“Come on.” Todd let go and quickly wiped his eyes with the cuff of his blue hooded sweatshirt. “Let’s pay for this and then go someplace where we can talk.”
Christy slipped her hand into his and followed Todd to the cash register, where he paid for her heart frame. The woman in the ruffled apron carefully wrapped it in tissue, tucked the gift in a bag, and handed it to Christy.
Todd then led Christy down Main Street as if he knew right where he wanted to go to talk. Her curiosity was stampeding through her mind.
What did he mean? If only I knew what?
She didn’t like the queasy apprehension bouncing around in her stomach. Was something wrong? Had she done or said something she shouldn’t have?
Weaving their way through the crowds in Frontierland, Todd directed Christy toward the big white steamboat docked and ready to take on passengers. The huge Mississippi River replica twinkled with strings of tiny white lights, and on its lower deck a Dixieland jazz band played music to set a person’s heart to dancing or at least toes to tapping. Todd didn’t seem interested in doing either. He headed up the stairs and made his way over to two empty chairs in the corner of the nearly vacant top deck.
As they sat down, the ship blew its loud whistle and embarked on its journey around Tom Sawyer Island in the coolness of the evening.
“Todd,” Christy began, as she faced him, “What’s wrong? You’re so serious. Was it something I said?”
Todd shook his head and released a puff of a laugh. “No,” he said, and then changing his mind, “well, yes, but there was nothing wrong with what you said. It was good. Too good, actually.”
“I don’t understand. I only said I wouldn’t want to have to live without you, and you said if only I knew. Knew what?”
Christy stopped breathing, and all the blood drained from her face. “Todd,” she forced the words from her tightening throat, “you’re not going to die or something, are you?”
Now Todd really laughed. He tilted his head back and guffawed into the star-filled sky. “No, Kilikina, I’m not going to die. Well, I mean, I am someday. We all are. I don’t know when though, and I don’t have any plans to in the near future.”
“Then what did you mean?” Christy demanded to know. Her heart was pounding, and she felt flustered. She realized how much she cared for Todd and how much it would hurt if she lost him for any reason.
“I don’t know if I can explain it. I want to try though. Just listen and see if this makes any sense to you.”
Christy looked at Todd with wide eyes.
He pressed his lips together and then began slowly. “You know how I’m an only kid and my parents divorced when I was pretty young?”
Christy nodded.
“I sort of grew up by myself and never had anyone to care for or anyone who cared for me. I know my mom and dad both love me, but I would have given anything when I was a kid if they had decided to love each other again. You know what I mean? It was great that they loved me, but I wanted them to love each other.”
Christy thought she saw another tear about to escape from Todd’s eye. She squeezed his hand and with her expression urged him to go on. He had rarely talked about his parents, and she wanted him to know that he could trust her with the secrets of his heart.
“When I came to know the Lord, it was like God gave me all the love I had missed out on as a kid. It was a secure kind of love. Total acceptance. Grace. God’s love changed me. Totally. And I believe God called me to be a missionary. You know, go to the ends of the world and tell people who have never heard about God’s love. And it was going to be so easy. I had nothing to give up. No family or anything. And then you came along.”
Christy wasn’t sure if Todd meant she was interfering with God’s plan for his life or what. “Are you saying I’m keeping you from God?”
“No, not at all. You challenge me to grow in my relationship with God. You always have. It’s just that you really, truly care about me. You want to be with me. You said in the store you wouldn’t want to live without me.”
“That’s not a bad thing, Todd. I meant it. I care about you more than you can even begin to imagine.” Christy said.
“I know,” Todd said softly. “You’re the first person who ever has.”
He didn’t say it like he was trying to feel sorry for himself. It was like he had made a precious discovery when he realized just how much Christy meant to him.
“That should make you feel good, Todd. Why do you seem bummed out about knowing how much I care?”
The steamboat had completed its circle around the island and was now docked to unload passengers and take on new ones. Todd and Christy remained in their seats, holding hands, locked in their own private world.
“I’m not bummed out. Amazed would be a better word. There’s just never been anyone in my life who has cared about me as much as you do. I’ve pulled away from you in the past, like when I went to Hawaii. Maybe I was afraid of getting too close or caring too much. I don’t know.” Todd drew in a deep breath as the whistle sounded again and the ship set out. “I don’t know why it’s all hitting me so hard or why your words pierced my heart in the store. All I know is that I don’t want to live without you either, Kilikina. You are the most precious gift God has ever given to me.”
Tears welled up in Christy’s eyes, and she felt her lower lip tremble.
Todd stood and moved his chair next to hers so they both faced the front of the boat. He stretched his arm across the back of her chair. Christy nestled her head in the curve of his shoulder and felt his strong jaw resting against her hair.
Without words, they watched the steamboat move into the night as the bright music of the Dixieland band played below them. Above them glittered a thousand night stars, and Christy could hear the steady rhythm of Todd’s heart.
Never before had Christy felt so close to Todd and so close to God and so sure that He would keep all of His promises. For perhaps the first time in their relationship, Christy didn’t have to wonder if Todd felt the same way she did.
The shrill sound of the alarm clock of roused Christy at seven-thirty Sunday morning. She rolled over, slapped the top of the clock, and let out a groan. “Katie, we have to get up.”
“Not yet,” Katie mumbled from her roll-away bed on the other side of Bob and Marti’s guest room. “Let me sleep five more minutes, okay?”
“I’ll hop in the shower first.” Christy stumbled out of bed. “Church is in an hour.”
“I think churches would have much better attendance if they had afternoon services,” Katie muttered, pulling the pillow over her head.
“I have a headache,” Christy groaned as she stepped into the adjoining guest bathroom. “My feet hurt from walking so much yesterday. I want to go back to bed.”
“So go back to bed. We’ll meet the guys later this afternoon.”
Christy considered hobbling back to bed and diving under the covers, but only for a minute. “No, this is the Lord’s day. We need to honor Him and worship with His people.”
“I’m worshipping Him in silent praise.” Katie’s words sounded mushy as she spoke into her pillow.
“I don’t think there is such a thing.” Christy turned on the shower. While waiting for the water to warm up, she examined her face in the mirror. “I look like raw hamburger meat.”
“I feel like raw hamburger meat.” Katie responded.
“My eyes look like two blowfish caught in a head-on collision,” Christy stated, opening her eyes wide and trying to count all the bloodshot lines.
“Christy,” Katie propped herself up on her elbow and squinted her eyes, “will you and your little blowfish take a shower and let me sleep another five minutes?” She immediately dropped back down on her bed and pulled the covers up over her head.
Giving up any further evaluation of her Disneyland-wearied body, Christy closed the bathroom door, stepped into the shower, and in five minutes was finished. “Your turn.” she said brightly to Katie as she opened
the door and breezed out in a cloud of steam.
“Already?” Katie groaned, rolling to the edge of her bed in an effort to get up. “Why did we ever say we would go to the first service?”
“I left the shampoo and conditioner in there.” Christy unwrapped the towel from her wet hair and blotted it dry. “And my curling iron is plugged in on the counter.”
“You’re acting a little too perky for me, missy,” Katie said, plodding her way into the bathroom. “There’s nothing worse than watching your best friend fall in love right before your eyes.”
“I know,” Christy called back as Katie closed the bathroom door. “I did that once, remember?”
For a second she paused, hoping the reference to Michael wouldn’t set Katie off emotionally. But then a smile spread across Christy’s lips as she slipped into her dress. Is that what I’m doing? Falling in love? Or have I been in love with Todd all along, but neither of us realized it until last night?
She felt like humming. Everything in the world seemed wonderful. Absolutely perfect. It could only get better. In less than an hour she would see Todd. She would slip her hand into his; he would squeeze it tight and hold on to her. They would sit together in church—Todd’s church—and sing praises to God. Yes, this morning was definitely a morning to sing.
“Christy?” Bob’s voice called out from behind the closed bedroom door and was followed by four gentle taps.
“Yes?”
“Just wanted to make sure you girls were up. I have breakfast ready for you if you’re interested.”
“Thanks, Uncle Bob. We’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“Katie,” Christy said, opening the bathroom door and fanning her hand to clear away the steam, “I’m going downstairs. My uncle said he has breakfast ready. Then I’m coming back to do my hair.”
“If it’s doughnuts or waffles, save me one.”
Christy danced down the stairs. She found Uncle Bob in the kitchen pouring orange juice into tall glasses and placing them next to a platter of fresh cut fruit and assorted muffins and croissants.
“Good morning, Bright Eyes.” He said offered Christy a glass of juice. “How was your day in the Magic Kingdom?”
“Wonderful,” Christy said, taking a swig of juice and reaching for a blueberry muffin. “Absolutely wonderful.”
“Glad to hear it.” Bob smiled. “Sounds like a vast improvement over the last time you and Todd went.”
“There’s no comparison.” Christy felt like letting her bursting heart sprinkle its joy all over the kitchen by telling her uncle she was fully in love and had no doubt that Todd felt the same way about her.
But just then Aunt Marti walked in. To Christy’s surprise, Marti wasn’t wearing her Sunday morning robe and slippers. She had donned a becoming blue knit dress, and her hair and makeup were done to perfection. Then Christy noticed that Bob was looking more dressed up than usual.
“You’re going to be late,” Marti pointed out to Christy. “You can’t go to church with your hair still wet.”
Christy swallowed her bite of muffin and brushed off her aunt’s comment. “Where are you guys going?” she asked.
“With you. To church,” Bob said. “It’s sort of a favor to Todd. He helped me clean out the garage last week and wouldn’t accept any money. Said the only payment he wanted was for us to visit his church. Looks like today is the day.”
Christy couldn’t believe it. Todd had succeeded in accomplishing what no one else in Christy’s family had been able to do. Bob and Marti were going to church.
“I’ll dry my hair.” Christy swallowed another gulp of orange juice and dashed back upstairs.
Katie had just finished drying her hair when Christy entered the room. “Katie, you’ll never guess what. Bob and Marti are coming to church with us!”
“That’s good,” Katie said calmly.
“It’s not good,” Christy spouted.
“It’s not?”
“No, it’s better than good. It’s unbelievable! It’s fantastic. This is a total God-thing, Katie. I’m so excited!”
“I can tell,” Katie said, scanning Christy’s exuberant face. “That’s great! Are they ready to go?”
Just then the girls heard the doorbell ring.
“That’s probably Todd,” Christy said. “I have to hurry!”
Katie stepped away from the sink and let Christy finish getting ready. Katie slipped her shoes on and scrounged in her suitcase for her Bible.
“I’ll have to share with you,” she called to Christy over the whir of the blow-dryer. “I guess I didn’t bring my Bible.”
“Would you grab mine? It’s over on the nightstand. And get my purse too.”
“Yes, your majesty. Will there be anything else?”
“Yes, go downstairs and stall for me. Tell them I’ll be there in two seconds.”
Katie obliged and left Christy with a toothbrush in her mouth, a mascara wand in one hand, and a hot curling iron in the other. “Come on, hair,” Christy garbled, her teeth clenching the foaming toothbrush. “Work with me here. Oh, forget it!” She plopped the curling iron down, gave a few quick swipes of the mascara wand to each eye, and pulled the toothbrush from her mouth, took a quick drink, and swished out her mouth.
Then Christy bent at the waist and tossed all her hair in front of her face, stood up, jerked her head back, and gave her head one more shake. “It’s the natural look today,” she told her reflection in the mirror and then hurried down the stairs.
Todd stood at the front door waiting for her. The minute they made eye contact, she knew something was different between them. He felt what she felt. For an instant she was sure she was Cinderella, gracefully descending the stairs to meet her Prince Charming.
“Let’s go,” Marti said briskly, entering the room at top speed. “Is Christy ready yet? Oh, there you are.”
As Christy joined Todd, he smiled and took her hand in his. She was delightfully aware that he kept glancing over at her as they hurried down the walkway.
“Is Doug going to meet us there?” Marti asked, letting herself into the front seat of Bob’s luxury car.
“Yes,” Todd said. “Would you like me to drive my car too?”
“You three can fit in the back seat,” Marti directed.
Katie was already seated next to the far window. Christy slid in next to her. and Todd squeezed in next to Christy.
“Oh, I should have let you sit in front, Todd,” Marti said as Bob pulled into the street. “You can sit here on the way home. There’s much more room.”
Marti chattered all the way to church, apparently wanting to prove she was comfortable in this new experience. Todd’s church was big and open. The people were friendly and casual. Many of them wore shorts to church, which seemed to shock Aunt Marti.
Doug had saved a row of seats for them. Marti kept chattering even after the service began, and Christy felt sorry for Katie, who was sitting next to Aunt Marti.
Todd and Doug had no trouble participating in the worship. Christy loved standing between the two of them and hearing their deep, rich voices blend on the praise choruses. She sang her heart out too. On the last song, Doug and Todd each held one of her hands. Christy was surprised at first, but then she noticed a lot of people were joining hands across the aisles. She peeked over at Bob and Marti. They were holding hands, but neither was singing.
I hope this church isn’t too contemporary for them, Christy thought. She noticed that the congregation was a mixture of older and younger people. Plenty of people were Bob and Marti’s age. She would love for them to become involved in the church and come to know the Lord personally. It had been her longtime prayer, and now they were actually here, in church, and she didn’t want anything to turn them off.
After the singing, everyone sat down, and the pastor took his place on the platform. Instead of standing behind a podium, he perched on a stool and held his open Bible in one hand. His words of teaching were strong, yet compassionate. He spoke with gentle
authority. Christy closed her eyes for a moment and pictured Jesus teaching this way, urgently, lovingly coaxing people to turn their lives toward God.
She could imagine Todd being the same kind of teacher as this man. And she could imagine her aunt and uncle responding to the message and giving their hearts to Christ.
During the final portion of the message, the pastor read a verse about how there’s no greater love than when a man lays down his life for his friend. He said that was what Jesus did for us, and we show we are truly His disciples when we obey God to the point of giving up that which is most precious to us.
Christy immediately thought of Katie giving up her relationship with Michael because she knew God wanted her to. Christy hoped Katie would be encouraged by this pastor’s words and know that she had done the right thing. She also thought the message should be particularly convincing to Bob and Marti.
At the end of the service, the pastor prayed. He said if any individuals wanted to give their lives to the Lord, this was a good time to silently pray, confess their sins, and invite Christ to take over their lives. Christy prayed for Bob and Marti like she had never prayed before.
When they all went out to lunch afterward, Christy couldn’t wait to ask how they liked the service. As soon as they were seated at the large booth, Christy turned to Marti and said, “Did you like the church? Wasn’t the message great?”
Marti studied her menu and gave a noncommittal grunt.
“It was different than I expected,” Bob said. “He’s not the usual black-robed, pulpit-pounding kind of preacher.”
“And what kind of church music was that?” Marti peered over the top of her menu and shook her head. “Guitars and drums! The church I grew up in had an organ. That’s proper church music. And that so-called pastor didn’t even wear a tie! How does he think people are going to respect his position as a clergyman when he stands up there—or sits up there—looking like one of the original Beach Boys?”
Christy and Todd exchanged glances. Apparently Marti had heard none of the message. She was too distracted by the music and the pastor’s appearance. Something inside Christy’s heart sank all the way to her big toe. This had been the perfect opportunity for her aunt and uncle to become Christians. But the prospect of either of them making such a decision seemed doubtful. It depressed her. She glanced at her menu but didn’t feel hungry for anything now.