The Someday List (28 page)

But since she had begun volunteering at Cynthia's clinic, she
too had earned the right to be called by her professional title.

"The state allows me to renew my license every year as a nonpracticing optometrist, but I can't officially practice until I obtain sixteen hours of continuing education credits;' Rachelle told
Cynthia over lunch. She had come to the clinic with Aunt Irene
for a few hours today.

Aunt Irene loved reading to the children, and those who were
repeat visitors now expected to find her there, waiting with a new
book, just for them. Rachelle hadn't been as busy, because not
everyone needed eye exams.

When she wasn't assisting with that task, she often sat outside
the pediatric exam rooms and watched Cynthia work. Cynthia
was masterful at putting her young patients at ease and making
the parents feel as if they were doing the most important thing in
the world by bringing their children in for regular checkups.

"Do you see this mother?" Cynthia would turn to Rachelle on
occasion and say. "Do you see that she brought her son in here for his immunizations so he could start school on time? She values
education and health!"

In Rachelle's world, taking children to the doctor for minor
aches and pains was as common as seeking help for a high fever
or other serious ailment. It was foreign to her that some children
would miss the first two weeks of school because their parents
hadn't gotten around to taking them to the doctor or to a clinic
for routine shots.

Rachelle hadn't considered that making sure babies had enough
formula might be secondary to keeping them in Pampers. Cynthia
regularly sent new mothers away with a bag of diapers, or a case of
formula, and the advice not to stretch it with water every time.

"This is the next best thing to breast milk, and your baby needs
all of it to grow," she told them.

Today, over lunch, Cynthia had a To Do list in front of her.

"Since you're going home soon, I want to make sure you keep
using your skills," Cynthia said. "I called my friend Vikki in Houston and she's ready to receive you as a volunteer in her pediatric
practice until you're fully licensed and ready to move on"

Rachelle's eyes widened. "You did that for me?"

Cynthia waved it off. "We've got to help each other out. And I'm
really glad that you're doing something for yourself. You deserve
it, and your kids will be proud of you."

But would Gabe? That was the big question. If Veronica's accusations were true and she decided to stay with him, he was
probably going to want to continue living life on his terms.

Rachelle reviewed Dr. Vikki Harris's phone number and address. Her practice was located near the rough part of the city,
probably with a clientele similar to Cynthia's. Rachelle wanted to
help. Gabe would have to get over it.

Rachelle smiled, but inside, she felt butterflies. So much had happened over the past few days. Major stuff. And yet, she felt
lighter, like boulders had been lifted from her shoulders.

When she had shared that analogy with Aunt Irene today, on
the way to their volunteer session, Aunt Irene had understood.

"That's exactly what is happening, baby," she had said. "You've
given your troubles to the Lord. Isn't it amazing?"

Rachelle sat back now and gazed out of the window in Cynthia's small lunchroom. Life was amazing. Even with all of the
unanswered questions, mistakes, and missteps, it was worth living
fully, like Jillian said.

Before she could take another bite of her sandwich, her cell
phone rang. Gabe was calling again. She looked up at Cynthia, hoping her eyes didn't reveal her exasperation. "It's my husband:"

Cynthia wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up so she
could get back to work. "Take your time with your call. Your
husband is a priority too"

She left and closed the door behind her.

"Too" was the key word.

Rachelle was learning that life and love didn't have to be all or
nothing. There were ups and downs, twists and turns, missteps
and self-corrections all the time. Even people of faith had setbacks.
Aunt Irene would pay a price for her choices, yet she still trusted
God to see her through.

Rachelle was learning to keep moving forward, to keep trying to
get it right. That's all that Jillian had meant. She didn't know what
would happen long term, but she had decided that she needed to
fight for this marriage long enough to determine whether there
was something there worth saving. She owed that much to God
and to her children.

First, though, she wanted to tell Gabe. He might have different
plans altogether. When she answered the call, he spoke first.

"Thanks for picking up;' he said. "I just wanted to hear your
voice. I'm on my way home:'

"Really?" Rachelle asked.

"I've made it to London;' he said. "We have a layover at Heathrow Airport for a few more hours and I'll be in Houston tomorrow night. I have a lot to apologize for and a lot to tell you about,
Rachelle."

He hesitated, and she knew what he wanted to ask-would she
be there when he arrived?

Truthfully, she didn't have her feelings all sorted out. She didn't
know that she loved him like she should. But like Jillian predicted,
the more she learned of God, the more her heart seemed to blossom. She was willing to go home and figure it out.

"I'll be there, Gabe," she said.

"Thank you," he said. "Let me warn you about something
though: you won't be coming home to the man you left. I think
that's a good thing."

Rachelle appreciated the olive branch. God could make all
things new. "I'm a work in progress too, Gabe. I guess we have a
lot to talk about"

`And a lot to forgive;' he said. "At least I hope you will. I've
been wrong and I don't deserve you, but I hope you'll give me a
chance to make things better"

Rachelle didn't reply.

"I understand," he said. "I'll be thankful to see you when I get
home"

When Rachelle and Aunt Irene left the pediatric office that
afternoon, they stopped by a local stationery store. Aunt Irene sat
in a motorized cart and shopped for greeting cards.

Rachelle found an aisle filled with journals and perused them
until she stumbled upon the perfect one for her Top Ten Things to Do list. The bound book featured a cover illustration of a single
yellow rose in a field of dandelions and the phrase, "Give your
dreams to God. Who knows where He'll plant them?"

Later that night, when everyone had gone to sleep and she had
settled into Reuben's twin bed for the last time, Rachelle pulled
out the journal and wrote Ten Things to Do by the Time I'm 50
in bold, cursive strokes at the top of the first page.

She still didn't have goals for all ten slots, and that was okay.
She now realized that for her, discovering what they should be
was part of her purpose.

Rachelle did have the first four, however, and she jotted them
down in an order that surprised her.

That seemed like a full plate, for someone just starting out.

She glanced at her cell phone. It was eight o'clock in San Diegotoo late to call her dear friend Jillian, who seemed to be defying
the doctor's predictions and holding on to life a few weeks longer.
Maybe she would survive longer than any of them believed possible. Rachelle decided to ask Jillian if that was something she
should be praying for.

She thought back to a few weeks ago, when she first tried to
embrace Jillian's challenge: Be happy. Live fully. Love God.

Now that she was developing a relationship with the Creator,
she realized she'd been seeking in the wrong order.

To achieve the goals on her to-do list-in her marriage and in
every other facet of her life-she needed to flip the script: Love
God. Live fully. Be happy.

Since Gabe was now in a country with regular cell phone capabilities, Rachelle sent him a text.

What do you think about someday supporting an optometry
practice?

Minutes later she received a reply:

How do you feel about regular mission trips to Uganda-Dr.
Covington?

Her heart did that strange flip-flop that defied description, but
equaled hope and excitement. She smiled as she drifted to sleep
and thought about the response she sent to her husband.

They had a lot of work to do to repair their marriage, but if
he was willing to try, so was she. She was ready to join his and
God's team.

1. Did you understand Rachelle's lingering regret over her
long-ago choices?

2. Would having a relationship with God have made accepting
these choices any easier?

3. Why was it so hard for Rachelle to craft a list of personal
goals?

4. What could she have done to avoid losing herself and still
be a good wife and mother?

5. Did Rachelle handle her repeated encounters with Troy
appropriately?

6. Did you agree with the advice Rachelle's friends and family
gave her regarding her feelings about Gabe? About Troy?

7. Did Gabe's friend, Lyle Stevens, mentor him appropriately?

8. What was most effective in helping Gabe see his flaws and
transform? Was his about-face realistic?

9. What purpose did Aunt Irene's character serve?

10. Did you agree with how her issues were resolved?

11. Did Rachelle make the right choice regarding her marriage?

12. Did you agree with how she resolved her issues with
Troy?

13. What was the primary thing Rachelle had to give up in
order to complete her list?

14. Which character resonated with you most and why?

15. Based on what you've learned from these characters, do
you believe second chances are possible?

COMING JULY 2009

Worth a
Thousand Words

Book Two in the
9ubiIant Voul Series