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on Daniel’s face. “Everything went great. You should have seen me in action.” He swept his hand across his body as he reenacted one of his earlier fight scenes. “Even Marshall said I did a great job.”
    “I’m glad for you. I hope the film does well,” Kimberly said with muted enthusiasm before her voice perked up. “You know, I’ve been thinking about how we should decorate the house, and I think the French Country style would be perfect for the informal dining room. And I was thinking the black metal fire set we saw at Patio Palace, remember that one? I think that would look amazing on the porch.”
    Daniel felt pulled again. He had started to notice the differences between him and Kimberly several months into their relationship. But opposites attract, right? He didn’t pay too much attention to the different flavors of music, food or clothing that they both preferred. But as the wedding loomed and choices abounded, their differences were glaring and left Daniel with an unsettled feeling.
    Kimberly continued about all of the new furniture she picked out for their new home.
    “Uh, I’m not sure I liked that one,” Daniel responded as doubt about their union crept up again, he continued packing his clothes for the return trip home in the morning. “Was that the really traditional one?”
    “Yes, it was the one I loved , remember?” Kimberly’s sigh reached through the phone and pricked Daniel’s heart. She had a way of saying things that just made him melt. Besides, he knew if he didn’t give her what she wanted, she would eventually nag him into getting her way.
    All visions of the cozy, natural wood home he had always wanted disappeared as he gave in to her desires. “Okay, yeah, now I remember.” It was just another concession he needed to make to please Kimberly. What was it Fred had said, “Happy wife, happy life.”
    “Of course, that will look great out there.” He could hear her squeal through the phone.
    “Good,” Kimberly said with a large degree of satisfaction. “Now, just one more detail we have to straighten out before the big day.
    Before she could continue, Daniel filled Kimberly in on the offer he got to stunt in another upcoming Marshall King film. “This could be the big break I’ve been waiting for,” he told her, his excitement reaching through the phone. “I just have to do some advanced training back in Hollywood before the shoot and then it’s a go.”
    There was silence on the other end of the line. “Daniel,” Kimberly started softly, “we have got to come to an agreement here.” He knew that meant he had to give in to her. Ever since their engagement, Kimberly’s cute, rather nonchalant attitude toward his career had changed dramatically. “You can’t seriously think you can support us as a stuntman?” Daniel prepared himself for the lecture that was about to come.
    “I mean really, Daniel. I love you, but it’s time to give this little boy dream up. My father has a job waiting for you, and you will make tons more money. And, you won’t have to punch and kick people or fall off buildings.”
    As the wedding drew nearer, so did the tension around this particular topic. “Kimberly, it’s not a little boy dream. It IS my career. I’ve been doing it for years, and I’m very successful at it.” Daniel stood his ground, but he knew Kimberly would try to find another way to hold his heart hostage.
    “But honey,” her little girl voice would pout at him, “what if you got hurt? I can’t imagine my life without you! Those stunts are so dangerous, what would I ever do?”
    Each time she appealed to his emotions, Daniel weakened just a little. He wondered, was he being selfish? He did have a dangerous job. How could he get married and have children and expect them to be okay with his line of work?
    Then the stubborn Daniel would speak up. He knew lots of people in dangerous careers who were married and raised kids. Police officers, firefighters, pilots.