Coming Attractions (33 page)

His boldness surprised the response right out of Katie’s mouth. “No! Don’t pray any more. Not for me. Don’t pray for anything.”
She felt her face blush in a fluster and quickly trounced through the grassy field back to the chapel. Scenes from the past
year flashed through her mind with each step.

In this same meadow a year ago Katie had chased Todd and Christy’s getaway limo. She lost a shoe and her floral head wreath
in the mad dash. Eli approached her that day with the lost “halo,” and she nonchalantly told him to toss it.

Instead, Eli hung the wreath from the rearview mirror of his car. Months later, when Katie asked him about why he kept the
dried-out wreath, he told her it reminded him to pray. For her. Eli had been praying for her for a year.

So what? That doesn’t change anything.

Katie fought the urge to glance at him over her shoulder.

Why didn’t anyone tell me he was going to be the best man? Why does he have to look so… so… good? What’s wrong with me? Come
on, Katie, breathe. This doesn’t change anything. Couple more days, and he will be gone. And you’ll be…

She yanked open the chapel’s door and saw Julia standing there, holding her bouquet and posing for a photo by the stained-glass
window.

Katie blinked away the piercing revelation that she didn’t know where she would be in a few more days.
Don’t think about that now. This is Julia’s day. This is her moment. You are the woman of honor. Time to do the honorable
thing and put your full attention on the bride.

Julia’s parents stood to the side. Inhaling fresh courage, Katie went to them and whispered, “Did you see your corsage there
in the box? And your boutonniere? Let me get them for you.”

From that moment on, all was movement, photos, smiles, and guests arriving and filling the seats.

The violinist played her solo, and Katie took steady steps down the runner, holding her birdie bouquet in front of her as
unswayingly as possible so the dove wouldn’t flap about.

She glanced at Dr. Ambrose. He looked happy and confident, standing there under the arch, waiting for his bride. Katie gave
him a quick grin and kept her focus straight. She didn’t dare let her eyes venture over to Eli where he stood next to the
groom.

Katie made the turn at the front gracefully and heard the distinctive coo of her stowaway.

It’s okay. It’s an outdoor wedding. No one will think it’s unusual to hear a bird out here.

Julia’s mother rose from her chair, and the other guests rose with her. The violinist changed to what Katie now knew must
be Handel’s “Water Music,” and down the white runner floated Julia.

All brides are beautiful, of that Katie was sure. Julia was no exception. She came forward serene and radiant. As Julia took
her place beside her husband-to-be, she let go of her father’s arm and handed off her bouquet to Katie.

Katie had forgotten about that woman of honor duty. She had been doing fine with the swaying bouquet as long as she had both
hands to hold it secure. Now she had Julia’s bouquet in one hand and hers in the other.

You can do this. Relax. And whatever you do, don’t look at Eli!

The ceremony was traditional and lovely in its simplicity. During all of it, Katie could feel Eli’s persistent gaze on her.
She looked at him only once, when he handed his uncle the rings. Katie thought Eli would be looking at Dr. Ambrose when he
did the hand off, but no, Eli met her gaze, and her poor stomach was a mess. She looked down and noticed a white splurt freshly
deposited on the front of her black dress from the nervous dove.

Great! I know you’re a bit rattled in there, little dove, but could you try to hold it just a little longer?

Katie focused back on Julia. Vows exchanged, Dr. Ambrose was invited to “kiss your bride.” He gave Julia a short kiss followed
by a second and then a third. The guests rustled with warm murmurs the way guests do at weddings whenever the kiss between
the bride and groom is especially tender.

Julia and Dr. Ambrose turned to face their guests, all smiles and rosiness. Katie handed Julia her bouquet.

Okay, this is it, little dove
.

Katie reached for the latch on the backside of her bouquet.

The pastor said, “It is now my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time…” He glanced at Katie, waiting for her
to release the dove.

Katie gave the cage a little wiggle.
Come on, baby, spread your wings. You can do it!

“… these two people whom all of us have come to know and love…”

Clearly, the pastor was stalling for Katie’s benefit. She tipped the cage. Gravity had been her helpful assistant earlier.
Why not now?

Katie shook the bouquet, and the dove tumbled to the grass and lay there, unmoving.

Oh, no! It’s dead!

Before Katie could panic, the pastor raised his voice saying, “… the newly married, Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Ambrose.”

At that moment, the strong-hearted dove raised her head, stretched her wings, and up she flew. Everyone gasped. It was as
if the dove’s wedding flutter had been choreographed. She flew in a half-circle above Katie’s head, then over the pastor,
then over Eli, and then, with lovely, slow-flapping white wings, the dove seemed to rest midair over Julia and Dr. Ambrose
just as they walked down the aisle.

Katie’s mouth opened in amazement, as the gentle dove followed the bride and groom to the end of the runner and then, in a
magnificent show of strength and bravery, soared into the heavens.

Everyone saw it. Their faces expressed astonishment and delight. Especially Dr. Ambrose. When Katie saw his expression, she
knew the gift of the dove was more than just her idea of a fun little surprise. It was a God-thing. It was God’s idea of a
special wedding gift all along. He simply had nudged Katie to help him pull it off.

Katie’s face felt like a pink sunrise of heavenly glee. She stood in place, grinning wildly and forgot the next and final
step in the ceremony. She was supposed to meet Eli halfway, at the altar, take his arm, and exit down the aisle with him.

The pastor cleared his throat. Katie glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He dipped his head and raised his eyebrows
above the top rim of his glasses as a signal that Katie was up to bat.

“Oh!”

Katie looked over at Eli. She took her three steps toward the middle. He did the same. Only, with each step Eli took, his
hand was over his heart, and his eyes were fixed on Katie. Just as she had seen him do before, Eli thumped his chest with
the flat of his palm. One… two… three times.

In a deep and resonating place inside, Katie heard the unspoken words that attached themselves to those three beats. They
came over her unforced, like a wave.

I… love… you.

Y
ou should try to eat something.” Christy gave Katie a concerned look. “I have English muffins. Do you want me to toast one
for you?”

“No, I don’t think my stomach could take it.” Katie flopped back on the air mattress where she had set up camp in the corner
of Christy and Todd’s living room. “Man, when did you ever hear me say I couldn’t eat? Like, never, right?”

“And you said you don’t have any other symptoms? No more sweats or aches or anything?”

“No, I just can’t eat.” Katie looked up at the clock. “You don’t have to stay up any longer, watching me melt away to nothingness.”

“Not to destroy my bedside manner, or should I say, air-mattress-side manner, but I was waiting up for Todd. He’s usually
home by this time on Sunday nights. He’s probably talking to someone. That seems to be half his job lately, just listening
to teens and counseling them. At least the Elder Board recognized the uncharted hours he spends doing the counseling, and
they agreed to keep him on staff through the summer.”

“Then what?”

“We don’t know.”

Katie untangled her legs from her blanket cocoon. “I guess God is keeping both of us in suspense about what’s next.”

Christy smiled softly. “He’s kept us in suspense before. But he’s never abandoned us.”

Katie picked up her pillow in its Little Mermaid pillowcase and hugged it to her chest. “Well, there could be a first time
for everything. Especially if your charming manager doesn’t call me this week and say that the other renter backed out so
I can have the apartment.”

“Katie, you know God is going to do one of his God-things. He always does. How many times over the years have you been the
one to tell me that?”

“I think it’s easier to believe goodness and hope for your friends than it is for yourself.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m your best friend, Katie, because I believe. I believe God has his hand on your life. He has from
the moment you were conceived. God has plans for you, surprising plans. Your life was his idea. This isn’t a dead end but
a beginning of new adventures.”

Just then the front door opened. Todd gave his wife a big smile. His gaze fell on Katie, and he frowned.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Katie wiped away a tear. “Nothing. Your wife was just trying to cheer me up.”

“If I had known the two of you were here cheering each other up, I would have had you come help us.” Todd headed for the kitchen
and opened the refrigerator.

“Help who?” Christy asked.

Todd pulled out some apple juice and drank the last of it directly from the bottle. “Eli. Some guy bought Eli’s furniture.
I was helping them to dismantle and load the stuff into the guy’s truck. There wasn’t a lot, but it took awhile. Eli’s leaving
in the morning. You knew that, right, Katie?”

Katie felt as if Todd had punched her in the stomach. “No, I didn’t know when he was leaving.”

“That’s right.” Todd stepped back into the living room and gazed at Katie with his silver- blue eyes. “You probably didn’t
know when he was leaving because you haven’t been talking to him. He said you avoided him at the wedding yesterday. Are you
okay with his leaving without you saying good-bye?”

Katie shook her head slowly. “No, I guess I’m not okay with it. I thought I would be, but I’m really not. I need to go up
there and say good-bye. I mean, he’s going far away. I may never see him again.” Katie’s eyes filled with tears.

Christy said, “You should go, Katie. Go talk to him.”

“He’s not there,” Todd said.

“Where is he?”

“He went to his uncle’s to stay overnight since he sold his bed and had nowhere to sleep. Julia and Dr. Ambrose are on their
honeymoon, so their house is empty.”

Katie felt her hands clench and unclench inside her sweatshirt’s front pocket. “Do you know where Dr. Ambrose lives?”

“No.”

“Well, maybe I’ll just call Eli.” Katie strode across the room and scrounged in her purse for her phone. “Have you seen my
phone, Christy? Did I plug it in somewhere?”

Todd sat down on the couch. “So what are you going to tell Eli when you call him?”

“I don’t know. I’ll wish him a safe trip. Where is my phone? Maybe I left it in my car.”

“And after you wish him a safe trip, what are you going to tell him?”

Christy now had taken a seat next to Todd. Both of them focused on Katie.

“I don’t know. I’ll tell him I hope he has a nice life in Africa.”

“Is that all?”

“Probably.” Katie faced her friends with both hands on her hips. “What is this? Some sort of intervention?”

Todd and Christy looked at each other and exchanged expressions Katie couldn’t categorize. “Now there’s an option we never
thought of,” Todd said.

“Listen.” Katie tried to calm down by sitting in a chair across from the board of examiners. “You guys think Eli is wonderful.
I get it. No argument there. But as far as he and I or him and me or however you say it… no.”

“No?” Christy’s blue-green gaze was burning a hole in Katie.

“Why?” Todd’s voice came across demanding and authoritative, which wasn’t his usual style.

“He’s… I’m… we’re… no!”

“Why?” Todd asked again, this time with less verve.

“He’s going to live in Africa,” Katie blurted out. “Probably for the rest of his life. That’s the home of his heart, Africa.”

“You said you always wanted to go to Africa,” Christy reminded her.

“I did. I do! But I was thinking more like for a visit. Go do some good and come back.”

“Come back to what?” Todd asked.

Katie felt the bottom drop out. She couldn’t answer him.

“What do you have here that you couldn’t leave behind?”

She didn’t answer.

Todd asked again. “Really, what do you have that would permanently tie you to this place?”

“Nothing!” Katie shouted the answer true and clear. “You know that. All my belongings fit in the back of my car. I don’t have
anything that’s keeping me here.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere.” Todd leaned forward. “So what would you have to lose if you let go of what you have here —
and letting go does seem to be a key to what’s going on here — and what if you bought a one-way ticket to Kenya? What would
you have to lose, Katie?”

She wished she had some sassy sort of answer, but all she had was truth floating openly on the top of her spirit. She scooped
it up and handed Todd that answer. “Nothing.”

Todd scratched the side of his square jaw. “I see such a picture in all this. A picture of Christ and his bride, the church.”

Christy gave Todd a questioning glance, as if she couldn’t believe that was what popped out of his mouth.

“It’s like this, Katie.” Todd sat back on the couch. “You have been given every reason to believe Eli wants to be with you
and share life with you. But you resist even though you have nothing to lose. It’s a matter of the heart, really. Free will
and all that. You get to choose. You know he wants you. You know it. The question has been, and still is, do you want him?”

Katie couldn’t move. Her stomach was a mess. Swallowing the tears she refused to let out, she lifted her chin. “So what do
you think would happen if I said yes?”

Todd folded his hands behind his neck. “You tell me.”