Page 8 of Someone Like You
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 PARTYwas 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 cousinCole 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. “Beinghereis 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 KidsTheater. 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 us 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 hereally 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.
