to see so clearly that she was finding joy in her work again.

“Well, you did—and you’ve totally made my day.” She tucked her lower lip between her teeth, blushing.

“Just your day? Come on, that was a six-hour drive—not to mention weeks of planning.”

“Okay, fine, you made my whole term. Happy?”

He laughed. “That’s better.”

She led him into the living room and plopped down on a worn gray loveseat. “Speaking of terms, how is yours going?”

He came and sat beside her. “Going well, although it’s strange to be taking classes again when I thought I was finished with school. And it’s hard to find enough time to get all my homework done while working part-time at the grocery store.” He had decided to find a job closer to home after applying for classes at HSU in pursuit of a degree in Oceanography. He missed his almost daily walks at Trinidad Head, but not the regular commute.

“I bet.” She placed her hand on his arm. “But I’m proud of you for trying something different.”

He nodded. “Oh yeah. Who knew a guy could have more than one interest?”

Her soft smile added an element of light to the quickly darkening room. She bounced up and turned on a nearby lamp, then whirled toward him with her brows lowered in concentration. “You’re still practicing your guitar, right?”

“Yeah, of course.”

She grinned. “I’m glad. Remember, you promised you’d play for me sometime.”

He settled into the cushions, feeling the most comfortable he’d felt in a long time. “Count on it. I brought my guitar with me, just in case you begged to hear one of my songs.”

Her laughter floated over to him from where she stood by the window.

“Are things going all right with your family?” he asked.

She nodded. “I talked with them over Skype the other day. My mom’s got everything planned for the few days I’ll be home later this month. You’re still coming with me, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

She smiled. “Good. How’s your family doing?”

“Fine. Trisha’s plugging away at her own schoolwork, I assume, and Chloe’s taken up running—at least until the next volleyball season.”

She played with the blinds before adding, “And your parents... You’re still getting along all right?”

He sighed. “Well, we have our moments. And there are days I still wish I had my own place.”

“You will. Give yourself time.”

He returned her smile, but then his gaze snagged on the painting she’d obviously been working on. He stood and walked over to get a closer look. “You never mentioned this one in your emails.” A starry sky above the shoreline spanned across the canvas. After a moment of gazing in awe at the painting, he caught a glimpse of their constellation.

Samantha hovered behind his shoulder, and he turned and took her hand. “It’s stunning. You captured Orion and Brielle beautifully.”

The little lines that had formed between her eyebrows fled. She peered at the painting for a minute, then offered him a mock quizzical look. “I see Orion, but I don’t remember painting Brielle.”

He pointed at the picture, careful not to actually touch it. “See the brightest star in Orion’s belt, here? That’s Brielle—my favorite star.”

The teasing look on her face melted into something vulnerable. “Really?”

He tugged her hand until she fell into his arms. “Cross my heart,” he whispered.

This story idea has evolved quite a bit over time. It began with the twinkling thought of describing the world of stars as a galaxy of dancing, where one “star” was really a whole community of stars, in constant connection and motion. The story would then follow the journey of one star across the universe and down to earth, with all the emotional symbolism that would entail. Of course, there would be romance, too. This first premise was cleverly titled
The Shedding of a Star
, allowing me to play with all the different meanings of “shedding” (shedding a tear, shedding an outer layer, etc.).

Are you cringing yet?

Thankfully, before I had fully fleshed out the idea, my designer suggested that my working title wasn’t exactly...pretty. She offered a few ideas, which guided me toward the final (more romantic) title,
How a Star Falls
. Armed with a lovely new title and a gorgeous cover, I gained a little more life experience and a new angle for my “star story.”

Along the way, this novella became more than a love story between a guy and girl. It also became a love story between me and my home county. Humboldt County is known for many things, and while not all of them are overly pleasant, its natural beauty is rightfully touted and holds a special place in my heart. I offer just a glimpse in
How a Star Falls
, as I have in a couple of my historical stories, but I hope the glimmer intrigues you—and perhaps reminds you of something you love about your own home county or state.

On that note, I should let you know that most of the places I mention do exist. Crashing Sounds, however—along with the specific apartments and homes—is a figment of my imagination. The real places (everything from Trinidad Head, to Murphy’s Market, the Arcata Vets Hall, Headwaters Forest Reserve, Seascape Restaurant, HSU, and McDonald’s) are included simply for authenticity’s sake to set the scene. If you’re ever in the area, though, and longing to go to a square dance similar to the one Brielle and Derrick attend in the story, be sure to check out the Humboldt Folklife Society’s
website
or
Facebook page
for upcoming events.

Lastly, I’ll address Derrick’s question from Chapter 7: “Why Orion’s Belt?” Once upon a time, my family gave me an
International Star Registry
®
certificate, notifying me that somewhere in Orion’s Belt, there’s a star with my name on it. It’s fun to think of “my star” somewhere in that easy-to-spot constellation, and to ponder her story...

Some bright, shining stars came alongside me to encourage me in the writing process and make
How a Star Falls
better than it ever could have been without their love and care. I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to...

~ My readers. To those who believed in this story from the first moment they learned of my “Secret Future Writing Project,” thank you from the bottom of my heart. I especially want to thank two of my dear online friends, Kara of
Flowers of Quiet Happiness
and Rissi of
Dreaming Under the Same Moon
, for their constant support and undying enthusiasm for this project. It’s meant the world to me.

~ Lena Goldfinch. Who knew a title change could make such a huge difference? I’m incredibly grateful for your wise advice, my gorgeous cover, and your lasting friendship.

~ Rachelle Rea. How fun it’s been to share the blogging and editing journey, and to reach for the stars together! Thank you for your heartfelt work in making my stories shine brighter.

~ My writing buddies on Twitter. The motivation of our word sprints has played such a big role in my writing projects. Thanks especially to Breeana Puttroff for being there on so many occasions—helping me to get words on paper and cheering me on.

~ My family. What a year this has been! Thank you, Mama, Daddy, and Emily, for helping me live my dreams and being there to catch me when I fall. I love you so very much and dearly miss being part of your everyday lives.

Amber Stokes
works as a content writer (marketing services) for a Christian publisher. On the side, she self-publishes inspirational fiction depicting the seasons of life and love. Her passion for books compelled her to earn a bachelor's degree in English and to run her own freelance editing and publicity business for over a year. Happily, this new chapter of her career takes place in the Pacific Northwest—a part of the world she's always considered home.

You can learn more about Amber’s books, sign up for her author newsletter, join the Amber’s Gems street team, and more at
www.SeasonsofaStory.blogspot.com
.

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