“Uh, sure.” Cyd worked to gather her faculties. Until two seconds ago, she wasn’t sure what day it was. “What time?”
“Seven thirty?”
Cyd was about to ask why she needed to call so early, but given the climate between them of late, she thought better of it. “That’s fine.”
They agreed on a Starbucks, and Cyd sat in bed pondering what this could be about, that it couldn’t wait till after church. She remembered Heather’s heartfelt prayer yesterday. Was God answering already? It would certainly encourage Heather. She’d called last night to say the gift hadn’t gone over well, that her mother had laughed. Maybe God was giving her a gift by touching Dana’s heart. Or maybe Cyd was getting ahead of herself. Dana might have an altogether different issue in mind.
Cyd felt a pull to get up, make coffee, and spend the time before their meeting with God. Whatever it was, depending on how it went, things could end up worse than ever between them.
CYD PULLED THE STARBUCKS DOOR OPEN AND SAW DANA behind one person in line. She hated the jumpy feeling she now got when she saw her friend, not knowing what to say, how she would be received. Sucking in a big breath, she stepped inside, surprised to see that the place was fairly empty.
She walked up beside her friend. “Good morning.”
Dana turned and gave her a slight smile. “Good morning. Thanks for coming.”
“No problem.”
Their gazes landed on the menu board, as if they needed to survey what was available. Dana moved forward and ordered her usual, a grande nonfat vanilla latte. “I’m taking care of hers too.”
“Thanks,” Cyd said. She took a step up. “Is it possible to get a decaf mocha latte?” She still wasn’t used to thinking of herself as pregnant.
Dana looked surprised. “Decaf? Early in the morning? Never seen you do that.”
“I know. I’m . . . changing things up.”
The barista handed them their drinks, and they settled at a small tabletop by the window, each taking a first sip, staring at their cups.
“Okay, so, I pretty much haven’t slept well since Maggiano’s.”
Cyd looked at Dana, waiting for more.
“But last night I really couldn’t sleep.” Dana was studying her cup. “And it’s not just that I couldn’t sleep. I felt all weepy inside, like I was grieving.” She looked directly at Cyd now. “Like I’d lost my best friend.” She sighed. “And for the first time, I talked to God about it, about this . . . situation. And then I got weepy for real.”
“Why?”
“He showed me me—and I hadn’t even asked Him too!”
Cyd smiled faintly. The Daughters liked to say one of the hardest prayers was, “Lord, show me me,” because He usually responded with something they wouldn’t like.
“Yeah, He’ll do that, won’t He?”
“I was wrong, Cyd.” Dana’s brown eyes showed her sorrow. “I let my bitterness toward Heather get in the way of so many things. As if God can’t get ahold of her heart? I should be glad she’s been changed, but it was like . . . it was like I wanted to keep hating her, and the only way to do that was to keep believing the worst about her. When you befriended her, I didn’t know what to do with that.”
“I know. It’s been hard for me, too, knowing how you felt. I can totally understand.”
“But that doesn’t make it right. I’m sorry for giving you a hard time about helping her. I know you. You wouldn’t have done it unless you were convinced God wanted you to.” She shook her head. “But what really got me about ‘me’ was thinking I was better than she was. Boy, did it sting when God showed me I’m as much a sinner as she is, that we both need a Savior.” She paused. “I was able to forgive her, Cyd, just like you said. I had to call you right after that breakthrough.”
“Dana, wow.” Cyd got up and embraced her. “I’m so happy for you. I know it was hard. No one should have to go through what you went through. But forgiveness is so huge. What’s that old saying? ‘We’re most like God when we forgive.’”
“Hmm.” Dana pondered it. “I love that.”
Cyd sat down again. “So . . . now might be a good time to give you my news.”
“What news?”
A huge smile lighted Cyd’s face. “I’m pregnant. Cedric and I are going to have a baby.”
“What?” Dana covered her mouth and looked around, embarrassed by her own volume.