Part 20 (1/2)

Christy remembered a conversation she had had with Todd several weeks ago after Katie had acted so strangely in the school parking lot. Todd's advice had been to release her and wait. What was that other part he had said about the true test of love? Something about how the strength of love is when you can let go.

Katie showed incredible strength when she let go of Michael. Now it was Christy's turn to let go of her goal of making Katie feel happy. If Katie needed to feel sad for a while, then she needed to be released by Christy to feel sad.

Biting her lower lip. Christy determined to try to understand what would be best for Katie, to somehow release her and not take her angry words personally.

”Okay.” Christy said, ”I'm trying to understand. I want you to know that you're free to feel whatever you feel and say whatever you want to say around me. I know I won't always understand it all, but I want to try. So please don't think you have to act a certain way this weekend. Just be whatever you need to be. And I promise I'll stop trying to cheer you up.”

”Thanks, Chris,” Katie said, releasing a giant sigh. ”I don't want to mess up this weekend for you and Todd.”

”You won't. Besides, it's our weekend too-yours and mine. And you need to be free to feel whatever you're going to feel.”

”I hope you never go through this, Christy. You can't imagine how powerful your emotions can be. I think I'd rather have my toenails pulled out one by one by an army of ferocious snapping turtles.”

Christy laughed, and Katie cracked a smile.

”I don't know why,” Katie said, ”but I feel a little better.”

”Good.” Christy flashed Katie a comforting smile.

When they arrived at Bob and Marti's, Todd's old VW bus, Gus. was parked in the driveway. Christy felt warmed inside just knowing he was there waiting for her.

The girls hauled their weekend luggage to the front door and were met with a round of hugs from Todd, Doug, Bob, and Marti. To Christy it seemed like a ”welcome home” party. Katie looked a little wary, as if she were suspicious of everyone's warm affections.

”You ladies hungry? Something to drink, perhaps?” Uncle Bob, always the gracious host, looked as if he had just come from the golf course. He had on a light blue knit s.h.i.+rt, khaki shorts, and white deck shoes with no socks. For a man in his early fifties who had never had children, he looked and acted like one of the college boys.

”Sure,” Christy said, ”I could go for something. How about you, Katie?”

Marti, Christy's pet.i.te aunt, grasped Katie's arm with her long, perfectly manicured nails. ”I heard you've become quite the healthy eater. I'm so pleased! Wait until you see what I bought just for you and me this weekend.” Marti led Katie through the swinging door into the kitchen, and the rest of them followed.

”Look!” Marti said with glee. ”Organic carrots that I just ran through my juicer.” She poured a tall gla.s.s of the thick, very orange juice and handed it to Katie.

Katie graciously accepted and lifted the gla.s.s to her lips. Christy felt s.h.i.+vers just looking at the gloppy juice. She didn't know how Katie could manage to drink it.

Katie took a sip. ”It's very good, Marti. Thanks.”

Christy thought she detected tears glistening in Katie's puffy eyes.

”Here, Christy,” Marti said, pouring another gla.s.s. ”You'll have to try some.”

”I really don't think I can, Aunt Marti. Thanks, but I'd like a gla.s.s of water if that's okay.”

Marti looked disappointed, but only for a moment before she turned her attention back to Katie, who had taken another swig of the juice. ”I have spinach quiche for us for breakfast, and tomorrow for lunch I'll make you some of my jicama, alfalfa sprout, and currant salad. You'll love it.”

”Don't go to any trouble on my account,” Katie said.

”Are you kidding? This is a dream come true for me! I've been trying to get Christy to eat like this for years. Goodness knows, Robert will never try my food. I'm thrilled to have someone to share my recipes with.”

”And if you get tired of rabbit food,” Bob said with a twinkle in his eye, ”you can share my recipes for some real food like doughnuts, bean dip, and pork chops.”

”And that's just for breakfast,” Doug said, and they all laughed.

Doug was the kind of guy who seemed to always be in a good mood. Tall, with sandy blond hair and a little boy smile, he was famous for his big hugs.

Christy was laughing until she looked over at Katie. Katie had placed the half-empty gla.s.s on the counter, and now tears were trickling down her face. She quickly wiped them with the back of her hand and blinked away their companions. Then, with her head down, she quietly slipped out of the kitchen.

”Is she all right?” Marti asked. ”It wasn't something I said, was it?”

”No, she's okay. She's just hurting.” Christy said.

”Well then, go after her and cheer her up!” Marti said.

”I already tried that,” Christy said. ”I think she just needs to be alone for a bit. She'll be okay.”

”Why don't I take her things up to her room,” Bob offered and left the kitchen.

The rest of them stood in silence, looking at each other. None of them seemed to know what to do or say.

”She'll be okay,” Christy repeated. ”She'll be better tomorrow.”

Christy could only hope she was right.

At 8:45 the next morning Todd, Doug, Christy, and Katie piled into Gus the Bus and cheerfully waved good-bye to Bob and Marti.

”Say hi to Mickey Mouse for me.” Bob called out.

”I'll save the rest of the spinach quiche for when you come home, Katie,” Marti said.

Todd popped Gus into gear, and they sputtered down the road.

”Boy, does this feel like a time warp.” Christy reached over and gave Todd's arm a squeeze. ”Remember the last time you took me to Disneyland, and Bob and Marti sent us off?”

”I still remember what Bob said.” Todd replied with a grin that made his dimple appear. *”Have fun. I won't worry about you unless it's after midnight and we haven't heard from you yet.' I thought for sure you would turn into a pumpkin if I didn't have you back by midnight!”

”All I remember is that Tracy was sitting right here,” Christy said, pointing to where she sat in the front seat. ”And I thought you had invited her to go with us, but you were only giving her a ride to work.”

”That's right.” Todd looked like it was hard for him to remember that part.

”I felt horrible because I snapped at Tracy, and then she sweetly handed me a birthday present.”

”What was it?” Katie asked.

”My Bible. It was actually from Todd and Tracy, but she made the fabric cover on it.”

”I never knew that,” Katie said. ”A lot of Christians were nice to you before you came to know the Lord, weren't they?”

Christy interpreted that as a little jab that she hadn't been nicer to Michael. She realized Katie was right. She was about to answer with an apology when Todd stopped at a red light. He hopped out of the van and jogged around to Christy's door.

”What's he doing?” Katie asked.

Christy couldn't answer but let out a bubble of delighted laughter. This was their intersection. This was where Todd had first kissed her and where he had given her the gold ”Forever” ID bracelet she wore on her right wrist. Todd opened Christy's door, and practically scooping her up in his arms, he helped her out of the van. Together they ran to the front of the vehicle, and in front of Doug and Katie and the whole world, Todd wrapped his arms around Christy and quickly kissed her. Then he let go as fast as he had embraced her, and they each ran to their side of Gus and hopped in just as the light turned green. Todd slid the van from neutral to first gear and drove on as if nothing unusual had happened.