I Promise

by Robin Jones Gunn

  “Why? You have a darling house.”

  “I know. But our lease is up in November, and it’s so small. We only have the one bedroom. That’s fine while Daniel is tiny, but he’s going to need his own room eventually.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that,” Christy said. “Would you move into a two-bedroom apartment or what?”

  “I don’t know. It’s something we’ve just started to talk about. Doug has this dream about buying a house, getting a dog, and having a backyard big enough for a swing set. We would have to move inland to afford that.”

  “I imagine you would miss the beach a lot.”

  “Yes,” Tracy said. “But you would be surprised. We hardly ever go to the beach anymore. When we first moved there, we went all the time. I guess we need to be more responsible and frugal and live in an area that’s less expensive.”

  Christy swished the ice and mineral water in her glass. “Who knows? We might end up in the same neighborhood.”

  “Are you and Todd going to live near Rancho?” Tracy asked.

  “We’re working on finding an apartment in the same complex where Rick lives, if you can believe that. It’s only about five minutes from the church.”

  “I’ll have to convince Doug to check out that area. He was saying last night that we should move to Oregon because he knows a guy who lives in a small town there, and we could afford to buy a house.”

  After the waitress arrived with their salads, Christy offered to give thanks before they ate. They chatted about everything, from the upcoming shower and Christy’s wedding plans to how it felt the first time Tracy felt little Danny kicking inside her. As Christy inconspicuously picked the walnut pieces out of her salad, she thought of how this was the most relaxing, enjoyable two hours in the sunshine she had spent in months. She hoped Doug and Tracy didn’t move to Oregon. She needed Tracy to be nearby after Christy was married so they could make time for more relaxing afternoons like this.

  When they walked to the parking lot so Christy could give Tracy her dress, Tracy asked about Rick and Katie.

  “They’re doing great,” Christy said. “Katie is taking it nice and slow, and Rick is treating her the way she deserves to be treated.”

  “Do you think they’ll end up together?” Tracy asked. “I mean, do you think they’ll get married?”

  Christy thought a moment. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Katie is determined to finish college, and I haven’t talked to her about it, but I would guess she and Rick would opt for a fairly short engagement.”

  “Does that seem amazing to you?” Tracy asked.

  “I guess, if I think about it long enough. It seems right, though. It seems evident the Lord is fulfilling His purpose for each of us.”

  “Yes, He is,” Tracy agreed with a contented sigh.

  On Thursday night Todd left work early for their couple’s shower. When he arrived at the dorm to pick up Christy, he had on a freshly ironed, short-sleeved Hawaiian-print shirt and khaki shorts. He hugged Christy, and she could tell he had shaved and used a deep moss- and plum-scented cologne.

  “You look great!” Christy said. “And you smell great, too.”

  Todd held her hand and led her to the car. “It’s Rick’s aftershave. What do you think?”

  “It’s nice.”

  “Rick ironed the shirt for me. He’s pretty domestic.”

  Christy thought that was a good thing since she couldn’t remember ever seeing Katie iron.

  “You look really nice.” Todd wrapped his arm around Christy’s waist and drew her close. “I like that skirt on you. I don’t know if I told you that the last time you wore it. It looks good on you.”

  “Thanks. Are you hungry? Do you want to stop and get something to eat before we drive to Newport Beach?”

  “No, I’m fine. How about you?”

  “No, I’m not hungry.”

  They got in the Volvo, which was parked all by itself in a nearly empty parking lot. “This hasn’t been much of an Easter vacation for you, has it?” Todd asked. “Are you wishing you hadn’t stayed on campus?”

  “It was the best thing for me, really,” Christy said. “I’ve worked twenty-two hours so far this week doing inventory in the bookstore. The income is going to help us a lot. And I’m nearly finished with my second paper. After that I only have two more to write. Finals are in three and a half weeks, and then I’m done!”

  “I’m proud of you, Kilikina. Have I ever told you that? You were right about needing time to plan our wedding. I’m amazed at how much you’ve accomplished on top of finishing your final semester of school. If I had been at all understanding, I would have agreed to get married in August like you wanted so you wouldn’t have had all this pressure on top of finishing school.”

  “It hasn’t been too much,” Christy said. “It’s been a lot, but as long as I haven’t tried to fit a social life in on top of everything, it’s been okay.”

  “I know,” Todd agreed as he drove onto the freeway. “We haven’t been able to see each other very much, have we?”

  “That will change soon enough,” Christy said. “This is only a season for us. A short season. I think we’re doing pretty well, don’t you?”

  “I do. So tell me,” Todd said. “What do people do at a shower?”

  “Sometimes they play games. Then we eat and open presents.”

  The whole concept seemed foreign to Todd. “What kind of games?”

  “You know, little word-circling games on paper or dressing up the bride with toilet paper to form a wedding dress and veil.”

  “And this is going to be fun, right?”

  Christy laughed. “You’ll have a good time, Todd. At least you better. You’re the guest of honor.”

  Todd nodded. He ran his fingers through his short hair. “By any chance, have these guys said anything about doing anything at the shower tonight?”

  Christy finally understood why Todd was acting so nervous. He was expecting to be kidnapped at the shower the way he and the other guys had kidnapped Doug at his bachelor’s party. They had taken Doug to the Balboa ferry, made him wear a chicken costume, and then chained him to the boat.

  Suppressing a grin, Christy said, “Why do you ask?”

  “Just wondering.”

  Christy hadn’t heard any talk about the guys planning to kidnap Todd. But then, she guessed they wouldn’t tell her their plans.

  “I’m sure my aunt and uncle will keep this party under control.”

  “But it’s being hosted by Doug and Tracy, right?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Todd looked worried. Christy tried not to giggle.

  17 When Todd and Christy arrived at Bob and Marti’s, Christy found Tracy in the living room trying to pick up a name tag from the floor. But she seemed to find the task a challenge.

  “I can get that.” Christy bent effortlessly and placed the tag in the basket slung over Tracy’s arm.

  “Thank you. I gave up tying my shoes,” Tracy said. “I had to buy these slip-on loafers yesterday because my feet are so swollen. I’m not at my best as a pregnant woman.”

  “You look radiant,” Todd said.

  Christy turned to look at her kind fiancé.

  He leaned over and kissed Tracy on the cheek. “I mean that, Trace. I think you look good as a pregnant woman. You have a glow on your face. I think you’re beautiful.”

  Tracy looked as if she might cry. “Thank you, Todd.”

  Oh, you sweet man! I hope you remember to say all those wonderful things to me someday when my belly swells up twice the size of a basketball!

  “I didn’t hear you two come in,” Marti said, bustling into the living room. “Tracy, dear, shouldn’t you sit down?”

  “I’m okay.” Tracy shot Christy a look that said, “Just wait until it’s your turn to be pregnant!”

  “Todd, dear, Robert would like to see you in the garage.”

  “What about?” Todd’s question came out with an edge to it.

  Marti
looked offended. “He needs help with a table. I’ll go with you, Todd. Come.”

  Todd gave Christy a “farewell forever” glance and slowly headed to the garage.

  Christy whispered to Tracy, “Todd thinks the guys are going to kidnap him tonight and do something wild, the way they kidnapped Doug and chained him to the ferry.”

  “Would my precious husband ever do such a thing?”

  “Your precious husband isn’t the one I’m worried about,” Christy said. “One man alone isn’t a threat. It’s when all these men start brainstorming that I worry—especially with Rick back in the picture.”

  Todd and Doug marched into the living room, each carrying the end of a banquet-sized folding table. “Marti wants the gifts set up on this table,” Doug said. “She said to put it in front of the window. Could you move that rocking chair, Christy?”

  They all pitched in to set up the living room the way Aunt Marti wanted it. Doug didn’t seem to be scheming anything on the side. Although, who could tell with Doug? His face always had an impish grin on it.

  The guests began to arrive, and Marti greeted each one. She kept Tracy by her side with the basket of name tags and made sure each guest pinned on the proper tag. The black ones cut in the shape of a groom, complete with top hat, had the guys’ names written in white ink. The white paper cutouts of a bride in a full skirt had the girls’ names written in black ink. Christy thought the idea was cute but kind of funny, too, since everyone at the shower knew one another. No one was going to try to crash the party only to have Marti look in the basket and say, “No, sorry. I don’t see a little groom with your name on it. Go away!”

  The first game Marti directed was the one Christy had expected. The girls had five minutes to dress Christy as a bride with several rolls of toilet paper while the guys watched. Sierra single-handedly made the veil, which generated the most laughs. She snagged a roll of Scotch tape and somehow managed to make the strips of the veil stick straight out every which way.

  Christy saw her reflection in the living room window and said, “Sierra, I look like the Statue of Liberty!”

  The living room filled with waves of laughter. Several camera flashes went off as friends captured the moment on film. Christy stood patiently, letting it all roll over her. It was fun.

  Todd, however, looked as nervous as a cat when he was called up to stand beside Christy. The guys were to dress him as the groom with rolls of toilet paper. Todd shot a glance at Christy as if he expected at any moment to have a gunnysack thrown over his head, to be hauled out the front door, hoisted into a cargo plane, and flown to Aruba.

  All that happened was that Todd was wrapped up like a mummy with toilet paper strapping down his arms and covering his mouth, ears, and eyes. Doug joked that this was the truth about married life and for a final twist taped a wad of T.P. to Todd’s chest that looked like a boutonniere.

  Christy thought Todd looked hilarious all wrapped up, but she could tell by his nervous shuffling that he didn’t like being the center of attention, and he certainly didn’t like being blinded from any potential gunnysacks coming his way.

  A few cameras flashed as Christy stood beside Todd with her wild-woman wedding veil and her bouquet of tissue balls. Her reluctant mummy broke out of his graveclothes and pulled the tissue off his eyes and mouth.

  “Is that the last game?” he muttered to Christy as he peeled his cocoon and left the remains on the floor in a heap.

  “I hope so.” Christy gave his muscular arm three squeezes.

  It wasn’t enough to calm him. They were told to sit on the love seat by the gift table and to open the gifts. Todd looked behind the couch, apparently checking to make sure no one was hiding there.

  As Christy opened each gift, she warmly thanked the giver, making a point to comment on something special about each item. It was easy to praise Tracy for the gift she gave, a charming, pudgy china teapot covered with red cabbage roses.

  “It’s like the one we used at that teahouse in England,” Tracy said. “Remember, when you and I went to tea?”

  “Of course I remember. Thanks, Trace. I love it.”

  An image came to Christy that she knew would be humorous only to her. She saw herself heating up water on their camp stove and serving tea to Tracy from this beautiful china pot while sitting on the surfboard sofa. If she wore her wedding dress at the same time, she could have her picture taken and send it to a bridal magazine with the caption, “Outback bride at tea time.”

  Todd’s gifts included tools, a frying pan, and toenail clippers as a joke from Rick. They received bath towels, a salad bowl, and an ice-cream scoop that played an ice-cream-truck melody when you pushed a button on the handle.

  “We need one of those at The Dove’s Nest,” Katie told Rick.

  “I don’t think so.” He grinned at her in response.

  Christy noticed how cute they looked snuggled up next to each other. No one seemed to think their behavior unusual except for Marti. During the refreshments, she pulled Christy aside. “Just what is happening with Rick and Katie?”

  Christy wanted to say, “God is fulfilling His purpose for them,” but she hesitated. Marti didn’t deserve a flippant answer when she was asking a genuine question.

  “They are getting to know each other better,” Christy said.

  “How much better?” Marti raised an eyebrow.

  Sierra had been standing next to them and entered into the conversation. “You know about the unwritten rule at Rancho, don’t you?”

  “No,” Marti said, falling for Sierra’s little joke.

  “For every upper-class woman the guarantee is ‘a ring by spring or your money back.’”

  Marti didn’t find that humorous. “They certainly aren’t planning to get engaged any time soon, are they?”

  “I don’t know,” Christy said. “You could ask Katie.”

  “No, I wouldn’t ask such a thing. Really, Christina! A person’s love life is a personal matter.”

  “Besides,” Sierra said, “I’ve discovered that when two people are meant to be together, you can’t do anything to break them up. And if they aren’t meant to be together, you can’t do anything to keep them together.”

  Both Christy and Marti looked at Sierra, who was tucking a small strawberry into her mouth. Sierra turned to talk to someone else. Her wild mane of unruly blond curls followed her.

  “Honestly,” Marti said, “some of your friends are such . . .”

  “Individuals?” Christy offered.

  “Yes, individuals and uncontrollable.”

  Christy smiled. “I like my friends that way. They’re good for me.”

  Even though Marti wasn’t happy at the moment, she had worn a pleased expression when Christy and Todd had opened the last gift, which was from Bob and Marti. It was two place settings of china in the pattern Christy had selected weeks ago while shopping with Marti and her mom. Todd didn’t seem too appreciative, but Christy knew what the gift cost and made sure she expressed her delight to her aunt.

  She thanked Aunt Marti again when Todd and Christy were about to leave. “It was a wonderful shower.” Christy kissed Marti’s cheek. “The food was delicious, and I love the china. Thank you so much for everything.”

  “You sure you kids don’t want to stay the night?” Bob asked. “It’s pretty late for you to be driving.”

  “I have to start work at seven in the morning,” Todd said. “I think we’ll be okay. Thanks again for everything. Thanks, too, for letting us keep all the gifts here until we get our apartment.”

  “No problem. Drive safely,” Bob replied.

  “We will.”

  “Bye.” Christy blew them a kiss and headed down the sidewalk with Todd. She glanced above the house’s roof and noticed a full moon gracing the deep night sky.

  “We love you both,” Marti called out.

  Then Christy saw her aunt slip her arm around Uncle Bob’s waist and rest her head on his shoulder as she waved to them. The grin that lit up
Uncle Bob’s face was as bright as the full moon winking at Christy from the heavens above.

  She winked back. It was a perfect night for relentless lovers to do their wooing.

  Just as Christy and Todd reached their car, a wild war cry sounded. The party guests, who supposedly had left, came rushing at Todd and Christy from behind cars and bushes.

  Todd grabbed Christy and tried to protect her from whatever kind of attack was coming their way. All around them Silly String rained down. Dozens of canisters went off at the same moment as their friends circled them, and each squirted two cans over Todd and Christy. The laughing and squealing filled the night air. Christy laughed at Todd, who responded like a zealous Scottish warrior, protecting Christy with one arm and fending off the volley of Silly String with the other. Brightly colored string covered the couple; their friends were gleefully victorious.

  Todd decided on the way home that if that was the worst prank to be played on him, he had gotten off easy. During the month that followed, it appeared that was the case.

  The day Christy donned her cap and gown and received her college diploma, she found a glob of fluorescent green and orange Silly String in her good pair of shoes. It was also the day she started to sneeze and to experience itching eyes and a dripping nose. Her graduation ceremony and the following celebration dinner with her extended family and friends turned out to be a repeat of Todd’s graduation event, with most of the same people in attendance. Only at hers, Christy sneezed like crazy.

  Marti suggested Christy might have allergies since she had never lived in that area before. Different pollens existed there than the ones Christy had been acclimated to in Escondido, Marti pointed out.

  Her mother commented that Christy had dark circles under her eyes and asked if she wanted to go home that night.

  “I think I’ll stick with the original plan,” Christy said. “I’ll stay in the dorm tonight and try to sleep in. Tomorrow I’ll move all my things to Todd’s apartment.”

  “Our apartment,” Todd corrected her. They had secured a one-bedroom apartment in the same complex Rick lived in. Todd had moved his belongings over a few days ago, but Christy’s handful of worldly possessions was still in her dorm room.