"I don't know why, but somehow I feel it's the best thing for him right now. And I don't think it's because of you and Rick. He's talked about going on the surfing tour ever since I've known him. I think it's the kind of thing a person has to do when the opportunity comes along. He needs to get it out of his system."
"I guess I should be glad for him that he has this chance," Christy said.
Tracy paused. "He told me he's glad you're going out with Rick."
Christy thought she had already cried all the tears her body had. Not so. A fresh reserve of them bubbled up. In a wild gush, she poured out her heart to her friend.
Bob knocked on the door just then and said, "I'll leave this tray out here. You can get it whenever you're ready."
Christy cupped her hand over the phone and weakly called out, "Thank you." Then she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. "Listen to me," she said to Tracy. "I'm a mess!"
"You have a lot going on and no time to think it all through. You're doing fine considering the circumstances."
"But I've completely ruined my relationship with Todd!"
"No, you haven't. Todd doesn't give up on any of his friends, ever. He'll never turn his back on you. Remember, it's not as if you broke up. Your friendship went into a different phase, that's all. You're changing, as he said. You're giving each other room to grow."
"How? How am I helping him grow? He's the one who told me to grow up."
"Don't you see though? If you hadn't come with Rick last night, Todd might never have been prompted to make that final decision to go on the surfing tour. The opportunity might have passed him by, and in a few years he would have regretted it."
"Tracy, I think you're saying all of this to make me feel better."
"Oh really? Well, how am I doing?"
"Not bad, I guess. You have me smiling at least. Hang on a second. I'm going to grab my breakfast from the hallway."
Christy brought the tray of fruit, orange juice, and a blueberry muffin back to her bed and snuggled under the sheets. She and Tracy talked for almost an hour, and by the time they hung up, Christy felt more settled about letting Todd go.
After all, he was part of her past, and now it was time to move on to a real relationship with a guy who thought she was wonderful. Obviously, Todd didn't see her that way or he would have tried to win her back from Rick. Todd cared more about surfing than he did about her.
Slipping into a pair of cutoff jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt, Christy ventured out on the back patio. Marti, wearing a stylish black and ivory sleeveless dress, sat in the shade of the table umbrella, going through a cookbook and affixing yellow sticky tabs to certain pages.
Pulling the lounge chair around so she faced Marti, she plunged right in. "I'm sorry about last night and this morning, Aunt Marti. You were right. It wasn't a very wise idea for me to take off by myself. I promise I won't do it again. I'm really sorry."
Marti let out a sigh. "I suppose it's all part of growing up, dear."
"Yeah," she said, half to her aunt, half to herself. "Growing up seems to be my problem today."
Not catching any deeper meaning in Christy's statement, Marti continued. "Your uncle and I have tried to be lenient whenever you've stayed with us. And until now, you've been quite dependable. I would hate to see you lose your privileges due to irresponsibility."
"I know; you're right."
"You know we trust Todd completely. He's become like a son to Bob. But we don't know Rick, and although Bob said he seemed like a nice young man, you can't be too careful these days."
"Am I through getting yelled at?"
Marti looked offended. "I'm not yelling at you."
"I know, but you know what I mean. Because if you are, I'd like to ask you something." Christy shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand so she could see her aunt's reaction.
"You can come to me at anytime with any question. You know that. You've always known that. And you know I was not yelling at you."
"I know."
"So what's your question?"
"Do you think I'm old enough to go steady?"
"With Todd? Certainly." Marti answered without a speck of hesitation and returned to her cookbook.
"It'd be a little difficult to go steady with someone who's moving to Hawaii tomorrow."
"What?" Marti's reaction assured Christy that she now had her aunt's full attention.
It took more than twenty minutes to give Marti the details. When Christy finished, Marti said, "Why didn't you tell me all of this?"
"I did. Just now."
"This is a horrendous amount of decision-making for you to attempt on your own. You should have told me about Rick last night when you came in. And why didn't you tell us you were with Todd this morning on the beach? Christy, you must talk to someone about these things, and when your mother isn't around, you know you can always come to me."
"I know. I am. So what do you think? Am I old enough to go out with Rick?"
"Your mother will say no."
"I know. That's why I'm asking you." Christy could feel her legs getting sunburned and shifted to her side.
"I don't suppose you thought to put on some sunscreen?" Marti asked. "And are those the best shorts you have? You certainly can't wear those tonight when Rick comes to pick you up."
"I have a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt with me too," Christy said, knowing her aunt was not going to give her a straight answer to her question.
She also knew Marti was about to make an announcement of some sort. It seemed to be her way of taking control. She always lifted one of her eyebrows before making a declaration.
"And what about school clothes? What are you going to wear next week when school starts? I don't suppose you've gone shopping yet, have you?"
"No. The first few weeks are always hot, and everyone wears shorts."
Christy knew what was coming. She'd been shopping plenty of times with Marti. Even though she didn't always welcome her aunt's indulgences when it came to clothes, today Christy was delighted with the idea of buying something new to wear for Rick when he came to pick her up. She'd never felt that way with Todd, but then Todd had never noticed or commented on her outfits the way Rick did.
Christy's prediction was correct. A wild and generous shopping trip was in her immediate future. They had only two hours, which turned out to be all the time they needed since money was no object.
They arrived home with enough new clothes to last Christy the entire first semester. She felt excited at the thought of wearing a new outfit on every one of her upcoming dates with Rick.
At five o'clock, Christy heard the doorbell ring and quickly pulled on her new jeans. They were more in style than any of her other jeans. Pulling them up and zipping them, she felt like a model.
At Marti's suggestion, Christy had brushed her hair to one side and fastened it back with some new clips. She had never tried her hair this way before, and it made her feel even more like a model.
Galloping down the stairs, Christy anticipated seeing Rick standing in the entryway. He told her once that he liked her in red, so she specifically wore a new red shirt.
Instead of Rick, Alissa stood by the front door, chatting with Uncle Bob.
"Alissa!" Christy greeted her friend. "I didn't realize you were still here on vacation. And look at your hair! It's adorable!"
When Christy and Alissa met on the beach last summer, Alissa's long blond hair had been a point of envy for Christy and half a dozen other girls. Alissa's gorgeous mane was now cut short. She turned around so Christy could see how cropped it was in the back.
"You like it? It's the new me. Everything else about me has changed this summer; why not my hair?"
"You look great! I'm so glad to see you. Come on in." Christy led the way to the plush living room sofa. Before they could sit down, the doorbell rang again.
"I'll get it," Bob called out.
Christy knew it would be Rick this time. She felt eager to see him and even more eager to introduce him to Alissa.
Alissa had had a rough year. She had become pregnant and moved away, had a baby girl, and then gave her up for adoption about a month ago. Right after that she had returned to visit California with her mother. That's when she gave her heart to the Lord. Alissa had changed a lot. Christy wanted her to meet as many Christians as possible, including Rick.
"Hello, ladies," Rick said, stepping into the living room and eyeing Alissa.
When Christy made the introductions, Rick said, "You'll have to come down to Escondido sometime."
"It would have to be tomorrow," Alissa said. "We're going back to Boston next week."
"Why not come with us tonight?" Rick volunteered. "Your parents wouldn't mind if she stayed overnight, would they, Christy?"
"No, not at all. That really would be fun, Alissa. I was hoping to spend some more time with you before you left."
"Thanks, but I've already got something going on tonight. Doug called, and they're having some kind of surprise going-away party. That's why I stopped by. Doug told me you were here, and I thought we could go together."
"Going-away party?" Rick asked.
"It's for Todd. He's leaving tomorrow for Hawaii to go to school or surfing or something. Anyway, Doug is trying to throw a party together, and I told him if it was for Todd, I'd be there. Have you met Todd, Rick? He is the most incredible guy."
"Yeah, I've met Todd, all right. So he's leaving, huh?" Rick's grin looked a little too smug for Christy. At the same time, she felt relieved that Rick had heard about Todd this way. It would prove to Rick that she was completely available to be with him. If Rick believed Todd was a part of the past, maybe Christy could believe it too.
"Do you both want to go with me?" Alissa asked.
Rick looked like he was about to answer for them, the way he'd answered Doug last night, when Marti made a grand entrance.
"Actually," she said, "we have other plans. I'm sure you two girls will be able to get together in Escondido, don't you think, Christy?"
"Sure. I'll draw you a map to my house, Alissa. Come anytime tomorrow after church, like around one. Okay?" Christy excused herself to find a piece of paper.
Bob met her at the kitchen doorway with a pad of paper in his hand and a concerned look on his face. "You sure you want to let Todd go just like that? Marti told me about this morning on the beach. Are you sure you don't want to try to smooth things out? I could entertain Rick if you and Alissa want to go to Doug's."
"No, it would only make things worse. It's better this way. Really. Todd and I will always be friends. I'm dating Rick now, and I wouldn't want to be rude to him and put him off after he drove all the way up here." With each word, Christy further believed she was right.
"You're sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. You'll like Rick once you get to know him. Really."
"Apparently your aunt is going to see to that. She's made plans for the four of us to have dinner in Laguna Beach." Bob handed her the pad of paper, and Christy quickly drew the map.
"Thanks," she said.
"Don't thank me," Bob mumbled. "I'm not sure I'm doing you any favors."
After all the plans were settled and Alissa said good-bye, Marti turned to Rick. In her sweetest voice, she said, "I hope you don't mind my making dinner plans for us?"
"Not at all. It was actually very kind of you, Mrs.-"
"Oh, please, call me Marti."
Right then and there, Christy knew her aunt was smitten by Rick's charm. Now if only Bob would give his approval.
That was Christy's hidden goal during dinner. More than once she tried to get Rick onto a topic that sparked an interest in Bob. It proved to be quite a challenge, since Bob seemed to be taking her "breakup" with Todd personally.
The food at the quaint restaurant Marti had picked out on the Pacific Coast Highway was delicious. The atmosphere, with the beach only a few yards away, was delightful, and being with Rick was dreamy.
Marti did everything she could to keep the conversation light and cheery. Christy played along, even though she thought her aunt was acting like she and Christy were friends out on a double date on a summer night.
When Rick finished eating, he leaned back in his chair and rested his arm across the back of Christy's chair. As the four of them talked, Rick's warm hand rubbed the back of her neck. Christy loved feeling adored. This was what she'd always dreamed it would be like with a boyfriend.
"How about a stroll?" Marti suggested. "Most of the shops along here are still open. What do you think?"
"Sure. Sounds good to me." Rick stood and offered Christy his hand.
She felt so secure slipping her hand in his and feeling his strong fingers wrap around hers like a blanket. Rick held her hand firmly during their entire walk, and Christy loved it.
The only time he let go was in a pottery shop when he found a vase.
"Here," he said, carrying it to the cash register and fishing for his wallet, "you're going to need this."
She laughed at his impulsive manner and wondered what he meant. The vase was rather masculine-looking, with black streaks across a dark blue ceramic base. It looked handmade and earthy. She didn't particularly like it.
Rick's mysterious statement made sense when they returned to Bob and Marti's and loaded all her things into the back of Rick's car. On the front seat a bouquet of red roses awaited her.
"What are these for?" she asked shyly after Rick had started the car.
"For my girlfriend."
"They're beautiful," Christy said, nuzzling her nose into their velvet petals.
"Not nearly as beautiful as you. You look like my red rose tonight. Did I tell you how good you look? I like your hair like that. Not that you should wear it that way all the time, but tonight it looks good. Makes you look older."
"Does it make me look too much older? I mean, does it make me look like I'm trying to look older?" Christy asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"Not at all," Rick said. "You look just right. I like it when a girl takes the time to make herself look good for her boyfriend. It shows she really cares about him, and she cares about what people will think of him when they see her with him. And the way you look, I'd never be embarrassed for people to see us together."
I know he meant that as a compliment, but somehow it didn't sound exactly right. Was he trying to warn me that I should always make sure I look good when we go out? It's a good thing Marti just made a major contribution to my wardrobe!