Loving Lily Lavender (14 page)

They flooded into my room, all of their faces filled with
indescribable joy. The face I wanted to see the most was right by my side. My
heart jumped at the very sight of him.

Joy and tears covered his face as he recounted the events of the
morning. I wept as my mind re-enacted the scenes he described. My death, his
desperation, I could hear it in his voice still, but the part that touched me
the most was in the chapel where they thanked God and bound themselves to Him
forever. Now, I could share my life, and my God, with the man I love.

My room was flooded with cast and crewmembers for the following
two hours. When they all finally cleared out, I was exhausted but thankful to
have Lucas all to myself.

He approached me, taking my hand in his and kissing it. “You
know, I almost lost you today. I’ve never been so scared in my whole life. And
well, it got me thinking—Lily, will you marry me?”

“Of course I will. I already told you I would. I’m wearing your
ring, silly.” I reminded him, holding up my left hand.

“I mean, will you marry me—now—here, in this hospital?”

As the realization of what he was asking hit me, a smile
stretched widely across my face. He took that as a yes and bolted from the
room. A few, short minutes later, he was back, holding the arm of an older
gentleman dressed in a gray suit and a red and white striped tie.

“Lily, you will never guess who was just coming to see you. I ran
into him in the hall. This is the hospital chaplain,” Lucas said, his smile
wider than I’d ever seen.

Needless to say, we got married in the hospital that afternoon,
and it was the sweetest moment of my life.

Lucas had promised me a wedding ceremony when we returned home.
He wouldn’t deny me my dream wedding, and now that we were married, what was
his was also mine, so he encouraged me to spare no expense. But, of course, I
would.

We spent the next hour calling our friends and family and telling
them the good news. Everyone was very happy, though I got the impression from
Lucas’s family that they had wished to meet me first.

Meagan was so happy for me you would’ve thought it was her that
got married. She was unhappy, though, that she couldn’t be with me to nurse me
back to health, a natural gift of hers.

“I can’t believe we’re married. So much has changed in just
twenty-four hours.” He was wrapped around me in my small hospital bed. He
wanted to use his influence to upgrade me to a bigger room with a bigger bed,
but I refused.

I had insisted that he go home and get some rest, after such an
emotional day, but he refused to be away from me, saying that nothing could
take him away from me—now or ever, especially given the fact that it was our
wedding night.

I went as long as I could without pain medicine because I knew it
would make me sleepy and wanted to spend as much time with Lucas as I could. However,
by the time ten o’clock arrived, the throbbing in my head was unbearable.

“Hello,” Lucas said, answering his cell phone. “Oh, hello,
Landon….Yeah, she’s doing fine. Thank you for asking….What?....Great,” he
grimaced, grabbing the remote and turning on the T.V.

There it was, on
Entertainment Tonight
, news of my
accident. Oh well, at least they called me Lucas Lavender’s girlfriend, which
meant they didn’t know we were married yet. Jane was still upset that Lucas
hadn’t consulted with her first. I guessed she was worried about his sex symbol
status, but Lucas couldn’t care less about that. She would come around he had
said.

I couldn’t help wondering when we were going to make love. The
thought of it created butterflies in the pit of my stomach. I knew it wouldn’t
be on our wedding night, not with me in the hospital and all. Our first time
had to be special. I just decided to get brave and ask him. He had just turned
off the T.V. and taken a sip of his soda when I said, “So, when should we
consummate this union?”

He coughed, choking on his soda, and looked at me in surprise.
“Oh—well, I thought you might want to wait until after the wedding ceremony,
you know, so it feels more real.”

“No, I don’t want to wait that long.” He smiled at me in
response. “After all, our union isn’t binding until it’s consummated, right?” I
asked, unsure.

“Umm, I don’t really know, but I’m ready as soon as you are, just
as long as you’re well enough.”

“Good, well that shouldn’t be too long, right?”

“I would say a few days, to make sure.”

“Okay then, I’ll see you in bed, naked, in a few nights from now,”
I said, smiling, my eyes drifting closed. “I can say that to my husband, can’t
I?”

He laughed softly. “I like the sound of that.” He wrapped his
arms tighter around me, pulling my head against his chest. With a contented
smile on my face, I slowly drifted off into a sweet and highly sedated sleep.

The release forms were signed, and Lucas and I headed back to our
hotel room, the one we would share together as a married couple. Once I was
tucked into bed, he proceeded in telling me how he was going to spend the entire
day taking care of me. Instead, I insisted he go to work. There was no need for
him to miss two days of filming on my account. I assured him I’d just be
sleeping anyway. So reluctantly, and with lots of persuading, he left for work.

However, I didn’t sleep much at all. Actually, I spent most of
the day in bed on my laptop, working on my next wedding. I soon became
distracted with thoughts of my own wedding and found myself texting Meagan with
my ideas. We spent hours texting each other back and forth until we finally
agreed on a December 12th wedding, six months to the day of mine and Lucas’s
first meeting, giving me a little over three months to plan.

My next wedding was scheduled for October 24th, so I’d have to be
home before then, even if it meant leaving Lucas behind. I prayed that filming
was over by then because the thought of leaving without him was unbearable.
According to Lucas, after five weeks of shooting, they were right on schedule.
I was glad my accident hadn’t delayed production too badly.

I made the mistake of turning on the local news. It seemed that
my accident and near death experience, along with my nuptials, were getting
global attention. Yes, you heard me right, while I worked unknowingly on my
ceremonial plans, the entire world had been informed of our union in our
hospital room. Apparently, there was a hospital employee talking.

Every station I turned to was commenting on the news. It seemed
the local response was mixed. While some were happy Lucas had found love,
others were sad because it meant it wouldn’t be with them.

Reports had shown that some of Lucas’s fans had changed their
attitudes towards me after my accident and hearing how crazed Lucas had been
about my injury. I guess they decided if he loved me that much, they needed to
support him.

After flicking channels for several minutes, I stopped on an
entertainment show and was stunned. In fact, I was so angry that I did
something I should’ve thought about beforehand. The announcer named Brian
somebody, said that Lucas probably married me in the hospital so fast because
he wanted sex. Apparently there was this rumor that I was a Christian and
wouldn’t have sex with him until he married me.

So I called Jane, knowing full well she could and would help me.
In a matter of minutes, I was calling that program. The only trouble was, I
didn’t realize they would put me on the air. Here’s what I said:

“Yes, hello, my name is Lily Lavender, and I would like to speak
to Brian now, please.” After a brief pause a gentleman’s voice spoke through
the phone.

“Hello, this is Brian.”

“Brian, my name is Lily Lavender, and I would just like to say
that you can shove your ridiculous opinion right up your nose! The nerve of you
to say Lucas would marry me because he wanted sex! My husband is a good man! Do
you even know who he is? He could have any woman he wants. The idea that he
would marry me because he wants sex is idiotic. I’m sorry, but that’s just the
truth. I am highly offended that you would even say such a thing. Doesn’t
anybody believe in true love anymore, the kind of love worth dying for? Is it
so hard to believe that two people so in love, who thought they lost each other
forever, would marry as fast as they could so they never had to tell each other
goodbye ever again? Well, you better start believing, Mister, because it’s
real, and it’s staring you right in the face!”

There was a long pause.

“Um, Mrs. Lavender, I’m so sorry that I offended you. Please
except my sincere apology, and thank you for calling to clear this matter up,”
Brian said, clearly dazed.

“Well, thank you, and yes I do accept your apology. Have a nice
day,” I said with as much sweetness as I could muster.

After I hung up the phone, I felt so good that I giggled and did
a little jig right there in the bed. That lasted all of about ten seconds until
the phone rang. “Uh-oh,” I murmured to myself. “Hello.” Then I held my
breath—waiting.

“What have you done?” Lucas demanded in a reprimanding tone.

“Umm, what do you mean?”

“Lily, your voice is on every radio and T.V. station around.”

“What?” I gasped in horror. “How do you know that?”

“Because we had the radio on when, all of a sudden, I recognized
your voice, although the tone was unfamiliar to me.” He almost sounded amused
for a brief moment before turning serious again. “What were you thinking? I
told you not to talk to any of those people. They’ll make you look bad, and
they’ll be talking about us forever now. Why don’t you listen to me?”

“I’m sorry, Lucas, and I do listen to you, but he made me so
angry. Besides, they’re talking about us anyway. At least now they can get
their facts straight. I’m not going to let him talk about you that way.”

“Oh, Lily, why do you have to be so adorable, just when I’m
trying to be angry with you?”

“So you’re not mad at me anymore?”

“I wish I were, but all I want to do is take you in my arms and
kiss you. But do me a favor and take your own advice.”

“Huh?”

“I think there was a beautiful woman who once told me that
reading the tabloids was a bad idea. I think watching gossip on news programs,
in this case, would fall under that same category.”

“Okay, okay, no more T.V. But just so you know, he had it
coming.” I pouted.

“And you sure gave it to him. You should’ve seen Jordan, he
couldn’t stop laughing. In fact, he’s still laughing.”

“Oh no, I’ll never here the end of it.”

“Well, you know what they say, it’s your bed.”

“Yeah, yeah, so I have to lie in it. Do you want to lie in it
with me?”

“Baby, more than you know. We’ll be leaving here shortly. I’ll
see you soon. I love you and take care of my heart.”

“I love you too, and I will.”

Ever since Lucas wrote me that note and left it on my pillow, we
no longer say goodbye, we say, “take care of my heart”. It’s kind of our thing.
You know, new lovers always have a thing.      

When he got home, he had a look of great anticipation on his
handsome face and a beautiful bouquet of lavender roses in his hand.

“Wow, I should make you angry more often, but you shouldn’t
have.” I reached up and kissed him.

“You’re right, I shouldn’t have,” he said, stunned, as he looked
around, noting all the flower arrangements spread about the room. “Who are all
these from?”

“Well, one’s from Meagan, and the cast and crew sent one. Sylvia
sent one. That guy, Brian, from the station sent one. The guys from Blume’s
Shipping sent one. I don’t know who sent these. Oh and these are from an
anonymous fan.”

“Really.”

“But thank you. Yours are the most beautiful of them all.”

“Well, thank you. I know how much you love roses, and I couldn’t
believe my luck when I spotted the lavender ones, since I know they’re your
favorite. Now, what was that you were saying earlier, something about a bed?”
He laid the flowers on the table and pulled me into his arms, capturing my lips
with his. They were eager as they moved in sync with mine, and a moan escaped
his lips as the kiss deepened.

There was a knock on the door. We both sighed as we pulled away.
“Maybe it’s more flowers,” I teased as he opened the door.

“Hey guys,” Jordan said. “I hope we’re not interrupting anything,
but seeing as how you’re still dressed, I guess not,” he teased as the gang
came through the door, each one stopping to kiss me on the cheek as they
passed.

“We brought supper. Hope you guys are hungry,” Lisa said.

“Yes, but not for food,” Lucas mumbled under his breath.

I peered up at him and shrugged apologetically.

“So, Lily—called any T.V. stations lately?” Jordan laughed.

“There’s one born every minute.”

“You know if you wanted to hurt the guy you could’ve just shot
him. I’m sure he would’ve preferred that.” He laughed again.

“Was it that bad?”

“Well, put it this way, he’ll never forget it.”

“Good. Maybe he’ll think twice next time he tries to discredit my
husband’s character.”

“Gee, I wish I had someone like you on my side.”

“Oh, Jordan, I am on your side, but the only one in danger of
hurting your character is yourself.” Everyone laughed, including him.

As much as I tried to go without it, I finally had to take some
pain medicine—my head was throbbing, so I don’t remember the gang leaving. I
vaguely remember Lucas picking me up and carrying me to bed, but I clearly
remember the sensation of him cuddling up behind me. We’ve cuddled before, but
safely. This was different, more intimate. Too bad I didn’t remember it for
long.

I woke to a note on his pillow and smiled as I read . . .

Good morning my beautiful bride. I hated leaving your arms this  
morning. I’m counting the minutes until I return to them tonight. I love you.
Oh, and no T.V. please.