I Do (12 page)

“Such a sophisticated girl,” added Jenny. “Just look at her. She looks like she stepped off the cover of ‘Vogue.’”

And Jenny was right. It's as if Beanie had really come into her own lately. I mean, she wasn't only dressed fantastically with tall brown boots and a chocolate brown wool suit to die for, but she looked absolutely stunning too. I know she's lost weight, but I wouldn't dare mention this in front of Jenny.

Not that Beanie was skinny; she's not. But with her height and dark good looks, well, she just looks very hot. And I noticed guys looking our way today. I have a feeling it was Beanie who was catching their eye this time. A fun change since high school when we always felt it was Jenny's Catherine Zeta-Jones kind of good looks that got all the male attention. But back to Beanie.

“It's a full scholarship,” Beanie told us. “And it's one of the best design schools in the country. I'll finish up their undergraduate program by summer, since my credits were mostly transferable, and I'll start the graduate program next fall. I get to intern with one of the big designers, and my counselor told me that based on my portfolio, it will be someone big!” The pitch of her voice had gotten higher, and for a moment I expected her to let out a squeal, but she was trying to keep up her sophisticated persona.

“Oh, Beanie!” I exclaimed. “I am so excited for you. That must be so cool. I can't even imagine going to school in New York City. Manhattan even.”

“Well, most of my classes are in Brooklyn. But hey, New York is New York. And even though I was only there a few days, I felt totally at home. When I told my mom this–do you know what she said?”

“What?” asked Jenny.

“She said that's probably because that's where my dad was from.”

“Wow. Amazing.”

“Have you seen your dad?” asked Jenny.

Beanie shook her head. “Someday, when I have time or when I'm rich and famous, I think I'll hire someone to see if they can locate him through one of those Internet searches.” Then she shrugged. “Or not. I guess if he doesn't care about seeing me, then maybe I don't care either.”

“More about New York,” I said, eager to change the subject.

“When I went for my first interview, I about fell over to see all the big designers lined up right next to the school. There was Liz Claiborne, Gitano, Benetton, Perry Ellis,…just to name a few. I was so impressed.”

“I am so envious,” said Jenny. “Your life is so exciting, Beanie.”

“Beanie has been working hard,” I reminded Jenny. “She has real talent, and it's about time she got some recognition and a good break.”

Jenny nodded. “I know. And I'm so happy for her. I just wish I could go with her. Be a mouse in her pocket, you know?”

Beanie held open her jacket pocket. “Hop in, little Jenny Mouse. Come on along.” Then she laughed. “The truth is you'd have to be the size of a mouse to fit into my room with me. While I was there I met the girls I'll be rooming with, and the room is about ten foot square–for four girls. Can you imagine? They said the real bugaboo is closet space. Some girls have to rent storage spaces to hold their off-season clothes.”

“What will you do?” asked Jenny.

“I'm thinking I'll go minimalist,” said Beanie. “But it'll be a challenge, since you have to look like a million bucks while you're interning if you want to be taken seriously.” She sighed. “I have to admit that some of this kind of bugs me. I mean, I love design. No doubt about that. But it's the creative part that I get into. I'm not sure how I really feel about the money end of the industry.”

“Kind of hard to separate that,” commented Jenny.

“Yeah, but I'm praying for God to lead me in this.”

“He will,” I assured her. “Just keep your eyes on Him.”

“That may be a challenge,” said Jenny. And we both looked at her as if we expected more. “Well, you know. The fashion industry is probably one of the most shallow, worldly industries out there.”

Beanie nodded. “I realize that. But I still have to wonder why things can't change. Why can't a godly
woman design clothing that honors God and looks attractive on women?”

Jenny held up her drink cup as if to toast her. “Why not?”

I held up my cup too. “Why not?”

And Beanie joined us. “Here's to why not.”

We finished our lunch and visit, then all went our separate ways to shop. We decided it would be easier this way, since the mall was crowded and we all had different places to go. “But I want you two to come over for dinner this week,” I told them. “I thought you might help me do a little wedding planning.” So we agreed on Friday and then set off to brace ourselves against the crowds and the tinny-sounding Christmas music playing every-where.

But I'll have to admit, I kind of enjoyed the whole Christmas-at-the-mall scene today–distracted shoppers rushing around overloaded with bags, fidgety kids waiting in line to see Santa, and all the cheesy mall decorations they bring out of mothballs every year, shortly after Halloween. Well, I thought it was all rather charming. Maybe it's because I'm in love and engaged and just slightly giddy. Maybe I'm seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. But hey, I actually liked it.

As usual, I didn't have a whole lot of money to spend on gifts, but after several hours, I think I finally got them nailed. Of course, Josh was the hardest. What do you get your fiancé on the first Christmas that you're officially together? I know that neither of us have much
money, so I'm sure not expecting anything fancy or expensive. But I wanted to get him something nice, something that he would have years from now to remember.

And okay, it probably sounds a little old-fashioned, but I decided to get him cuff links–the kind they engrave initials onto. But instead of getting JM (Josh Miller), I decided to get JC (Josh and Caitlin). And after the lady showed me the finished product, it occurred to me that JC also stands for Jesus Christ. I thought that was pretty cool.

While I was waiting for the cuff links, I even looked at guys' wedding rings, since I realized that this is something I'm supposed to eventually get for Josh. And I found several in platinum that I think would look nice on him. I decided that when I get the ring, I'll have it engraved too. I think I'll have it engraved to say “JC Forever,” and maybe I could get that on my wedding band too.

Then I searched and searched until I found the perfect romantic card. And okay, cuff links and a card isn't much of a gift, but it's the best I can do right now. I have a feeling Josh will appreciate it, and I'm hoping he'll wear the cuff links at our wedding. Yeah, yeah, call me corny or sentimental or whatever. But that's just me.

“I just got a call from Saint Matthew's,” Josh told me on the phone this morning. “There's been a cancellation on June 1.”

“Really?” I asked.

“The only problem is that it's the evening slot. What do you think about an evening wedding?”

I considered this. “I guess I never thought about it. I don't know why.”

“Well, do you want to go over to the church and check it out with me? Have you ever been inside it before?”

“No, but I've admired the architecture from the outside.”

“Are you busy for lunch today?”

“Hmm, let me check my calendar,” I teased.

“Can you squeeze me in?”

“I always have time for you, Josh.”

So after a quick lunch, we went over to Saint Matthew's. The secretary recognized Josh right off.

“It's little Joshua Miller,” she said in a sugary voice. “Do you remember me from second grade Sunday school?”

He smiled and shook her hand. “I sure do. And this is my fiancée Caitlin o'Conner. Caitlin, this is Mrs. Price.”

“A pleasure to meet you, dear. Goodness, you two make a very lovely couple. I can imagine it's going to be a beautiful wedding. Are you overwhelmed with all the planning, dear?”

I smiled at her. “I'm trying not to be.”

She nodded. “Good for you. It is only one day, you know. What really counts is what comes afterward.” She winked at Josh. “Mr. Price and I just celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary.”

We both congratulated her, then Josh assured her that he still knew his way around the church, if she had more important matters to take care of. To our relief, she does. Then Josh took my hand, as if I were a princess, and slowly walked me into the sanctuary, which I must admit is quite beautiful.

It's not the kind of velvet-drape beautiful where things are carved and gold plated and over the top. It's more a stately elegance of old wooden surfaces that have been worn and polished over many years until there's a warm patina that just glows. And I was relieved to see that the carpet wasn't red. For some reason I have a problem with walking down a red-carpeted aisle. I guess I don't want to feel as if I'm at the Academy Awards and about to get my first Oscar. But this carpet is a nice dark mossy shade that goes well with the wood.

And then there are the stained glass windows. All those jewel-toned colors radiating light almost take your breath away. But suddenly I remembered something.

“Oh, Josh, the windows are magnificent. But if it's nighttime, they'll be dark and it won't be as pretty.”

He considered this. “But it will only be seven o'clock. And it will be June. We'll have daylight for at least two more hours.”

I smiled and hugged him. “You're so smart.”

He laughed. “I hope you'll always be so easy to impress.”

Then we both stand there for several minutes, just allowing the quiet ambience to surround us. And it sounds
weird, because I really don't ever think of God as being confined to one place, but I was sure I felt His presence in this room. And I know Josh felt it too. It was almost like a hallowed moment. Neither of us said anything but simply turned and left.

“It's perfect,” I told him once we were in the hallway.

Josh smiled. “I'm glad you like it. I actually have a lot of good childhood memories in this church.”

“But what about the reception?”

“There's a room that they use,” he told me. “Do you want to see it?”

“Of course.” And feeling as if we've hit the jackpot, I couldn't help but smile as he led me down a hallway then finally opened a set of double doors. But this room wasn't anything like I'd hoped. Besides the fact that the ceiling felt low and the carpeting was dark blue, there were no windows, and it felt claustrophobic.

“Not so great, is it?” said Josh.

“It doesn't feel right to me.”

“Me neither. Well, we can't figure it all out in a day, Cattie.”

“That's right. And I have no doubts that God knows the perfect place for a reception.”

As Josh drove me back to my grandma's house, it began to snow. “Oh, look,” I said. “Do you think we'll have a white Christmas after all?”

He frowned. “Not according to the weather guy on Channel 9 news.”

“I hope he's wrong.”

“So where do you think would be the perfect place for a reception?” he asked as he stopped at a red light.

I paused to consider this. “I'm not sure. But since it'll be June, it might be nice to be outside, or does that seem weird?”

“Not to me. I think an outdoor reception would be awesome.”

“But I don't really want to have it in someone's backyard. And I don't think any of the parks around here would work. Well, unless…”

“Unless what, Catie?”

“Well, I don't think it'd really work.”

“What?”

“Remember the spot by the lake where you proposed?”

Josh smiled as the light turned green. “I'll never forget that night.”

“Wouldn't it be amazing to have a reception by the lake?”

He nodded. “But that spot is kind of tricky. There isn't any parking, and people would have to walk a ways in.”

“And that'd be hard bringing in things like the cake and chairs and stuff.” I felt slightly disappointed. “But if I could wave my magic wand and get everyone there and everything in place, I know it would be beautiful.”

Then we're at my grandma's house and it looked to me as if the Channel 9 weatherman was wrong because the snow was coming down hard and heavy. “Isn't it beautiful?” I said as he pulled into the driveway.

“Yes.” He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “you are.”

Of course, this made me laugh. “Thanks for lunch, Josh.”

“Glad you don't turn your nose up at fast food.”

“Hey, any food with you is a feast.”

This cracked him up. “We're turning into a couple of cornballs.”

“Cornballs.” I laughed. “That's a good one.”

Then we kissed and I let him go so he could make it back to work before his lunch hour ended.

It's about nine in the morning
when Josh calls me with an urgent sound to his voice. “Caitlin, I think I know where we can have the reception.”

“Really? Where?”

“Are you busy right now?”

“No, but can you get off work in the middle of the morning?”

He laughs. “You'll have to figure out that a pastor's workweek isn't exactly a nine-to-five gig. Between Sundays and evening services, Bible studies, youth group meetings–”

“Okay, I get it. When will you be here?”

“Ten minutes.”

But Josh won't tell me where we're going as he drives across town. For a moment I think it's the same place that he proposed, but then he drives past the park and
keeps going on around the lake. And since everything has turned into a winter wonderland, I don't even care where he's headed. I'm just staring out the window in amazement, drinking in the loveliness. The sun has just come out, and the lake looks amazing surrounded by white snow.

“Do you know where we're going?” he finally asks.

“No, should I?”

“You've been there before.”

“Really? With you?”