“I think so.”
“Don’t ever take those brains of yours for granted, Lovey. Do you hear me?”
Sierra nodded and smiled. Learning came easily to her. She still had to study to get A’s, but it was never hard. The hardest part was feeling motivated enough to care about whether she was getting straight A’s or not. Grades didn’t matter that much to Sierra.
“And when do you leave for your great adventure in England?”
“I already went to England. That was last January, remember? I’m going down to Southern California on Friday to see the friends I met in England.”
“Oh, yes.” Granna Mae slipped a dainty spoonful of vegetables into her mouth and nodded at Sierra. She swallowed and asked, “And will Paul be there?”
Sierra quietly bit the inside of her lower lip. She had an uncle named Paul who had been killed in Vietnam. Often when Granna Mae’s memory turned fuzzy, she would ask about Paul.
“Ah, no. My friends down there are Christy, Katie, Tracy, Doug, and Todd.”
Granna Mae reached for the china teacup that held her strong black coffee, and she took a sip. “Pity that you won’t see that nice Paul. You know he brought me daffies at the hospital and kept me company for hours my last night there. He is such a dear young man.”
Now Sierra knew her grandmother hadn’t slipped into another time zone. She was talking about a different Paul. This Paul was the one Sierra had met at the airport in England. Their relationship, if one could call it that, was a strange blending of chance meetings and a few pithy letters. That was all.
“No, Granna Mae, Paul won’t be there.”
“Pity,” she repeated, stirring the applesauce.
Sierra settled in the overstuffed chair by the fireplace, slipped off her shoes, and curled up her legs underneath to keep her feet warm. She hadn’t allowed herself the luxury of thinking about Paul for quite a few days, maybe even weeks. They had experienced such an intense connection when they had first met. Her grandmother almost sounded as if she had a strong affection for him, too. Why was that?
“You must pray for that young man,” Granna Mae said. “Do you?”
“I did for a while, but …”
There was a quick tap on the door. Tawni opened it and said, “Sierra, you have a phone call. I think it’s Christy.”
three
“ARE YOU SURE your aunt and uncle won’t mind?” Sierra asked Christy on the phone down in her dad’s study. She had retreated there to have some privacy. It was her favorite room in the house, and she was sitting in her favorite chair.
“No, I’m sure they won’t,” Christy said. “My uncle likes having us around, and my aunt likes to …” She seemed to search for the right word. “She likes planning things. I’m sure she’ll like you and your sister. Tell me your flight number again so I can write it down.”
Sierra repeated the information, and Christy said, “One of us will pick you up at the airport and drive you to Newport Beach. If Katie and I can’t get up there soon enough, Todd said he would pick you up. Then we’ll meet at my aunt and uncle’s house. I’m sure they’re planning on having dinner with us that night. The next day is open. We can hang out at the beach or go shopping or whatever you want.”
“You guys don’t have to entertain us,” Sierra said. “We don’t have to go anywhere. The beach is enough for me.”
“Todd and Doug are bringing a bunch of their friends from the San Diego God Lovers’ group.”
“Sounds fun.”
“I’m sure it will be. I’m really glad you’re coming. Our time together in England went so fast. Makes me wish you lived down here.”
“I know. Me, too. Thanks for inviting me, and I appreciate your letting Tawni come, too.”
“Sure. You and Tawni must be pretty close.”
Sierra tilted her head toward the phone receiver. The door to her dad’s study was open, and she didn’t know who might be able to hear her. “Not really. This was her idea, not mine.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Christy said reassuringly. “The guest room is plenty big for the four of us—you, me, Katie, and Tawni. And there’ll be so many people around all week. I’m sure Tawni will have a good time, and you will, too. It’ll be like a big reunion. I can’t wait!”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Sierra said. “I hope I didn’t sound negative about my sister. It’s just that I guess it would have been easier or different or something if I were coming by myself.” Then, changing the subject, she said, “How’s Todd doing?”
“Great as always.”
Sierra thought she heard a smile in Christy’s voice. “Did he decide about going back to Spain?”
“Not yet. Lots of factors need to be considered. He’s taking classes at the University of California, Irvine, this semester. I think I told you that before. And he’s been in communication with the missions director at Carnforth Hall. They’ll gladly take him on staff in Spain or anywhere in Europe when he wants to make the commitment.”
“And where does that leave you?”
“I want to get my AA degree in early childhood development as soon as possible. That’s about all I have time for. After that, it’s up to God.”
“You and Todd haven’t made any plans?”
“No. If one theme runs through our relationship, it’s s-l-o-w. Everything has gone slowly for us, and just because we’re both on the same side of the globe now, that hasn’t changed. I don’t mind, though. For now it feels just right. How about you? Whatever happened with the guy you met at the airport?”
“Paul? Nothing.”
“Then what about the guy from your school who came over. Was it Randy? Did he ever take you out again?”
“No,” Sierra sighed. “Until this weekend, he had been ignoring me. Then he said he would come see me at work, but he hasn’t, and today he practically ignored me again.”
“Sounds like an average guy to me,” Christy said. “Don’t get discouraged. Who knows? You might meet someone here next week. One of Doug’s friends, maybe. Newport Beach is a wonderful place to meet someone special.”
“I take it that’s where you met Todd.”
“Yep. Almost five years ago. Can you believe it?”
“Five years! You and Todd should be the poster couple for the ‘Love Waits’ campaign.”
Christy laughed. “It doesn’t seem that long. A lot has happened during those five years. But I do agree that true love is worth the wait. I’d wait another five years for Todd if I had to. He’s the only man for me. Ever.”
An hour after hanging up from her call with Christy, Sierra still felt a warm glow. There was something encouraging and beautiful about two people who were in love the way Christy and Todd were. It made Sierra wonder if she would be willing to wait ten years to marry a guy if she were so intensely in love with him. Maybe it was good that she had never had a boyfriend. Being in love at sixteen could create all kinds of problems.
The next evening the thought surfaced again in Sierra’s mind while she was doing her homework. She asked Tawni if she felt ready to marry. Tawni stood over her open luggage, meticulously folding the pile of T-shirts she had laid on her bed alongside a pile of jeans, shorts, and enough accessories to open a jewelry stand at a swap meet.
“Am I ready to marry? Why are you asking me such a pointless question? I’m not even dating anyone.”
“I know, but if you met someone and fell in love, would you want to marry him now, or would you wait?”
“Wait for what?”
“Oh, never mind,” Sierra said, returning to her homework.
“When do you plan to pack, Sierra?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Are all your clothes clean? Wait. That was a ridiculous question. Of course your clothes aren’t clean. I want you to know that I’m not going to help you pull your stuff together at the last minute, and I don’t want you to plan on borrowing any of my clothes once we get down there.”
“Like I would,” Sierra said. Even though she
and Tawni were about the same size, their tastes were completely opposite. Sierra’s style was carefree and casual. Tawni preferred color-coordinated, classic-style clothes.
A knock at their door was followed by their dad’s cleans-haven face peeking in. “The boys and I are taking Granna Mae for a little ride down to Eaton’s. You girls want to come? Shakes are on me.”
“No.”
“No thanks, Dad. I have too much homework,” Sierra said.
“And she needs to wash her clothes for next week,” Tawni added.
“Sure you can’t take a break?” he asked, stepping into the room. Howard Jensen was a trim man with a receding hairline and a perpetual “open” look about him, which made him seem approachable any time, regarding any subject. He had a way of making Sierra feel as if she were his only child, not one of six. She suspected others felt the same way. “Free chocolate shakes,” he said, trying to tempt them.
“I better keep at this,” Sierra said, nodding toward the books surrounding her where she sat in bed, knees up, pillow against the headboard and notebook open in her elevated lap. “I’m glad you’re taking Granna Mae. She’ll be happy.”
“I never need to be asked twice when it comes to having a malt at Eaton’s. Should we bring something back for either of you?”
“Not for me,” Sierra said.
“You know I’m on a diet, Dad,” Tawni said.
“Right. I forgot.” He ducked out, and a couple minutes later they heard him call into Granna Mae’s room, “Your carriage awaits you, madam.”
The sound of shuffling feet followed and then the echoing calls of their younger brothers, Gavin and Dillon, at the bottom of the stairs asking if they could take Brutus with them.
“As long as he’s on a leash,” Dad called back.
Sierra smiled. As if a leash made a difference with that walrus. She wanted to join them. It would be so much easier to forget all this homework and go have some fun. Plenty of light remained in the dusk sky this mild spring night. The endless Portland rains had let up for the past few days, and a warm, sweet scent filled the air. Sierra reminded herself that in a few days she would be having plenty of fun on a sunny beach in Southern California. For now, she had work to do.
“Do you think I should take both my bathing suits?” Tawni asked.
“Sure. Why not? They don’t take up much room,” Sierra said. “I’m taking all three of mine.”
“I can’t decide,” Tawni said.
“Take both of them. Because once we get there, you’re not borrowing any of my clothes!” Sierra playfully pointed her pencil at Tawni and shook it to emphasize her words.
“Like I would,” Tawni muttered, placing both bathing suits inside her suitcase.
four
THURSDAY AFTERNOON Sierra arrived at Mama Bear’s a few minutes early and entered through the back door. She found her blue apron waiting, along with a pan of Mama Bear’s famous cinnamon rolls on the lunch table. This is where they put the rolls jokingly referred to as the “burnt sacrifices” of the day. At least one pan a day was deemed unfit to sell by the owner, Mrs. Kraus, which left the employees free to eat to their hearts’ content. Sierra pulled off a big piece. It was still warm—the only way to enjoy a Mama Bear’s cinnamon roll.
“Hi, Sierra,” Jody called to her from the front register. “I’m glad you’re here. I have to leave early to run to the bank. Are you ready to take over?”
Sierra couldn’t answer with the sticky wad in her mouth. She made her way to the front, tying her apron as she went and massaging the roll in her mouth. She faced Jody and nodded, still not able to swallow the bite.
“Good grief, girl,” her fellow employee said. “A whole pan is back there. You don’t have to down it all in one bite!”
Sierra quickly swallowed and joined Jody in a laugh.
“Okay. I’m all set now. You can go.”
“You sure?” Sierra nodded.
“I like you,” Jody said. “Did I ever tell you that?”
Sierra thought, Just every time I work the same days you do. She smiled her mutual appreciation back to Jody and poured herself a cup of water.
“You add spunk to this place,” Jody said, untying her apron. “I’m going to miss you next week.”
“I’ll bring you back some sand from the beach,” Sierra said.
“No, don’t. It’ll only make me jealous. And don’t you dare come back all tanned, with your hair bleached white.”
“I promise my hair won’t be bleached white, but I can’t promise about the tan. That’s one of the hazards, you know, of lounging on the beach all day for a week.”
“Oh, hush. I don’t want to hear about it. I’m leaving.” Jody said, exiting with a friendly wave. She was in her early thirties and was the divorced mother of two. She worked two jobs and never seemed to have enough time to run errands. More than once Sierra had covered for her so she could drive her kids to the dentist or soccer practice. Sierra and Jody rarely worked the same hours.
The shop was quiet this afternoon, as usual for this time of day. Three women sat at a table by the window, bent forward in solemn conversation. Two men in business suits looked together at the screen of a laptop computer. Sierra noticed they both had coffee and went over with the fresh pot and offered them refills. She did the same for the women.
The door opened, and Randy stepped in, his crooked smile lighting up his face.
Sierra held up the coffeepot and, playing out the waitress role, said, “Coffee, sir?”
She tried to mask that she was irritated at him for being so mysterious. First, on Saturday he had said he would come see her. Then he pretty much avoided her all week at school. Now, here he was showing up on Thursday, as if this were what he meant all along. If he hadn’t been so shy and inexperienced at dating, she would have been mad at him.
“Got milk?” Randy answered. “And the biggest cinnamon roll in the house. With extra frosting.”
“Coming right up.” Sierra said, returning to the area behind the counter. Randy followed her and leaned against the glass bakery case as she served his cinnamon roll and milk.
“Any chance you can take a break and sit down with me?” he asked.
“Not right now. I’m the only one here except Andy in the back. I need to stay behind the counter.”
“Then I’ll eat right here.” He handed her some money and popped open the top of the milk carton, slugging it down all at once. “Better get me another milk,” he said. “And a cup of water, if you don’t mind, miss.”
“Not a bit.” Sierra felt a flock of flapping butterflies begin to dance in her stomach. Why should she feel nervous? She handed him the change and set another carton of milk and a cup of ice water on the counter for him. He was already two bites into the cinnamon roll.
“Good, aren’t they?”
Now Randy was the one with the gooey ball of dough in his mouth, and he could only nod his agreement.
So, come on, Randy, what’s the big mysterious thing you wanted to ask me? It took you long enough to finally come in. Are you going to ask me out or not?
Finally he said, “What kind of flowers do you like?”
“Me?” It was the last question in the world Sierra expected him to ask.
He nodded and took another bite of his cinnamon roll. The white frosting dripped down the corner of his mouth.
Sierra motioned with her finger on the side of her mouth. Randy caught the hint and reached for a napkin. Another customer entered the store, setting off the cheery bell over the front door. At the sound, Randy stepped aside so the woman could order a box of cinnamon rolls to go. Then another customer came in who wanted a cappuccino. Sierra went through the familiar motions of preparing the specialty coffee drink and making change for the man’s twenty-dollar bill. By the time she was ready to answer Randy’s question, he had finished his snack and he was casually waiting for her with his arm across the top of the cash register.
“You wanted to know what kind of flowers
I like?” she said. In the several minutes that had passed since he has asked, her mind had run through every possible reason Randy would pose such a question. All her hopes pointed to the obvious—and very flattering—conclusion.
“Right. What kind do you like?”
“That would depend. What would the flowers be for?”
“A corsage.”
“And what would the corsage be for?”
“A spring benefit for the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. Two weeks from tomorrow night at the downtown Hilton.”
Sierra thought this had to be the most backward way a guy had ever asked a girl out in the history of the world. But Randy was creative—and a little shy. This seemed to fit his style. She remembered that his father had been in a band. Perhaps this was a yearly event Randy attended with his family. She immediately started to think about what she would wear to such a formal event.
“Roses are always nice. Or carnations. But carnations can be kind of bulky and heavy on a dress. Let’s see. Orchids make me think of an old lady. I’d say rosebuds. A soft color like yellow or pink. Oh, I know—have you ever seen those peach-colored tea roses? Those would be really pretty in a corsage.”
“Peach-colored tea roses. Okay.”
Sierra smiled her anticipation at Randy. She had never been given flowers before, or asked to a formal anything. It would be fun to go to something like this with Randy since he was so easygoing and such a sincere friend. She wondered if she would have time to find a dress during the week after Easter vacation. Or maybe they could go shopping in California, as Christy suggested. It couldn’t be too fancy, yet it would have to be nice enough so that the tea rose corsage wouldn’t look out of place. Tawni would certainly volunteer to do her makeup. And her parents would want to take pictures.
Sierra’s imagination continued to sprint through all the details as another customer stepped into the shop and ordered a single roll to go.
After she handed the customer the white bag and his change, Randy glanced at his watch.
“I have to run. Hey, do me a favor and don’t say anything about this to Vicki, okay?”
Sierra Jensen Collection, Vol 1 Page 24