RV There Yet? (36 page)

“Hold everything. You can't just take off like that,” Beverly says. “You need water bottles, snacks in case you're delayed for whatever reason, flashlights.” She continues on, but her words are lost on me.

God, please keep her safe. We can't lose Lydia. We just can't.

26

“Pacing doesn't help anything, Millie,” I say as she takes three
steps forward across the living room—which, by the way, puts her into the kitchen—and three steps back.

“Well, it helps me. I've already organized everything I can in this place.” Three steps, turn, three steps. Millie runs her fingers through her hair. “I don't know how Lydia stands it here. The walls are so close, things are falling apart, if one thing is left out, the whole place looks a mess—”

I walk over and put my arm around Millie. She pulls her hands to her face. “What are we going to do, Dee? What will we do without Lydia?”

“Wait a minute. No one said we had to do anything without Lydia. They are going to find her, Millie, do you hear me? They're going to find her.”

“It's been three hours, Dee!”

“I know. God knows where she is, Millie.”

“So what? That doesn't mean she's safe. He knew where her husband was too, but he still died.”

“Let's sit down, Millie.” She wipes her face and reluctantly allows me to walk her over to the sofa.

“We don't know how this will all turn out, but no matter what, we know that Lydia is in God's hands. He loves her even more than we do. And we know that Lydia loves Him too. That's all that matters.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because this life isn't what it's all about. We're just passing through.”

“I think I've heard that somewhere before. Like here a thousand years ago, remember?”

“I remember.”
I could use a little help here, Lord; she's just not listening.
“Why don't we pray for her together?”

“You go ahead. I'll listen.”

I lead us in a prayer for Lydia's safety, but most of all that she will know she is not alone, that God walks with her this very minute. Millie and I cry together, and before we can wipe our faces, someone knocks at the door.

Millie jumps up and answers it. I'm right behind her.

“Hi, girls.” Lydia's face is dirty, her pants and top are scuffed up, but she's never looked more beautiful.

She steps inside, and soon we're all a tangle of hugs and tears.

“I'm sorry I worried everyone. It seemed like a good idea to go out and pick some more wildflowers. Unfortunately, I forgot to mark my trail as I went along, and soon I was lost. I told you I'm forgetful. I should have dropped bread crumbs.” She laughs.

“Right. Then you would have had a bear following you,” Millie says dryly.

Lydia stops laughing.

“Well, we're just glad you're back and you're safe,” I say.

“That makes two of us.” Lydia falls onto the sofa and stretches out her legs in front of her. “But you know, I learned something while I was out there.”

“What's that?” Millie asks.

“It doesn't do a bit of good to worry about things. Every fear I've ever had followed me out to that trail, and I almost folded beneath the weight. Then I prayed, and God helped me to get a grip. I let Him know then and there, my future belonged to Him, and come what may, I would trust Him with it.”

“That's awesome, Lydia,” I say.

“I learned something else too.”

“Yes?”

“Don't wear sneakers when you're hiking in the mountains.” Lydia pulls off her sneakers and winces when she sees how red her feet are, no doubt from walking over jagged rocks.

Later that evening, we're a grateful lot when we settle around the campfire. The logs crackle and spark, shooting puffs of pine scent through the air. We talk awhile about Lydia's trip into the woods, and we tease her a bit, though there's no denying the relief we all feel that she's safe and with us tonight.

“I need to talk to you all,” Beverly says once the group gets quiet. “This has been quite a day. In fact, we've had a struggle from the moment we started this project.”

I shift my weight on the hay to get comfortable. Firelight and shadows dance upon the faces of my friends, and with one glance around the group, I realize my life has changed because of these people. This place.

Beverly clears her throat. The expression on her face tells us something's wrong. A weak smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. “First off, I want to thank you for coming here. It's been wonderful to reconnect with all my old friends.” Smiles return to her. “I never could have accomplished all this by myself. And because we have put up the effort, I believe none of us will leave here the same as when we came.”

“That's sure true for me.” The words come out before I can stop them. Everyone looks at me, and I share with them my recommitment to the Lord. Some smile knowingly, and others look at the ground. They might be searching too.

“I've done the same thing, DeDe,” Eric says. “My life has been, well, quite frankly, a mess. I'd forgotten the things I learned here. When we arrived at camp, the memories slowly returned.”

“It's easy to get caught up in our daily lives and forget what's important. God, family”—Steve looks at me—“and friends.” Heat climbs my face.

One by one, the others share what the camp has meant to them over the years and how it has helped them.

Millie keeps silent, and I whisper a prayer for her.

Our conversation dies down. We each stare into the flames in the fire pit, lost in thought.

“Well, I want you to know how much I appreciate all you have done to fix up the camp. The place looks so much better than it did before you came, and I was very hopeful. But I'm afraid I have some bad news—well, maybe not bad, but just not what I was expecting.”

We all look to Beverly. Tears pool in her eyes, and my heart squeezes. Lydia puts her hand on Beverly's arm. “What is it, Bev?”

She swallows hard. “I got a call this evening that the denomination has decided to change its district boundaries. As you know, the Red River Church Camp is not all that far away, and since our camp is the smaller of the two, they've decided to close Aspen Creek and put money into their Red River Church Camp.”

A collective gasp comes from the women.

“After all we've done? That's just not fair,” Millie says in a huff.

Beverly looks at her. “Unfortunately, life isn't always fair.”

“When is this going to take place?” Lydia wants to know.

“I believe immediately. They're going to send a Realtor out here sometime next week.” A brave smile shines from her lips and eyes. “Though I wish things were different, I know the Lord is in control, so I just have to trust Him.”

A twig in the fire snaps while we keep silent. A soft breeze catches a tuft of Beverly's hair, lifts it, and drops it back into place.

“Not enough money from the alumni to buy it, is there?” Millie asks.

“Not even close.” Beverly rubs her neck. “Even if we had enough for a down payment, what then? It just won't work.”

“So do we pack up and leave tomorrow?” Eric asks.

“Not much point in working any further. It might bring a better price for the camp, but I know you all have families and jobs to get back to.”

“It's a real shame. This camp has so much potential,” says the man we call Elmer Fudd.

“Well, I think we should stay one more day together,” Steve says. “Only let's spend it having some fun. Make one last memory as a group.”

“What do you have in mind?” Beverly asks, her perk back in place.

“Walking trails, sightseeing, you know, the normal tourist things.”

“I'd be glad to take someone along on my bike,” Eric says, eyes fixed on Lydia. She blushes and looks away.

The other bikers nod their willingness to do the same—well, all except Porky Pig, who sprained his arm.

“People are welcome to ride with me in my rental car,” Steve says, smiling at the others, his gaze stopping at me.

Beverly claps. “Sounds great. No reason to sit around and mope. Might as well make the best of it.”

After talking awhile longer, we head back to our places for the night. As sad as the idea of closing the camp is, we all seem to feel better knowing we have one more day together before we say good-bye.

Just before we turn to leave, I remember Lydia's cell phone. “Did you call Drew back?” I ask her.

Lydia's hand flies to her mouth. “In all the excitement, I forgot and left my cell phone in the cafeteria.”

“I'll go with you to get it,” I say.

Once Lydia finds her phone, she immediately calls Drew's number. I motion for her to go ahead, and I lag behind so she can have some privacy while they talk. This seems the perfect opportunity to pray for Lydia, Derrick, and Drew.

Now that I've experienced my first hot flash, I'm thinking I need to remind Lydia to get Waldo's air-conditioning fixed before we hit the road again. Funny how perspectives change.

“Good morning,” Lydia says from her bed, trying her best to stifle a yawn.

“Hi.” I stretch. “Did you have a nice talk with Drew last night?”

“Yeah, it was really good. My little adventure in the woods really scared him. He's rethinking some things.”

“That's wonderful, Lydia.”

“He also told me that Derrick and his girlfriend are having some pretty deep discussions these days about what they really believe. They have even been studying the Scriptures in search of answers. I know God will give them the answers they're searching for.”

We look up to see Millie standing in the bedroom doorway. “Steve's already stopped by this morning.”

I rub my eyes. “Really? What did he want?”

Millie's right eyebrow spikes upward. “You.” She grins.

“Oh, that sounds exciting,” Lydia joins in, her elbow resting on the bed, head leaning in her hand.

“You can't talk. Eric's checked in for you too.”

Lydia's eyes grow wide.

“Looks to me like you're in for another motorcycle ride today,” I say.

Lydia shrugs. “Might be fun.” She shoots a look at us. “But don't get any ideas. Eric is a friend, nothing more. Nor will he ever be. But I have to admit I enjoy his bike.” An ornery grin lights her face.

“Friendship is good.” I pull my covers off.

“Is that what you have with Steve?” Millie asks.

“Am I on
Sixty Minutes
?”

“Inquiring minds want to know.”

“The answer is yes. Steve is my friend.”

“Anything more?” Lydia asks.

“Barbara Walters, right?”

Lydia smiles.

“At this point, we're just friends.”

“Any chance of that changing?” Millie darts back.

“Good grief, are you guys reporters for
People
magazine or what?”

“Something like that,” Millie teases. “We have an interest in you, you know?”

“Let's put it this way. I care about Steve as a friend. As for the future, all that is in the Lord's hands.”

“But you think he's cute?” Millie presses.

“I'd have to be blind not to think that, Millie.”

Lydia and Millie agree.

“Okay, okay. No more pressure.” Millie walks away. “At least for now,” she calls back.

I laugh and head for the shower, wondering what my day will hold, let alone my future.