I Promise

by Robin Jones Gunn

  Christy gave Sierra a comforting smile. “And what if you are cutting your strings? If God created you to be a kite, then the only right answer for you, the only obedient response, would be to go fly—be free. It shouldn’t matter if other people understand. You’re the one who knows in your heart of hearts when you’re obeying His direction. He’s the One who will lift you up and send you soaring.”

  “Thank you so much, Christy. I needed to hear that.” In a less-than-graceful gesture, Sierra reached over and hugged Christy around the neck. Then Sierra hugged Katie. “You two are amazing.”

  Christy noticed some movement out of the corner of her eye that made her hold her breath. Rick had positioned himself a few feet away. His gaze was fixed on Katie, and he seemed to be enchanted with her.

  A happy, settled feeling came over Christy’s heart. Go ahead, Rick Doyle, admire Katie all you want. She’s amazing, isn’t she? And so are you. I have absolutely no doubt the Lord will fulfill His purpose for the two of you.

  Early the next morning, Christy stopped by the campus coffee shop for a cup of coffee to drink on the way to Aunt Marti’s. She picked up her mail from her campus mailbox and found a card from her grandma. Reading as she walked back to the car, Christy checked the last few lines twice since they didn’t immediately make sense to her. Her grandmother had thanked Christy and Todd for coming to the funeral. Then she wrote,

  Christina, I was surprised to see how much you have grown to resemble Martha with your way of keeping on top of things. Make sure you leave room in your life for peace. I’m sure Todd will encourage you in this area.

  Christy thought her grandmother must have gotten confused when she said Christy resembled Aunt Marti. No way am I like Aunt Marti. Grandma must have meant Margaret, my mom, but she wrote “Martha.” I hope Grandma isn’t experiencing memory failure the way Sierra’s Granna Mae is.

  It took Christy an hour and forty-five minutes to drive to Newport Beach. When she arrived, Margaret and Martha, the two sisters, were standing in the kitchen, peering at a book on the counter and having a good laugh. Christy noticed the list Marti had printed out, waiting for them on the counter.

  “What’s so funny?” Christy asked.

  “It’s more of those cakes that are designed for each couple based on how they met,” Mom said, pointing to a picture on the counter. This cake was in the shape of a horse’s head. The statue of the bride and groom was stuck in the icing between the horse’s ears.

  “Let me guess,” Christy said. “They met at a horse race.”

  “No, a riding stable. They’ve been horsing around ever since!” Marti said gleefully.

  Christy shook her head at her aunt’s attempt at a joke. Marti’s delight in her role as wedding “director” affirmed to Christy that Todd was right about delegating more details to Marti.

  “I hope this isn’t our only choice of bakeries.” Christy turned the next few pages. “I would prefer a simple white wedding cake. And definitely without the plastic bride and groom.”

  Mom turned to Marti. “I told you Christy would know what she wanted. Once she’s organized, she knows exactly what she wants.”

  “I understand that,” Marti said. “That’s why I said I wanted to help her get organized. I hope you brought your list so we can compare notes, Christy.”

  Christy nodded. Was my grandmother right? Am I more like my aunt than I realized?

  “Where’s Uncle Bob this morning?” Christy asked.

  “He had a men’s breakfast at church,” Marti said.

  Christy noticed Aunt Marti didn’t sound disgusted about Bob’s involvement in church the way she used to. That was a good sign that her heart was softening. At least, Christy hoped it was softening.

  “You didn’t want him here today to help make decisions, did you?” Marti said. “These details are beyond him. Whatever we decide, he’ll be happy.”

  Mom smiled at Christy. “That sounds like someone else we know.”

  “Todd,” Christy said flatly.

  Todd is just like Uncle Bob. I’m like Marti. Opposites attract. But I can’t be like Aunt Marti! I don’t want to spend my life micromanaging everyone around me!

  Christy pulled up a stool at the kitchen counter and sat down. This is a terrible revelation. I’ve become my aunt!

  “I only kept these pictures to show you for fun,” Marti said, placing them to the side. “Of course, I understand you want a more traditional cake. I have those pictures right here.”

  What was it my grandmother said about making room for peace? That’s what I need to do. I have to learn to be at peace with myself and with people around me. That’s what’s missing from my aunt’s life. She doesn’t have peace.

  Christy silently prayed as Marti showed her pictures of traditional wedding cakes. A peculiar peace came over Christy. It was the reaffirming sense that God had created her to be the way she was for a reason. Wasn’t that what she had told Sierra last night? It was time to take her own advice and to become her own person.

  No, that’s not right. That’s what my aunt used to say to me when I was a teenager. She said I needed to be my own person and to my own self be true. But that doesn’t bring peace. The only right way to live my life is to be God’s person. To fully become the woman God created me to be, tidiness issues and all. There’s nothing wrong with being organized and, as my grandma said, “on top of things.” As long as I don’t run ahead of God and others. What matters is whether I live a life at peace with God. That’s the only way I’ll be at peace with myself and with others.

  Christy leaned back from the kitchen counter and drew in a deep, wobbly breath.

  “Are you okay?” Mom turned away from the cake pictures to look at Christy.

  A smile started in the secret corner of Christy’s heart and scooted all the way to her face, where it broke through with all its radiant, peace-filled implications.

  “More than okay,” Christy said. “I think I might be better than I’ve ever been. I’m not a kite like Sierra. But now I know how to go fly—be free. In here,” she said, patting her heart. “I think I finally understand who I am.”

  14 “Whatever are you rambling about?” Marti scrutinized Christy’s big smile.

  “Nothing,” Christy said and then quickly corrected herself. “Actually, it’s everything. It’s God. He just showed me something, and I understand myself more clearly than ever.”

  Both Mom and Marti looked at her.

  Christy giggled. “It’s okay. I can tell you about it later. Go ahead, Aunt Marti. What were you saying about this cake?”

  Marti cleared her throat. She seemed a bit uncomfortable that God had interrupted her presentation to have a counseling session with Christy.

  It’s okay, Aunt Marti. I understand your frustration more than I ever have before. Todd was right. The Bridegroom is here. And He will show up at our wedding no matter what kind of cake we have. But we can plan the cake and everything else and still live in peace. We just have to let God be in control, not us.

  “I was saying, what do you think of lemon cake instead of white? They use a marvelous almond filling instead of that pasty white frosting.” With that, Marti went full speed ahead with her collected information on wedding cakes. She had two cake samples for Christy and her mom to try that she had picked up while interviewing pastry chefs that week.

  Christy liked the one with the raspberry filling the best. Marti questioned Christy twice before making a note of Christy’s choice.

  Without a moment’s hesitation, Marti moved on to the flowers, presenting Christy with at least fifty pictures of possible bouquets.

  “I’d like white carnations,” Christy said when she looked at the first picture.

  Marti ignored her and turned to a gigantic bouquet of red roses laced with baby’s breath.

  “I’d like white carnations,” Christy said again after they had gone through half of the pictures. “White carnations with some baby’s breath would be just fine.”

 
; Marti nodded and moved right on to the next stack of pictures, pointing out an exotic bouquet with miniature white roses and large white gardenias.

  Christy said again, “I’d like white carnations.”

  “Christy, darling, white carnations are so plain.”

  Christy’s mom stepped in. “Todd’s first bouquet for her was white carnations.”

  “I know that,” Marti snapped. “I was there. But this isn’t a high school date to the prom. This is their wedding. Why not consider a variety of flowers, such as this bouquet?” She pointed to a mixture of purple, blue, and yellow flowers in a sweet, small bouquet.

  Suddenly Christy had an idea. “What about this? I would really love this bouquet, but not with all the bright colors. Could you have the florist make a bouquet of all white flowers?”

  “Of course,” Marti said.

  “I’d like it to have white carnations, baby’s breath, those tiny white roses, some gardenias, and white plumeria.”

  “Now, that sounds like an elegant assortment.” Marti reached for her pen to write it all down.

  “But I don’t want it to be huge like some of these. I want a small, happy, little bouquet.”

  “Wedding bouquets are supposed to be dramatic,” Marti said. “The bouquet is used to complete the gown and veil and pull it all together in one focal point.”

  “My gown isn’t going to be dramatic. It’s simple. I think my bouquet should be simple, too.” “And what about your veil?” Marti asked. Christy glanced at her mom. “We haven’t decided on that yet. I know I want a sheer veil that hangs over my face, but I don’t know what I want to use as the headpiece.”

  “A hat, perhaps?”

  “No.”

  “I’ve got it!” Marti flipped through a stack of magazines she hadn’t presented to Christy yet. “You would look adorable in one of these wreaths.” She pulled out a Hawaiian magazine and pointed to the girl on the cover. “The flowers are fixed in a wreath that you wear on your head like a crown. You could place the wreath over the veil.”

  “I love it!” Christy exclaimed.

  “You do?” Marti looked shocked that one of her ideas was received on the first pitch.

  “Yes! Todd wanted me to wear flowers in my hair. That would be perfect. I’d want it to be all white flowers and narrower than the one shown here. Oh, Aunt Marti, what a perfect suggestion!”

  Marti leaned against the counter and tilted her head as she examined Christy. “I believe that is the first time I’ve made a suggestion you’ve been enthusiastic about.”

  “That’s because it’s a great idea! It’s perfect, don’t you think, Mom?”

  Mom looked a little more serious. “I’m wondering how difficult it would be to find a florist who can do something like that and make it turn out right.”

  “That’s not a problem,” Marti said. “Bob knows a florist on Maui. We’ll have him make it and ship it to arrive the next day so the flowers will still be fresh and carry that irresistible island fragrance. You know, Christy, you really must use tuberose.”

  “Are those the little white flowers they use to make leis? The ones that smell so good?”

  “Yes. And they’re small. Much smaller than the plumeria. You might have trouble with the plumeria staying fresh. They turn brown when they’re touched a lot, you know.”

  Christy felt her heart swelling with glee. Her bouquet was going to be gorgeous, and this was the perfect solution to her veil. Todd would love that she was wearing Hawaiian flowers in her hair. Christy knew she would have a hard time not telling Todd what her complete outfit was going to look like. But she knew she must keep it a secret; he would have to wait and be surprised when he saw her. She had a feeling he would be more than surprised. Todd would be amazed as only a man in love can be, a man who has waited for the day when he would see his bride dressed all in white from her heart to her toes coming down the aisle toward him.

  Christy’s mom continued to study the pictures on the counter. “The small white flowers in your wreath will go nicely with the flowers you’re embroidering on your dress.”

  “What dress is she embroidering?” Marti asked.

  “Her wedding dress,” Mom said. “Or perhaps I should say my wedding dress.”

  “Our wedding dress.” Christy gave her mom a warm smile. “Would you like to see it, Aunt Marti?”

  “Why didn’t I know about this?” Marti asked. “I was under the impression you hadn’t made a decision on your gown.”

  “No, we have the wedding gown all figured out.” Christy pulled the bodice from her overnight bag and held it up for her aunt and Mom to see. She had decided to leave the sleeves plain and was happy now with that choice because the emphasis was on the bodice’s delicate flowers.

  “You embroidered this?” Marti examined the careful stitches in the delicate string of forget-me-nots. “Why, Christina, it’s exquisite.”

  “Thank you.”

  “This was from your dress, Margaret?”

  “Yes. You did a beautiful job on this, Christy. I brought the skirt, and I’m ready to baste it to the bodice whenever you’re ready for a fitting.”

  “I’m ready,” Christy said. “Oh, and did you bring the addresses for the invitations, Mom?”

  “Yes, I brought them.”

  “Good, because I picked up the invitations this week. They only took two weeks to print, which was sooner than they said it would be when Todd and I ordered them.”

  “Wonderful,” Marti said. “I’ll take them over to Fiona’s this week, and she can start the calligraphy right away.”

  “What else do we need to decide on?” Christy asked.

  Marti went through her list. They had an appointment with the photographer in an hour, and if they wanted to go to the bakery after that, they could taste the other cake flavors, in case Christy wanted to change her mind on the lemon cake with raspberry filling.

  “No, I’m sure I want the raspberry.” She knew her aunt preferred the almond filling. “Todd loves fruit, Aunt Marti. I hate nuts, so raspberry is the best choice for us.”

  “All right. Fine.”

  Christy felt at peace. This was going well.

  “The last item we need to go over is the catering service for the reception.” Marti had a lot of information for them to go over and suggested they wait until the afternoon.

  “Okay,” Christy agreed.

  “I think this would be a good time for me to bring in the skirt to your dress,” Mom said. She left Christy and Marti alone in the kitchen.

  Christy took the opportunity to give her aunt a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  “What was that for?”

  “For being here,” Christy said.

  “Well, of course I’m here.” Marti brushed off the comment as if she had caught Christy’s deeper meaning but didn’t want to acknowledge it.

  Christy chose to press the point. “You could have been in Santa Fe right now making pottery at The Colony. Last fall, you told me that’s what you intended to do. I’m so glad you stayed. I’m glad you kept your promise to Uncle Bob.”

  Marti bristled. “What promise?”

  “To love, honor, and cherish him for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death do you part.”

  “I see you’re practicing your wedding vows. Sounds like you have them nicely memorized.” Marti straightened the pictures and lists on the counter. She wouldn’t look at Christy.

  “And you’re practicing them, too, with your life,” Christy said. “I love you, Aunt Marti. I want you to know that I appreciate your helping me by doing what you do best, lining up everything. You are the perfect wedding coordinator. More than that, I’m glad you’re here for my wedding. I’m glad you’re not in Santa Fe.” Marti glanced at Christy and then looked away. “It’s not easy. You’ll find out soon enough. Life doesn’t always go the way you think it will.”

  “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for you, Aunt Marti.” Christy hadn’t ex
pected to say that. It just tumbled out. But her heart was filled with peace, and she longed for her aunt to know that same peace.

  How can I tell her in a way she’ll understand? Lord, what do you want my aunt to hear?

  “I know the Lord will fulfill His purpose for you,” Christy repeated. “But you have to trust Him with all your heart and surrender your life to Him.”

  Marti drew in a deep breath without taking her eyes off the coffee mug that sat on the counter in front of her. With slow, careful words she said, “I have been considering that, Christina.”

  Christy’s heart pounded wildly. She had waited for years to hear her aunt say she was opening her heart even just a sliver. When Marti didn’t add any further comments, Christy leaned over and spoke softly, giving her aunt the image that was so clear in Christy’s mind at that moment. “Can I tell you some thoughts I’ve been having lately about weddings?”

  “Of course,”Marti said. “That’s what we’re focusing on today, isn’t it?”

  “These thoughts are about heaven and how the Bible talks about Christ being the groom.”

  Marti turned her dark, solemn eyes toward Christy.

  “I don’t know if you’ve ever heard it explained like this, but in a way, Christ has proposed to each of us and asked us to be His bride so that we can be with Him. Forever.”

  Since Marti wasn’t stopping her, Christy went on. “We can’t come to God as we are because of our sin. He’s pure and holy, and we’re not. That’s why God allowed His only Son to die in our place. Jesus paid the price for our disobedience. But you already know all that, Aunt Marti. You know that God wants us to be made clean so that nothing would separate us from Him.”

  Christy swallowed her rising emotions. “I don’t know if you know this, but He wants to give you a new heart, Aunt Marti. God wants you to take His salvation like a wedding dress. It’s a pure, white, immensely expensive wedding dress. It cost Him His life. He offers it to all of us to wear as we walk this long aisle of life. But we have to put on His gift.”