Lily Fields (Garden of Love 1)

by Melanie Wilber

  Lily appreciated her thoughtfulness but hoped Josie wasn’t stalling. She laid her hand on Josie’s and expressed her support. “You know I’m here for you.”

  Josie gave her a slight smile. “I know. Thanks.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Lily left most of the wedding details up to her mom and sisters even during the final days, but one thing she had specified wanting during the initial planning stages was an evening wedding. They had set the date and time for the last Friday night in August at 7 P.M. She and Peter would spend their first night together at the apartment and then take a flight to Hawaii the following day.

  The morning of the wedding Lily slept in after being up late talking and laughing with Rose who had spent the night with her. Rose stayed until noon and then went to the church to help Mom and Cami with some final decorating and reception arrangements.

  Josie came shortly thereafter, bringing some lunch, helping her pass the time, and keeping her from getting too nervous as the day progressed. Josie had taken Tommy to her brother’s house so she could spend the day with her.

  Lily packed her suitcase for the honeymoon, watched some tennis on T.V., and tried not to worry about the details and all the little things that could go wrong this evening. She kept reminding herself that none of it mattered. Tonight she would become Peter’s wife, and nothing was going to stop her.

  “What if he doesn’t come, Josie?” she asked in a moment of panic.

  “Who?” Josie asked.

  “Peter. What if he changes his mind?”

  “Oh, good grief, Lily. He’s coming,” she said, leaving no room for argument. “He was ready to say ‘I do’ for real at the rehearsal last night. I’ve never seen any man look at a woman the way Peter looks at you.”

  Remembering how much Josie wanted a relationship like she and Peter had, Lily knew she couldn’t do this to herself, or Peter, or Josie. Doubting Peter’s love for her was nothing short of ridiculous. He had proven his love to her in so many ways. She couldn’t lose faith in him now.

  At three-thirty they went to the beauty salon where she, Josie, Rose, and Cami were getting their hair and make-up done as Mom and Cami had arranged. When they had first told her, Lily hadn’t been thrilled with the idea, preferring to keep things simple and not be painted into this woman Peter didn’t recognize. But once she got there and realized she felt too nervous to be getting herself ready, she appreciated being pampered. She asked the hairdresser and make-up artist to keep things simple and felt pleased with the results when she looked in the mirror.

  Her hair had been pulled back loosely with her simple veil secured on the crown of her head and cascading down her back. Her make-up looked natural, almost as if she didn’t have any on except for some light blush on her smiling cheeks and a subtle amount of brown eye shadow. But she knew they had done more than that, covering up all her little blemishes and making her skin look flawless and smooth.

  She thought Peter would be pleased. His only request had been that she didn’t hide her hair entirely under her veil, and she had taken that into consideration when selecting one that left the majority of her light coppery strands exposed.

  Arriving at the church, Josie and Rose helped her get into her dress that they both thought was exquisitely simple and changed into theirs. She had begun to feel settled and calm with everything coming together and being nearly ready when Mom came into the room and asked if she had her bouquet.

  “No. I left it in the other room,” she said, glancing at the clock and realizing they needed to get to the sanctuary for pictures before the ceremony. “Could you get it for me? Rose and Josie’s too? I think we’re about ready.”

  “You don’t have it?” her mom repeated.

  “Didn’t I just say that?” she asked, wondering if the stress was making her lose her memory. A few minutes ago she hadn’t been able to remember the name of her flower girl.

  “Maybe Cami has it,” her mother said, leaving the room once again. Lily slipped into her shoes and checked the mirror one last time, liking the simple accent of her small dangling pearl earrings and matching necklace. She took a deep breath and sighed, closing her eyes and praying this wasn’t a dream.

  “Come on, Lily,” Rose said, giving her a gentle squeeze from the side. “Peter is waiting for you. Let’s go.”

  They headed for the sanctuary, stopping by the room where their bouquets had been left, but they found the boxes empty. Supposing her mom had picked them up and had them with her, they proceeded down the hallway of the historic church she had attended as a child and young adult.

  Lily felt at peace. Her wedding was about to take place. And she was marrying the man she loved with all of her heart. Even though she hadn’t seen Peter yet herself, others had confirmed his arrival, and she knew Josie had been right. He wasn’t backing out at the last minute. He wanted this as much as she did.

  Rounding the corner and walking into the lobby outside the main sanctuary, Lily saw her mother once again. She had two bouquets in her hands that appeared to be Rose and Josie’s, but Lily still saw no sign of her own.

  Cami came swishing past with her two-year-old daughter on her hip. Mom looked up at her eldest daughter and inquired about the bouquet.

  “I checked everywhere,” she said. “No one has seen it.”

  Lily didn’t feel especially alarmed that her bouquet appeared to be missing. From the beginning of all of this she had told herself that all she would care about today was having a dress she had selected herself and that Peter and the pastor showed up.

  A bouquet would be nice, but she wasn’t going to let its absence spoil her day. And part of her knew it had to be around here somewhere. Someone had to have it. A bouquet didn’t get up and run away. She felt certain Mom and Cami were overreacting.

  “Don’t worry, honey,” her mom said, coming to give her a hug. “We can call the florist and have them bring another one. But it might not be here in time for pictures. Should we see if the photographer would mind doing them afterwards instead?”

  “Oh, he won’t mind, Mother,” Cami said, turning to go into the sanctuary. “I’ll go tell him.”

  “Wait, Cami!” Lily said, hoisting up her full skirt and catching up with her take-charge sister. “I’m not waiting until afterwards. We’ll do them now.”

  “Lily, trust me. You don’t want--”

  “Cami. This is my wedding, and I say we’re doing pictures now. Afterwards we’ll all be too tired, and Peter and I will want to get out of here.”

  “But you’re staying in town tonight, right? It’s not like you have a plane to catch,” she said matter-of-factly, stepping toward the doors once again. “Staying another hour will be worth having your bouquet in the pictures.”

  “Cami!”

  “What?”

  “I said no,” she replied as if she were speaking to Max when he was being defiant and strong-willed. “I’ve let you plan this whole evening, and you’ve done a great job, and I appreciate it. But this is my wedding, and we’re doing pictures now.”

  “Fine,” Cami said in a way that Lily knew she wasn’t fine. “I’m only trying to help.”

  Lily reached out and grabbed her sister and pulled her close before she could get away. “I love you, you know. You’ve always been my fearless big sister that looked out for me. But today you can relax because my man is in there waiting for me, and that’s all I care about.”

  Cami looked uncomfortable at her loving gesture and words, but Lily detected a tear drop or two in those determined brown eyes.

  “I love you too, Lil,” she spoke softly. “I only want to see you happy.”

  Lily smiled. “Then take a good look. God has answered all those prayers I know you’ve whispered for me. And one of those answers is right through that door.”

  She hugged her one more time and then stepped past her to go find her groom. Not seeing Peter all day had made her especially anxious to see him. She’d asked Josie to go in ahead of her and clear everyo
ne out of the sanctuary to give them a few minutes alone. Josie had stepped out and given her the nod, and she didn’t want to waste another second on something as trivial as a lost bouquet.

  Josie opened the door for her, and she stepped inside. The empty sanctuary with high-beamed ceilings and stained-glass windows felt like a sacred, holy place, and made her feel both calm and anxious. Not a nervous anxiousness, but one of great anticipation for the ceremony later and for seeing Peter right now.

  Fixing her gaze on the front platform, she saw him standing at the base of the steps. He looked handsome and regal in his black tuxedo with a crisp white shirt, dark vest, and bow tie. He waited for her to come to him, standing with his hands loosely at his sides.

  Walking slowly down the aisle toward him, she felt a lump rising in her throat. He was here. He was waiting as she believed he would be. He was staring at her with a love in his eyes she couldn’t describe.

  He held out his hands to her when she took the final steps toward him, and she reached out her hands, feeling him grasp her fingers gently and draw her as close as he possibly could. Looking up into his smiling face, she smiled in return and waited for him to speak. Scanning her hair and face before resting his eyes on her own, he appeared speechless.

  “Are you certain I’m the one you want, Lily Sullivan?”

  “I’m certain,” she said. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this day, and you’re the one I want, Peter Fields.”

  He stepped back slightly, keeping hold of one of her hands while reaching for something on the front pew with the other. “In that case,” he said, bringing a beautiful arrangement of flowers into view. “I believe these are for you.”

  Her free hand went to her mouth, and she had to fight to keep the tears from springing from her eyelids. The bridal bouquet was far more beautiful than the one she had seen earlier. In wanting to keep things simple and not too expensive, she had asked for small white carnations, some roses, and an assortment of other standard bouquet flowers, and she had been pleased with the simplistic beauty of the now “missing” bouquet.

  But the arrangement Peter held out to her was the most beautiful arrangement of flowers she had ever seen: A dozen or more red rose buds cascading delicately among white lilies.

  “Oh, Peter,” she said. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

  He handed it into her trembling fingers. She clasped the base and lifted the fragrant flowers to her face, drinking in the pleasing aroma.

  “I hope I didn’t make you too nervous by snatching your other one, but I thought it was time I got you some flowers.”

  He leaned down and kissed her cheek, then pulled her close and sighed deeply. “This is it, baby. You and me forever, all right?”

  “Absolutely,” she whispered. “You and me forever.”

  Hearing light footsteps, Lily turned to the side and saw the photographer approaching. “Are you two about ready?” he asked. “Ah, I see someone found the missing bouquet. And isn’t it a beauty?”

  Lily smiled. “I had a feeling it would turn up somewhere.”

  Hushed voices began entering the room, and Lily followed Peter onto the platform to stand where the photographer instructed them. They began posing for shots, and Lily felt secure at Peter’s side. Even though they hadn’t exchanged their vows yet and been pronounced husband and wife, she felt different standing by his side than she had yesterday.

  Yesterday she had been his fiancée. Today she was his bride. And she had never experienced a more wonderful feeling. Her smiles for the camera came without effort.

  “I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Peter said when all the pictures had been taken and they were headed for their respective waiting areas as their guests arrived.

  “Promise?” she asked, not letting go of his hand until he gave her an answer.

  “I promise,” he said, kissing her fingers. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

  And he was. Thirty minutes later with the seats nearly full and the room lit only by candles and a small amount of evening light coming through the stained glass, Lily walked down the aisle once again, listened as her dad gave her away, and eagerly stepped toward Peter, taking his arm and stepping beside him onto the platform.

  As the pastor gave a brief message about love and commitment, her sister sang a lovely solo, and especially as she pledged her love to this man for the rest of her life, Lily felt something she had not expected.

  Besides their attendants, the pastor, Peter, and herself, Someone else was standing among them. She doubted anyone but she and Peter felt His presence. But Jesus was there, and she knew it. If anyone wanted a front-row seat to this event, she knew He did.

  Thank you for bringing us together, she prayed in the quietness of her heart. Thank you for this love I can feel for this man because of the love you have given me. May I always love him the same way you love me, Jesus: With passion, patience, forgiveness, and faithfulness.

  Following the ceremony, Lily and Peter went to the reception area to cut the cake and mingle with their guests. Stopping at the table where Mark and Josie had taken a seat beside her new in-laws, she expressed her weariness and readiness to get out of here. She was thankful for all who had come and wished she had time to talk with each of them, but it had been a long day.

  “Go grab your husband and get out of here,” Josie said. “Where did he go, anyway?”

  Lily glanced around. She had seen him talking to her dad a few minutes ago, but she saw no sign of either of them now. Looking at Mark, she put her hands on her hips and gave him a questioning glance. “What is he up to now?”

  “I know nothing,” he said, holding up his hands. She didn’t know whether to believe him or not.

  “Then why don’t you go see if you can find him,” Josie suggested. “Tell him his wife is ready to go home.”

  Mark kissed Josie on the cheek and happily did as she asked. Lily felt a pang of sadness for the first time today. In spite of what Lily knew her friend would face in the coming days as she told Mark good-bye, Josie had been all smiles, all day.

  “Come help me get my things together?” she asked.

  “Sure,” Josie said, picking up her and Mark’s plates and depositing them in the kitchen serving window on their way out. They walked back down the hall they had come from a few short hours ago. Josie took her hand and squeezed it gently.

  “Everything was perfect,” she said. “Has it sunk in that you’re actually married?”

  “No,” she replied. “Although, the ceremony was incredible. I didn't expect it to feel so holy and sacred. I can’t describe it, but I’ve never experienced anything like it, except for maybe that time we prayed together for Peter. I felt like Jesus was right there with us, and that’s how I felt today, like He was standing right between us, bonding our spirits together.”

  Josie didn’t reply and Lily instantly felt bad. Here she was basking in her bliss while her friend’s heart was breaking.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, turning to face Josie after they entered the changing room where she had left her things.

  “For what?” Josie asked.

  “For being insensitive. I know this has not been an easy day for you.”

  “Lily, this has been exactly what I needed.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “I can’t get over seeing you and Peter together. Every time I do, I become more convinced Mark is not the one for me. And today clinched it for me.”

  “And this is a good thing?”

  “Well, good in terms of knowing what I’m supposed to do. Telling Mark good-bye is not going to be easy, mostly because I don’t want to hurt him, but I know I’ll end up hurting him more later if I marry him without really loving him.”

  “How did today help?”

  “I tried to imagine Mark and me standing together like you and Peter were, saying the same vows, exchanging rings, seeing a look in Mark’s eyes matching the one Peter had for you right before he kissed you. But I couldn’t do i
t.”

  Lily picked up her bag and began gathering her things that were lying around. “So you’re certain letting him go is what you want to do?”

  “Yes,” she said, brushing back a tear and smiling in a happy-sad sort of way. “I want what you have, Lily. I want my Peter to come whisk me away on a white horse. I know Mark wants to, he’s done everything to try and win my heart, but I don’t want to give it to him. I knew it six months ago, and I know it now.”

  Lily stepped forward and held her. Speaking not from wishful thinking but from the part of her heart that knew her words were the absolute truth, she said, “Your Peter is out there, Josie. Wait for him.”

  Once she had everything she needed to take home with her, Lily left the room with Josie to go find Peter. He was waiting at the end of the hall, and Lily smiled when their eyes met. Josie took her things from her and said she would take them out to Peter’s truck, then gave her a hug and told her to call when she got back from her honeymoon.

  Josie left them, and Lily found herself alone with her husband for the first time. He had changed out of his tuxedo into some casual slacks and a nice shirt, but he looked as handsome as ever. She stepped into his arms and enjoyed a tender kiss while they had some privacy.

  “Are you ready to get out of here?” he asked in a suggestive way.

  “Yes,” she said. “I may be a virgin, Peter, but I’ve never lacked any passion or desire for you. Take me home. You don’t have to leave tonight.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, saluting her and hoisting her over his shoulder as if he were rescuing her from a burning building. She laughed and squealed for him to put her down. He didn’t until they reached the front doors where their guests had gathered to give them a happy-couple farewell.

  She hugged Rose and Cami outside, along with her mom and dad. Lily had been surprised at how many people had come to her wedding. She had always seen herself as that quiet girl no one paid much attention to, but everyone seemed genuinely happy for her.

  “Where did you disappear to during the reception?” she asked Peter once they were in the truck and on their way. “Another secret mission?”