Read Online I Promise by Robin Jones Gunn - Free Book Online Page A

scratchy to sing.
    The ones who seemed to enjoy the caroling the most were Rick and Katie. They were awfully chummy while dashing from house to house, laughing all way—ho, ho, ho.
    Bah humbug. I wish we had stayed home where it was warm, even if it meant dealing with my aunt for another fewhours. She certainly was ruffled when she left without any answers.
    Christy thought about her aunt’s comment concerning how long it would take to size a ring. It would take even longer to have one custom made.
    We shouldn’t be here. Todd and I should be at the mall, checking out the rings at the jewelry stores. Maybe the ring I have in the back of my mind has already been designed, and it’s out there somewhere.
    One look at Todd told Christy she wouldn’t be able to convince this guy to go ring shopping that night. Besides, all the stores probably were closed. They could go tomorrow.
    It was almost ten when the caroling concluded. Rick and Katie invited anyone who wanted to join them at Rick’s parents’ house for his fabulous hot chocolate.
    â€œI’m fried,” Todd replied to the invitation. “If you want to go without me, Christy, that’s okay.”
    â€œNo, I’m pretty tired, too.”
    They strolled back to their car in the church parking lot while the others took off for Rick’s house.
    â€œWhat a night.” Christy linked her arm in Todd’s and gazed up at the sky. Only a few stars peeked out from behind the thin clouds that looked like lacy ribbons woven through the December sky. “It’s so beautiful.”
    â€œIt is beautiful. And so are you,” Todd said in a deep voice. He stopped by the side of their car and drew Christy to him in a warm hug. Pressing his lips againstthe side of her cheek, he murmured, “So when do you want to get married?”
    She could feel his warm breath circling the back of her neck, lacing invisible fingers through her hair. “I don’t know. We have to figure it out.” She kissed his earlobe. “The sooner the better.” She planted a string of little kisses on his neck. “When do you want to get married?”
    Todd slowly, deliberately pulled away. “Red light.”
    â€œHmmm?” Christy felt snuggly and dreamy and wanted to stay cuddled up in his warm embrace.
    â€œThis is getting a little too, ah . . . yeah. A little too close for me.”
    A space of several inches now separated them. The cold night air moved right in and sobered Christy.
    â€œI think we’re better off talking about this another time. Another place.” Todd unlocked Christy’s car door. “Until we’re married, we’re going to be sitting at one very long red light. I don’t think it’s going to do either of us any good to start revving our engines.”
    Christy hadn’t realized that the close snuggling and her tiny kisses would have such a strong effect on him. “Okay,” she agreed, getting into the car. “Red light. I agree.”
    That moment, as Christy’s thoughts cleared in the cold car, she thought, It’s only a few months of sitting at the red light. Then the rest of our lives it will be one long green light. We can wait. We have to wait. We will wait.
    She knew that no matter how many days stretched between that night and their wedding day, what layahead were days that would test her heart, mind, and will more than any she had ever experienced.
    They didn’t talk about their strong feelings on the way home. Todd hummed a song Christy didn’t recognize and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.
    Christy thought it would be nice if they could sit in the kitchen and discuss their wedding over their own homemade hot chocolate. But Todd went directly to David’s room and crashed on the air mattress Christy’s mom had set up for him on the floor.
    The next morning Christy showered and dressed and made French toast for breakfast. Her dad