Lily Fields (Garden of Love 1)

by Melanie Wilber

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  “Lily! He actually said that?”

  She smiled at Rose. “Yes. Isn’t that wild?”

  “Isn’t what wild?” Camellia asked, coming back into the room to catch the tail-end of their conversation.

  Lily didn’t especially want her older sister to know what she and Rose had been talking about. Rose’s bridal shower had been held this evening, and she had hung around afterwards to help Rose sort through her gifts. She thought Cami had already left.

  “Peter told Lily he wants to have children with her,” Rose blurted out against her silent wishes. “Isn’t that romantic?”

  Cami raised her eyebrows. “Sounds to me like Peter is a smooth talker, Lily. I’d be careful if I were you.”

  “Cami!” Rose said, rising from the floor in a huff. “Why do you always have to be like that? Can’t you share in Lily’s happiness?”

  “I’m more than eager to share in anyone’s happiness,” Cami defended in her diplomatic way. “I’m telling her to be careful, that’s all.”

  “Hello,” Lily interjected. “I’m in the room. Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.”

  “Sorry, Lil,” Rose said, stepping past Cami to put a stack of fluffy green towels in a box by the doorway. “Don’t listen to her. She wishes Parker had as much romantic inclination as Peter and Geoffrey have in their little fingers.”

  “Okay, I’m leaving,” Camellia said. “Take my advice, don’t take my advice. I only hope I never have to say, ‘I told you so.’”

  Lily tried to not let Camellia’s words bother her. She was only being the way Lily had always known her to be: Right until someone proved her wrong, which didn’t happen too often. There had been a time Lily had lived and breathed according to everything Cami told her, but for the most part she had learned to follow her own heart and think for herself.

  But that tiny voice of doubt had crept in from time to time since Peter left on Sunday. Perhaps she was getting her hopes up prematurely. Perhaps she and Peter were being too rash in their new love. Cami’s words brought those feelings to the surface once again.

  “Don’t listen to her, Lily,” Rose said after Cami left the room with her nose in the air. “Let Peter love you, and don’t let her spoil it.”

  Lily appreciated her little sister’s support. The truth was Cami hadn’t been the only one to give her a word of caution since Peter’s visit. Her mom had warned her about claiming to be in love so soon, and some gals in her Bible study had also raised their eyebrows when she mentioned believing Peter was the man she was going to marry, popping a few of the hope-filled balloons she carried with her wherever she went.

  Only Rose and Josie had voiced their support for her fast-moving relationship with Peter. Everyone else wanted to flash yellow warning lights at her. She tried to put the negative opinions of others out of her mind, but that had always been a difficult thing for her to do.

  Apprehension bubbled to the surface throughout the following day, but when she saw Peter at the airport on Saturday morning, he silenced all such thoughts with one simple kiss. It wasn’t even the most passionate exchange they’d ever had, but the simplicity and sincerity of his affection left no room for believing anything besides the reality of their love.

  The following weekend Peter did have to work, forcing them to be separated for two weeks instead of only one. She did pretty well the first week. Peter called her often, and they talked for an hour or more each time, so she felt connected to him. But on Friday she found herself really wanting to see him.

  An afternoon meeting helped to get her mind off her personal concerns. Max’s Individual Education Plan meeting between herself, Mrs. Stewart, Sherry, Max’s parents and some others involved in making decisions for Max’s special education needs was celebrated by all concerned. Max’s progress this year had surpassed all of the goals they had lined out for him at the beginning of the year and even some they had added along the way.

  Many in the room were trying to point the finger at her for his success, but she kept giving all the credit back to Max and trying to share some with his parents, whom she knew gave him so much loving support at home. She also gave credit to Mrs. Stewart and the special education staff who had given her the freedom to try different things with Max throughout the year as she discovered what activities and learning methods worked best for him.

  Everyone wholeheartedly supported moving Max on to second grade where he would likely be placed in Devin’s classroom, at Lily’s own request that Max have who she considered to be the best second grade teacher they had. And even more so, everyone agreed she should be the one to continue giving him one-on-one instruction in the mainstream classroom, something she definitely looked forward to and gladly accepted.

  “Thanks again, Lily,” Max’s dad said to her, shaking her hand after the meeting. “You are an answer to so many of our prayers for Max. We’re glad he’s going to have you by his side next year also.”

  “I’m glad too,” she replied. “He is a delight to work with. I appreciate you trusting me with such a special privilege.”

  Cathy Harris thanked her also with her words and a hug. “I’d like to have you over a few times this summer. Maybe for an afternoon barbecue at the house.”

  “That would be great. I don’t think I can go three months without seeing Max. Give me a call anytime.”

  She waved good-bye to both of them and gathered her notes from the table. Returning to the classroom, she gathered her things and decided to stop and see Devin before leaving the building. He seemed glad about the news that he was being recommended as Max’s teacher for next year.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I know you will be great with him, and I didn’t want our personal history to get in the way of him having the best teacher.”

  “I totally agree,” he said. “Although, I think he already has the best teacher, Lily.”

  “Well, in case I’m not here next year, I wanted to make sure he ended up in your class.”

  He didn’t look too surprised. “You think you might not be?”

  “I haven’t said anything to anyone here yet, except you. And Peter hasn’t proposed or suggested I move yet, but I’m still thinking about it. I’m kind of waiting on God for that one right now.”

  “That’s always a good thing to do,” he said.

  “Are things going well with Tracy?” she couldn’t keep from asking. Tracy had told the Bible study group she had been seeing him but hadn’t shared more than that.

  “I think so,” he said, sounding confident. “It’s a little different this time around. We already know each other well, but we’ve both changed some too.”

  She thought of how that had been true for her and Marty. “Give it some time,” she said. “Be thankful you have more than a month to decide if it’s what you both want.”

  “Give it some time?” he laughed. “This advice is coming from you? The one who fell in love in one weekend?”

  She smiled blissfully. “I think relationships come in different packages. Some are slow and steady, others are like--Bam! You know?”

  “I agree,” he said. “And I know what you and Peter have is genuine.”

  “Really? How do you know?”

  “By the look I see on your face whenever you talk about him. If you would have looked at me that way, I would have had a ring on your finger so fast--”

  She felt a bit embarrassed by Devin’s bluntness, but she knew he was right. She may have had a crush on him for two years and prayed more times than she could count that he would ask her out, but even after several pleasant dates and some great kisses, her feelings for him had never gone to a level close to what she held in her heart for Peter. She couldn’t explain why, but she knew what she and Peter had was on a completely different level.

  “Have a good weekend, Lily,” Devin said. “Is Peter coming today?”

  “No,” she said, stepping toward the door. “I have to wait until next weekend.”<
br />
  “It’ll go by before you know it,” he said. “Get out and have some fun. See you on Monday.”

  “I’ll try and do that,” she said, thinking of all the long weekends she had endured after spending time with Peter in Tahoe with no idea if she would ever see him again. At least now she had time with him to look forward to.

  She decided to take Devin’s advice and went for a bike ride on Saturday, a long route she took once or twice a year into the foothills of Mount Hood. Attaching her bike to the back of her car, she drove to the town of Troutdale at the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge, then got on her bike and headed along the Sandy River towards Corbett, following the river for another ten miles to a small rural community.

  The trip took a nice chunk out of her day and gave her a lot of time to think and pray and enjoy happy thoughts of Peter even if they couldn’t be together today. She knew riding this route with him sometime would be fun and hoped to have the chance, perhaps even this summer.

  Stopping for a break on top of the plateau before heading back to her car, Lily took a long drink from her water bottle and removed her helmet to let her head breathe a bit. The warm afternoon sun beat down on her copper hair but a nice breeze cooled her sweaty scalp. Turning to look at a meadow along the side of the road, she saw a variety of wildflowers beginning their blooming season. Recalling what Peter had said during one of their phone conversations this week, a smile came to her face.

  “Do you realize that when we get married, your name will be Lily Fields?”

  “Yes,” she laughed. “I’ve thought of that.”

  Maybe it was silly. Maybe she was getting her hopes up too much as Cami and some others seemed to think, but in her heart she felt like it was one more confirmation from God that Peter was the man for her. Lily Fields--what could be more perfect than that?

  Continuing on her trek for the day, Lily decided to continue to trust her heart on this one. Maybe she would get hurt in the end, but if she didn’t let herself be as in love with Peter now as she felt like being, she would be hurting now instead of enjoying the absolute bliss of falling in love. Without a doubt she knew it was worth the risk.

  Returning to her apartment late in the afternoon, she took a long muscle-relaxing shower, dressed in a comfortable yellow t-shirt and some flannel P.J. bottoms, and went to make herself some dinner. She saw a message waiting on her phone and listened to it. Josie had to work tonight and was looking for a last-minute baby-sitter.

  She returned the call, but Josie said she had found someone to cover for her at work and had decided to stay home. Her regular sitter had been having some back problems recently, and her brother and his wife who lived nearby and often watched Tommy for her were out of town this weekend.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t here earlier,” she said. “I would have been happy to do it.”

  “It’s okay. One of my coworkers owed me one, and I don’t mind having an extra night off this week.”

  “Or some extra time with Mark?”

  “Actually he went to California yesterday.”

  “Oh, what for?”

  “He’s interviewing for a position at a children’s hospital.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  Josie sighed. “I’m not sure, to be honest.”

  “You’re still not sure about things between you, are you?”

  “No.” She paused and then continued. “I was beginning to feel all right about everything, but ever since he mentioned this job, I’ve had this awful feeling he’s going to be proposing sometime soon. I shouldn’t be feeling that way, should I?”

  “Probably not,” she replied. “Although you haven’t been together all that long. Maybe you need more time.”

  “Maybe,” she sighed. “Or maybe I’m hanging on because it’s too hard to let go. I really thought Mark might be the one when we first started dating, and I enjoy his friendship. He treats me and Tommy fine, but--” her voice trailed off. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m sure you have better things to do than listen to my problems.”

  “Not really,” she laughed. “Do you want to get some dinner with me? My freezer is looking a little bare here.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Newport Bay?”

  “Sounds good. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

  “Thanks, Lily. I could use some company tonight.”

  Lily went to change and arrived at the restaurant as promised. Josie and Tommy were waiting for her outside the front door. With Tommy at the table, they only spoke in generalities about Mark. Josie was more interested in hearing about her and Peter, and Lily couldn’t contain herself.

  “Do you think I’m being totally crazy, Josie?”

  “By the look on your face, I’d say you’re being totally honest with yourself. If that’s the way you feel and Peter says he does too, then I say, go for it. Why stop love?”

  Lily appreciated her friend’s support and trusted her to answer her next question honestly. “Do you think it would be a mistake for me to move down there?”

  “Now?”

  “Yes. Once school is out.”

  “For the summer, or permanently?”

  “Permanently.”

  “Has Peter asked you to?”

  “No. I’ve been thinking about it.”

  “What about your job? I thought you said you were going to be working with Max again next year?”

  “I am. I’m supposed to, that is. That’s the one drawback. But I feel like as much as I love my job, I love Peter more. I don’t want to be away from him like this for months and months, but I don’t want to rush him into getting married either, or expect him to be the one to move up here.”

  “Well, I think if you ask him about it and he wants you to do that, then I don’t see why not. Has he mentioned moving up here?”

  “No,” she replied, feeling a twinge of discomfort at that fact. She kept hoping he might, but apparently he hadn’t even considered it. She didn’t know how easy it might be for him to find a job up here and hadn’t wanted to ask until he brought it up.

  “I think you should talk to him about it,” Josie said. “He might not want to ask you to leave your life here, but he might be all for having you closer if that’s what you want.”

  Lily decided she would be brave and talk to Peter about the possibility of her moving down. She didn’t see any reason he wouldn’t want her to. He’d expressed his own desire to see her as often as possible. The only fear she had was that Peter might feel she was trying to rush things between them. And she didn’t want to put any pressure on him.

  He surprised her by calling the following afternoon. Normally he waited until the evening, but since she didn’t get home until late on Sundays, he decided to try sooner so they could have more time and he wouldn’t keep her up too late.

  “That’s sweet of you,” she said. “But I never mind staying up later to talk to you.”

  “I know, but since you’re home now, I figured it would be better. And I didn’t want to wait until tonight to hear your voice. This has been a long day.”

  As usual their conversation lasted for quite some time, and before she knew it, Lily realized she needed to be getting ready for youth group. She felt like they had only been talking for twenty or thirty minutes, not an hour and a half.

  “I need to get out of here,” she said, rising from the overstuffed chair where she had nestled herself for the last hour. “But before I let you go, I want to run something by you. Something I’ve been thinking about. You don’t have to answer right now or say anything, I want you to think about it, and then we can talk more later, all right?”

  “Okay, sure. What is it, baby?”

  Lily walked into the bedroom to grab some long pants and a fresh top to put on for tonight, holding the phone precariously between her shoulder and ear as she shared her thoughts with him and changed her clothes at the same time.

  “I’ve been thinking that once school is out, I could move to Sacramento. I don’t want
you to feel like I’m trying to rush anything or put any pressure on you. I only want to do this to be closer to you and see you more often.”

  “You mean for the summer?”

  “No. I mean permanently.”

  “What about your job?”

  “Well, I’d miss Max, but I’m sure they could find a good replacement,” she replied, buttoning her blouse and feeling a bit surprised that would be Peter’s first thought. She hesitated only a moment before sharing her heart. “I love my job, Peter, but I love you more.”

  Peter didn’t reply. Each second of silence made her panic a bit. He doesn’t like it. He doesn’t want me down there with him.

  “Lily, I’m touched that you want to give up your job and your life up there for me,” he finally replied. “But I can’t let you do that.”

  “Think about it, okay?” she said, trying not to let her disappointment show. “I have to go. We can talk about it more later.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about, sweetheart. I won’t let you do that.”

  Lily sat on the edge of her bed with her khaki slacks halfway on and didn’t know what to say. That’s it? Discussion over? You’ve decided you won’t let me live closer to you?

  Peter’s denial of her idea made her realize how much she wanted it, and she couldn’t believe he didn’t feel the same way. Did he actually think she placed more value on her job than him? Is that the way he felt about his own career?

  Feeling a mixture of disbelief, anger, and pain, Lily couldn’t speak, and she didn’t want to hear anything else Peter had to say. How could she be completely in love with this man one minute and so mad she could throw the phone across the room the next? Rather than saying something she might regret, she decided to let him know her feelings in another way.

  She hung up on him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Lily tossed the phone on the bed and finished pulling on her pants. She fluffed her hair over the collar of her blouse and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She expected the phone to ring at any moment, but it did not. Taking it from the bed when she was ready to go, she let out a low growl and hurried for the front door.