Someone Like You Read online

  “Yes, sir!” Maddie couldn’t believe this. “Thank you! That would be incredible.” She did a silent dance, her finger still in her free ear. “I won’t let you down, sir.”

  When the call ended Maddie raised her hands over her head and ran in place. Then she came to a sudden stop and stood there. Completely still. What had just happened? Had she really just been hired by the Indianapolis Zoo? More than a thousand applicants from across the nation and the world had applied to work in the zoo’s contact department.

  It was the perfect job. And now it was hers, minutes after graduation!

  Maddie glanced up at the packed stands. Her parents were up there somewhere, excited for her, praying for her. Also her sister and grandparents and Connor Flanigan.

  Of course, Connor.

  They’d all flown in together and last night at the hotel, Maddie and her mom had talked till after midnight about Maddie’s memories from college, her relationship with Connor and her dream of working at the Indianapolis Zoo.

  That most of all.

  She shaded her eyes. Wherever they were, they could probably see her. The zebra-striped cap would’ve made it easy. Her friends had moved on and Maddie jostled her way through the crowd to the spot where she and her family had agreed to meet.

  Five minutes later she saw them, the people who mattered to her the most. She ran to her mom first and then Connor and her dad. Her grandparents took her in their arms after that and before anyone could say another word, Maddie stepped back, arms stretched out. “I got it!”

  “You did?” Her mother clearly knew instantly what Maddie was talking about. “The job at the zoo?”

  “Yes!” Maddie did a twirl, her arms still out to her sides. “I start the first of June.”

  Connor came to her and pulled her into a hug. He was tall and strong and other than her mother, he was her best friend in all the world. He easily swung her around and set her down again. “I knew you’d get it!” He kissed her forehead. “God is so good.”

  “He is.” For just a moment, Maddie let herself get lost in Connor’s eyes. She could see forever there. A different smile tugged at her lips, one for him alone. “Thanks for coming.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it.” He took a step back. “Plus your mom is hilarious going through security.”

  Maddie laughed. It was true. One time on vacation her mother had been thoroughly screened for having four pairs of scissors in her carry-on bag. Four pairs. Turned out she was giving them to an orphanage in Mexico. Lately it had been her unmarked container of erythritol, a powdered sugar substitute.

  She turned to her mother. “You didn’t bring the erythritol, did you?”

  “I did. I need it for my coffee.” Her mom raised her eyebrows and gave a nervous laugh. “And yes … on the way here TSA thought it was ‘suspicious.’ I delayed us ten minutes.”

  “Again.” Maddie’s dad chuckled. “Between the scissors, the bag of sweetener, her collagen protein powder, the vitamins and coconut oil, TSA is pretty sure she’s up to no good.”

  Her mom grinned. “I like my routines.”

  The group drove through crowded streets to McAlister’s Deli. Once they were seated, Maddie opened her phone to a congratulations message from her grandparents on her dad’s side. The couple worked at a church in Ireland, so Maddie rarely saw them. But they were family all the same.

  After that she told everyone about her job at the zoo. “Can you believe I get to feed baby leopards?” The giddy feeling from earlier hadn’t worn off. Connor sat beside her and while she talked he took her hand.

  Only she didn’t want to hold hands. She wanted to tell stories about the zoo and TCU and her final semester before graduation. Without making a big deal of it she eased her hand free and shot a quick smile in his direction.

  Then she picked up where she’d left off. “The cubs were just transferred to the zoo. They’re twin sisters.” Maddie smiled at Hayley. “And everyone knows sisters are the best.”

  Hayley reached across the table and took hold of Maddie’s fingers for a few seconds. “Yay for sisters!”

  Not till they were on the plane that evening headed back to Indiana with Connor asleep beside her did Maddie take a deep breath. What was that whole hand-holding ordeal? She glanced at her boyfriend. The two of them were in love. They had been for the last few years.

  So why hadn’t she wanted to hold his hand?

  She stared at the stars outside her window. Maybe she and Connor needed a break. Maybe they were too serious, too connected, too often. This past semester they had talked on FaceTime nearly every day. It was a lot, and once in a while she had told Connor so. They’d go a few weeks with less conversation and then the calls would pick up again.

  Maddie blinked. A break from Connor? What was she thinking? She loved Connor. He was probably the one she would love forever. The incident earlier must’ve been just the busyness of school. She relaxed her head against the seat rest.

  Yes, that had to be it.

  Now that she was headed home, everything between her and Connor would fall back into place. He’d pick her up on special summer mornings and they’d watch the sunrise over Monroe Lake. They’d play tennis after dinner and drive to Indianapolis for their favorite concerts. Every couple had their ups and downs, right? This summer the thrill was bound to return.

  Just like when they first fell in love.

  Maddie closed her eyes and smiled. She and Connor didn’t need a break. And now, the plane wasn’t only taking her home. It was taking her to her future. Tomorrow’s graduation party with her entire family, the job at the zoo, and her relationship with Connor Flanigan. Peace came over her and she did something she should’ve done earlier.

  Maddie took hold of Connor’s hand. Even in his sleep he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, and Maddie smiled. What happened at the restaurant earlier was just a random off moment, she was sure. All was right with the world.

  She rested her head on his shoulder and fell asleep.

  * * *

  THE GRADUATION PARTY was at her aunt Ashley and uncle Landon’s house. The place where they always met for special get-togethers. Once a long time ago, before Maddie’s grandma Elizabeth had passed away, this was where her grandparents had lived. The house they had moved their family to when Maddie’s mother was in middle school.

  The Baxter house, they called it. The home had big gathering spaces and sweeping porches along the front and back. It sat on ten acres that ran to a creek far behind the house. Today there were round tables set up just off the back porch and a food table with dishes everyone had brought for the occasion. Because that’s how Baxter parties were. All the Baxter siblings were there with their spouses and kids. Even uncle Dayne and Aunt Katy, who had houses in both Bloomington and Los Angeles.

  This was the family reunion they hadn’t had in far too long and Maddie planned to love every minute.

  She sat at one of the tables and surveyed her family. Her parents and Hayley sat with Aunt Kari and Uncle Ryan and their kids. All of them were laughing. At the closest table, Maddie’s Uncle Luke and Aunt Reagan sat with their kids and a few others. Maddie’s cousin Tommy was telling a story and everyone was listening like it was the greatest thing they’d ever heard.

  Maddie lifted her eyes to the sky and smiled. Thank You, God. For letting me be part of a family like this. There wasn’t a day when she wasn’t aware of how special this was. How not everyone was surrounded by love the way she was.

  “Fishing on the lake tomorrow, Maddie?” Her cousin Cole was home from Liberty University for the summer. He sat across from her where he’d been talking to Connor. Now her boyfriend gave her a quick grin. “I told him you couldn’t wait to get back out on the lake.”

  “True.” She laughed. “As long as I don’t have to bait the hook.”

  “I remember last summer when—” Connor launched into the story about how Maddie had lost an entire container of worms when one of the little guys moved. Because how was she supposed to know they were hooked alive?

  But before Cole could finish the story, the entire Flanigan family came through the back door and down the steps. Connor’s sister, Bailey, and her husband, Brandon, and their two small children, along with Connor’s parents and four brothers.

  The Flanigans made their way over, and Connor’s mother handed Maddie a card. “We’re proud of you, beautiful graduate.” Her tone was marked with sincerity. “Wish we could’ve been there.”

  Maddie stood and embraced the woman. “Thank you.” They shared a smile and then Maddie greeted Connor’s dad and brothers. “Being here is all that matters.” She smiled at each of them as they headed for the food table.

  Bailey handed her youngest to Brandon and then turned to Maddie. “I’m so happy for you.” The two had been friends even before Maddie started dating Connor. “Now that you’re back, we need to get coffee.” Bailey looked wonderful. She sat down with Maddie and the two talked for a few minutes. The updates were all positive. Bailey and Brandon’s kids were four and two now, and the couple was back to running the local Christian Kids Theater. They were also starring in another movie together, one being filmed in Indianapolis.

  “Hey … I’ll be there at the zoo!” Maddie shared her own news, and the two made a plan to get together one day soon in the city.

  As the evening played out, Maddie made time to talk to each of her family members. She had just finished a chat with Aunt Kari when Grandpa John Baxter approached. “How’s my favorite grand girl?” He put his arm around her shoulders and pressed his cheek to hers.

  “Papa, you can’t say that.” Maddie felt her eyes sparkle as she looked at him. All her life she had been especially loved by her grandfather. Like the two of them had a bond no one else could touch. “All of u
s are your favorites.”

  Grandpa linked arms with her and walked her to the dessert table. “You have a point.” He winked at her and handed her a slice of Aunt Ashley’s blueberry pie. “But you’re my first, Maddie.” He faced her. “No one else can say that.”

  She hugged her grandfather and took a piece of pie. No sooner had she taken her place back at her table when the background music changed. The song was an instrumental version of Newsong’s “When God Made You.” One of Maddie’s favorites. And suddenly in the spot between the food tables, there was Connor Flanigan.

  And he had a microphone.

  “If Maddie could come up here for a minute.” He couldn’t stop smiling, and suddenly everyone was taking their seats. As if they were expecting whatever was about to happen.

  Maddie’s heart picked up speed and every beat pounded in her head and throat. What was this? Was he really going to ask her … Everyone was watching, smiling at her, waiting. Her feet started moving on cue but her heart was stuck back at the table. She wasn’t ready … or was she?

  Connor wore a pale blue button-down shirt and khaki pants. He was tanned and handsome and as she made her way to him, his eyes locked on her alone. The walk seemed to take an hour, but finally Maddie was there. She smoothed her hands over her white capris and tried to still her shaking fingers.

  Then, before she could ask him what was happening, he took a deep breath. “Maddie West, I’ve loved you since the day we met—working that CKT show right here in downtown Bloomington.”

  A few people chuckled. That show had been marked by funny moments and miscues. Maddie nodded. Is this really happening? Dear God, what am I supposed to do?

  Still Connor was talking. “There’s so much I love about you, Maddie …” With his free hand he reached for hers. “In all my life I’ve never met someone so dedicated to God and family, someone who makes me laugh and builds me up. When I can’t see through the haze, you can. You believe in me and I believe in you. I always will.”

  This was it. The question was coming. The one she planned to answer just once in her life. Maddie could feel herself smiling, feel her eyes misty with tears. But nothing about the moment felt real. Like she was watching someone else’s story play out.

  Connor set the microphone down. He didn’t need it. Everyone was silent, waiting, hanging on every word. Even the kids. He took both her hands now and stared at her. “Maddie … I’ve asked your father’s permission for what I’m about to say. The truth is, in my heart I’ve asked you this question a thousand times.”

  The most beautiful love shone on his face.

  Maddie’s heart beat harder still. She forced her knees to stop knocking. Everyone was watching, holding their collective breath. Her yes was something they all expected, she could see it on their faces.

  With a hush in his voice, Connor’s smile faded. As if he’d never been more serious in all his life. “The question is this.” Then, Connor got down on one knee. He pulled a small gray velvet box from his pants pocket, opened it and held up the prettiest diamond solitaire. “Maddie, will you marry me?”

  The answer slid past her lips before she could consider the question. “Yes! Yes, of course.”

  He was on his feet again, sweeping her into his arms while people snapped pictures and took video. This was the moment she had dreamed of all her life with the guy she loved with all her being.

  He took the ring from the box—a ring she’d never seen or discussed with him—and he slid it onto her finger. She hugged him again and he took her face in his hands. “I love you, Maddie. Forever I will.”

  “I love you, too.” It was the truth. She did love him. And she should’ve seen this moment coming. And gradually, now that the time was here, she was sure. Saying yes was the right thing. Tears filled her eyes and she blinked them back. She was engaged! She was going to marry Connor Flanigan, as she had long imagined.

  Then with their family members rising to their feet and breaking into applause, Connor kissed her. And just like that Maddie wasn’t only about to start her dream job.

  She was about to be married.

  4

  Dawson glanced at the driver’s side of the Honda where London sat behind the wheel. She was singing John Mayer at the top of her lungs. “Life is full of sweet mistakes … and love’s an honest one to make.”

  He sang along, too, and tried not to focus on the irony of the words.

  This was always how they were, London and him. Wherever they went, whatever they did they had the music blaring. The two of them singing like they were performing their own private concert.

  Sunlight streamed through the trees as London took the winding road ahead. The idea of hiking Multnomah Falls had been hers. No surprise. Never mind that she was dating some other guy, when London had a day off she usually called Dawson. Today was no different.

  They wore sweatshirts and windbreakers because today’s clear blue skies didn’t begin to warm the chilly weather on the mountain. London grinned at him as the song played out, lyrics that reminded Dawson of the truth. Whatever did or didn’t happen between them, London would live forever in Dawson’s memory.

  Indeed.

  Dawson took a steadying breath. Maybe he’d tell her today. How this strange friendship they shared was crazy. How they should either walk away and get on with their lives or admit that there would never be anyone for the two of them but each other.

  No matter what she said.

  A few miles up the road she pulled into the parking lot. Even from that vantage point the falls were beautiful. A ribbon of rushing water that fell from forever high and crashed onto the rocks below. The spot was a tourist destination, especially on the weekends.

  “Ugh.” London turned the volume down. “It’s so crowded.”

  Dawson laughed. “Not where we’re going.”

  Her smile found its place again. “True.”

  They’d done this hike before. Sure, it started up the same path all the visitors took. Along a broad path and onto the scenic bridge at the base of the falls. But just past the picture takers and onlookers was a much more narrow set of switchbacks that wound around the mountain to the back side of the falls.

  Odds were only a few of the Sunday travelers had the more serious hike in mind.

  A spot opened and London parked. They donned their backpacks, grabbed their water bottles and set out. Like everyone else, they stopped at the bridge and stood side by side, staring at the waterfall.

  London moved closer and his arm brushed against hers. Her eyes were glued to the view. “Life feels like that sometimes.”

  “Mmm.” Dawson loved this. Time alone with her when they could say whatever they wanted. When there were no walls and the possibilities seemed more realistic than ever. He stole a look at her. “Fast, you mean?”

  “Yes.” She tilted her face toward the blue sky. “The hours and minutes keep slipping over the rocks and washing away in the river below. Time we can’t get back.”

  “Which”—he leaned his head close to hers—“is why we have to make the most of it. Before another tomorrow gets away.”

  “Exactly.” She smiled and turned to him. “Here we are. A couple best friends seizing the moment.”

  Best friends. Dawson had come to hate the term, but she was right. Because if they were dating, she would have come to believe the way he did and she would understand that only the God of the universe could’ve created a setting as beautiful as this one.

  A faint mist from the falls filled the air around them. London led the way as they moved over the bridge and up the first part of the more difficult hike. The trail was still wide enough that he could walk beside her. She took hold of her backpack straps and smiled at him. “How was church?”

  “Challenging.” He chuckled. “Which is good, actually. I like being challenged.”

  “So that’s it.” She lowered her sunglasses long enough to shoot him a look. “That’s why you think I’m the girl for you.”

  He thought about telling her that this—the hike they were sharing, the intimacy between them—was why he thought that. But he didn’t want to joke about it. He ignored her comment and looked straight ahead, through the mass of evergreen trees to the Columbia River Gorge far beyond. “The message was from John 16.”