“You okay?” he asked softly.
Christy opened her eyes and looked into Doug’s gentle, understanding face. “That was too close.” She was still thinking, This is too much. This is crag. Why am I here?
“We made it. We’re on our way to England,” Doug said, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the back of his shirt sleeve. The boyish grin returned. “Can you believe this?”
“No,” Christy whispered, feeling Doug’s hand squeeze hers. “I can’t. It all happened so fast.”
“Yeah, but we made it,” Doug said as the flight attendants began their presentation on the aircraft’s safety features. “I wish more people from the God Lovers group could have come. I’m glad the four of us made it.”
“Doug, four and a half weeks was not exactly a long time for everyone to raise support and get passports and everything,” Christy said. “If we would have waited until the summer to do this outreach, I’m sure a lot more people could have come.”
Doug shrugged his broad shoulders. “I figure if the four of us return with great reports of the trip, everyone will want to go this summer, and we can do it all over again.”
“If we do, I’m definitely taking the early morning flight like Tracy did, even if it does mean getting up at five in the morning! You were right about that one.” Christy pulled off her coat and fanned her red face with her hand.
Doug smiled. She could tell he liked being told he was right. Not in an arrogant way, but in a big brother, Doug way.
The plane was now taxiing down the runway, about to take off.
“Did the mission send you the final information?” Christy asked. “That’s the only part my parents were concerned about. I gave them the address we’ll be at the first two nights in London and the place we’ll have our training. But I think they were concerned that I didn’t know where our outreach assignment would be for the last two weeks of the trip.”
“All I received from the mission in the fax yesterday were directions on how to get to Carnforth Hall for the week of training. Don’t worry,” Doug said as the nose of the plane tilted up and they took off into the wild blue yonder. “God will direct our paths. These next three weeks will be an awesome chance for us to trust Him.”
Christy had to smile. She had known Doug since she was fourteen. In those four and a half years, he had hardly changed. As a matter of fact, he was saying “awesome” the day she had met him. He had grown taller and more muscular, but still, he looked the same, acted the same, and even dressed about the same.
But in those years Christy had changed a lot. She had grown up. Now eighteen and a half and a college freshman, she felt almost the same age as Doug, a twenty-three-year-old with only eight credits to go before completing his bachelor’s degree in business.
“Doug,” Tracy asked, leaning past Katie and Christy, “did you receive a confirmation for the bed-and-breakfast we’re supposed to slay at in London tonight?”
“Yep.”
“And did you get the train tickets for us to Carnforth Hall?”
“We buy them at the airport. I have all the information.”
“What about the schedule?” Katie asked. “When do we have to be at Carnforth?”
“Friday afternoon.”
“Did you get that tour book of London?” Tracy asked. “There’s so much to see. How are we going to get to it all in only two days?”
“Will you guys relax?” Doug said. “I’ve got it covered. Once they turn off the seat belt sign. I’ll get my tour book down and we’ll make some plans.”
Christy felt like all she had been doing for the past month was make plans. It still amazed her that her parents had agreed to let her spend her semester break with her three closest friends on the other side of the world.
It was even more amazing that Katie’s parents had agreed. They had never been in favor of her taking off on trips with the church youth group. But they saw it more as a cultural experience than a missions trip. Tracy and Doug were both older than Katie and Christy, and they both came from very supportive families. Christy’s parents were supportive, of course, although they tended to be a little more on the protective side.
Her dad’s final words last night had been, “I hope this trip helps you figure out what you want to do with your life. You know your mother and I will support you whatever you decide. But you need to know that it’s time for you to decide.”
At the time she had bristled at his words. Making decisions had never been her strong point. Christy had made plenty of decisions she had regretted later. The biggest one had to be last spring when she broke up with Todd, Doug’s best friend. Todd had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity before him, and Christy didn’t want to hold him back. At the time she knew it was the right thing to do, but it had taken her months to recover from the loss.
It had taken Doug even longer to convince Christy that she should go out with him. She had wavered in her decision all summer, and it was October before she finally agreed to be Doug’s girlfriend.
The funny part was, nothing much had changed between them during the three months they had been going together. They were close friends, but they always had been. He held her hand more, but he never kissed her. It was a comfortable, secure friendship, and one her parents felt good enough about to let their daughter fly to Europe with Doug.
Doug clicked open his seat belt, stood, and reached for the tour books in his backpack. For the next hour, the four of them made big plans about all they would see in London. To Christy, it still seemed like a dream.
Dinner was served—sliced beef with gravy, peas, fruit salad, and a piece of spice cake with chopped nuts, which Christy gave to Doug. Nuts had never been Christy’s favorite. Tea was served with milk and sugar, and Christy sipped at the steaming brew, feeling grown-up and important. Maybe she could do this international thing after all.
As soon as their tray tables were cleared, the movie began. Christy couldn’t see over the head of the guy in front of her, so she gave up on the movie and asked Doug to get her bag from the overhead bin. She found her journal and began to write.
The adventure begins! I’m on the plane now, between Doug and Katie, and we are actually flying to England. I still can’t believe this. I feel as if everything in my life has been rushing past me these last few months and I’m caught up in the current.
My dad was right in urging me to make some decisions about the future. I don’t know what I want to be. I don’t know if I like being grown up. And when did that happen, anyhow? I must be grown-up if I’m on my way to England. I can’t believe I’m in college. Sometimes I feel so independent, and other times I wish I could go back to the simpler days when I would spend the whole day lying on the beach, doing nothing but watch Todd surf. Oops. I did it again. I mentioned the T-word. I wasn’t going to do that anymore. I know that…
“The T-word?” Katie asked, looking at the page.
Christy snapped her diary shut. “I thought you were watching the movie,” she whispered harshly. She glanced at Doug. He had on his headset and seemed caught up in the action on the small screen in front of them.
“I can’t believe you still even think about the T-word!” Katie whispered back. “It’s been months—almost a year—since he left. The guy is gone. Long gone. Ancient history. You have absolutely no contact with him. He’s most likely on some mosquito-infested tropical island serving God and loving it. If he still wanted you in his life, he would have written you. But then he’s never written to you, has he. Christy? Ever. In your whole life. Think about it.”
“Have you forgotten about the coconut he sent me from Hawaii?”
“Christy.” Katie’s piercing green eyes looked serious. “I couldn’t tell you this if I wasn’t your best friend.”
Christy looked away. She already knew what Katie was going to say. They had had this same conversation at the end of the summer when Katie tried to convince her to let go of Todd’s memory and give Doug a fair chance.
??
?I know,” Christy whispered, a tiny tear blurring her vision.
“No, I don’t think you know, Chris. Otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” Katie sounded stern.
“Can we have it another time, Katie?” Christy blinked her blue-green eyes. “What I write in my diary is my business, not yours. You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
“I can make a pretty good guess.”
“So what? I don’t remember inviting you into my thoughts!” The instant Christy made the remark, she regretted it. This was not a good way to start off a three-week trip in which she and Katie would be together day and night. Especially when, in her heart, she knew Katie was right. She knew that part of her growing up and making decisions about her future had been hindered because she couldn’t seem to get over Todd.
“Fine.” Katie planted her headphones back over her ears and fixed her attention on the screen.
Christy reached over and squeezed Katie’s arm to get her attention. Katie slowly turned to face Christy and lifted the headset off one ear.
“I’m sorry,” Christy said.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll talk later.” Katie flashed a smile, squeezed Christy’s arm back, and returned her attention to the movie.
Christy knew all was forgiven. She also knew Katie would make sure they talked later.
Glancing over at Doug, Christy wondered if he had heard any of their conversation. He had always been so patient and understanding with her.
The ultimate proof had been when Christy found out that he had bought back her gold ID bracelet from a jewelry store two years ago. Todd had given her the bracelet. Then a sort-of-boyfriend, Rick, had stolen it from Christy and hocked it at a jewelry store so he could use the money to buy her a clunky silver one that said “Rick.”
Her relationship with Rick had quickly dissolved, and she had begun to make payments to buy back the gold bracelet. Then one day the jeweler gave it to her, saying some guy had come in and paid for it in full.
It wasn’t until last spring that Christy had found out Doug was the one who paid for it. He did it simply out of his love for Christy. It didn’t matter to Doug that the bracelet was given to Christy by another guy, another guy who just happened to be his best friend and who had captured Christy’s interest from the day she had first met them on the beach at Newport. During the years of friendship that followed for the three of them, Doug always took a backseat to Todd.
Anyone who knew them would be quick to say that Doug had waited patiently for Christy. He had never let his deep feelings for her come out until after she had broken up with Todd and had given the bracelet back to him. Not until Todd was on a plane headed for parts unknown did Doug let his feelings for Christy be known. Even then, he took it slow.
He had to be the most patient guy on the face of the earth. And, as Katie had pointed out last summer, since I Corinthians 13 described love as being patient, kind, not jealous, and always looking out for the best interest of others, then Doug must deeply love Christy.
Christy looped her arm through Doug’s, which was balanced on the armrest between them, and leaned her head against his shoulder. Doug was a treasure. A treasure she should not take for granted. She knew girls who would do anything to have even a fraction of Doug’s attention. And here she had it all. She knew she should appreciate him more.
Doug adjusted his position to make Christy more comfortable. She closed her eyes and told herself again that she was really, truly on an airplane on her way to London with the most wonderful—no, make that the most awesome—guy in the whole world and with her two best friends, Katie and Tracy. This trip would change her life forever. She had no doubt.
She vowed that nothing would ruin this trip for her or her friends, especially not the memory of an invisible Todd.
“Or you think I exchanged enough money?” Katie asked, adjusting the shoulder straps on her backpack.
The four friends stood on the platform with their luggage gathered around their feet. They were waiting for the next underground train to arrive.
“I don’t know,” Katie continued. “A hundred dollars doesn’t look like much when it’s turned into pounds. And their money is so weird-looking! It looks like play money.”
“Katie,” Tracy said softly, leaning closer and making sure the crowd of local people standing around them couldn’t hear, “I think it’s obvious enough that we’re tourists without announcing to all these people how much money we have on us and that we think their money looks weird.”
Katie’s straight red hair swished as she glanced around. checking out the audience Tracy seemed so concerned about. Quickly changing the subject and lowering her voice just a smidgen, Katie asked. “Are you sure we know which train to take?”
Doug patted the folded map in the pocket of his jacket. “I got us this far, didn’t I? I think I can find the hotel. Did you guys keep your tube passes handy? We’ll need to run them through the machine again when we leave the station.”
“This reminds me of the BART trains in San Francisco.” Tracy said softly. “Except those are above ground. Have you guys ever been on BART?”
None of them had.
“This system is slightly older,” Doug said. “Did you see in that one tour book that they used to run steam engine trains down here more than a hundred years ago?”
Christy looked up at the rounded ceiling and then at the many large billboard posters scattered across the brick walls of the underground tunnel. She couldn’t imagine people and trains being in this same tunnel a hundred years ago.
“Isn’t it freaky, you guys,” Katie said, “to think that there’s a city above us? I don’t feel like we’re in London yet. Maybe I will when I see one of those red double-decker buses.”
Just then a loud rush of air sounded through the dark passageway. A moment later the underground train came to a halt. Before Christy had time to situate her suitcase so she could wheel it onto the train, people began to push toward the open door. Her luggage, with a pop-up handle and wheels, had been a present from her wealthy Aunt Marti.
“Can you get it?” Doug asked as he noticed her struggling.
“Yes, I have it now.” Christy pushed her suitcase toward the door, feeling Doug right behind her, prodding her onto the train.
Tracy found a seat inside and plopped down her bag, motioning for Christy or Doug to sit next to her. Katie was behind Doug. Christy sat next to Tracy and didn’t notice the doors closing until she heard Katie’s loud yelp. They looked up. All they could see was Katie’s backside wedged between the two closing doors, keeping it open.
“You guys, help!” Katie yelled.
Christy wanted to burst out laughing but swallowed hard and hurried to help Doug pry open the door. They separated it far enough for Doug to yank Katie and her luggage inside the train just before it started to move.
“Katie, are you okay?” Tracy said. “You could have been killed! What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking I didn’t want to get separated from you guys. That seems to be the theme of this trip, doesn’t it?” Katie dropped her canvas suitcase on the floor at Christy’s feet and held on to a long metal bar next to the seat. “I think we need to make a plan B here, Doug. If I hadn’t made it on this train, I would have been completely lost. I don’t even know where we’re staying! How would I ever have found you guys? We need a little more teamwork.”
“You’re right.” Doug reached for the back of Christy’s seat to steady himself as the train picked up speed and jostled them from side to side. The four of them huddled closer together, Christy and Tracy in the seats and Katie and Doug standing above them. Christy felt sure they were a humorous spectacle to all the other passengers.
“Okay,” Doug said, assuming his coach voice, “we’re staying at the Miles Hampton on Seymore Street. We get off at Hyde Park. It’s only a few blocks’ walk to the hotel. If you guys need help with your luggage, just tell me. And let’s make an agreement that we’ll all stick togethe
r and look out for each other, okay?”
Doug’s “few blocks” turned into more like a few miles. Either that, or they were lost.
“Can I look at the map again?” Katie stopped in front of another row of houses that looked just like the row of houses on the last street they had walked up. “Are you sure this place is a hotel?”
“It’s a bed-and-breakfast.” Doug willingly dropped the canvas luggage he held in both hands and reached for the map. “My parents stayed there a couple years ago. They said it was easy to find. Look, here’s Seymore Street. What street are we on now?”
Christy parked her rolling suitcase and gladly took the heavy black bag off her shoulder. She couldn’t believe how tired she was from walking. For the first time since they began their parade through the streets of London, Christy stopped and drew in the sights around her. Tall, narrow brick houses lined the street. Black taxis drove past them on the “wrong” side of the road. Noisy cars and buses honked their horns. A small, furry dog at the end of his owner’s leash barked at them as they walked past. From across the street came the merry sound of a little bell clinking as a woman entered a bakery.
“Uh-oh.” Christy looked up into the thick, gray sky and lifted her open palm heavenward. “I hope we’re almost there because it’s starting to rain.”
That’s when she noticed how cold it was. They had been walking so hard and so fast that she hadn’t realized the damp cold was creeping up her legs. Her jeans weren’t protection enough against the bitter cold, and her legs began to feel prickly and chilled to the bone.
“This way,” Doug said, heading down the street with long, deliberate strides. “Only two more blocks.”
This time he was right. And it was a good thing. Just as they huddled under the bright blue canopy over the Miles Hampton door, the mist that had been teasing them for the past two blocks turned into a respectable London downpour.
The door was locked, so Katie rang the door buzzer a couple of times. A rosy-cheeked, white-haired woman peeked at them through the lace curtains drawn across the window in the door. “Who’s the impatient one?” she said brightly as she opened the door. “Come in, come in! It won’t do to have you catching cold your first day.”