Our Love Story: Part 12

Preface: If you’ve missed any of the “chapters” of our love story so far, go back & get caught up before continuing below!
Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 3 — Part 4 — Part 5 — Part 6 — Part 7 — Part 8 — Part 9 — Part 10 — Part 11

Side note: it’s crazy to me that one year ago on our 7th wedding anniversary I began the process of writing out Derrick & I’s love story. I can honestly say, that if it wasn’t for this monthly “chapter” needing to be published on my blog, I would never be 12 “chapters” and this far into actually writing out our story! I’m still kind of in shock at how long this has dragged out & am so thankful for everyone that reads it every month!! Anyone want to take the bet that I’ll still not be completely finished & up to our wedding day by the time our 9th anniversary rolls around next April?
Over the last year, I have written 52 pages – 21,315 words. And I’m only 5 months into our relationship! Stats are fun though, so I’m curious to see where I’m at next year at this time.

Derrick had this thing about racquetballs. Ever since he was a little kid, he’s loved carrying one around. They could act as a “stress ball”, as a way of distracting his hands, but mostly he loved to pace up & down the hall bouncing it up & down. He said he did his best thinking while bouncing his racquetball – so whether he was cramming for a big test at college or just sorting out a new melody line his mind was creating – bouncing that blue ball was his way of occupying his hands enough to let his mind be free.

As our Labor Day Weekend wore down together (complete with Derrick’s Dad sending us on the hunt for corn-on-the-cob on Sunday after church & us driving all over creation to find some), Derrick handed me his precious racquetball.

“Here you go.”

“You’re giving this to me?” I was shocked.

“Yeah, I’ve got more back at college.”

No one could believe the exchange (especially Paul, Derrick’s brother). And it just sealed the deal in everyone’s mind that this relationship truly was moving forward & out of the “just friends” zone.

In fact, the awe continued even through the car ride home, when Paul kept shaking his head & commenting, “You really don’t know how much it means that he gave that thing to you.”

I got home Monday night & after tossing all of my stuff in my bedroom downstairs, went upstairs to check in with my parents. They wanted to know how the weekend had gone & I told them it had been awesome. My Mom asked about what we did, and before I could answer, my Dad cut in: “Did you hold hands?”

A tiny bit caught off guard by his point-blank question (because, how did he know?) I answered him point-blank back (a smile creeping onto my lips), “Yes.”

They both simply nodded and continued asking about the weekend. I was a little weirded out by their lack of shock – they simply nodded & took it in stride. I guess I was the only one surprised by our blossoming friendship.

Late that night, I got an email, from Derrick’s email address, but written by Derrick’s best friend (and use-to-be roommate) Caleb:

Kara,
(This is Caleb)
Derrick (Smokey THE Bear) just showed me the pictures from this weekend. Looks like you two had fun. Steph & I fed the Bear tonight & he entertained us; talking about you. We hear good things. So I heard you got a racquetball – All I can say to that is wow. (I’m officially not allowed to hide those things from him anymore, he doesn’t like it) But he gave you one … 🙂
Hey, he likes you, and he’s a good man, be good to him.
We look forward to meeting you!
Caleb (Rocky the Squirrel)

With no solid plans as to when we would see each other next (other than “probably sometime in October”), we both dug in to wait out the time. We both were working & going to college – but of the two of us, Derrick definitely held the crazier schedule. This was his last semester of college & he had a crazy amount of boxes that needed to be checked in order to graduate (he had to put together a demo CD, which meant finding instrumentalists who would be willing to donate their time & record for him, recording himself, and then mixing it all together, he had to perform 4 concerts plus his big senior recital, he had 3 big class projects, which included writing & illustrating a children’s book, along with all of the usual reports, tests, and requirements college classes demand).

He was also trying to figure out what would happen after college: Where was he going to live? Would he stay in the area he was going to school in so he could continue his vocal lessons with his music teacher (and good friend), would he move home, or would he move to be closer to me? Where was he going to work? He also knew he was going to be needing a new vehicle soon. Needless to say, Derrick had a lot weighing on his mind.

Knowing that I played piano, Derrick had asked me, when we were together over Labor Day Weekend if I would be interested in accompanying him for at least a few of those 4 concerts he was required to put on. I heartily agreed. He was thinking he would do one concert at his parent’s church and one at his Uncle Jim’s church – but didn’t have any solid plans as to when.

He mailed me a whole packet of sheet music so I could practice: 11 pieces with the promise of 3 more on their way. Never one to shy away from a challenge, I dove in. It was most definitely a challenge though. Most of the music Derrick sent me was written in another language, some of it was copied out of a book – thus small & slightly hard to read. It was a challenge, to say the least.

As the month of September wore on, plans for the rest of the year began to fall into place. Derrick bought another round of train tickets to come visit the weekend before my birthday. We knew most of that weekend would be spent at the Lake House, but since he was coming in on Thursday night, we planned to practice for his concerts on Friday. Those concerts would take place the following month, during a whirlwind trip around the state of Pennsylvania.

We counted down the days, keeping each other company with long emails & long phone calls. Mostly though, we talked about food (like any normal, healthy relationship). I teased Derrick by sending him pictures of homemade apple pie & he teased me by telling me how he had scored Caleb’s amazing secret chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Finally, the Thursday Derrick would be arriving on the train dawned. The day dragged on and on. My college classes that day seemed to be twice as long as usual, and the afternoon was even longer. I typically left college on Tuesdays & Thursdays and went straight into work at KFC, but since Derrick was coming, I had taken Thursday & Friday off. Finally, the clock wore down & I knew if I took my time, I could leave (and still be early, you know, just in case the train was early).

But just like the last time, the train was right on time.

That night, Derrick & I planned to go out to dinner with Paul & Naomi. That way, the four of us could spend some time together & we planned to celebrate my birthday. The train station in Latrobe, PA has a restaurant underneath it and we thought it would be so much fun to go there (plus, it was close – no driving required). Paul & Naomi had made the reservations at DiSalvos Station Restaurant & we were honestly super surprised when we walked in & only one other couple was in the restaurant.

“Did you reserve the whole thing for us?” we teased Paul.

Not long after we sat down & ordered, the other couple left. We had the entire place to ourselves for the rest of the evening.

Since my birthday was just around the corner, Paul & Naomi & Derrick had brought me gifts! I was surprised, but nothing surprised me more than Derrick’s gift. I tore the paper off of the box & found that he was giving me a box of mac n’ cheese. Very confused, but trying not to be rude, I smiled & tried to make a joke about eating mac n’ cheese at this fancy restaurant. Derrick quickly turned the box around in my hands so that I could see that it was taped shut & I needed to unwrap it further.

Laughing at the thought of Derrick actually giving me a box of mac n’ cheese for my 19th birthday, I continued unwrapping and eventually pulled out a beautiful, long, soft maroon scarf.

Derrick explained the backstory to the scarf: “Last week, Caleb & I went to the mall in Philly – the King of Prussia Mall – it’s actually the largest mall in America. Anyway, I knew I wanted to get you something for your birthday & I was thinking a scarf would be nice. We went into this really ritzy store, I wanted to get you something really nice. So, we walked around – I found the scarves and I found one that I liked. And then I looked at the price tag: $300.”

Of course, we all gasped. For 2 college students & 2 newlyweds, a $300 scarf was like buying the moon – utterly impossible. I mean, we were out to a fancy dinner that we could barely afford as it was!

He continued: “So, of course, I put it back, and we walked out of that store. Caleb wanted to run into the Gap for a minute & while we were in there, that’s where I found your scarf. I won’t tell you how much it cost, but it wasn’t quite $300.”

We ate our expensive dinners & laughed at the thought of buying a $300 clothing accessory. After dinner, we walked back to Paul & Naomi’s apartment where Naomi had baked one of her famous cakes for dessert. They sang to me and generally made the biggest deal possible. It was such a wonderful night.

After our evening with Paul & Naomi, I drove Derrick back down to my house. We walked in the door & were instantly greeted by a whole gang of people (mostly my little siblings). It had been 2 long months since my family had seen Derrick and everyone was just as excited as I was to have him with us for the weekend.

Standing in the entryway & talking to everyone, my little brother Stephen blurted out, “I know where Derrick’s going to sleep tonight!”

We all paused & turned to him, “Where?”

“With Kara!”

My cheeks turned 37 shades of pink & Derrick laughed nervously.

My Dad laughed, “No Steve, he’s sleeping with you.”

..Part 13 coming soon!