An Exchange

Chapter Twenty-Two - Penny's Confession of her Past

December 2004

Ryan

December seemed to fly by. Before I knew it, Christmas was right around the corner. Getting a gift for Penny plagued my thoughts, especially after she gave me a signed Cowboys jersey. So I turned to Kendra for advice.

She sat on the end of my bed cross-legged and tilted her head, obviously delighted that I had gone to her. "Has she suggested anything?"

"No, nothing at all. She seems to have all the music she wants, and chocolates and flowers seem pretty lame after she gave me that." I nodded to the jersey on the back of my chair by my desk.

"I don't think she wants things anyway. I mean, think about it; everything she gets here she will have to take back on the plane to Australia when she has to go..."

My frown at the mention of Penny's inevitable departure caused her to trail off. She quickly changed tact. "She’s here to experience things. She wants to see and do things that she can't do there but she can do here. Is there anything she may have mentioned that she wants to do?"

Racking my brain, only one thing came to mind. It was a decent drive, and I wasn't sure if I was comfortable with the idea, but she would love it. "There is one thing, but Dad can never know..."

*

Penny

The Taylor's and I climbed out of the car and waited for the Hamilton's to park and meet us. Giles and Jonas greeted each other with their normal rough housing, then turned and wrapped their arms around my shoulders and leaned down on me. I struggled to stay upright under their combined weight.

“Toughen up, Penny.” Jonas poked me in the ribs.

Giles smirked. “I thought you were strong. Can’t carry two guys?”

I looked to Pat. "Why did we have to agree to come with them? It's bad enough having to deal with just Jonas, but Giles, too?"

"Hey!" They both jumped off me.

Pat and Alma laughed, and Giles' parents laughed from behind us as well. I dropped back to Giles' sisters while the boys, pretending to be offended, marched ahead.

We turned the corner and my heart lifted with excitement as the temple grounds came into view. Christmas lights lit up the gardens, and soon the soft sound of carols drifted through the air. I'd always loved going to see the lights and displays at the Sydney Temple every year, and seeing this temple lit up, really made me feel at home, even if it was freezing cold instead of hot and humid.

As we entered the grounds, Giles and Jonas dropped back to wait for me.

"We decided to forgive you," Jonas said with a grin. "But only because it's Christmas, the best holiday of the year!"

Sarah giggled beside me. Jonas shifted uncomfortably and rushed ahead. I leaned in and whispered to Giles, "Does he like her back?"

Giles laughed. "Oh no, she’s like a sister in his eyes. That's why he feels so uncomfortable about it."

"I'm not so good at reading these sort of things, am I?" I chuckled.

He glanced at me. "Apparently not."

We walked around admiring the lights. Giles stopped occasionally to talk to missionaries. Jonas saw a few of his friends ahead of us and disappeared for a while, then came back dragging them along with him so he wouldn't get into trouble for leaving his parents.

I linked arms with Giles as we walked around together and talked. "Tell me something, Penny," Giles began. "You said that your name isn’t Penelope."