22

“I’m rethinking my wedding plans. Just as well, since I’ve lost my wedding planner. Even though Scott’s better, we haven’t talked about the wedding date yet. So it’s a chance for me to make some changes.”

“Rethink? Changes?” Tracy let her hand, sandwich and all, drop into her lap.

“Yeah, I’m not sure why I didn’t say so at first, but I want to get married in the prayer garden under the gazebo. You know, lots of twinkling lights, red and green, snow. Of course the snow isn’t likely to happen, but I can dream.”

“You want to get married at the gazebo?” Tracy took a drink of her ice water.

“Yes. I suppose I just kept hearing Gran’s voice. ‘I don’t cotton to all this crazy way people do weddings now. People should get married in church. It’s a holy union.’ She’d have a conniption if she could see the way people dance down the aisles now.” I giggled until I saw Tracy’s red face.

“Tracy, did you swallow down the wrong hole or something? What’s the matter?”

“Uh, yeah.” She coughed into her napkin and stood. “I just remembered something I have to do for Mom. Sorry, I gotta go.” She walked quickly to the front door, sandwich in one hand and digging in her purse with the other.

“What, you haven’t finished your lunch, and what about our visit?” I followed her to the front door.

“I’ll eat on the way, bye.” Tracy waved and bounded out the door and down the steps, muttering in Spanish. As soon as her feet hit the driveway, she whipped out her cell phone.

“Bye, then,” I said to the air, and let the wind close the door. So much for that. Oh, well, I couldn’t fault the girl. She worked so much at the diner for Scott, it’s no wonder she forgot an errand for Liz.

~*~

I finished my shift at the diner on Saturday afternoon. I took off my apron, poured myself a cup of coffee, and sat down at the counter.

The diner still buzzed with activity, but Tracy had it all under control.

I blew out a puff of air, sending my bangs flying all over the place. The week before Christmas bustled into my life in double quick time.

Toppy came out of the kitchen, poured a cup of coffee, and then topped mine off.

“He’s coming home today, isn’t he?” Toppy asked sitting down beside me.

“He is. He has a follow-up appointment with Dr. Harkin first, and then we’re going out to dinner.” I could feel the smile spread all over my face as I ran my hand back and forth over the rising steam from my cup.

“Dr. Harkin sees patients on Saturday?” Toppy asked.

“Not in his office. He’s helping out in the ER this weekend. It’s like him to fill in so the staff can take time off for the holidays. Melissa, too. Dr. Harkin told him to just come to the ER, and he’d check him out.”

“I’m so glad Jack convinced him to go to that Grief Counseling retreat for a week. I talked to him last night. He sounds prayed up and rarin’ to go. Wedding back on?” Toppy patted my hand.

His hopeful eyes tickled me. Everyone wanted it as much as we did.

“We haven’t talked much about it yet. Just letting him deal with stuff is enough right now. It’s great to be back on the same page though.” Would he ask me again soon? I wouldn’t press it. His getting better topped the priority list.

“Good to hear,” Toppy said and reached for a high five.

A crash came from the kitchen.

Toppy and I rushed in.

Tracy sat on the floor with a box of Christmas lights, strings of bulbs sprawled all around her.

“Are you all right? Did you fall?” Toppy bent to help her up.

I tried to worry the lights back into the box.

“I’m fine. Tripped on my own two feet. Just borrowing some lights. Thanks. Here, let me have that box,” she said, grabbing it and rushing out the back door.

Christmas. The upheaval around Exit 477 had made it impossible for me to wrap my brain around the holiday. At least Tracy had Christmas on her mind. I tried not to think of my wedding that was to have happened the next day. God’s timing would be perfect, though.

“I’m so glad to have the boy feeling better; mentally, spiritually, and physically.” Toppy stretched his neck as though it was sore. No doubt his head had been bowed a lot recently.

“Me, too.” I drained the coffee. “I’m off. See you later.”

Toppy saluted with one hand and rubbed his neck with the other.

He must have a headache or something. He’d been taking up the slack for Scott lately. I’d have to talk to him later about taking some time off. Mom seemed preoccupied these days as well. Christmas was happening all around me.

I bopped out of the diner and into my car. Time to greet my love.