Years of Summer: Lily's Story

by Bethanie Armstrong

  “You know Lily, me and Dave and Ty and Mike enjoyed ourselves, but you have never seen a more miserable bunch of guys after the four of you left. We almost left too, but my parents talked us into staying and by the way, they loved you.”

  I suddenly realized something. “Jace you know what, I don’t even know where you live or rather where your parents live.”

  “You know, I don’t know where you live either. That’s funny, I can tell you everything about you except where you live, so you first.”

  “Okay, I live in Huntsville.”

  “You’re not serious.”

  “Yes, that is where I live.”

  “I live in Decatur.”

  “No way. Why have I never seen you around back home?”

  “Probably because we were never looking for each other and we were in different high schools. Did you know Dave is from Decatur too?”

  “You know what’s funnier?”

  “What?”

  “That it never registered with me when Chelsea said you and she had gone to high school together that you were from Decatur. Talk about not listening, but how come she never mentioned Dave?”

  “Because Dave and she never really got to know each other until they started here, and his family moved there just before he started his freshman year in high school. He and I were on the football team and baseball team together. His two little sisters go to Decatur High too.”

  “Where was he from originally?”

  “He was from Corner.”

  “You know, my grandparents lived there. I wonder if my mom and dad know his mom and dad. That is where they grew up. I bet they do. Corner is a really small town.”

  “Just ask next time you see Dave.”

  “I think I will. Anyway, that is so wild that we lived twenty minutes away from each other and never knew the other existed until college. Hey, you want to go sit on the quad? It is nice and sunny today.”

  “Yeah, that sounds great.”

  I went to my closet and grabbed the blanket to go sit on the quad. The days were longer, so we still had some time before the sun went down. He followed me out and of course not everyone was back yet so the quad was rather sparse with people. We spread out the blanket and sat down and continued our conversation.

  “So tell me something.”

  “What would you like to know?”

  “Chelsea said you were the star pitcher on the baseball team, star lineman on the football team, and president of the SGA. Why did you never have a steady girlfriend? I’m sure you could have had your pick.”

  Jace started laughing. “Remind me to tell Chelsea to keep her mouth shut next time I see her.”

  “Don’t be mean, I asked her the same question.”

  “Oh really, and what answer did she give you?”

  “She said that you never had a steady girlfriend because all the girls you dated were shallow and only liked you for the positions you held.”

  “She’s absolutely right.”

  “Jace, you picked those girls, so if you didn’t like shallow girls why did you date them?”

  “Lily, I never wanted a steady girlfriend, ever.”

  That was kind of a slap in the face. I almost started crying. He saw it. Then he put his hand on the side of my face. I pulled away from him.

  “So, Jace, what am I to you? A fly by night romance who you will dump the next chance you get?”

  He looked really upset. “No, I never wanted a steady girlfriend—until I met you. Suddenly I couldn’t stand the thought of us not having a chance, because of Chance. I liked you from the moment I saw you. There was something different about you and believe me I really tried to stay away from you and then I heard Chance in the shower that night bragging about what he was about to do to you. I almost killed him then. The thought of someone purposely trying to hurt you angered me more than I ever thought possible. I tried to let it go and make myself believe that he was just talking, trying to make himself look good. Why he thought that would impress people is beyond me. All it ever did for those of us that knew you and knew him was made us want to hurt him before he ever had the chance to hurt you. Then that night Chelsea called Dave and said you were not in your room when you should have been and Dave called me and told that to me, I panicked, I was a basket case, and all kinds of horrible thoughts went through my head. I thought we were going to find your body somewhere in a remote location on campus. I couldn’t stand the thought of you being dead.”

  I flinched when he said that. Tears started coming up in my eyes, but not for me, for the thought of what that put him through when no one knew where I was. I placed my hand on his face trying to comfort him. “But Jace, here I am, I’m fine.”

  “Yes, you are definitely fine, but I said all of that to tell you this. I have never met anyone like you and after that scare I wanted to be a part of your life somehow. Your friend or boyfriend or just Jace, the guy you like to spend time with. I made it a point to be around you whenever I could, whether it was sitting in the desk next to you in class or in front of you in class or even behind you in class. I just liked being around you. Then everything with Chance happened, by the way I’m glad you broke off your engagement.”

  I laughed he was being so very honest with me and it made me feel like he really meant that he had never met anyone like me, and not just a pick up line. I took his hand. “Well, I don’t plan on going anywhere, so you may just be stuck with me, until you find someone else to rescue.”

  He choked up and then cleared his throat to fight it back. He seemed so sad at that moment. He pulled me into his lap. “Lily bell, no matter what happens; there will never be anyone else for me except you, no matter what happens.”

  The way he said that gave me chills. I had the feeling he wasn’t telling me something, but I decided not to think about it and just enjoy the time we had with each other, all along keeping in mind—one day at a time.

  Chapter 6

  Jace and I became inseparable. The only time we weren’t together was when we didn’t have the same class. After realizing we only lived twenty minutes away from each other we decided to go home twice a month. We would ride together swapping out cars on the weeks we were home. That allowed my little sister to have the car some too. Ally was thrilled.

  The first time I took Jace home to meet my family, Ally was in awe of him for some strange reason. When we were eating dinner one night during that weekend she scared everybody at the table. “That’s it; I know where I know you from.” She was talking to Jace.

  “You know me from somewhere?”

  “Yeah, you were like the star pitcher on Decatur High’s baseball team and star lineman on their football team, who passed up a full scholarship to AU. WHY did you do that?”

  I glared at Ally. “That is none of your business Ally, you are so nosy.”

  She looked down at the table. “Oh, yeah, I guess you’re right that was nosy of me. Sorry.”

  “That’s okay, do you want me to tell you why, I don’t mind.”

  “Okay, why did you pass up the full scholarship to Auburn?” I was even curious about that. I knew what Chelsea had told me, but that didn’t make sense to me.

  Jace went into his story. “There were two of us up for the scholarship, me and my best friend Trace. We both tried out for it, but for some reason his game was way off that night and he missed it, but that same night I messed up my knee, tearing the ACL.” He showed us the scars on his leg. “They were going to give it to me, but I bowed out because, one, I didn’t want to get hurt again like that, man that was rough, and two, he was not going to get to college without it and I decided to go to a small college and make my own way rather than be known for the scholarship I held. They gave it to him and as far as I know, the last time I talked to him he was doing well and in pre-med. That is why I gave up the scholarship.”

  My mom and dad were blown away, not to mention me and Ally. My dad broke the silence. “Well, Jace, that was very noble of you and so you ended up
at UM.” Oh no, dad was about to go into his what do you plan to do with your life spill. I couldn’t say anything I could just try to give him warning with my look. He caught on.

  “So Jace, what are you majoring in?”

  “I’m majoring in sociology to be a counselor?”

  “High school or elementary school?”

  “High school preferably, but I am not opposed to elementary school.”

  “Well you know; Lily here is majoring in early childhood education.”

  “Yes Sir, my roommate Dave is majoring in Elementary Education. They have had some classes together. He is from Corner. Lily told me that both of you grew up in Corner also. Did you know any Jamesons?”

  Jace purposely pulled the conversation away from himself, I could tell he was getting uncomfortable because my dad had called him noble, then I understood why he never really told that story to anyone, but it was like he wanted me to know everything about him, Ally too. I believe he would’ve liked to have had her for a little sister. I never saw that coming to be, though, I couldn’t understand why. Then I reminded myself—one day at a time—once again.

  Mom answered Jace’s question. “Yeah we went to high school with some Jamesons. David Jameson, he had twin sisters, Sherry and Shelley, and the girl he was with at the time was Mary Ann Charles.”

  “That would be them, David and Mary Ann Jameson.”

  “Well what a small world. You said they had a son, your roommate, Dave?”

  “Yes Ma’am and Dave has two little sisters that go to Decatur high. They’re twins too, about Ally’s age.”

  Ally spoke up then. “I have met them before, friends of friends, Hannah and Hallie Jameson.”

  “Right again, they are his sisters.”

  Wow, it was definitely a small world. I don’t know why I didn’t know any of that. Oh well, now I did.

  After dinner the doorbell rang. It was Connor, Ally’s boyfriend. He had come to pick her up for their date. They were going to the movies and Jace and I were going over to see his parents. That was Friday night.

  Saturday Jace and I went to the space and rocket center. The day was absolutely gorgeous. That night we ate dinner with his mom and dad and I met his nephew. He was about nine months old. I had met his brother before, he was several years older than Jace, but I had never met his sister-in-law or nephew. Her name was Laney and the baby’s name was Shane Grey (named after Jace’s brother), they had a little girl too, her name was Tessa. For some reason little Shane Grey took to me. He reached for me and I took him and he played with my hair. It felt so sweet with his little baby hands in my hair. Jace just looked at me and grinned really big. “You’re loving that aren’t you?”

  “Well who wouldn’t he is precious.” We stayed a couple of hours.

  “Well I hate to break up the fun, but I need to get Lily home. I’ll be back later.” He kissed his mom good-bye and hugged his dad, took Shane from me and gave him back to Laney and kissed her goodbye. Tessa hugged his leg. Then he shook his brother’s hand and we left.

  He looked tired. “Jace are you tired?”

  “Yeah, I don’t know what is more exhausting, going to classes and walking all over campus, or coming home for the weekends.” We both started laughing.

  “Yeah I know what you mean; I can’t wait to get back to campus Sunday so I can rest.”

  “Speaking of that, what time do you want to leave tomorrow?”

  “I’ll have my stuff ready around one o’clock. Is that okay?”

  “Yeah, I’ll pick you up then.”

  “Okay, do you want to come in or head back home?”

  “I love you, but I am exhausted I think I’ll just head back home.”

  “Okay, I love you too. Be careful and call me when you get home.”

  “Wait a minute; that’s my line.”

  “Please, I want to make sure you’re back safe and didn’t fall asleep at the wheel.”

  “Okay, Lily bell I’ll call you when I get home.”

  “Thank you.” We kissed good night and he left.

  As Jace pulled out Connor and Ally pulled in. I sat on the deck stairs to wait for her. She didn’t know I was there. I watched how sweet Connor was to her, I just hated that he and she would have to part when he went to college. However, all good things must eventually end. Somehow tonight I had the feeling that Jace was not always going to be around. I really didn’t know what that meant, but I tried not to think about it. It did bring me to tears though. I had to keep repeating to myself, “one day at a time, one day at a time.”

  Ally came up the deck stairs and sat with me. “Lily why are you crying? Jace didn’t break up with you did he?”

  “No, nothing like that.”

  “Then what?”

  “Ally this is so complicated, it’s hard to explain.”

  “Try me, I’m not that much younger than you.”

  “Okay, do you ever get “feelings” about things?”

  “Yeah, I do, why?”

  “Because I just have a feeling that Jace is not always going to be here, like one day I’m going to wake up and he’ll be gone. It just scares me, that’s all.”

  “Well Lily, there was this girl that once told me to enjoy things while they last because we are not promised tomorrow and she also says to take one day at a time.” She and I laughed, because I had told her that the last time I was home.

  “I love you, Ally!”

  “I love you too, Lily! You are the best sister ever.” We kissed each other on the cheek. “Are you coming to bed soon?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there soon.” She walked back into the house and I sat there a little while longer. The night was clear and beautiful and it gave me a sense of calm. Whatever time Jace and I had left I would gladly take. I just hoped . . . I was wrong.

  Jace came and picked me up and we left for UM. When we made it back and after we unloaded everything he came back to my room and both of us just collapsed on my bed and fell asleep. This weekend was more exhausting than a whole week of walking back and forth across campus for class. I was glad we would not be going home this next weekend.

  We slept for a couple of hours and woke up hungry. “Well I loved waking up next to you, but I’m about to starve. What time is it?”

  I looked at my clock and it was six o’clock. “It’s six o’clock, the Caf is closed. You want to try the SUB.”

  “How about Subway in town? Feel like walking?”

  “Yeah, that sounds good.” So we walked to town and ate at Subway.

  A few minutes later Chelsea, Brianna, and Jillian showed up with Ty, Dave, and Mike. “Well hey guys, y'all want to join us?”

  “Sure, but let’s go grab that table over there, there’s a little more room.”

  We all ordered and sat down and ate. We had all gone home this weekend. They seemed about as exhausted as we were. Chelsea started laughing.

  “Chels, what’s so funny?”

  “We are in our twenties and we are acting like grandmas and grandpas. I hate going home over the weekends, it is so exhausting. I came back so I could get some rest.” Then we all laughed, because we were all feeling the same way.

  “Yeah, I know, so are y'all going home this coming weekend?”

  A resounding chorus of “NO” rang through the room. We were all laughing. We were one tired bunch. When we were through with supper we all walked back to mine and Chelsea’s room. It was closest to the doors. Everyone stayed and talked until about ten and then everyone started yawning. We said our goodbyes and then parted ways. When we finally made it to bed we had no problem falling asleep.

  April flew by and then it was nearing finals time. Our English final was a paper and ten compare/contrast questions on various things we had read throughout the semester. I hated it, but made it through fine, so did Jace and the others. Jace and I worked on sociology together and came through with flying colors on that final and we did well on the rest too.

  Bring on summer. Jace and I spent the majority
of our summer together. We went to the beach with his family and we went to the beach with my family. Two beach trips in one summer. We had a blast. On the final evening before we were supposed to head home I found myself wandering out into the backyard of his condo and brought myself back to a place in my memory where we began our summer. I stood on the very spot where I committed myself to Jace for the long run and went back through that day of Spring Break when I finally realized what Jace meant to me. I just stood and stared at the stars and again the moon was full. It was a beautiful night. All of a sudden his strong arms were around me. “Taking yourself back Lily bell?”

  “Yeah, I couldn’t help myself. Jace, I’m so glad we’re together.”

  “I am too Lily Grace, I hope you never have any regrets.”

  “At this moment Jace, I regret nothing; please don’t ever give me reason to.”

  “I am trying my best to make sure that doesn’t happen. I love you so much Lily, you are so much a part of me.”

  I knew that and he knew I felt the same way about him, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was not going to be with me always. I just blurted it out.

  “I feel the same way about you Jace, but why do I have the feeling that you’re not going to be around forever?”

  “Lily that is a ridiculous question. Are any of us going to be around forever?”

  I laughed, despite what I was feeling at that moment. “No, I guess you’re right. None of us will be around forever.”

  “Then let’s make a pact.”

  “Okay, what about?”

  “Let’s make a pact to make the most of everyday as if it were our last together. Will you do that? Will you make that pact with me?”

  That felt like the only thing I could do. “Yes Jace, I promise to make the most of every day I’m with you.”

  “That’s my Lily bell.” Then he looked deep into my eyes and kissed me long and passionately. I felt it; I felt the longing to be with him to share everything with him, but being the southern gentleman that he was, looked at me and said, “I want you to have no regrets Lily and your name is as pure as the white flowers it represents. I won't take that from you. I love you and love should never have any regrets.”