Page 72 of Every Star that Shines

Her tears spilled over at last, and she wiped them away. Her mother plucked a paper napkin from the holder in the middle of the table and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” Delanie said, taking the napkin and dabbing her cheeks.

Cheryl waited until she’d collected herself before speaking. “Delanie, one thing I’ve learned is there are very few mistakes we make in this life that can’t be fixed. Do you love Caleb?”

Delanie nodded. “I do. Heaven help me, I do.”

Cheryl smiled. “I’m pretty sure Heaven did have something to do with it. And anyone with eyes can see how he feels about you. Don’t you think a man who loves you that much would be willing to forgive you for taking a little extra time to figure out what your heart wants?”

Delanie blinked at her mother, absorbing her words. All the way back to Peace Crossing, she had repeated her arguments for why she and Caleb couldn’t be together, but everything she told herself had fallen flat. After all, plenty of other actors and crew members worked away from home for months at a time on location, and they managed to maintain relationships and have families. She had told Caleb it wasn’t fair to him to subject him to the lifestyle her job would demand—but, in her heart, she knew her real reason had nothing to do with what he would or wouldn’t be able to handle. He had already loved her for the decade they’d been apart. What made her think a few months apart at a time would ever change that?

“You’re not just saying that because you secretly hope I’ll settle down and give up acting?”

Cheryl’s eyes widened. “Whatever gave you the impression I would want that?”

Delanie snorted, looking away. “Only everything you’ve ever said to me.”

“Explain yourself,” Cheryl said sharply.

Delanie sat back in her chair and drew a deep breath. “Mom, you’ve never been happy that I wanted to be an actress. I mean, you never stood in my way, but I know you would rather I had gone into teaching, or med school like Savannah, or even into office administration like you. Basically anything that would have let me stay close to home.”

Cheryl took a long sip of tea, then set down her teacup and regarded her daughter steadily. “Delanie, I’m sorry if I’ve ever given you the impression that I don’t support your dreams. That wasn’t my intention. I only wanted you to be able to support yourself.”

Delanie frowned. “Then why did you leave all those college brochures out for me? And why did you keep trying to hook me up with every available bachelor you could find?”

Cheryl shook her head, studying the box of letters. “Ah. Now I see.” She met Delanie’s gaze again. “Would I like to have the peace of mind of knowing you’re securely looked after? Of course I would. Whether that’s by your own means or someone else’s, I just want to know you’ll be okay. But most of all, I want you to be happy.” She gave a small smile and leaned toward Delanie. “And I’ve never seen you as happy as you are when you’re on the stage.”

She leaned back and took a sip of tea, then put down her mug with a thud.

“That’s why I put you in all those music and dance lessons,” she continued, “and why I made sure you got to be in the play every year. It’s why I never stopped you from pursuing acting, no matter how afraid I was for how your life might go if you chose a career in the arts. You’ve always been determined and brave. Your father helped me see that if I let you go, you would find your way eventually. And he was right. I’m sorry that the things I did hurt you. And, um, I know I was a little harsh at Thanksgiving. With losing Nan, I’m afraid I haven’t been quite myself lately. But even then, I was only trying to help.”

Moisture sprang to Delanie’s eyes, and she blinked it away.

Cheryl took her hand. “Honey, I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished. I know this TV show thing didn’t work out how you planned, but there will be other opportunities. This isn’t the same world my parents lived in. It’s a lot smaller, and there are more options. You’re not limited by the same things they were. It’s okay to love acting and to love Caleb. You don’t have to choose.” She chuckled. “Call me a romantic, but I believe true love does find a way. Just like it did with Nan and Pops.”

Delanie stared at her mother, her heart swollen and pressing against her ribs. All this time, her mom had only been worried about her? She swallowed, tears still pricking her sinuses. “Thanks, Mom. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

“Oh, honey.” Cheryl leaned forward and cupped Delanie’s jaw, her eyes bright with moisture. “You’ve always been a shining star to me. And you’re going to find your way through this mess, just like you always do.”

Delanie’s cheeks were wet again as she and her mother leaned into an embrace.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart.”

Just then, Bill came back into the kitchen. Taking in the sight of his crying, hugging wife and daughter, he spun on his heel and went right back out.

Delanie and Cheryl pulled apart, laughing through their tears.

“Crying has never been Dad’s thing,” Delanie said.

“Nope,” Cheryl agreed, and took a sip of her tea. “Good thing he looks cute in a ball cap.”

Delanie laughed. She had no idea why her mother would find that attractive, but it didn’t matter. Her parents had made their relationship work despite their differences. And, for the first time, she had real hope that she and Caleb could do the same.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Caleb sat behind the small table that served as a ticket booth in the upper foyer of Mackenzie Playhouse, chatting with the trickle of early-arriving patrons as they climbed the stairs and handed over their tickets. He had just unlocked the front doors on opening night, and not many people had arrived yet—including Raelene Elcano and Caleb’s brother-in-law Oliver, who were supposed to be manning the ticket table. Caleb glanced at his watch, wondering what was keeping them.

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