She could feel his warm breath circling the back of her neck, lacing invisible fingers through her hair. “I don’t know. We have to figure it out.” She kissed his earlobe. “The sooner the better.” She planted a string of little kisses on his neck. “When do you want to get married?”
Todd slowly, deliberately pulled away. “Red light.”
“Hmmm?” Christy felt snuggly and dreamy and wanted to stay cuddled up in his warm embrace.
“This is getting a little too, ah . . . yeah. A little too close for me.”
A space of several inches now separated them. The cold night air moved right in and sobered Christy.
“I think we’re better off talking about this another time. Another place.” Todd unlocked Christy’s car door. “Until we’re married, we’re going to be sitting at one very long red light. I don’t think it’s going to do either of us any good to start revving our engines.”
Christy hadn’t realized that the close snuggling and her tiny kisses would have such a strong effect on him. “Okay,” she agreed, getting into the car. “Red light. I agree.”
That moment, as Christy’s thoughts cleared in the cold car, she thought, It’s only a few months of sitting at the red light. Then the rest of our lives it will be one long green light. We can wait. We have to wait. We will wait.
She knew that no matter how many days stretched between that night and their wedding day, what lay ahead were days that would test her heart, mind, and will more than any she had ever experienced.
They didn’t talk about their strong feelings on the way home. Todd hummed a song Christy didn’t recognize and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.
Christy thought it would be nice if they could sit in the kitchen and discuss their wedding over their own homemade hot chocolate. But Todd went directly to David’s room and crashed on the air mattress Christy’s mom had set up for him on the floor.
The next morning Christy showered and dressed and made French toast for breakfast. Her dad had gone to work at his usual 5:30 departure time, and her mom was sleeping in. No sound could be heard from behind the closed door of David’s bedroom. At 9:10, on the first Monday of Christmas vacation, Christy sat alone at the kitchen table, eating delicious French toast and reading her Bible. She didn’t mind the time alone. It gave her a chance to pray and think. And plan.
She padded on stockinged feet to her bedroom, where she dug into the closet and found a journalstyle notebook she never had written in. Returning to the kitchen, she made herself a cup of tea and christened the journal her wedding planner. On the cover page she wrote Todd and Christy in loopy letters and then playfully drew a big heart around their names. Turning to the first page, Christy listed every detail she could think of that needed to be discussed. She was three pages into the list when Mom joined her in the kitchen.
“I thought you might have slept in,” Mom said. “The boys are still asleep.”
“I have too much on my mind. I made lots of French toast. It’s in the microwave, if you want to warm it up and have some.”
“What a treat! Thank you.”
Before Christy’s mom could join her at the table, Christy heard the bedroom door open down the hall. A minute later she heard the shower turn on in the bathroom. Ten minutes later, Todd emerged, blowing his nose.
“Oh, sorry,” he said when he noticed Christy and her mom. “I didn’t realize you were there. I thought a shower might help my sinuses but . . .” He began to cough.
“Sounds like you have the flu.” Mom stepped over to feel Todd’s forehead. “Oh dear, you’re burning up. Is your throat sore?”
Todd nodded.
“Why don’t you go back to bed? I’ll bring you some hot tea.”
“I can get it for him, Mom.” Christy hopped up. “Do you want to try eating anything?”
“No, a little juice is all I want. I should get on the road and head back to my dad’s house.”
“Even though you’re sick?” Mom asked.
“Why would you go to your dad’s?” Christy asked.
Todd leaned against the kitchen counter. “I told him I’d be home today so we could spend some time together. He has this week off work.”
“I didn’t know that. I thought you were planning to stay here all week.” Christy looked at her long list and thought of all the items she had planned to start checking off in the next few days.
“Why don’t you stay here until you’re better?” Mom asked. “It won’t do your dad any good to have you bring home a flu bug with you.”
“I don’t think it’s going to do your family any good if I stay.” Todd turned his head and covered his mouth as he coughed some more.
“You sound awful.” Christy felt bad that she had put her to-do list ahead of her fiancé’s health. “Why don’t you go back to bed? At least for a few hours.”
Todd nodded. “I’ll lie down for an hour. I’m guessing the fever will be gone by then.”
“I’ll get you some juice,” Christy said. A few minutes later she carried in some cranberry juice on a tray, along with a thermometer, a box of tissues, a cold washcloth, a box of cold and flu tablets, and some cough drops.
Todd didn’t want any of it. Not even the juice.
“Just water,” he said with his eyes closed. He had bundled himself up and was lying there with the hood of his navy blue sweat shirt pulled over his head, looking as if he was determined to sweat out every drop of flu virus.
When Christy returned with the water, he took only a sip and rolled over. David was up and dressed, so Todd had the room to himself. He stayed there in a deep hibernation, occasionally punctuated by a raspy cough, for the entire day.
At dinnertime he came out of his cave and announced he was driving home. This time he had all four members of the Miller family to argue with.
“Just sleep,” Mom urged.
“Get some fluids in you,” Christy pleaded.
“Take another shower,” David suggested.
Christy had to agree; Todd didn’t smell his freshest. He looked awful.
“Let me wash your sweat shirt,” Mom said. “Do you have anything clean to put on after your shower?”
Todd looked irritated. “I’m okay. I can take it from here. Thanks for letting me sleep.”
Christy realized that Todd, an only child who lived with his divorced dad since he was young, probably never had anyone to baby him when he was sick. After his car accident, he was willing to let others care for him, but that was different. In matters of the flu, Todd seemed to prefer to go it alone.
Despite another round of protests, Todd carried his stuff out to the car at a little after seven that evening. Christy followed him to the driveway. As Todd climbed into their car, he said, “I’ll see you at Bob and Marti’s on Christmas Eve.”
Christy didn’t mean to let her thoughts slip out, but before she could stop them, the words “What about getting a ring?” tumbled from her mouth. She realized how selfish and inconsiderate it sounded, but it was too late.
“I heard you say last night you were planning to go to the mall with your mom this week.” Todd fastened his seat belt. “Why don’t you look for rings while you’re with her?”
The thought of shopping for an engagement ring with her mother didn’t sit right with Christy. “I’ll wait until you and I can go shopping.”
“You’re not shopping; you’re just looking. I thought you were pretty close to figuring out what you wanted.”
“Yes, but—”
“Listen.” Todd covered his mouth and coughed something awful. “I want you to end up with a ring you really like. I’m guessing it’s going to take you a little while to make your final decision. I don’t think you need me to look at everything with you.”
Christy recognized he was trying to be understanding and patient. She felt terrible for even bringing up the topic.
“Don’t worry about it,” Christy said. “You just work on getting better. We can talk on Christmas Eve.”
/> “Okay. Thanks, honey. I appreciate your understanding.”
Christy didn’t remember him ever calling her “honey” before, and she thought it was awfully sweet. She also thought of how 1 Corinthians 13 described true love as “patient.” That took on deeper meaning for her now as she realized she would have to place the ring hunt on hold. Todd had told her their future together would be full of adjustments. She didn’t like having to adjust, but it seemed she had no choice.
Todd reached for her hand, but instead of kissing her good-bye, he held her hand and gave her three squeezes. With each squeeze he said, “I-love-you.”
Christy gave him three squeezes back and repeated the message, “I-love-you. I’ll see you Thursday. Please take care of yourself.”
“I always have.” Todd slowly backed out of the driveway.
Christy watched their blue Volvo cruise quietly down the street. Inside, she missed him already.
Am I going to feel this way for the rest of my life? Every time he leaves, am I going to feel like a part of me has gone with him?
“Father, please send your guardian angels to watch over my Todd as he drives to his dad’s tonight. Keep him safe. And, Lord, even though he thinks he’s always taken care of himself, I know that you have been the One who has really watched over him. Please take care of him tonight.”
Todd stopped at the corner and honked the horn three times. Christy smiled. “Yeah, I love you, too, ya big lug.”
6 By Tuesday evening of Christmas vacation, Christy had a good idea of what she wanted her ring to look like. She had made a rough sketch in her wedding notebook and pasted three magazine photos of rings on the same page. She and her mom had gone to the mall that morning and looked in several jewelry stores. They also had thumbed through a book of invitations in a stationery store, discussed the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses over frozen yogurt, and picked up information on the cost of tux rentals.
Christy had spent an hour on the phone with Todd before dinner telling him all the details.
“You sound good,” Todd said in a raspy voice.
“You sound awful,” Christy countered.
“I know. This cold is really hanging on. What I meant is that you sound happy. I’m glad you and your mom got to spend some time together and work on a few of the details.”
Christy couldn’t resist teasing Todd. “You’re just saying that because you’re happy you weren’t the one being dragged through the mall today.”
“Yeah, I am,” Todd said.
“Are you sure you didn’t fake that cold to get out of spending the week here planning with me?”
“Nothing is fake about this beast,” Todd said. “I don’t remember the last time I felt this awful.”
“Maybe you should go to the doctor,” Christy suggested. “You might have strep throat. Didn’t you say your ears hurt? If the virus settles in your ears, you could have an ear infection, and you’ll need antibiotics to clear it up.”
“That’s okay, Christy. I’m sure I’ll be all right in a few days.” Todd’s voice carried a hint of aggravation. Christy realized she was being motherly, and that was something Todd never had responded well to.
“Sorry,” she said. “I hope you feel better.”
“I will. I’ll be over this by the time you see me Thursday.”
Todd’s prediction turned out to be wishful thinking.
When Christy and her family arrived at Bob and Marti’s house, Todd took Christy in his arms and held her close. “I missed you so much.” His voice was little more than a gravelly whisper.
“I missed you, too.”
They stood in the kitchen, holding each other, slightly swaying, neither of them willing to let go.
“I love you.” She leaned close and brushed his cheek with a kiss.
“Aw, come on, you guys. Cut it out.” David had stepped into the kitchen with his sleeping bag and suitcase and made an exaggerated effort to walk around them. “You guys are making a spectacle of yourselves.”
“A spectacle?” Todd repeated in a hoarse whisper, followed by a horrible-sounding laugh.
Christy laughed at her brother as well as at Todd’s laryngitis-affected laughter.
“I’m impressed, David. When did you start using words like ‘spectacle’?” Todd asked.
“What happened to your voice?” David replied.
Todd shrugged and gave a sheepish grin, as if he had misplaced his voice and wasn’t sure where he had put it.
“Are you still sick?” David asked.
“I feel a lot better,” Todd said.
“Dad wants you guys to help carry in the presents,” David said.
Christy slipped her hand into Todd’s, and he squeezed three times. She smiled and returned the squeezes. They walked out to the driveway hand in hand, smiling.
Aunt Marti stood beside the car and viewed them skeptically. “I hope you didn’t kiss her, Todd. The last thing Christy needs is to get sick. It’s a wonder all of us didn’t end up with the flu since we were with you on Sunday.”
“If I had known I was getting sick, I wouldn’t have gone over to the Millers and exposed everyone.” Todd’s pathetically thin voice added to the apologetic expression on his face.
Marti seemed satisfied with his response. She waited while Christy’s dad loaded the two of them up with gear from the car. Then she picked up the handles of a shopping bag full of Christmas gifts and followed Todd and Christy into the kitchen.
“I have a few things to go over with you two right away.”
“Like what?” Christy asked cautiously.
“Oh, just a few items we need to discuss. I thought we could sit down and go over all this now.” Marti planted the handled bag on the kitchen floor and pointed to the oak table in the kitchen’s corner.
Christy noticed several stacks of paper neatly stapled together and placed in front of the chairs as if in preparation for a business meeting.
“I think we should help my dad unload the car first,” Christy said.
“I’ll make some coffee,” Marti said. “As soon as you’re finished, please join me.”
“Where’s Uncle Bob?” Christy instinctively knew it would be a good idea to have her uncle nearby when Marti started in on the two of them.
“He went to pick up our Christmas Eve dinner. We ordered everything from D’Angelo’s this year. Bob is going to prepare it for us, and we’ll eat at six. That gives us a little more than an hour for our meeting. I mean, our discussion.”
Christy’s dad entered with his arms full, and Mom was right behind him.
“Does anything else need to come in?” Todd asked.
“No, this is the last of it,” Dad said. “Would someone move this bag of gifts so I don’t knock it over?”
Christy quickly scooped up the handled bag Marti had left in the middle of the floor. Carrying it into the living room, she placed each of the gifts under the tree. Bob and Marti had set up the Christmas tree in its usual spot in front of their beach-front home’s huge window. Marti went all out decorating and changed her theme every year. This year the tree was a Douglas fir that touched the ceiling and filled the living room with a fresh, outdoor fragrance. Marti had chosen to decorate with just two colors, white and red. She even had changed the window treatment to white velvet swags across the top, held in place with wide red velvet bows.
Tiny white lights, looking like icicles, hung from the ceiling. More tiny lights glimmered from every branch on the tree. All the ornaments were red. Christy examined a tiny red sled that hung from one of the branches. Beside it was a red apple ornament tied to the tree with a red-and-white-plaid ribbon.
Christy was about to return to the kitchen when she noticed an envelope attached to a red-striped ribbon that looped over one of the lower branches. The envelope had David’s name on it, but for some reason, the sight of it reminded her of Rick’s envelope.
I never did open that envelope. I wonder where I put it?
“Christina,” Mart
i called from the kitchen, “the coffee is ready.”
Christy drew in a deep breath and headed for the kitchen. Todd, her parents, and Marti were all seated, waiting for her.
As soon as Christy slid her chair close to Todd’s, Marti dived in. “I should begin by telling you I took the liberty of calling my country club this week and found that they miraculously had a cancellation the last weekend of June. Of course, I reserved it. I had to put down a substantial deposit, but as you might guess, the only other opening was at the end of November and—”
“Wait,” Christy said. “Open for what? What are you talking about?”
Marti pointed to the first item of business on the printed agenda that rested on the top of the papers stacked in front of each seat. “The reservation for your wedding. I can’t think of a nicer place to have your ceremony than at the Newport Country Club, can you?”
Christy shot a stunned look at her mother, who was sitting directly across from her.
Her mother said, “Your father and I were under the impression you would get married at our church in Escondido. We could hold the reception in the gym. They have lots of round tables that we could cover with—”
“A gymnasium!” Marti looked at her sister incredulously. “You can’t be serious, Margaret. You wouldn’t want your only daughter to have her reception in a gymnasium!”
“Our church has receptions in the gym all the time. I went to a luncheon there last spring that was lovely. They hung ferns from the basketball backboards and—”
“I won’t hear of it,” Marti said firmly. “Christy deserves an elegant, classy wedding. She and Todd should have the best facility available for the most memorable day of their lives. Don’t you understand it was a minor miracle for me to secure the Newport Beach Country Club in June?”
Marti turned to Christy and Todd with a pleading expression. “I thought you two, of all people, would see this as a sign from God that you should get married the last Saturday in June.”