Loving Lily Lavender (13 page)

“How can I be mad at you for wanting to protect me? That’s so
sweet,” I said, touching his face. “I’m not ashamed of my faith, so it doesn’t
bother me that they know. But I
am
concerned about you.”

“Me, why?”

“I don’t want you to be unhappy or miserable. Is waiting to have
sex becoming a problem for you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Lily. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my
life. I love you, and waiting to have sex might have started out as your
vision, but it’s become mine as well. Now, I’m not going to lie and say it’s
easy for me, but I believe, like you, that in the end we’ll both be happier for
having waited. So don’t worry about me.” He pulled me gently into his arms.

Hearing him say that definitely put me at ease.

“But,” he smiled, pulling back to see my face, “maybe we should
talk about that date.”

We received word that Landon’s wife, Stephanie, was planning a
special anniversary party to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. The
girls and I decided that a shopping spree to find new dresses was in order.

After hours of shopping, we chose a café called Roxy’s to have
lunch.

“It looks like December might be the best month to have our
wedding,” I commented out of the blue.

“So soon? I hope that’s not our fault,” Vicky teased.

“Lily, today’s August 30th. That just gives us less than four
months to plan,” Lisa commented.

“You guys would help me plan?”

“Of course. This is a big event in our lives too,” Rebecca
answered.

“Wow, thanks. That means a lot to me.”

“Speaking of the wedding, I’ve been wondering, how are you
planning to do that?” Lisa asked. “I mean, I grew up in a Christian home, believe
it or not, and I thought that believers were only supposed to marry other
believers, something about being equally yoked, or something like that. I
didn’t think Lucas was a Christian.”

My face froze in shock as the realization of what she said sunk
in.
How could I have not thought of that? Did that mean I couldn’t marry
Lucas?
My heart pounded anxiously at the thought.

“Lily, are you okay?” Lisa asked, breaking me from my train of
thought.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t manage to erase the horror from my
face, and Lisa seemed to recognize it.

“You know, I think perhaps I’m wrong about that. I’ve never
actually read that, and now that I think about it, I believe that’s just a
saying that people made up. Don’t worry about it, Lily.” She took my hand in
hers. She meant it as a reassuring gesture, but it did little to ease my panic.

I began to realize that I was alarming them, so with much effort
I regained my composure.

“Yes, I’m sure you’re right,” I assured Lisa, but the worry never
left me.

As soon as I returned to my room, I pulled out my bible and
searched until I found the verse I was looking for. My heart sank as I read 2
Cor. 6:14. I began to cry as I closed my bible and fell helplessly across my
bed.

Before long I felt a hand on my back. “Lily—honey, are you okay?”
Lucas asked.

I sat up and peered at him through wet lashes, not sure what to
tell him. “Lucas, I don’t think I can marry you,” I whispered.

“What? Why do you say that?”

I reached for my bible and flipped through it, finding the verse
again. Pointing to it I said, “Look.”

He took it from me and began to read. “I don’t understand. What
does this mean?”

“I believe it means that as a believer, I’m not supposed to marry
an unbeliever!”

“Lily—don’t worry. I’m sure this will all work out. Based on what
you’ve told me about God, do you believe He would allow you to fall in love
only to break your heart?”

“I’m not sure—I don’t think so, but we don’t always understand
why He allows things. What if this is punishment for something I’ve done
wrong?”

“Lily,” he laughed, “I’m sorry, but I’ve never met anyone as
close to perfect as you.”

“Luke, I’m far from perfect. I struggle with things you don’t
even know about.”

“Well, if God loves you, like you say He does—”

“He loves you too, Lucas.”

“Well, if that’s true, then He wouldn’t punish us like that—that
would be cruel.”

My expression lightened as I realized he was right in that. God
wasn’t cruel.

“You see—everything will work out.” He wiped my tears from my
face with his hand.

“Lucas, if you choose my faith it will have to be your choice and
yours alone. I would never force you, you know that, right?”

“Of course, I know that. Like I said—close to perfect,” he teased,
forcing a smile to my face.

I was aware that our roles had suddenly reversed and he had
become the encourager. It felt good, natural even. It was exhausting trying to
be strong all the time and it felt nice to let go for a change—to let him step
into that role, and it suited him.

I drifted off to sleep that night praying that God would work it
all out.

The next morning was August 31st and a beautiful, but extremely
windy, Monday morning. The events of that day would forever alter my life and
the lives of those I love.

Lucas was still in the hair and makeup trailer, so I decided to
go on ahead and see what Lisa, Vicky, and Rebecca were up to. I was told they
were all in wardrobe. With time to kill, I walked back past the set they were
scheduled to film on and noticed crewmembers scattered all about, working
feverishly, tying some things down against the wind. I waved as I spotted
Sylvia sitting a ways down the path in a chair, making notes. “Good morning,
Sylvia. Did you sleep well?”

“Oh, good morning, Lily. Yes, I slept great, thank you. I hope
you did.”

“Absolutely.”

I really liked Sylvia a lot. She was kind of like the big sister
I always wanted. She seemed to watch out for me more than the others, except
for Lucas, who barely let me out of his sight, but I’d be a fool if I said I
didn’t love it.

I turned and headed back toward the set. As I was approaching a
high scaffolding, Sylvia called out to me, “Oh, by the way, some of the crew
sent orders for us to stay away from there until they secure everything.
Apparently the wind is making things dangerous.”

Just as she finished her sentence, I heard a noise above me. I
glanced up just in time to see the scaffolding rock from side to side and a
piece of equipment, of which I couldn’t identify, begin to fall. Suddenly
everything in my world slipped into darkness.

The next account is not my own, but I’ve heard the story
recounted so often that I feel as though I was aware of every moment.

“Lucas!” Lisa tried to remain calm but to no avail as she and
Vicky rushed into his trailer. “Lucas, come quickly! There’s been an accident
on the set, and Lily’s been injured!”

“What!” Lucas responded, horror on his face as he leaped up
frantically from his chair and raced out of the trailer, with Lisa and Vicky
tight on his heels.

Soon they reached the crowd that had gathered around me, which
instantly parted as Lucas plowed through them. “Lily—Lily!” he called to me,
panic stricken, as he knelt down beside my motionless form. He was horrified at
the scene before him. I lay unconscious in a pool of blood pouring from a wound
to my head.

“The ambulance is on the way,” Jared encouraged.

“Lily honey, wake up,” Lucas called to me as he grabbed both of
my hands and held them to his lips. “Someone give me something to put on the wound
to stop the bleeding!”

“Here, take this,” Randall said, handing him a towel.

“Thanks.” He took the towel and pressed it firmly against the
open wound. At that moment the sound of sirens could be heard. An ambulance
pulled up and two EMTs jumped out and made their way over to me. One ushered
the crowd back while the other gently moved Lucas aside so he could have access
to me.

“What happened here? What hit her?”

“This piece of equipment fell from up there and hit her on the
head,” Sylvia responded, pointing, as a heavy stream of tears began to flow. “I
saw the whole thing, but it all happened so fast.”

“Is she going to be all right?! Why isn’t she waking up?!” Lucas
asked, his panic rising.

“We need to get her to the hospital as fast as possible.”

Quickly, they secured my neck with a brace, putting me onto a
stretcher and loading me into the ambulance.

“Can’t I go with her?” Lucas asked the EMT, holding his hand out
to stop him.

“No, I’m afraid not,” he responded apologetically.

“That’s not good, right? I mean, she’s going to be okay isn’t
she?” he asked again.

“I wish I could answer that. She has a severe head wound.”

“What should I do?” Lucas pleaded.

“The truth? Pray,” he responded compassionately. “You can follow
us to the hospital, if you wish.” Then he jumped in the ambulance and it sped
quickly away, sirens blaring.

There were cries coming from the spectators in the crowd. “I’m so
sorry, Lucas,” someone said, patting him on the back.

“We’ll be praying,” someone else said.

“We’re coming with you,” Lisa, Vicky, and Rebecca agreed.

“We’re coming too,” Jared and Jordan piped in.

“After all, we love her too,” Lisa said, her voice still shaky.

That seemed to pull Lucas from his frozen state. “Let’s go,” he
demanded, running to the parking lot, the others trailing closely behind him.

“We’ll call you as soon as we know anything!” Lisa yelled to the
crowd.

“I better drive,” Lisa remarked, climbing into the driver’s seat.
Lucas entered the passenger side while the others piled into the back. Once
inside the others watched helplessly as Lucas fell to pieces.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine, Lucas,” Lisa encouraged, though she
didn’t sound convincing.

“You heard the EMT, he said we needed to pray,” Lucas said after
regaining some control, anguish still visible on his face. “Will you guys
please pray with me?”

“Yes, of course,” they all agreed.

He bowed his head as he began, tears still streaming down his
face. “Dear Lord, I don’t know if you can hear me, but please save my Lily. She
is the most amazing person I’ve ever known. She cares more for others than
herself, and she forgives without thought. I know I don’t deserve to ask this,
but I can’t live without her. She loves you, and she said you loved me. If that
is true please don’t take her from me,” he cried. “If you save her—I promise to
love and serve you for the rest of my life. I’ll do whatever you ask of me. I
promise. Please,” he finished, burying his face in his hands.

There was a silence and then Jordan spoke, “I promise too, Lord.”
Then the others repeated the same statement, one—by—one.

Lucas looked up in disbelief at his five friends. “Thank you.”  

“Like Lisa said, we love her too,” Jared responded.

“Okay, lets go see her,” Lisa said, driving out of the parking
lot with fervent speed.

When they arrived in the emergency room, Lucas grabbed the first
person he could find who resembled a doctor.

“We’re here to find out about Lily Spencer. She came in about
five minutes ago with a serious head wound.”

“Okay, I’ll go find someone who can answer your questions. Just
take a seat in the waiting room and someone will be with you in a moment,” the
woman kindly answered.

The six of them walked to the waiting room where Lucas proceeded
to pace back and forth, his hands balled into fists. He was so desperate for
news he was about to snap.

The nurses behind the desk began to gather and whisper, starring
at the six of them, concentrating most of their attention on Lucas. He knew
they recognized them from the movie, but, at that moment, he couldn’t even
begin to care.

He approached the desk, tears flooding his eyes. “Can someone
please tell us about the young woman who arrived here with a head wound? I need
to find out if she’s okay.” His tone was desperate. “Please!” he begged, his
voice growing louder.

“The doctor is coming in now to speak to you,” one of the nurses
answered.

Lucas turned to see the doctor entering the room. “Is she okay?”

“Let’s go in here.” The doctor pointed to a room across the hall.

Lucas began to shake. His friends put their arms around him,
escorting him into the room.

“Please, Doctor, just tell us how she is.”

“Well,” the doctor began, “first, I’m Dr. Ron Peterman, and let
me start by saying, she’s fine now.” He paused.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief and patted Lucas on the back.
He looked at them with a smile, but his expression changed to nervous
anticipation as the doctor continued.

“But something happened in the ambulance that even had the EMT’s
baffled. She—died.” Lucas gasped. “They pronounced her dead at 8:21 a.m. and
then at 8:24 her heart started beating again—totally on its own. Anyway, she’s
fine now. She took a serious bump on the head, so we’re going to keep her here
for observation until the morning. I gave her seven stitches to close the
wound. She’ll be sore, but all in all, I’d say luck was on her side today.”

“Doctor, in my experience there’s no such thing as luck.” Lucas
laughed in relief. “Can we see her now?”

“They’re getting her situated in her room, but in about thirty
minutes I’ll come and get you so you can go see her.”

“Um, Lucas,” Lisa interrupted, “after we finished praying in the
car, I looked at the clock, it was exactly 8:24,” she said, wide-eyed.

Lucas’s expression was one of shock, his eyes once again filling
with fresh tears. He turned back to face the doctor, “Doctor, do you have a
chapel here? We have a promise to keep.” He turned to gaze at his friends, the
look of wonder on his face, to match with their joyous smiles.

So yes, what you’re thinking is true. I died that day, but God
saved me as a result of the sincere and desperate prayer of six wonderful
people. They reached out to Him, out of their love for me, and my life was
forever changed.