An Exchange

Chapter Fifty-Four - Lavender

Penny

I woke to Jonas shaking me violently. "Penny, wake up! You have a surprise out the front."

"It's six thirty. What could be out there at this time of morning?" I yawned, sitting up.

"There's lavender all over the front porch. Come see."

"Lavender?" I got to my feet, curious now, and pulled on a jacket. I followed Jonas out the front. He opened the door and stepped aside.

Ryan stood on the front lawn. He gestured for me to look down at the porch. He had written in large letters using lavenders PROM?

I laughed with surprise and ran over to him, throwing my arms around his neck. "Of course!"

He kissed me on the cheek several times and held me tightly. "Penny, I'll make sure it'll be a night you'll never forget."

*

Giles

Stopping on the Taylor's front porch, I stared down at the word PROM? Oh, Ryan. Just as flamboyant as usual. But a smile pushed to the surface. Lavender. He still had no clue that her favorite flower is a lily.

*

Penny

We pulled up in Giles' driveway after school. As we climbed out of his car, his mum burst out of the house waving a large envelope. Giles froze, gaping at her.

Jonas grabbed his shoulders. "Looks like your mission call has arrived."

Giles looked at us both and we ran into his house. His sisters and rushed up from the basement, eagerly wanting to find out where he was going. His mum had already called his dad who had come home from work early, and sat in the kitchen as we came in.

"The whole gang is there then." He laughed, seeing Jonas trying to shove me out of the way for the better position.

We sat in the living room and watched as Giles' mum handed him the envelope. He took a deep breath and tore it open, pulling the information out and looking at the letter. He read it out loud and we listened eagerly.

"You have been called to serve in the West Virginia Charleston Mission…"

His sisters screeched and jumped on him excitedly. He laughed and tried to push them off. "Calm down. Let me finish reading."

We listened to him as he finished reading the letter. He told us his MTC check in date, which was the week after his nineteen birthday, then he passed around all his information in the packet. His dad went and found a map for us to look at, and we huddled around the coffee table and discussed what the area would be like.

I watched Giles proudly, so excited and happy for him. It was what he wanted and I could tell he was ready to go. He glanced up at me and caught me staring. I blushed a little and he smiled at me warmly. "You proud of me huh, kid?"

"Most definitely," I said softly.

His mum squeezed my shoulder. I looked up at her and saw tears of joy in her eyes.

*

Giles

I lay on my bed, flicking through the mission package. Talk about a distraction! With only a couple of weeks until graduation, I felt like everything was falling into place. When we visited Kyle's grave that coming weekend, I'd be able to tell him. Such perfect timing.

I shut my eyes, resting my booklet against my chest. I had so much to tell Kyle, so for the first time, I was excited to head down.