“Over here, honey,” a male voice called out behind them. The man was wearing a blue baseball cap and holding a video camera. A blond-haired woman beside him came rushing up to give Tracy a hug. Apparently, they were her parents, and they were in on the scheme,
“Did you see the plane, Mom?” Tracy asked.
“Of course. Your dad captured the whole thing on tape. We were about ready to start yelling for you to look up, too!”
Another set of parents, quite obviously Doug’s by the strong father-son resemblance, made their way through the sand and told the whole group to smile while Doug’s mom snapped photos. Lots of hugs and pictures took place before Tracy and Doug left with their parents for what Tracy’s mom called their “celebration dinner.”
“I wonder when they’ll get married,” Katie said after the commotion had passed and everyone had settled back on the towels and beach chairs.
“Soon, if Doug gets his wish,” Todd said with a smile. “He graduates in a few months.”
“So do you.” Katie challenged. With a twinkle in her eye, she looked at Christy and then back at Todd. “Any chance of a double wedding?”
Todd looked fondly at Christy. “I don’t think so.”
Sierra noticed that Christy didn’t seem upset by his words, although Sierra couldn’t help but wonder how their argument from the day before had ended up.
Todd reached over and covered Christy’s hand with his. “I have some growing up to do,” he admitted to the group. “Christy and I had a long talk about it yesterday. Do you mind if I tell them?” Todd asked her.
Christy shook her head. Sierra thought Christy’s cheeks were turning red.
“You might as well,” Katie said. “Otherwise we’ll have to drag it out of Christy later tonight in our room under threat of a pillow war. She’s not exceptionally cooperative about these things, so it might be in her best interest if you tell us now.”
“I’ve pretty much been on my own since my parents divorced. This accident has been a good thing in that it has shown me I need to learn how to accept love from another person.”
“That person being, perhaps, Christy?” Katie interjected in her spunky way.
Todd gave Christy another tender smile. “Of course Christy. There isn’t anyone else. There never has been.”
Sierra thought her heart was going to melt all over the sand, and she would have to scoop it up in her towel, take it to the house, and put it in the refrigerator before she could get it back inside her. She couldn’t imagine a guy ever looking at her like that or saying those kinds of things to her.
“So, when I finish school, it looks as if I’m going to move down to Escondido, or at least near there, so Christy and I can get to know each other on a more consistent basis. Our relationship has always been in little pieces of time, separated by long stretches of being apart. We need to see how we do in average, day-to-day life.”
“Isn’t that what you find out once you’re married?” Larry said. “What’s wrong, Todd? Are you afraid to take any chances?”
Sierra realized she wasn’t the only one who assumed Todd and Christy would end up getting married. Everyone else seemed to think the same thing.
“You probably wouldn’t ask that if your parents were divorced,” Todd said. “It’s like I said—I have a few things to learn about loving another person for the rest of my life and letting that person love me. I’ve been too much of a loner for too long.”
No one said anything at first. They all knew he meant what he said. It made Sierra imagine how deep Todd’s love for Christy must be. He wasn’t willing to make any mistakes, even if it meant waiting to get married.
“I give him six months before he proposes,” Larry said.
Christy glanced shyly at Todd.
“You’re on.” Katie reached over and slapped Larry a high five.
“Get me five,” Antonio said, holding up his hand to Katie.
“You mean ‘give me five,’ ” Katie corrected him. “Not ‘get me.’ ”
“Oh, are you saying you’re getting sodas from that ice chest over there?” Antonio teased. “Then I don’t need five; I only need one. But perhaps my friends are thirsty as well. Larry? Gisele? What would you like? Katie’s getting five.”
fifteen
SIERRA HAD A LOT of thinking time the next morning. Today and tomorrow were her last days at the beach, and so many things still seemed to be tied up in knots inside of her. She hadn’t settled a thing with Tawni. Her jealousy seemed only to grow when Tawni and Jeremy had gone out alone last night for a long walk on the beach.
Her feelings of being a misfit kept her from sleeping well, so she was up at six. She quietly slipped into her clothes and went downstairs. After pouring herself a glass of orange juice, she settled into the plush white sofa in the living room, watching through the huge picture windows as the day began to wake up.
She prayed. She thought. She sipped her orange juice and prayed some more. Quiet footsteps padded down the stairs. Sierra watched the doorway and was surprised to see Christy.
“Hi,” Christy whispered.
“Hi.”
“Am I disturbing you?”
“No, not at all. I was just praying through some stuff.”
“Do you mind if I ask you a question?” Christy said, sitting down beside Sierra. “Is Tawni one of the things you’re praying about?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“I don’t have a sister, so I’ve never had to go through the kinds of things you and Tawni go through, but I think I know how you must feel sometimes.”
“I’m jealous,” Sierra said bluntly. “I know what the problem is, and I know it’s wrong, but I don’t know how to fix it. I try so hard to change my feelings and thoughts, but they keep coming back, even stronger.”
“I know what that’s like,” Christy said.
“Somehow I find it hard to believe you’ve ever been jealous of anyone,” Sierra said.
“You’d be surprised if you knew. As a matter of fact, I’m going to tell you. It was Tracy.”
“Tracy?”
“I find it hard to believe now, too,” Christy said. “When I first met Tracy, she and Todd were really close friends. I was so jealous of her. She and Todd gave me a Bible for my birthday, and I almost threw it back in her face. She even made me a fabric cover for it. Can you believe that?”
“No. When I met you two in England, you seemed like best friends who had never had a fight.”
“Relationships take time, Sierra. That’s what Todd and I are finding out. I think the main thing I’m learning is that it doesn’t help to try harder. Remember what Todd said the other day about my being like Marti because I was trying so hard? The only thing that works is surrendering—giving up all your rights and expectations and asking God to do a God-thing in your relationship.”
“Is that what happened with you and Tracy?”
“I guess so. Sort of. What helped me the most was when I got to know her. I realized that she and Todd were just good friends, and when I started to understand her, it was a lot easier to become her friend.”
“You know what’s really pathetic?” Sierra said. “I hardly know my sister. I mean, we live in the same house, but I don’t understand her at all. Maybe I do need to pray about this differently. Instead of asking God to change her, maybe I should try surrendering our relationship to Him and ask Him to do a God-thing.”
A smile dawned over Christy’s face. “Exactly.”
Sierra couldn’t help but notice that Christy was a natural beauty. Here it was, early in the morning, and her eyes sparkled and her skin glowed. Though uncombed, her hair hung soft and natural from the crown of her head.
“Thanks,” Sierra said. “I appreciate your advice.”
“You know what’s funny? Todd used to have this kind of spiritual discussion with me, and I’d never quite understand what he was saying. You’re a lot more spiritually sensitive than I was at your age.”
Christy’s w
ords acted as a bleak reminder that a gap of nearly three years existed between them. It brought up all those sinking feelings of not fitting in. Sierra’s expression must have changed because Christy reached over and patted her arm, saying, “I meant it as a compliment.”
Sierra gave her a forced smile and said, “I know. Thanks. It’s just that I’ve felt pretty high-schoolish being around all you guys this week. It didn’t feel that way in England, but now I realize how much I’m behind the rest of you in experience and age.”
“I don’t think of it that way.”
“I don’t know, Christy. Have you ever felt as if you were caught between two lives? The one you’re living, and the one you wish you were living?”
“I think everyone feels like that at one time or another. I know I did a couple of summers ago when I was a counselor at summer camp. I left home that week dreaming of adventure, romance, and great spiritual victories. I came home wanting all the familiar people and places in my life and wishing the old things would never change.”
“Do you think we’re ever happy?” Sierra said, glancing out at the brightness of the morning sun across the sand and sea.
“No,” Christy said quickly. “But I want to learn how to be. The verse I’ve been trying to memorize and put into practice this month is ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain.’ It’s 1 Timothy 6:6. Interesting, isn’t it?” Christy took a handful of her hair and flipped it back. “We’re both kind of learning the same thing: how to be happy where we are.”
“What surprised me this week is how complicated life can be. Like with you and Todd. I thought my life would be so much easier if I had a boyfriend. But then I see how you two still have a lot of things to work out and how it takes a lot of time and energy. That means your life is still complicated, even though you have a boyfriend.”
Christy laughed softly. “Uncle Bob once told me, ‘If you think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, try watering your own grass.’ ”
Sierra laughed. “That’s what it’s like, isn’t it? Here I am, watching everyone else carry on with his or her life and wishing I were on the other side of the fence. You’re right, Christy. I am going to ask God to teach me how to live like that—godly with contentment and paying attention to my side of the fence.”
“And don’t forget to water your own grass!” Christy added.
“And watering my own grass,” Sierra repeated.
They sat silently for a few moments in the large, quiet room. The rest of the household still wasn’t stirring. Sierra knew she had found a rare treasure of a friend in Christy because they were able to sit together silently and it didn’t feel awkward. The only other person she felt that level of comfort with was her Granna Mae.
“Do you feel like praying with me?” Sierra asked. “My mom and Granna Mae always pray with us, and well, this seems like a good praying time.”
“Sure.” Christy closed her eyes, and the two friends welcomed the new day with heartfelt prayers of praise and a few requests. Sierra surrendered her jealousy to the Lord and asked him to do one of His God-things between her and Tawni. Christy prayed for her aunt and uncle, and they prayed together for a swift healing for Todd and Uncle Bob.
Sierra was saying “Amen” when they heard someone come down the stairs. The both turned to see Marti in a purple silk robe.
“Whatever are you two doing up so early?”
Sierra was just about to say, “Just talking,” but Christy answered first. “Praying.”
“Oh really, Christina. Don’t be so flippant.”
“I’m not. We were praying for you and Uncle Bob,” Christy said.
Marti seemed to brush off the comment and turned toward the kitchen. “I’m going to make some coffee. Do you drink coffee, Sierra?”
“No, but I’ll have some tea if you happen to make any.”
“Me, too,” Christy said. “We’ll come make it. As a matter of fact, we’ll make the coffee too. Why don’t you go back to bed? We’ll bring the coffee to you.”
“Well,” Marti looked pleasantly surprised. “Now I know what they mean when they say ‘Prayer works.’ ” She grinned at her own little joke. “I’ll be upstairs. And you might want to bring a cup for your mother, Christy. She’s going home this morning since Bob’s coming out of the hospital today.”
“We’ll bring it right up.” Christy said, leading Sierra into the kitchen. Christy pulled the coffee beans out of the pantry, but she didn’t seem sure of what to do next.
“Do you know where the coffee grinder is?” Sierra asked.
“I’m not sure. My parents drink instant coffee. I don’t know how to make this.”
“Step aside,” Sierra said. “I learned all about how to make the perfect cup of coffee from Granna Mae. Why don’t you make the tea?”
They went to work searching for tea bags and the coffee grinder. Once the coffee began to brew, Sierra collected the cream and sugar and put them on the tray.
“Let’s cut up some fruit,” Christy suggested. “And bagels are probably in the freezer. Yep, here they are. Let’s take breakfast in to everyone in bed!”
Fifteen minutes later, they were heading upstairs, carefully balancing their two full trays and trying not to giggle. Everything had seemed funny to them as they prepared their love offering in the kitchen. Christy had even snatched some flowers from a bouquet on the dining room table and put them in juice glasses, one vase for each tray.
“Room service,” Christy said cheerfully as she opened the door to Marti’s bedroom with her elbow.
Marti was back in bed with the covers folded all nice and neat as if she had been patiently waiting for them. She reminded Sierra of Granna Mae, except that Marti’s comment was unlike anything Granna Mae would say. “What took you so long? You brought the nonfat creamer, I hope.”
“Yes, it’s all here,” Christy said, patiently unloading the coffee cup and accoutrements onto Marti’s nightstand. “Would you like some fruit or a bagel?”
“No. Your mother is in the shower, so you can leave her coffee over there. What’s the rest of this for?”
“We thought we would serve breakfast in bed to all the women in the household,” Christy said, still smiling. “Are you sure you don’t want some fruit?”
“Well, maybe just a slice of that cantaloupe.”
The other women were more appreciative. As Tawni took the coffee mug from Sierra, she said, “This smells wonderful. Thanks. Have the guys called yet?”
“Not that I know of,” Sierra said. “It’s still early.”
“Jeremy wants to take me to some restaurant he likes in Laguna Beach. We’ll probably make a day of it.”
“That sounds fun,” Katie said.
“He’s such an incredible guy,” Tawni said, sipping the coffee and looking as if her mind were still in a dream. “I can’t believe I met him.”
Sierra was about to let her feelings start bubbling up when Christy said, “Tell us what you like about him.”
“Well, you know him, Christy. He’s strong-minded and yet tender about so many things. He’s a deeply committed Christian, which makes all the difference in the world from the last few guys I’ve been interested in. He treats me like an equal, and at the same time he does little things to let me know he cares about me.”
Sierra was about to interject one of her typically rude comments, but something stopped her. The Holy Spirit, maybe? She realized that if Katie were talking about Antonio or Christy about Todd, Sierra would be making all kinds of affirming comments to let her friends know how happy she was that they had found great guys. Why couldn’t she be supportive of her sister?
“I’m really happy for you, Tawni,” Sierra said, her voice and expression reflecting her sincerity.
“You are?”
“Yes, I am. I think he’s a dream come true, and I’m really glad you met him.”
“Thanks,” Tawni said.
Sierra glanced at Christy out of the corner of her eye and caught a
slight wink her heart-friend was sending her way—silent applause for this not-so-minor victory.
sixteen
THE REST OF THE DAY filled up quickly. Christy’s mom left, Marti went back to the hospital with Todd and Christy to bring Uncle Bob home, Tawni and Jeremy left at eleven for their big lunch date, and Sierra and Katie hung out at the beach with the rest of the bunch. Doug and Tracy didn’t show up. Heather said they were spending the day making plans.
Sierra decided it was time to “water her own grass” and put her whole heart into teaching herself to surf. She bravely asked to borrow Todd’s battered orange surfboard, and for more than two hours, she tried to ignore her aching arms as she paddled out again and again. Finally, she caught a wave and managed to stand up and keep her balance all the way to shore. No one saw her. No one was waiting to applaud. But she knew she had done something she had always wanted to do, and the feeling it gave her was, to use Doug’s word, “awesome.”
After a short nap in the sun, she challenged Antonio to a game of paddleball. They went down to the water and began to throw a ball to each other, catching it with Velcro-lined mitts. Katie had taken Todd’s board back out and was hard at work trying to catch a good one. Sierra decided to be brave and ask Antonio if she could borrow his board. She took it out like a pro and bobbed about with Katie, waiting for the afternoon swell to pick up.
They talked, paddled, floated, and laughed. Sierra knew she would never forget this afternoon, not because anything spectacular was happening but simply because she felt so fully alive. Her heart felt fresh and clean, and she loved the sense of freedom the ocean gave her.
Katie began talking about Antonio. Sierra decided to bring up Randy and the date next Friday night.
“Good choice on the corsage suggestion,” Katie said. “When I went to the prom, my date gave me this hilarious green carnation. It looked like a head of lettuce!”
“I don’t know why I said peach. I should have said white roses. They would go with anything.”