Jakob and Meri's story continues...
~~
Meredith Louis's Hollywood career is at a point of transition. No longer under Majestic Studios control, Meri is free to broaden her appeal as an actress and finally earn the recognition she desires.
Meri and Jakob return to their hometown for the holidays where Meri hopes to reconcile with her parents after a decade of silence. But after a disastrous encounter, Meri is plunged into turmoil as old fears resurface in unexpected ways.
Jakob, already dealing with unresolved family issues of his own, is further burdened by his inability to help his wife. Can he learn to step aside and trust God's plan.Will Meri recognize what she already has?
In All Things is a story of faith and restoration, anchored in the belief, "...that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
From In All Things
March 17th, 1949
Meri crept into
the bedroom after getting her baby boys down for the night. Eight months old
and the twins were finally sleeping a full six hours in a row. Jakob lay
sprawled out on top of the bed covers, listening to the broadcast of the
Shamrock Hotel's grand opening. He'd marveled over its architectural design
during the final months of the building's construction, saying it was a
delicate balance of bulk and elegance, a modernistic French chateau. Whatever
that meant?
At $42 per
ticket, attending the event was beyond the realm of possibilities. She knew
that he ached to see inside, though. Maybe after the hubbub died down, they
could dress up and sneak into the lobby. Pretend to be guests as they strolled
about.
Meri crawled
onto the bed and snuggled close. "Anything interesting?"
"Oh yeah. This
thing is huge. Did you know that's Dorothy Lamour?"
Meri listened
closely to the full-bodied, charismatic voice emanating through the airwaves as
it introduced a host of celebrities -- Errol Flynn, Ginger Rogers, Robert
Preston.
"Wow,
sounds like some party they're having."
"A little
while ago she announced there were fifty thousand people outside the hotel. That
can't be right. Do you think?"
Meri shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe."
Jakob rolled
onto his back. Meri laid her head on his chest as he ran his hand through her
hair. Neither spoke as they listened to the increasingly rowdy festivities. It
sounded like champagne was flowing in abundance.
"You should
be there," Jakob said.
Over a year of
marriage and the birth of their boys, and Jakob still punished himself as
though he deprived her of something important. There was a strong possibility
that her parents were at the opening. It was being touted as the biggest social
event in Houston's history, so her mother wouldn't want to miss it. But Meri didn't
care. All she wanted was Jakob. He fulfilled her.
"No. I
should be here with you."
Miss Lamour
broke out in song, and several not so talented voices joined in. Meri snickered.
"I meant
that you should be a guest of honor, a celebrity -- invited to celebrate."
"Don't be
silly."
He stopped
playing with her hair and tipped her chin up toward him. "Let's move to
Los Angeles."
"What?"
"I want
your dreams to come true."
"What are
you talking about?"
"You want
to be an actress."
"Oh, Jakob.
That doesn't matter anymore." She laid her head back onto his chest.
"I'm a wife and a mother. You've got your job and school. Besides, we
wouldn't even know where to start."
He lay still for
a minute, and then his fingers ran through her hair again. "What if I
figured something out?"
"Such as?"
"I don't
know yet."
Meri giggled. She
pushed herself up and kissed him on the lips. "I love you." Jakob's deep
blue eyes held her gaze. Wheels were definitely turning in there. "What
are you thinking?"
"I promise
you, Meri. Somehow, I'm gonna make it happen."
A buzz of
drunken laughter crackled through the radio at their bedside, drowning out
Dorothy Lamour as she continued in song. Then a single word burst through the
noisy clamor.
Meri covered her
mouth. "Did he just say..."
The broadcast
cut off and static buzzed from the radio's speaker.
She and Jakob
looked at each other with widened eyes.
"I think
so." A smile covered his face. He wrapped his arms around her, and rolled
her beneath him as they laughed. "I wonder how they'll write that up in
the papers?"
"As a
warning against live broadcast in the excess of champagne." Meri fought to
catch her breath. "I can't believe that happened."
Jakob hovered
over her with a gentle smile and tender eyes. She reached up and brushed his
cheek with her fingers.
"Believe in
me, Meri. Will you believe in me?"
It seemed so
crazy. What did he plan to do? Knock on Louis B. Mayer's door. This is my wife. She wants to be an actress.
Yet, the conviction in his eyes overwhelmed all reason, and from her lips she
heard the words, "I do." And it was the truth.
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