Chapter 24
Jet
“I’m in,” Jet said, his mouth running ahead of his brain, spitting out the words before he’d even had a chance to think. Historically, that had been one of his biggest problems, but he thought it actually worked well for him here.
His eyes met Abby’s. He hoped he hadn’t overstepped, but there was a wide smile on her face.
“What the hell, I’m in, too,” she grinned.
“Well, it’s not the kind of language I’m used to hearing when people accept the roles of Mary and Joseph, but beggars, as they say, cannot be choosers. Let’s take you both to the storeroom in back and dig out some costumes for you.”
As Jet followed Mrs. Berg and Abby further down the hall of the musty old community center, a rush sped through him. He’d walked the backstage halls of every venue in the country, pretty much, from small bars to Madison Square Garden, and he’d never felt this exact strain of excitement.
Well, he’d rarely ever been sober. That was one aspect of it. But he knew the root.
He was with Abby. That was what made it special. Because she made everything special.
As the three of them dug through the boxes filled with biblical robes, Jet had to shake his head at the way his life had taken a turn. A month ago, he was selling out venues, playing to standing room only crowds. Now, he was digging through musty old robes and getting ready to stand in the cold all night with Abby and a rubber baby doll. And he freaking loved it.
“Jackpot!” Abby cried, and held up two pieces. In her right hand was a plain white tunic and in her left, a large length of royal blue fabric to act as a head covering.
“Classic,” Jet confirmed.
“Oh, yes, that’s perfect. A very traditional Mary,” Mrs. Berg agreed. “Now let’s go and get you dressed. Jet, I trust you can find what you’re looking for here?”
Jet searched the woman’s face for any hint that she’d made the statement intentionally to have such laser-sharp meaning for his life as well as his costume hunt, but she was clearly focused on one thing and one thing only– making sure the evening went off without a hitch.
He held up the chocolate brown robe that was currently in his fist. Hell, it wasn’t a fashion show. One of these things was pretty much the same as another. “I think this shade really sets off the olive undertones in my skin,” he deadpanned.
Mrs. Berg sighed. “Yes, yes, Jet Valentine. You always did have to have a smart remark. Now head off to the men’s room and get yourself dressed, will you?”
Jet pulled on the brown robe over his jeans and T-shirt. He considered changing into the sandals he’d found in the box with the robe, but then thought about the temperature outside and shook his head. In his version of the Bethlehem story, Joseph wore Doc Martens and that was going to have to be good enough.
When he stepped back out into the foyer, Abby was waiting for him. Her face lit up when she saw him, and he was struck by how beautiful she was. Even in her costume, with ninety-five percent of her covered by shapeless cloth, she still radiated the kind of beauty that he’d never seen before in anyone else but her.
God, he’d wasted so much time. All through high school, when they’d been rivals, although that had been kind of fun. Then, all the years he’d been away, touring and building his career. Sure, that had been a different kind of fun, too. But, in the view from right now, it all paled.
Abby slipped her hand into his. “We just have to wait for Mrs. Berg. She’s in the back getting the baby doll prop.”
“Cool.”
Her eyes flicked to his feet. “Are we doing the lumberjack version of the nativity tonight?” she laughed.
He chuckled. “We’re doing the ‘it’s freaking cold outside’ version, and since Berg was so desperate for a last-minute stand-in, I don’t think I’ll be getting any arguments about it.”
Just then, Mrs. Berg came hustling out from the side hallway, a rubber doll in one hand and a wad of cloth in the other. She pushed both of them into Abby’s arms and spoke in a rushed voice. “All right, dear, here you are. I trust you can get the baby Jesus wrapped up and looking nice. I’ve got to go check on the animal wranglers. I’ll send someone to get you when it’s your cue to enter. Don’t forget to put your cell phones on silent!”
With that, she rushed out the front door, and Jet turned to Abby. “Ah, yes. The timeless admonition to the holy parents. Silence your cell phones.”
Abby gave a small laugh but didn’t look up. She was busy arranging the blanket wrappings around the doll and positioning him in her arms.
Whoa.
Jet had a sudden flash. His mind filled with images of her with their own children. Holding their baby. Looking up at him from her hospital bed as she cradled their child in her arms.
It stopped him cold. His throat was frozen, he couldn’t utter a word. His feet felt cemented to the floor.
A low heat spread from his head downward. The cold outside didn’t seem like nearly as big a worry as it had just two minutes ago.
After a few minutes, a volunteer popped their head in the door and said, “Okay, we’re ready for Mary and Joseph. You can come on out.”
Jet slid his arm around Abby’s shoulders and guided her out protectively. She looked up at him. “Good acting,” she whispered. He had to smile. He realized that he did look like every painting he’d ever seen of Joseph gently guiding Mary along as she rode their donkey, his hand on her back, leading the way.
But, in this instance, he hadn’t been acting. He just felt that way about Abby– protective, and affectionate. Loving.
As he looked at her gazing tenderly down at the rubber stand-in for the baby Jesus, he again felt a warm glow, this time radiating from his heart.
Yeah. He didn’t think the cold was going to be a problem at all.