Peculiar Treasures

by Robin Jones Gunn

  “Oh, right! Sierra lived on Crown Hall North this year. You guys had the best Christmas party of all the dorms last December.”

  “Thanks. The Christmas parties are becoming our tradition.”

  “Well, keep up the great tradition.” Katie started to walk away.

  “Actually, if you have a minute, I was looking for you.”

  Forgetting her objective of hunting down Rick and Doug, Katie turned and said, “If it’s about the smell that was in the kitchen on Crown Hall North two weeks ago Friday night, I can explain.”

  Julia looked surprised and intrigued. Her complexion hosted a galaxy of freckles that weren’t obvious on first glance because they blended so well with her warm skin tone. Her sandy brown hair was flecked with a similar sprinkling of highlights. She gave Katie the impression of someone who had crossed the Pacific Ocean in a sailboat and now carried with her the effects of endless sunshine in her hair and on her skin.

  “I admit I was the one who put Vicki’s shoes in the oven,” Katie said.

  “Vicki’s shoes?”

  “We were just having fun. Playing a little joke on her before her big date. Sierra and I only planned to hide them there for, like, ten minutes. We never expected anyone to turn on the oven. I mean, who starts to make cookies and turns on the oven without first looking? You know what I’m saying? And obviously we never expected the soles to melt the way they did and form those weird, non-eco-friendly stalagmites, but Sierra said she was able to clean the oven, and I already paid Vicki for a replacement pair of — ”

  Julia held up her hand. “What I was about to ask you had nothing to do with the oven. Thanks, though. I appreciate the inside story.”

  Katie pressed her lips together. Sierra is going to strangle me for telling!

  “What I actually wanted to ask is if you might consider being an RA in the fall.”

  Katie blinked. “A resident assistant? Me? Are you sure you have the right Katie?”

  “Yes, I’m sure you’re the right Katie. Here’s the deal. We had another RA lined up for Crown North, but she just let us know she won’t be returning in the fall. We asked around for recommendations, and your name kept coming up.”

  “It did? By whom? Sierra?”

  “Actually, the recommendations all came from staff and faculty. You have quite a reputation in the biology department.”

  “Okay, well, whatever they told you about the time three out of five botany students broke out in hives after testing my herbal tea, well . . . actually, that’s pretty much true. Or maybe it was three out of five reported stomach disorders and only two out of five had hives. But — ”

  Julia grimaced. “Are you saying we need to keep you away from the organic gardens on lower campus as well as from the kitchen?”

  “Yeah, basically. I’m much better with people than I am with plants and appliances.”

  “How are you with animals?”

  “Animals?”

  Julia smiled as if Katie should get her joke.

  “Okay, well the first goldfish I had last fall was really old when I bought him. I think they had a special geriatric tank that wasn’t labeled as such, but they charged me full price. Rudy was so old he should have come with a cane. Or a walker. Seriously. And the second goldfish, well — ”

  “Katie, I’m only kidding!” Julia laughed while Katie wished she could find a way to end the conversation gracefully.

  “Listen, Katie, the job description for an RA doesn’t have anything to do with fish, tea, or oven maintenance. You’re good with humans, and that’s what matters.”

  “Oh, okay.” Katie realized that if she hadn’t bungled Julia’s first impression of her, she might actually have a chance to obtain a lucrative, on-campus position for her senior year. She listened with her lips pressed together while Julia gave her more details. It sounded pretty good.

  “Could you come by Crown Hall Monday afternoon around three o’clock?” Julia asked. “Craig, the other RD, will be there.”

  “Sure.”

  “Perfect. I’ll see you then. Oh, and Katie? Your confession about the oven is safe with me.”

  Katie smiled. “Thanks.” Somehow she had the feeling any confession would be safe with Julia. She also realized this RA position could be an answer to a prayer she hadn’t even had time to pray.

  3

  With a determined stride, Katie hitched up the now frumpled and soiled skirt of her blue bridesmaid dress and set her chin forward.

  “Hey,” a male voice beside her said. “Your halo is — ”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know. Slipping again.”

  “No, this time your halo came off.” Goatee Guy held out her fallen wreath.

  Too agitated to take the baby’s breath hair band and try to position it on her head, Katie swatted at the air and kept walking. “Just throw it away for me, will you?”

  Heading for the reception area where the remaining guests had gathered, she spotted Rick and Doug standing beside the cake table. Both of them were enjoying thick slices of wedding cake while the caterers cleared the head table.

  Katie marched toward them with a frown. Doug volunteered, “Hey, I know you’re really upset about what we did but listen. Trace just told us about the letters. We didn’t know.”

  Rick stepped in. “Katie, we had no idea what the letters were.”

  “That’s not the point.” Katie placed her hands on her hips. “Regardless of whether you guys knew, you shouldn’t have taken them out of her suitcase. As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t have messed with Christy’s stuff at all. That’s just rude.”

  “You’re right,” Doug said.

  “You do know that we were only trying to do something fun for them, don’t you?” Rick said. “We weren’t trying to sabotage their honeymoon.”

  Katie scrutinized Rick. Then she glared at Doug.

  “Whoa!” Doug said. “I haven’t seen that expression on your face since the houseboat trip when I accidentally gave you that bloody nose.”

  Repressing the grin that would have accompanied that long-forgotten memory under other circumstances, she said, “Yeah, but if I remember correctly, I smeared your face pretty good with a brownie on that trip.”

  “A brownie with whipped cream,” Doug added. “And you’re right. You got me pretty good that time. I didn’t see that one coming.”

  Katie noticed Doug still was holding the plate with his bonus-sized piece of wedding cake. Taking a step back before Doug got any ideas, Katie felt her fiery indignation drain away. She had marched over, ready to give Doug and Rick a lesson in wedding etiquette, yet history had proven that she was a fine one to lecture anyone on such topics.

  “Is all forgiven?” Rick asked.

  Katie nodded. She had had a little practice in extending forgiveness to both these guys over the years. Especially to Rick Doyle. She knew she couldn’t stay mad at him.

  “You were quicker at accepting our apology than my wife,” Doug said. He made a grimace as if he were still in trouble with Tracy.

  “Where is Tracy?” Katie asked.

  Doug motioned to a chair a few yards away. His petite, pregnant wife was awkwardly stretched out, pressing her hand to her middle.

  “Trace?” Katie called out. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded and attempted a smile.

  “We should get going,” Doug said. “I know she’s tired. During the reception she said the baby was kicking a lot.” He inhaled two more bites of cake and handed the plate to one of the caterers before leaving with Tracy.

  “Would you like a slice?” the caterer asked Katie.

  “No, thanks.” Katie looked around at the deserted reception area. “I feel like we should help you clean up. Do you need us to do anything?”

  The young woman chuckled. “No, we’ve got it covered.”

  Katie noticed Rick was giving her an “are-you-serious?” look.

  “What?”

  “I think you’ve been working at the Dove’s Nest too long.”
>
  “Why do you say that?” Katie frowned and tried to read his expression.

  Is this Rick’s clever way of telling me I’m fired? He isn’t saying he wants to break up, is he?

  “Why are you looking so worried?” Rick asked.

  “Why did you say I’ve been working at the Dove’s Nest too long?”

  “Well, why else would you offer to jump in and assist the food ser vice staff?”

  “Oh, that.” Katie looked around again. “I just don’t know what else I’m supposed to do as the maid of honor.”

  “I think you officially went off maid-of-honor duty when the limo disappeared from view. You’re off the clock now.”

  “I guess I am.”

  Sometimes the sporadic nature of her thoughts drove even Katie a little nuts. She often felt like a zookeeper in charge of four-dozen monkeys. When the monkeys stayed in their cages, all was well at the Katie Zoo. A little noisy sometimes, but manageable. Whenever those monkeys escaped, well . . . she had to give Rick credit for the many times he had kept up with her while she ran around with a monkey net.

  Playfully dipping her finger into the frosting on Rick’s piece of cake for a taste, she asked, “What do you think? Do you want to leave now or stick around some more?”

  “I’m ready to go.” Rick touched his fork to the fluffy white frosting and dotted the end of Katie’s nose. He leaned back and smiled at his work.

  Katie crossed her eyes, trying to focus on the dot.

  Just then Aunt Marti bustled over to them. “Katie, you forgot the bridal bouquet. This is yours to keep.”

  “Oh, thanks.” She didn’t remove the frosting from her nose. It was too much fun waiting to see if Marti would notice.

  Marti already had turned her attention to Rick. “Did you get the serving trays the caterer borrowed from your restaurant? I specifically told them to return the trays to you cleaned. Did they do that?”

  “Yes. They’re already in my car.”

  “Marvelous. Now, I have a little something for each of you.” Marti held out two small envelopes for Katie and Rick. “A token of my appreciation for your assistance today.”

  “You didn’t have to give us anything,” Katie said.

  “Yes, I did,” Marti said. “You both have been instrumental in Christy and Todd’s lives for many years, and you should be acknowledged on this day.”

  “That’s very kind of you,” Rick said, receiving the envelope. “Thank you.”

  “It’s only a small token,” Marti said. “I hope you enjoy it.”

  Katie leaned over and gave Aunt Marti a kiss on the cheek. With a mischievous tone in her voice she said, “I don’t care what Rick says about you, I think you’re a peach.”

  With a soft smugness Marti said, “If you think I’m going to fall for that comment or that I didn’t notice the frosting, you’re mistaken. You’ll have to try harder than that to ruffle my feathers after a day like this, Miss Katie Weldon.”

  Even though Katie liked the thought of taking Christy’s aunt up on that challenge, she left the opportunity alone and smoothed their exit by dabbing away the icing and saying, “You did a great job with everything, Marti. The wedding, the reception, all of it was perfect.”

  “It was, wasn’t it?”

  Rick and Katie left Marti basking in the lovely success of her planning and walked to Rick’s classic, cherry red Mustang where he opened the door for Katie. She rolled down the window to let the hot air escape. By the time Rick walked around to his side, Katie had opened her envelope.

  “Wow,” she said. “This is pretty nice. You like this store, don’t you?” Katie held up the plastic gift card for Rick to see.

  He nodded.

  “Too bad they only sell clothes,” Katie said. “If they sold gas, my summer transportation expenses would be covered.”

  “You can buy yourself something nice.” Rick started up the engine. “I like that shade of blue on you.”

  Before she could wonder about whether Marti and Rick were in league, trying to improve Katie’s wardrobe, a beat-up, white Toyota Camry rolled past them. Katie noticed a circle of tiny white flowers hanging from the rearview mirror.

  “Hey, my flowers! What is he doing with my flowers?”

  “What are you talking about? You’re holding the wedding bouquet in your lap.”

  “No, not these flowers. My halo.”

  “Your halo?”

  Katie couldn’t see the other car anymore. She turned back in her seat and blinked. Why would he keep my flowers?

  “Hey, Angel Girl, what are you thinking?”

  “Angel Girl?” Katie made a face at Rick. “That has to be one of the worst so far.”

  In the almost seven months that Rick and Katie had been hanging out together, Rick had tried without success to come up with a nickname for her. In high school he had dubbed her “Speed” after a sledding incident. Katie had quickly vetoed “Speed” as a nickname in this new season of their relationship. But Rick was determined to come up with something for her.

  “You looked gorgeous today, by the way,” he said. “Even if you don’t want to be called ‘Angel,’ you looked like one.”

  “Oh, yeah, right. I’m sure I looked divine running after the limo in Cinderella-fashion, wearing one shoe and with my halo slipping.”

  Rick grinned. “You have no idea how cute you looked. Trust me, all eyes were on you.”

  The song playing in the background on the radio seemed to catch his attention. He cranked up the music.

  You’re the one for me, Sassy Girl.

  You leave the others in the dust.

  Come along with me, Classy Girl.

  I’m the man you can trust.

  Katie never liked that song. But she did like Rick. Especially at moments like this, when he was grinning at her and telling her she was gorgeous. Her doubts about him from earlier in the day flitted away.

  He might not be the best at romantic gestures, but he does have his moments of charm. And those are the moments I’ve never been able to resist.

  “How about Sassy Girl?” Rick suggested.

  “Ah, that would be negative to the one-hundredth power. And don’t even try Classy Girl as a runner-up.”

  “Okay, I’ll keep working on it. Hey, I have to take the serving trays back to work. Do you want me to drop you off at the dorm, or do you want to run over to the Dove’s Nest with me?”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “I was hoping you would say that.”

  “I was hoping you would ask.”

  They exchanged comfortable grins, and Rick turned up the music again. He liked the stereo nice and loud while he drove. Especially on warm evenings like this one, with the car windows rolled down. He would hang his arm out the open window and use the door to keep beat with the song.

  Her habit was to sing along, which made Rick smile. Actually, it was a toss-up whether his expression was more of a smile or a smirk. Either way, the two of them had their rhythm down and had spent many hours on the freeway with the music bridging the gaps in conversation. Neither of them seemed to mind the musical interludes.

  But this time Katie didn’t slip into her routine of singing along. Instead, she leaned back and wandered into a happy corner of her heart where she could rewind the day and go nice and slow through her favorite parts.

  I wonder what my wedding day will be like. Do I want to get married outside? Will my wedding be as large as Todd and Christy’s?

  She let out a contented sigh. Who will I end up marrying?

  Glancing at the eligible bachelor beside her, Katie let her mind ask the obvious question. Could it be Rick?

  She knew she was jumping way ahead of where their relationship was, but today was the kind of day any young woman with a tinge of romantic inklings was bound to ask such questions.

  She studied Rick’s profile as if the answer to her never-before-whispered-aloud question could be found in the lines of his strong jaw.

  Rick seemed to se
nse her gaze. He turned briefly to look at her. “Did you say something?”

  “No.” Katie smiled to herself.

  4

  When they arrived at the Dove’s Nest, Rick got out of the car, but Katie didn’t.

  “I think I’ll wait here,” she said.

  He looked surprised. Katie didn’t usually pull back from a potential social opportunity. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I just want to sit for a minute. I’ll come in if I get bored.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

  She thought if she sat alone for a few minutes some answers would come to her regarding several life questions that were pressing in on her.

  Her relationship with Rick was always on the “up for discussion” board in Katie’s mind. Second was the unexpected offer from Julia for the RA position. The third dangling decision was her major.

  Earlier that week Katie had a not-so-great conversation with her advisor. When she had started at Rancho Corona University, Katie had transferred in with a variety of credits from community college and had declared botany as her major. After her not-so-successful attempts at creating her own herbal teas, she had changed to biology with the thought that she might become a teacher. That option stopped appealing to her about four months ago.

  Now that she was about to complete her junior year, her advisor had presented several possibilities in the sciences. None of the options struck Katie as desirable or as a good match. She had walked away from their meeting registered for two summer school general ed classes. She also left with the word “undeclared” written on a form where a major needed to be listed before she could complete registration for her senior year.

  Twice Katie had talked with Rick about what she called her “major dilemma.” He suggested she become a business major, but Katie couldn’t picture that. She didn’t want to run a café like Rick did. But then, she couldn’t see herself fitting into any particular major.

  Maybe I shouldn’t even be going to college. Maybe I should pull out now and wait until I know what I want to be when I grow up.

  She leaned against the warm frame of the car door and smoothed her thumb over the petals on Christy’s bridal bouquet. Katie had kept her major dilemma out of her conversations with Christy during the past few weeks. Her best friend had been up to her ears with finals, graduation, and wedding plans. She didn’t need to help Katie solve her problems. Katie was determined to figure this one out herself.