Loving Lily Lavender (11 page)

“Jane’s not very happy, but she’s supporting my decision. I’m
going to have to leave from time to time and travel back and forth for
interviews and photo shoots. And next month, I start filming for my next movie,
Love’s Eternal.
I’ll be on location in Canada, but we can work all that
out—as long as we’re together.”

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I said. “I mean, an hour ago
I was miserable, and now I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.” I reached up and
hugged him. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too. You can’t imagine how much. I missed this
hair,” he said, wrapping a curl around one of his fingers. “It feels so good to
have you in my arms again. But—” he pulled away to peer at me, “are you okay?
You fainted, and you look so tired.” He traced the dark circles under my eyes
with his finger.

“Yes, I’m fine. The day I fainted I hadn’t eaten or slept and yes
I am tired. I haven’t been sleeping either. But I’ll be fine now.” I clung
myself tighter to him again, breathing in deeply, memorizing his fresh scent.

He buried his face in my hair. “I’ve missed this smell. Oh,” he
said, remembering something, “I finally forgave Randall. You were right, it was
easier than I thought, and we’re okay now.”

“I’m so proud of you.”

“I thought you might be.”

“I have a great idea. Why don’t we celebrate our reunion? I’ll
cook us a big meal, we’ll eat until we’re so full we can’t breathe, and then
we’ll talk and cuddle all night.”

“That sounds great. I just need to make a quick call, and then
I’ll help you.” He pulled the phone out of his pocket and winked. “I need to
make sure that apartment is still available.”

The next morning, I woke and was surprised to see that I was still
on the sofa wrapped in Lucas’s arms. One minute we were snuggling and talking,
and the next minute we were sound asleep. Well, we were both very exhausted.

I got up as quietly as I could, took off the blanket that was
wrapped around me, and covered him with it. He never even moved.  I stared down
at him for a very long moment. Happiness flowed over me like a soothing balm
with healing properties. I closed my eyes and said a sweet prayer of
thankfulness.

When I went into the kitchen I noticed it was ten o’clock. I
decided to cook some breakfast. I was thankful for Meagan who’d been taking
care of me. Even though I wouldn’t eat much she made sure to keep plenty of
food in the fridge.

“Wait—what is today?” I whispered to myself. “It’s Sunday, and
it’s ten o’clock! I’m going to be late for church.” I scurried up the stairs as
quietly as I could. I didn’t have time to take a full shower, but washed up and
got dressed in a hurry. When I was happy with the way I looked in the mirror, I
headed downstairs to Lucas.

He was still asleep, so instead of waking him, I left him a note:

         Lucas,

         I’ve gone to church, then to see my mother. I didn’t
have the heart to wake you. You looked so handsome sleeping. I’ll be back
around five. Make       yourself at home. There is food in the fridge. I hate
to leave you, but I’ll see      you soon.

         ~ Your Loving Lily

Ten minutes later I was slipping quietly into a pew. I spotted
Meagan and we waved. The smile on her face was suspicious, and I got the strange
feeling she was in on Lucas’ return.

Pastor Robert Franklin cleared his throat as he began. His sermon
was about abstinence, and though it was geared toward the youth, he made eye
contact with me more than once. I squirmed in my seat and felt sweat suddenly
beading around my collar. Maybe it was just me, but I got the strange sensation
he was preaching directly to me.

I was relieved when church finally ended, and I started making my
way quickly toward the doors before I found myself confessing my sinful
thoughts. Just because I was refraining from sex with Lucas didn’t mean I
hadn’t had my thoughts. As I made my way through the crowd, Meagan caught up to
me, pulling me aside and demanding all the details. I knew it. She
had
known he was on his way. I hadn’t realized she was so good at keeping secrets.

After I filled her in on everything, she told me how happy she
was for me, and then we hugged and said our goodbyes.

I was headed out the door when Pastor Franklin, or Pastor Rob as
he’s often called, intercepted me. “Lilianna, may I have a moment to speak with
you?” I’ve known Pastor Rob since I was a small child. He even baptized me when
I was six years old.

“Yes, of course Pastor, what’s on your mind?”

“Well,” he said, gently pulling me to the side, “word has reached
me that you’re seeing some famous Hollywood actor, and well, I’m sure you’re
aware that most of these actors are unbelievers. As a matter of fact, most of
their lifestyles leave a lot to be desired. I just don’t want to see you turn
from your faith and end up hurt,” he said in a sincere tone.

“Well thank you, Pastor Rob, but he’s not luring me to the dark
side if that’s what you mean. If anything I hope I’m influencing him toward the
light side. But I do appreciate your concern, and I assure you I’m being very
careful.” Then I smiled the most wholesome smile I could.

“Very good. It’s always nice to talk to you, Lilianna. And please
tell your mother we miss her and continue to pray for her. Have a great day.”
There’s one thing about Pastor Rob, he’s always direct and to the point.

“I will, and thank you.” I went swiftly out the door before he
changed his mind and started quizzing me more intently.

When I exited the church, I glanced up, my eyes adjusting to the
sudden change in brightness, and gasped. There he was, my man from the dark
side, leaning against his rented shiny, black Mustang GT, arms crossed over his
chest. He looked very handsome in his khaki jeans and a button up black shirt
with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms and his dark sunglasses covering his
eyes.

Everyone in the parking lot was getting an eye full, especially
me. 

“Lucas, this is a nice surprise. What are you doing here? And how
did you know where I go to church?” I asked curiously as I approached.

“I heard you leave and so I called Meagan. She gave me
directions. I thought it would be a nice surprise to show up here and take you
to see your mother. If you don’t mind, that is.”

“Oh, Lucas, that would be great! She’s going to love you. Thank
you.” I reached up on my toes and kissed him.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

We got a bite to eat on the way. When we arrived, I was happy to
see that Mom remembered me this time, though she had forgotten me by the time
we left. Just like I thought, she was instantly in love with Lucas, as were all
the other women there. Some actually recognized him and got autographs for
their granddaughters, or so they said.

He was a hit, but then I knew he would be. He actually seemed
comfortable there. I guess it was different from his normal screaming teenage
girls.

On the way home, he dropped me at the church to get my car before
following me home.

When we arrived, Meagan was there. She had cooked us supper and
was anxiously counting the minutes until we walked through the door.

“Meg, what a nice surprise.”

“Well, you always cook, so I thought it would be a nice gesture,
you know, for your birthday. I’m sorry it’s late, but yesterday was busy with
the wedding and all.”

“It’s your birthday?” Lucas asked, almost horrified.

“Well, yesterday actually.”

“Lily, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” He sounded disappointed.
“I’ll make it up to you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Yesterday was the day you came back to me.
It was the best birthday I’ve ever had.”

“Yes it was a great evening, but I still want to get you
something. I’m going to have to remember—July eleventh,” he said as if
committing it to memory.

“By the way, today is our one month anniversary. We met at
Woody’s on June twelfth.”

“Hmm, I’ll have to remember that too.” He was looking as though
he had received too much information, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Actually, there is something I would like to have, though you
don’t have to buy it. I would like to read Sylvia Stone’s
Forever Love
series. You know, the books your movies are based on. But if you don’t mind, I
could just borrow yours.”

“Of course. You’ll enjoy them, but I’m still going to get you
something for your birthday. I’ll just be creative.” His smiled at me
mischievously.

“Fine, whatever you think, but your love is enough for me.” I
reached up on my toes and kissed him.

“Okay, enough of that for now. Let’s eat,” Meagan said, ushering
us into the kitchen.

I was a little sad to see the evening come to an end. It was nice
enjoying time with two of my favorite people together, but it
had
been a
long day.  All the lack of sleep was beginning to catch up with me, and I was
beginning to feel slightly run down.

Fortunate for me, I’d planned some time off. I had already
completed six weddings, including my friend Susan’s, who also happens to be the
mayor’s daughter. Needless to say, I got a pretty good paycheck out of that
one. Actually, my next wedding wasn’t scheduled until late fall, and since I
don’t have a house payment, I was looking pretty good for the year.

The first week after Lucas’s return seemed to fly, and too soon
it was time for him to go back to L.A. for a photo shoot and interview for
In
Style
magazine.

“Sometimes these shoots only take a few hours, but occasionally,
they can take all day, but I promise I’ll get back here as soon as I can,” he
assured me, hugging me tightly. I could tell he was really dreading the trip,
but that was the compromise we had to make in order to stay together.

The goodbye was harder than I thought, so to fill the void, I
grabbed Lucas’s copy of
Love’s Eternal
, the second book in the series by
Sylvia Stone. This was the movie Lucas would begin filming in August.

I had already completed the first book,
Forever Love
and
loved it. Now I understood the draw to it, and why everyone was so in love with
Heath Hamilton. I probably would’ve been too if I didn’t have Lucas, who was
way better. I only hoped the second book was as good.

By the end of the day, I had talked to Lucas twice on the phone.
It was amazing to me that he actually missed me as much as I missed him. I also
completed ninety percent of the second book and loved it better than the first
one.

My mind was swamped with fatigue as I headed up to my room to get
in the shower before going to bed. As I laid my head down on my pillow, something
crinkled. I peered over and found a note folded neatly on my pillow. I opened
it and read these beautiful words:

         You’ve captured my mind, body, and soul, but, more
importantly you           possess my heart—take care of it for me until I return.

         ~ Your Lucas

I smiled widely as I recognized the words from the book I had
been reading. My heart melted completely as I remembered how Heath Hamilton had
left those exact words on a note to his love, and now Lucas had left them for
me. What touched me more was the fact that Lucas had somehow snuck up to my
room and left the note when I wasn’t paying attention to him. But I was always
paying attention to him, so when did he do it? More importantly, how did he
know, on that particular day, I would read those exact words in the book? My
mind was puzzled. I was so moved that tears swelled up in my eyes. I took the
note, held it up against my heart, and offered up a prayer of thankfulness and
protection over the man who was making my dreams come true. I could never again
think of love the same way, and I could no longer picture my life without him.

I knew they were stolen lines, but every time I read them I felt
such strong emotions of love and longing that, by then, were becoming so
familiar.

I missed him so much and he’d only been gone for twelve hours,
yet it seemed like a lifetime to me.

It wasn’t a lifetime, only two days had past when he returned.

“I have something to tell you.” He took my hand and led me to the
sofa and sat with me. “I’ll be on location in Canada, as you know, but I have
to be on set by August third. That’s less than two weeks from now. I’ll be gone
for approximately three months, depending on how smoothly things go.” He paused
as he studied my face. I’m not sure what he saw—horror perhaps.

“Lily, I’ve thought this through and after this last trip I know
I can’t be apart from you that long.”

“Lucas, what are you saying?”

“I’m saying I want you to come with me.”

I stood and immediately began pacing about the room. “I don’t
know Lucas, that’s a big step. I mean, what about my mom and the house? I would
be staying with you, and I’m just your girlfriend, but I hate the idea of being
apart. I—I just don’t know.”

He stood and approached me. “Lily, I understand your concerns,
but maybe Meagan can help. She can look after the house and check in on your
mom. You can talk to her everyday if you like. We’ll stay in different rooms,
of course, and you can come and go as you please. We just have to be able to
see each other. Please, Lily, come with me, not as my girlfriend, but as
my—fiancé.”

I gasped as he knelt down on one knee, putting his hand in his
pocket and pulling out a ring. I began to shake. He took my left hand in his
and slid the ring on my ring finger. With tears in his eyes he said, “Lilianna
Marie Spencer, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”

My mouth fell open, but I couldn’t seem to speak. I just starred
at him like an idiot.

“Lily—please. Will you marry me?” he pleaded, looking slightly
nervous.

I just nodded like a dummy, tears streaming down my face.