I Promise

by Robin Jones Gunn

  The last thing Christy needed was to add anything to her brimming schedule. But she said yes to Sierra because Christy knew she would have the car since Todd was going on an overnight backpacking trip with some of the guys from the youth group. Even though the trip had been scheduled before Christy and Todd had made their agreement to spend every Saturday together, Todd had offered to cancel the trip. But Christy thought it would be better if he went. She planned to work on wedding plans with Marti and her mom on Saturday.

  Marti was back from her extended stay in Wisconsin and had dropped her investigation of the hospital. Apparently, when she had interviewed the surgeon, he told her he had found an inoperable tumor in Grandpa’s stomach. Apparently, it had been there for some time and must have bothered him, but he never complained. So by the time it was discovered, it was too late to do anything.

  Christy’s mom said that Marti had accepted the facts better than any of them had expected. She had dropped the idea of filing charges and had come home ready to dive in to plans for Todd and Christy’s wedding. Todd’s having asked Bob and Marti to sit on his side in the front row seemed to give Marti even more incentive to be involved.

  At the appointed time Friday night, Christy showed up at the grocery store to find Sierra already waiting out front. Sierra was easy to spot because she had long, wild, curly blond hair, and she dressed in unique outfits. Tonight Sierra wore a mid-calf skirt that appeared to be made from neckties sewn together. Her feet were clad in the same pair of cowboy boots she had worn in England when Christy first met her.

  “Have you been waiting long?” Christy opened the car door from the inside.

  “No, only a few minutes. I finished early because I ran out of sausage.”

  Christy gave Sierra a strange look. “The grocery store ran out of sausage?”

  “No, I did. I was demonstrating. Didn’t I tell you that’s what I was doing? I go to different grocery stores and hand out samples of whatever the company tells me to. Tonight it was sausages, but they told me only to use twenty packages. I didn’t figure out until halfway through that they wanted me to cut the sausages into little pieces and stick toothpicks in them. I was passing out entire sausages, and people were standing there waiting, like I was working at a free hot dog stand.”

  Christy laughed. “Sounds like a fun job.”

  “It’s perfect for me, except for the transportation. I hate having to bum rides off someone. I really appreciate your doing this for me, Christy.”

  “No problem. It worked out fine.” Her plan was to zip Sierra back to campus and then drive up to her aunt’s in Newport Beach since her mom was already there. That way they could start their planning early in the morning.

  “Your skirt is adorable,” Christy said as she headed out of the parking lot. “Did you make it?”

  “My mom helped me. We worked on it over Christmas vacation. I had a short skirt made out of ties, but it got ruined a couple of summers ago. These ties were my grandpa’s. Aren’t they hilarious? Look at this one.”

  Sierra pointed to a green-and-brown-striped tie that ran down her left side. It had tiny orange curlicues and thin blue triangles on top of the stripes.

  “I guess it would match about anything with all those colors in it,” Christy said.

  Sierra laughed. “Or not match anything because of all the colors in it. My Granna Mae had a story to tell me about every one of these ties while we were sewing them together. She has serious memory lapses and gets confused and disoriented, but she could remember every minute detail of places she and Grandpa had gone and things they had done when he was wearing these ties.”

  Christy told Sierra how her grandpa had passed away last month and how much it made her think about the brevity of life.

  “I know what you mean,” Sierra said. “I’ve been thinking about that this semester because I’ve had some big decisions to make.”

  “By any chance would those decisions be about relationships?” Christy asked.

  “Sort of. Are you hungry?” Sierra asked.

  “Hungry?”

  “Well, The Golden Calf is closed by now, and I’ve been standing in the grocery store cooking sausages for the past three and a half hours. I could go for something substantial to eat. If you have the time, I’d love to hear your opinion on a few things.”

  Christy couldn’t remember the last time she had hung out with a girl friend for an evening. She could readjust her plans and make the hour and a half drive to Newport Beach early in the morning. After all, she had just made a little speech about the brevity of life. This would be a good time to carpe the diem.

  “Sure,” Christy said. “Where should we go?”

  “How about The Dove’s Nest? Randy and his band are playing there tonight. That’s why I couldn’t bum a ride from my usual source.”

  “Okay, it’ll be kind of refreshing to see my roommate.”

  “You and Katie never see each other?” Sierra surmised.

  “We’re both pretty busy.”

  “I told my sister that Katie and Rick were getting really close, and she was shocked. Did you know that Rick tried to flirt with Tawni at Doug and Tracy’s wedding?”

  Christy smiled as she pulled onto the freeway. “I’m not surprised.”

  “But Katie says he’s changed a lot.”

  “Oh yes, Rick has changed a lot. God has been working in big ways.”

  “You know what?” Sierra said. “I think Katie and Rick are good for each other. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up getting married.”

  “Why do you say that?” Christy asked.

  “They’re both so vibrant,” Sierra said. “The few times I’ve seen them together, a sort of electricity flows between them. They spark each other. Katie is energetic all by herself, but when she’s with Rick, she’s brighter than ever, and so is he. Without her, he’s kind of blah.”

  “That’s an interesting way of putting it.” Christy had never known anyone to describe Rick as blah. Sierra impressed Christy as someone who didn’t let the outward shell of a person distract from the true self, which was hidden within.

  They arrived at The Dove’s Nest to find the parking lot packed.

  “We might not be able to find a place to sit in there,” Christy said.

  “This is good for Randy and the band,” Sierra observed.

  “And for Rick.”

  They entered and spotted a bunch of people they knew from Rancho. Sierra waved at her roommate, Vicki, and Christy said, “Do you want to sit with their group?”

  “I’d rather just sit with you so we can talk. Let’s see if the couch is open on the bookstore side. Last time I was here people were eating on the couches by the fire.”

  Christy followed Sierra into the book portion of the store known as The Ark. The fireplace that was open to both the café side and the bookstore side had a couch and two cozy chairs circled around it on The Ark side. The couch was open.

  “Perfect!” Christy said. “Would you like to save the couch for us while I order some food?”

  Randy’s band had just finished a song, and applause rose from the café. Christy was glad they weren’t sitting in the noisy café. They could still hear Randy’s band from The Ark but could carry on a conversation, as well.

  “We could take turns,” Sierra suggested. “I don’t know what I want.”

  “Okay.” Christy went first, thinking how nice it was to hear someone else say she didn’t know what she wanted. That had always been one of Christy’s worst problems when ordering at restaurants. She had gotten much better, though.

  Tonight she knew she wanted whatever the chef’s special was. Katie had been raving about the fabulous chef they recently had hired. Tonight Miguel was offering artichoke pizza with sun-dried tomatoes. It sounded a little unusual, but Christy decided to give it a try. She stepped up to the counter, and Katie noticed her for the first time.

  “Chris, when did you get here?”

  “Just a few minutes ago. I broug
ht Sierra. Looks like a busy night for you guys.”

  “Most people are only ordering coffee drinks and desserts, so the kitchen hasn’t been swamped. You should try the artichoke pizza. It’s really good.”

  “That’s exactly what I wanted. What else do you recommend?”

  “I think a small Caesar salad would go nicely with that,” Katie said. “Do you want to try my favorite latte?”

  “Sure. We’re over on the couch in The Ark.”

  “I’ll bring it to you,” Katie said. “What does Sierra want?”

  “She’s going to place her own order.”

  Rick stepped up behind Christy and greeted her with a friendly hug. “Did Katie tell you the good news?”

  Christy turned to Katie with wide eyes. “No,” Christy said. “What good news?”

  “Her tea won an honorable mention at the food fair.”

  “Big whoop,” Katie said. “They gave out ten honorable mentions. I’m going to perfect the blend and enter it again next year.”

  “I thought it was great,” Rick said. “Out of thirty-seven entries, she made the top ten. Tell her that’s pretty good.”

  “It really is, Katie,” Christy said. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Did Todd come with you?” Rick asked. “I thought he was backpacking this weekend.”

  “He is. I’m here with Sierra.”

  “Girls’ night out, huh?” Rick turned to Katie. “Have you taken your dinner break yet?”

  “No.”

  “Do you want to take it now?” Rick said. “Dinner is on me, for all three of you.”

  “Make that two pizzas, Miguel,” Katie called out. “And could you put extra parmesan on mine? Thanks.”

  “Thanks, Rick,” Christy said. “I didn’t expect you to pay for us.”

  “My pleasure. I’d treat you more often, but you never come in.”

  “I know. This has been the busiest time of my life.”

  “Todd’s too,” Rick said. “We never seem to be home at the same time. Sometime the four of us will have to do something together.”

  “That would be fun,” Christy said.

  “Hey, tell Todd I was able to work out the deal with the guy my dad knows at the tux shop. It’s Burton’s Tuxedo Shop. They’re in the shopping center down at the stoplight. Next to the video store. I went in today and got measured. All you and Todd have to do is select the style and give him the measurements for the other groomsmen.”

  “Okay,” Christy said slowly.

  Katie linked her arm in Christy’s. “Come on. I only have an hour.”

  As they walked away, Christy asked, “Katie, is Rick going to be a groomsman in my wedding?”

  “You crack me up, Christy! Of course he is. Todd asked him like three weeks ago. You must be losing it if you can’t remember such details.”

  Christy sat down next to Sierra on the couch and tried hard to remember if Todd had said anything to her. The last Christy had heard, Todd was having his dad for his best man and Doug for his groomsman. She was having Katie as her maid of honor and Tracy for her bridesmaid. They had agreed weeks ago on only two attendants to keep things simple. The bridesmaids’ dresses already were ordered.

  Since when did Rick enter the picture?

  Christy decided to remain calm and not to get mad at Todd—yet. If he had asked Rick to be in their wedding, he must have had a good reason. Maybe Doug had backed out. Or maybe, since Rick and Todd were sharing an apartment now, he had felt obligated to include Rick in the wedding party.

  If Rick is going to be a groomsman along with Doug, then I need another bridesmaid. I wonder if I should ask Sierra now or wait until Todd gets back from his trip.

  Katie, Sierra, and Christy sat by the fire and ate while Randy and the band filled the air with original songs that had a wonderfully fresh sound. Christy liked the pizza but told Katie they should have split one because she was full after the salad.

  “I’ll get doggie bags for us,” Katie said. “It’ll be just as good in the morning. Breakfast pizza! I’ll be right back.”

  Christy leaned close to Sierra. “We haven’t talked about relationships and stuff, like we started to in the car. I didn’t know if you wanted to talk privately, or what. We could talk more on the way back to school.”

  “It’s not as if I’m struggling with some huge problem. I just need some input. I’d love to hear what Katie has to say, too.”

  “Did I hear my name?” Katie asked, returning with a plastic box in her hand.

  “I was telling Christy that I could use your advice,” Sierra said.

  “You came to the right place,” Katie said. “It just so happens that my assistant and I are the advice queens. I think Christy is tired of hearing about my life; it’ll be refreshing to hear about yours. And since you offered, why don’t you start with Paul. What’s happening with him?”

  “Well, I can summarize that relationship with one of your famous phrases, Katie. Paul and I are ‘P.O.’s.’ Do you remember the little club we started in England?”

  Katie laughed. “Pals Only! I forgot all about that.”

  “Of course you did,” Sierra teased. “You dropped your honorary membership when you started going out with Rick.”

  “It was unintentional.” Katie held up her hand in self-defense. “It was God’s idea, not mine. Believe me.”

  “Oh, I believe you,” Sierra said. “It’s good to see you guys together, too. It seems natural and like the relationship is alive and growing. It helps me to remember that’s how healthy relationships should be.”

  Christy watched Sierra’s face for an indication of what that statement meant. “Did you feel it wasn’t going that way for Paul and you?”

  Sierra nodded. “How much do you want to hear about Paul?”

  “Everything,” Katie said.

  “Okay,” Sierra said. “But you guys asked for it.”

  13 Sierra set her tea on the low table in front of the fire and began her story. “You guys know that Paul and I are sort of related now that my sister is married to his brother. Our families were all together at Christmas, and it just became clear to me while we were sitting on the floor watching a video that there’s nothing boyfriend-girlfriend between Paul and me. I thought there was for a long time. I hoped there was. I dreamed about what it would be like if there was. And I think both of us gave it a noble effort after he came back from Scotland. But it’s not electric.”

  “Electric?” Katie questioned.

  “You know what I mean. I know you know what I mean.”

  Katie nodded and exchanged glances with Christy.

  “Whatever it is that makes a couple realize something deeper and lasting exists between them. Well, I’ve come to the conclusion Paul and I don’t have that . . . whatever it is. We are good, solid friends. He doesn’t find me fascinating, and I think he’s way too quiet and introspective.”

  “Have you and Paul talked about this?” Christy asked. “I mean, does he feel the same way?”

  “Yes. We went for a long walk at the park the day after Christmas and talked about everything. He started out sounding like he was going to apologize for not being in love with me or something. I stopped him before he said too much and told him how I felt. I told him I was restless, for lack of a better term. I pointed out he was contemplative, which is fine, but it’s not a good match for someone like me. He said he felt bad because he had thought something would happen between us, but it just didn’t go anywhere. He blamed himself for insisting we take it slow in the beginning and lay a foundation of being good friends.

  “I told him that was the best choice because now we are good friends, and I think we’ll always be close friends. But that’s all.”

  “You sound like you’re okay with that,” Christy said.

  “I am. I feel free now. I didn’t feel free for a long time. I kept thinking there should be something more with Paul. You guys know how much I tortured myself trying to figure out what
should happen next with him. I spent months probing my heart, trying to decide how I truly felt about him. It was a long journey that only brought me back to where I started. And that’s okay. It’s good.”

  “If I’ve learned one thing,” Katie said, sipping her latte and looking settled in her own understanding, “it’s that God writes a different story for each of our lives. Sometimes you think you know what’s going to happen, but then the plot takes an unexpected turn.”

  “And sometimes you have to end one chapter before you can start the next,” Sierra said. “I have so many dreams, you guys. I want to travel. I want to be free to go wherever I want to go for the next season of my life. I’ve already signed up for an education extension program that Rancho offers. And guess where it’s held?”

  “Where?” Katie asked.

  “Brazil! Doesn’t that sound like a fun place to go?”

  “Sounds like you’re going to become a world traveler,” Christy said.

  “It started with that trip to England, when I met you guys. Then, Christy, you invited me to Switzerland with you and your aunt. I got the bug. I love traveling.”

  Christy could picture Sierra trekking around the globe in her cowboy boots. She definitely had an adventuresome spirit.

  “When I started college last semester, it was strange. I had been so excited to come to Rancho. But then, there I was, sitting in classes, and all I could think about was getting out of there and traveling. I kept running into people on campus who had been to exotic places. I would tell myself I should concentrate on finishing my freshman year and getting serious about Paul. I thought I should try to arrange a normal life, like my sister and the rest of my friends have. But you know what? It didn’t fit. I never felt at peace. After Paul and I had our talk at Christmas, I felt free. That’s the only way I can explain it. Nothing is holding me back. It’s like you said, Katie, God is writing my life story, and it’s different for me than it is for anyone else.”

  “You’re right, Sierra,” Christy said. “God is going to make your path clear.”

  “More than that,” Katie added. “‘God will fulfill his purpose for you.’ That’s a promise. Psalm 138. Verse 8.” Sierra sipped the last of her tea and nodded. “You know what, you guys? This is the first time I’ve sat down to explain my feelings as one complete thought. When I listen to myself talking to you like this, it makes sense. It doesn’t sound as if I’m cutting my strings and flying off like a kite.”