Christy Miller Collection, Vol 4 Page 13

  “I will. Thanks! And thanks for letting me have tomorrow off.” Christy closed the door behind her and hurried to her car in the dimly lit parking lot.

  Todd should be waiting for her at her home. She had her bags all packed so they could leave right away for the drive to Bob and Marti’s.

  She was so excited about seeing Todd that the keys trembled in her hand. On her first attempt to put the key in the lock, she dropped her ring of keys and bent to pick them up. Straightening, she tried the wobbly key again.

  “Need some help?” a deep voice behind her asked.

  Christy spun around and practically screamed. “Todd, I didn’t see you!”

  He opened his arms, and she wrapped her arms around his middle and pressed her cheek against his broad chest. She could hear his heart beating. Was it racing as fast as hers, or was it her imagination?

  Todd held her for several minutes, pressing his cheek against her hair. “It’s so good see you, Kilikina,” he whispered.

  Christy felt like crying she was so happy and so excited to finally be with him, to feel his strong arms around her.

  “I thought you’d be waiting at my house,” Christy said as he let go and held her at arm’s length, carefully examining her face. She wondered if he noticed the slight black-and-blue mark on her lower jaw, a fading souvenir of her collision with Doug’s arm last week.

  “I only got into town a few minutes ago. I knew you’d be getting off work, so I thought I’d come here and surprise you.”

  “You surprised me, all right! Where did you park Gus?”

  “Over there.” Todd motioned with a chin-up gesture over his shoulder. “Why don’t I follow you?”

  “Okay,” Christy agreed, laughing at her trembling hand as she tried once more to get the key in the lock. “If I can ever get this door open.”

  “Allow me,” Todd offered, sounding like her private knight in shining armor. He placed his hand over hers. It felt warm, strong, and confident. Together they unlocked the door.

  “Thanks!” Christy beamed. I’ll see you at home.”

  Her hope had been that they could leave for Newport Beach right away. Todd seemed less eager to leave. He had brought a present for Christy’s dad, which she had to admit was a very thoughtful gesture. It took a while before her dad opened it because Mom offered Todd some pumpkin bread she had just baked, and she kept asking him questions about school.

  David, of course, had stayed up to see Todd and was trying to coax Todd into taking him skateboarding again.

  “Okay, dude. How about if I come down next weekend on Saturday?” Todd suggested.

  “Cool,” David said. “Wait till you see all the new tricks I can do.”

  “Oh yeah? Can you block a punch yet?” Todd playfully swung at David’s right ear, and a wrestling match broke out between them on the living room floor. Mom quickly moved the coffee table out of the way and watched the two of them wrestle like brothers.

  Nothing like sharing your boyfriend with the rest of your family!

  It was after ten o’clock before Todd finally tossed Christy’s weekend luggage into the back of Gus. Christy’s mom and dad stood outside with them and gave the usual list of to-dos, ending with Mom’s most important request that Christy call them as soon as she arrived at Bob and Marti’s.

  Christy climbed up onto the torn passenger seat of the Volkswagen bus. Todd used to have a beach towel over the seat to help keep the stuffing from coming out, but tonight it was missing. Christy had to find just the right position so she wouldn’t get poked by the torn vinyl.

  Soon Christy forgot about the uncomfortable seat and was busy chattering away. “I think my dad really liked the book you gave him. That was so thoughtful of you, Todd.” She had to talk loudly because of the rumbling inside the van.

  They talked back and forth nonstop for the first hour of the drive. Christy realized her throat hurt from talking so much and so loudly. She settled back a little and let Todd carry the conversation for a while. It felt so good just to be with him and to finally have their weekend together.

  As soon as they arrived at Bob and Marti’s, Todd headed for the refrigerator to pour himself a glass of orange juice. “You want some, Christy?” He obviously felt at home here since he was over all the time, even when Christy wasn’t around.

  “Definitely.”

  “Ice?”

  “Yes, please. I’m going to call my mom and dad.”

  After letting them know that the trip was uneventful and they had arrived safely, Christy was about to hang up when her mom said. “Have fun, dear. We sure find it comforting to know that we can let our seventeen-year-old daughter take off for the weekend and know that you’re making good choices.”

  Christy hung up and thought about how different the warnings from her parents had been several years ago. It felt good to know that, despite all the up and down times, she had managed to earn their confidence. With their confidence came fewer restrictions and greater freedoms.

  “I guess I’ll get going,” Todd said when Christy hung up. He placed his empty glass in the sink. “What do you want to do tomorrow, Christy?”

  “Let’s go out to breakfast,” Christy suggested.

  “Good idea,” Marti interjected. She had entered the room a few minutes earlier. “I know just the place for the four of us.”

  Christy had meant that only she and Todd would go out to breakfast. How could she uninvite her aunt? Maybe it didn’t matter. What mattered was that she would be with Todd.

  “Around eight?” Marti suggested.

  “I’ll be here at eight,” Todd agreed and waved good night as he let himself out.

  “He didn’t kiss you good-bye.” Marti said as Christy finished off her juice. “Why didn’t he kiss you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t you two kiss?”

  “Yes, sometimes.”

  “And what else?”

  “Nothing else. Well, except hold hands and hug.”

  Marti looked to Bob and then back at Christy. “That certainly doesn’t sound natural, dear. At this point I would have thought you two would be much farther along physically. I was planning to have a heart-to-heart talk about the physical dimension of your relationship, but you’re not giving me much to discuss with you.”

  “I think things are right where they should be,” Christy answered. “I have no regrets now, and I don’t want to ever.”

  “Very noble,” Bob said. “Your aunt and I respect and support you two for your standards, don’t we, Martha?”

  Christy watched her aunt’s expression change from critical to compassionate. Marti had Christy’s best interests at heart, Christy knew, even if her methods were a little off sometimes.

  “Yes, Christina, I have to agree. Your morals are quite commendable. Not at all the norm for most teens your age, I suppose. You are both intelligent people. I guess we can be glad that your school’s sex education programs have been so successful.”

  Christy wanted to laugh. The open discussion she had experienced in her school had taught her about the complications and consequences of going too far, but she knew that it was her relationship with the Lord that made her want to do the right thing.

  “Actually, what makes the difference for Todd and me is that we’re both Christians, and we’re both trying to obey God.”

  “Oh.”

  “You know,” Bob said, changing the subject, “I’d kind of like to sleep in tomorrow morning. Why don’t you and Todd go out for breakfast, and the four of us can eat dinner together.”

  “That’s fine with me,” Christy said. “Is that okay with you, Aunt Marti?”

  “Of course, dear. You two would most likely enjoy spending the time together alone. Knowing Todd’s preference, it will probably be a casual sort of breakfast anyway. We can make plans for something a little nicer for dinner.”

  Todd showed up a few minutes after eight the next morning. Marti was right—he had on his usual beachwear of shorts
, sandals, and a hooded sweatshirt. Mr. Casual himself.

  Christy had ended up rising at six to shower, fix her hair, and dress. Even though she had on cutoff jeans and an oversized chambray work shirt with a white T-shirt underneath, she had spent as much time on her appearance as if she were going to the prom. Her makeup was light but precise. She had worked hard to get the mascara even on both eyes. Her hair, clean and combed, hung naturally without any of the clips or barrettes Marti urged her to use. Christy felt fresh and pretty, ready for whatever this day might hold.

  “It’s just you and me,” Christy said softly when she answered the front door. “I’ll explain on the way.”

  Todd led her out to Gus and opened the passenger door for her. Christy noticed that the beach towel was back in place, covering the seat. Something deep inside her warmed, knowing that Todd had noticed and done something to make her seat more comfortable. She got in. Todd started the engine.

  “Uh, Todd,” she said. “By any chance, is this towel a little wet?”

  “Oh, man. Sorry, Christy! I went surfing this morning and laid my towel there to dry. Here—” he tugged it off the seat—“but the seat is still wet.”

  “That’s okay,” Christy said.

  “No. it’s not. Hey, I know what we can do,” Todd said, slipping the van into neutral. “You drive, and I’ll sit on the wet seat.”

  “I don’t know, Todd.” The only other time Christy had been in the driver’s seat and Todd in the passenger’s seat was in Maui when he had been stung by a bee and she had to drive a Jeep on the precarious Hana road.

  “You can do it! Compared to Hana, Newport will be a breeze.” Todd hopped out and jogged around to her door, urging her to trade places before she had a chance to protest.

  Christy slid into the driver’s seat, buckled her seat belt. and popped Gus into gear, and down the street they chugged.

  “I don’t know where your aunt wanted to go for breakfast. but since I’m paying now, is Carl’s Jr. okay?”

  “Sure. Show me where to turn.”

  “Take a right at our intersection.”

  Christy looked at him out of the corner of her eye while slowly coaxing Gus down the street. She couldn’t believe he had said “our intersection.” It was the intersection where he had first kissed her and where he had given her the ID bracelet. She had thought of it as “their” intersection before, but she had never heard Todd refer to it that way.

  A smile tickled the corner of her lips. She and Todd were really going together. Even Todd realized that some of the things that had happened between them were sacred. Things like “their” intersection.

  Christy turned right, and Gus rolled into the parking lot at the Carl’s Jr. fast-food restaurant. She parked the van and turned off the engine, proud of herself for getting them there without incident.

  “Looks like Gus recognizes an old friend when he sees one. He doesn’t perform that well for just anyone. I hope you know.” Todd said as they approached the cash register and placed their orders for two Sunrise Breakfasts.

  They soon brought the food to their booth and sat down, and Todd reached over to hold Christy’s hand while he prayed.

  “So what was the deal with your aunt and uncle?” Todd asked.

  Christy gave him a summary of what had happened after he left last night, including the part about Marti asking why he hadn’t kissed her good-bye.

  Todd looked thoughtful then, and leaning closer to Christy, he said in a low voice, “It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you anymore. You know that, don’t you?”

  Christy felt her cheeks blush. She hoped no one else in the restaurant had heard him.

  “There’s a time for everything.” Todd still kept his voice low. “It’s kind of my agreement with God, to keep my life balanced by doing only what I’m supposed to do when He says it’s time to do it. I’m not saying it’s easy.”

  Christy sipped her orange juice and kept her eyes fixed on Todd. His silver-blue eyes were only inches away as he leaned closer. “There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you. Christy. I hope you’ll take this the right way. One of the things I really appreciate about you is that you don’t come on to me. Do you know what I mean?”

  “I’m not sure.” Christy’s eyes still locked on to his.

  “You let me make the first moves, and that really helps.”

  Christy nodded, not exactly sure what he was saying, but agreeing that she did let him make the first moves.

  “Girls have no idea what they do to a guy when they come on to him. Not only by touching him but also by what they wear. I love the way you dress. You always look good. Really good. Yet you don’t try to show off or, you know, tease a guy.”

  Christy felt like she was getting an education into the way guys think, and although she had heard some of this before, hearing it from Todd made it real and personal.

  “I want you to know,” Todd continued, “that you’ve been helping make our relationship what it is by letting me be the initiator and by having so much…dignity is the only word I can think of. You treat yourself like a gift. A treasure. And that comes across. It makes you so absolutely beautiful, Christy. You have no idea.”

  You’re right. I have no idea what you’re saying. I’m only being myself. I can’t believe you’re sitting here telling me I’m beautiful. This is a dream come true.

  Christy felt the same way now with Todd as she had on the phone last night with her parents. Many times in the past she had wanted to run ahead of Todd and speed up their relationship. Now she was glad she had let everything develop at its own pace and in its right time. If she hadn’t been patient, Todd might not be saying these things to her right now.

  They ate for a few minutes in comfortable silence. It almost seemed to Christy that the air around them had turned fragrant. There was no mistaking a sweetness lingering in her heart after Todd’s words.

  “I have something else I’ve been wanting to ask you for a long time,” Todd said as they returned to the van. “I keep going back and forth because I’m not sure it’s my place to ask.”

  “You can ask me anything.” Christy climbed up into the passenger seat.

  “Is it still wet?”

  Christy touched the seat before sitting down. The sun had baked that side of the vehicle while they ate. “No, it’s dry enough. It’s fine.”

  Todd started the engine and drove out of the parking lot. “I thought we’d go over to Balboa Island. Is that okay with you?”

  “Sure. What was it you wanted to ask me?”

  “I guess I should just come out and say it.”

  “Yes, you should.”

  “Christy, I know it probably shouldn’t bother me, but I’ve wanted to ask you about Rick. When you were dating, what actually went on between you two? I’ve tried not to let it bother me, but Rick said some things when we were rooming together last year that didn’t sound like the Christy I know. I wanted to hear it from you. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about it, I understand. I probably shouldn’t even be asking.”

  “Of course you should. There’s not much to tell. We went out a few times, I broke up with him. It wasn’t the best of relationships. I got closer to God after we broke up. Why? What was Rick saying?”

  Todd hesitated and then let out a heavy sigh. “Rick said you were easy. That you did whatever he wanted you to.”

  “That is a lie!” Christy raised her voice. “Rick said that about me? He is such a jerk! How could you believe him? Todd! I can’t believe you thought—”

  “Hey, relax. I didn’t say I believed him. I know you. Like I said, it’s been bothering me, so I wanted to talk with you about it.”

  “Todd,” Christy began with a lower, calmer voice, “Rick is the kind of guy who seems to get whatever he wants. For some reason, he decided he wanted me. It’s all a lot clearer to me now that I know what kind of guy he is, but at the time I have to admit I was a little misty-minded. I thought he really liked me just because I was me. He ha
s a way with words. I know now that some guys can manipulate girls by what they say. At the time, I don’t know, I guess I really wanted a boyfriend. I thought I needed one. You were leaving for Hawaii, and Rick was so nice to me…”

  “Hey, you don’t have to apologize for anything, Christy. I’m not asking you to give me an account of your relationship with Rick. That’s between God and you. I guess I needed to hear from you that he didn’t take advantage of you.”

  “He tried more than once. We kissed a few times, but I always pulled away. I know it made him mad. It just didn’t feel right to me.”

  “That’s all, then? Some kissing?”

  “And a few hugs,” Christy said. “Nothing else. I can’t believe he made it sound like more than that.”

  “I’m sure with some other girls it has been. Maybe it sort of bent his ego out of shape since it wasn’t more than that with you,” Todd said.

  They had reached the ramp to the Balboa Island Ferry, and Gus’s tires clanged loudly up the metal incline. Todd stopped the engine and suggested they climb out for the short ride across to Balboa Island.

  Christy stood by the side, gazing out at the blue water in the bay. The October morning breeze chilled her, and she crossed her arms to keep warm. Todd came and stood behind her, wrapping his big arms around her and burying his nose in her hair.

  A sudden flash of a memory came to her of a time when Rick had held her like this and whispered sweet words in her ear. Now it made her mad that she had ever gone out with Rick. If only she had waited, she could have shared all these boyfriend-girlfriend moments and feelings with just Todd.

  “Hey,” Todd said softly. “Why are you all tensed up?”

  “I’m mad. Mad that I ever went out with Rick. Mad at myself for not waiting for you. And before you say that this anger is bleeding out of love that’s been cut, it’s not! Love was not even a part of my relationship with Rick. Not real love.”

  “Christy, you’re being too hard on yourself. Think back on when you were with Rick. There were some good times too, weren’t there? A few fragrant memories?”

  Todd was right. There had been some special moments with Rick—on the swings at the park, flying kites at the beach, their first date at the fancy Villa Nova Restaurant.