Swinging on a Star (18 page)
“What would you call Nick and Marcella’s brand of love?” Sophia asked.
“Hmm. They have the tempestuous ‘Did you pay the light bill today?’ kind of love. It’s just as real as the other versions. Maybe more real.” I grinned.
“So what about you?” Sophia gazed at me with a hopeful look in her eye. “What’s it like for you and D.J.?”
“Oh . . .” I paused, trying to figure out how to explain it. “Well, we’re not at the light-bill stage yet. That’s for sure. It’s still so fresh. I have the butterfly kind of love. When he comes into the room, my heart starts working overtime. But the longer we’re together—and I realize it’s only been a few months—the more it’s turning into that comfortable sort of love.”
We sat without saying a word for a few minutes. Likely Sophia’s thoughts were running as deep as my own. We’d both known love all our lives. I couldn’t recall a time when I’d ever been without it, in fact. And I thanked God for it in all its varieties. The brother-sister kind. The mother-daughter kind. The guy-girl kind. I loved love. Period.
Most of all, I had to say, I loved the one who’d created love. None of it would make any sense without him. And he’d done a pretty good job of creating the universe, so he must understand the workings of my heart.
And Sophia’s. I offered up a silent prayer that God would show her what to do about the whole Brock-Tony thing. I wanted my sister to experience the kind of love I’d found with D.J. The real deal.
The silence held us in its grip for a moment longer, but the sound of music playing downstairs broke the spell.
“What is that?” I asked. The melody was faint but familiar. Sophia’s brow wrinkled as she listened. “I don’t know. I can’t make it out.”
“Let’s find out.” I rose from the bed and walked out into the hallway. I could hear the strains of a familiar song wafting up the stairwell. Only when I got to the halfway point on the stairs did I realize what it was: “Someday My Prince Will Come,” the theme song from Cinderella. Weird. Either Rosa had completely changed her taste in music, or . . .
I never had a chance to finish pondering the what-ifs. As I landed on the bottom step, I was greeted by D.J., who was dressed in a tuxedo complete with tails.
“W-what in the world are you doing?” My heart did a little flip-flop. “Are we headed back to the opera?”
“Nope.” He extended his hand and, with a twinkle in his eye, made an announcement. “Madam, your carriage awaits.”
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Sister Jolene’s Top Ten Cruising Tips
1. Be polite to others on karaoke night, even those who don’t have the same God-given talents you do.
2. Take advantage of the all-you-can-eat buffet. You may never get this opportunity again.
3. Make sure your pants have elastic waistbands, as you will likely put on a few pounds on the trip.
4. Wear your sequined dress on formal night so you stand out in the crowd.
5. Only fall in love with one handsome stranger per cruise day.
6. When you purchase your pantyhose for the trip, remember one size does
not
fit all.
7. When snorkeling, be sure to use the mask and breathing tube.
8. Take extra makeup. You never know when you might meet a sister in need.
9. Don’t be afraid to let your little light shine, especially in the midst of a storm.
10. Travel with your sisters in Christ. Where two or more are gathered . . . there’s bound to be a party!
I am forever grateful to my editor, Jennifer Leep, who fell in love with Bella and the whole Rossi clan. And how can I ever thank my copyeditor, Jessica Miles? You’ve given this book a Texas spit shine!
I’m also extremely blessed to have a great agent like Chip MacGregor, who not only champions my work but prays for me as well. And I’m tickled to have some of the greatest critique partners in the world: Kathleen, Martha, Linda, Janetta, and Ane. You ladies buzzed through this one in record time, responding with laughter and helpful comments.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my awesome cruising buddy, Kay, who endured seven days on the high seas with me during the writing of this book. Many of Twila, Jolene, and Bonnie Sue’s antics came from our week at sea on the Royal Caribbean cruise liner.
Finally, to my Lord and Savior—my reason for writing in the first place. Your grace (as Guido sings) is truly amazing.
Janice Thompson
is a Christian freelance author and a native Texan. She is the mother of four grown daughters, three beautiful granddaughters, and a brand-new grandson. She resides in the greater Houston area, where the heat and humidity tend to reign.
Janice started penning books at a young age and was blessed to have a screenplay produced in the early ’80s. From there she went on to write several large-scale musical comedies for a Houston school of the arts. Currently, she has published over fifty novels and nonfiction books for the Christian market, most of them lighthearted and/or wedding themed.
Working with quirky characters and story ideas suits this fun-loving author. She particularly enjoys contemporary, first-person romantic comedies. Wedding-themed books come naturally to Janice, since she’s coordinated nearly a dozen weddings, including recent ceremonies and receptions for her four daughters. Most of all, she loves sharing her faith with readers and hopes they will catch a glimpse of the real happily ever after as they laugh their way through her lighthearted, romantic tales.
Books by Janice Thompson
WEDDINGS BY BELLA
Fools Rush In
Swinging on a Star