Enough to Miss Christmas

The house was located near the main street of the small town of Summerside, close to shopping, a school and the ocean. I wanted to make it my home so badly it almost made me cry. I lay back, making a grass angel with my arms, gazed up at the incredibly blue sky, and said my first prayer in years. Please God, please. Make it happen.

A drive by the real Estate office confirmed it was closed. Karen wanted to call her father and have him enlist Thatcher to run the realtor down but I promptly vetoed the idea. I thought for a moment my decision might win me another surly mood from Karen but she accepted my verdict. After writing down all the pertinent information we reluctantly left Summerside and our dream home behind. Time was short before my plane flight back to reality was due to leave.

"We should have brought a camera," Karen as we began our homeward journey.

"We were going to go to the movies," I said, "not buy a house! I have a picture in my mind, do you?"

"Yes! I can't wait until Dad comes up here tomorrow and buys it for us! You are going to make him, aren't you?"

I had to be careful. This constant stress of doing the right thing versus what my heart demanded was beginning to wear on me.

"From what I saw and what you told me you saw inside the house, it looks like a wonderful home. It's not just our decision. Honesty isn't only not telling an out and out a lie, it's admitting the whole truth and not trying to color it your way."

"But the house is perfect!" she protested.

"I agree it looks great but I don't want to force anyone to do anything, especially your dad. This would be a major life change for all of you; all of us, especially him; after all he's older so he's more set in his ways. There's still the matter of you and me. We haven't resolved that business to my satisfaction."

There was a hint of panic. "I said I wanted you to marry him didn't?"

"You said a lot of things, Karen. Things like you don't like me; I'm not your mother and never will be. We seem to get along very well most of the time, but I wonder how our relationship would work when a situation comes up that's not to your liking. Would you obey me if I told you to do something or would you undermine me by running to your father or even lying to him?"