Free When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke Page A

Danny was outtalked.
    Christine could not remember having such a relaxed, fun evening for a very long time. After Danny was tucked in bed, the four began serious talk about wedding details. Amber pulled out a sheet of paper and drew little diagrams with stick men as she explained how she wished the entrance to the altar area to be arranged.
    “Dad will not be giving me away this time. He’s already done that. He and Mom will be seated here before the ceremony begins.” She turned her eyes to Henry. “You and the minister will come in from the study door, here.”
    He nodded, looking serious, Christine thought.
    “Then Laray and Christine will walk in from the back— here.”
    “You mean I won’t have him to prop me up?” Henry’s little quip seemed to relax him a bit.
    “I thought it would be nice if they’d walk in together.”
    Henry conceded.
    “Then Danny and I will walk in.”
    “Together?”
    “He might do something—well, silly, if he comes in alone. Besides, I might need him to hold my hand.”
    “That’s cute,” said Christine.
    “Truthfully, I do want him with me. It’s just . . . well . . . things will change . . . after. It’s been just Danny and me for so long. One last time—the two of us. Do you mind?”
    “Not at all,” Henry quickly assured her. He reached out and took her hand. Christine saw Amber’s fingers curl tightly about Henry’s. “From then on—it’s the three of us,” she promised.
    Amber pulled out another list. “Here’s where I’m at. The organist—Mrs. Claire. The soloist—Clarice has agreed to sing the two songs we’ve picked, Henry. The decorations—Mrs. Boone will do them, but she’d like to have some help.”
    “I’ll do that,” volunteered Christine.
    “Would you? Thank you. It will really free up my day if you could help her. The cake—Mrs. Dickus is providing that.”
    “Sounds like you have things pretty well worked out.”
    Henry sounded impressed.
    “There’s lots to do yet,” Amber sighed.
    “I’ll be glad to help in any way I can,” Christine offered.
    “That is what I’m here for.”
    “I’m so thankful for another pair of hands—or another head,” she added with a chuckle. “The reception will be in the church hall. It’ll be a rather small affair, but there is the setting up and the arranging of the cake and the decorations and all. We’ll move the flowers from the sanctuary, but someone will need to be in charge of getting that done.”
    “I can do that,” said Laray. Then with a quick look to Henry, “Okay? You’ll not be needing me then, will you?”
    “Not once the photographer is done.”
    “It should work,” Amber said, chewing on the end of her pencil. “We aren’t having too many pictures taken.”
    On they went through the list, ticking off items one by one. By the time they had finished it was after ten. Christine was feeling very glad she had come early to help. She made her own list of the duties she had volunteered to carry through. Laray asked her to write down his jobs as well. Then Amber put on fresh coffee and served another helping of dessert, and they talked of other things.
    It was a cold, crisp evening when they bid one another good night on the doorstep. Henry had not brought the car, so the three walked through the darkness together, linking arms in order to save space on the narrow sidewalk.
    “Look at those stars tonight,” Henry observed. “I’ve never seen them so bright.”
    “Maybe you see them with different eyesight these days,” teased Laray. “They look just the same to me.”
    “I miss the northern lights. Do you ever see them this far south?” asked Christine.
    “I’ve not,” answered Henry.
    “I’ve never seen them—ever,” put in Laray.
    “Never?” Christine was incredulous.
    “Never.”
    “Oh, you’ve no idea. They are so . . . so spectacular. So beautiful. And they dance and flit across the sky—all colors. You can hear them swish. You feel like you