Loving Lily Lavender (20 page)

I also learned to enjoy the art of English tea, and we drank it
out of a real elegant and dainty tea set. I felt like a little girl again,
having a tea party, except now my husband played with me. I made a mental note
to ask Lucas for one for our next anniversary, or sooner, since he was always
looking for reasons to give me gifts.

As much as I loved being with my new family, and as much as I
loved seeing Lucas in his most comfortable environment, I felt like I was a
stranger in a galaxy far far away.  The truth is, I was homesick.

One night after supper, Lucas excused us and led me up to our
room.

“Luke, is this appropriate? After all, it’s not bedtime yet,
they’re gonna know.”

He just laughed and continued pulling me along. He closed the
door behind us, led me to the bed, and sat me down.

“Lily, I know you’re homesick, it’s okay to tell me.”

“Luke, I love being here with your family.” He gave me a look of
expectancy. “Okay—I’m homesick,” I confessed.

“I thought so, well I have something to tell you, but first I
want you to open this.” He reached under the bed and pulled out a wrapped
package.

“You didn’t have to buy me anything. I’ll be fine.”

“Yes, I know, but when you have this I’ll feel better. Just open
it, and then you’ll understand.”

I opened the package and gasped. Tears filled my eyes as I pulled
the shirt out and studied it. It was a green Yoda t-shirt just like the one
that was destroyed in the fire, but of course it was new. “Oh, Lucas, it’s
perfect. Thank you so much.” I jumped up into his arms.

He laughed. “I knew you’d love it. I hope it reminds you of home.
That will get you through until tomorrow.”

I looked at him in confusion. “What’s tomorrow?”

“Well, I got a call a little while ago and,” he paused.

“And?”

“And—the house is ready!”

“No way! Does this mean we can go home now?”

“First thing in the morning.”

Meagan, Cody, and Randall were all waiting for us as we arrived
back at home. I got out of the car, not even waiting for Lucas to open my door,
and ran to give Meagan a big hug. “Meg, I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too. I thought I was gonna go crazy waiting for you
to get back. Lily, the house looks amazing, much better than it looked before,
and there’s a surprise in your bedroom.”

“Meagan!” Lucas called in a reprimanding voice.

“I’m not gonna tell her. Boy, someone’s turned grouchier since
I’ve seen him last.” She turned to me. “But you’ll love it. Hey, where’d you
get the shirt?”

I was so excited I thought I would burst. Lucas took my hand and
led me into the house. The first thing I noticed was that everything looked and
smelled so fresh and clean.

When we got to the top of the stairs, he led me past our room,
covering my eyes, to the last room at the end of the hall. The rooms were
amazing. Each one was decorated differently and uniquely. The first room was
contemporary with a lot of black and had a beautiful office space for me,
organized with built-in shelving. The second room was very traditional with
reds and antiques. It reminded me of a fancy hotel.

The hall bathroom was redone completely with a Jacuzzi tub and shower,
decorated in a beautiful color green.

Lucas covered my eyes as we stepped into our bedroom. “Are you
ready?”

“Yes, yes!” He took his hands away, and I gasped. “Oh-my-God!” My
mouth fell open in surprise. “Oww!” I squealed as Meagan pinched me.

“I thought you were over that,” she said, laughing.

“Yeah, me too.” I pouted while rubbing my arm. “Lucas, this is
amazing.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.” The room was decorated in my romantic style, in
white and a light gold. There was a white canopy hanging all around the bed,
draping over the ceiling and down the sides. However, what caught my attention
the most was a brand new fireplace on the far right wall, and it was lit with
gas logs.

“Luke, it’s perfect. I’ve always wanted a fireplace in my
bedroom.”

“I know—Meg told me.”

“Oh, Meg, thank you.” I hugged her with great enthusiasm.

“Hey, what about me?” Lucas asked, teasing.

“You’ll get yours later,” I threatened.

“Well, time to go,” Meagan said, turning to leave.

“No, stay, and I’ll cook us something.”

“Lily, it’s not time for supper.”

“I don’t care—I want to celebrate. Do we have any food here?”

“I went to the store this morning,” she declared cheerfully.

I was so happy to be home and cooking in my kitchen again. I
turned on my disco music and began to dance as I diced the veggies, just like
always. After Cody and Randall’s initial shock wore off, they all joined in as
we sang and danced around the kitchen and dining room to the song,
Car Wash.
It was another one of those evenings I wouldn’t forget for all the money in the
world.

We stood on the deck and waved goodbye to our friends. Once their
car was out of sight, Lucas turned to me and said, “So, what was that you
threatened earlier?”

“Oh yeah, come here,” I said playfully, reaching for him. He
ducked to avoid my grasp and took off running into the house. I chased him all
the way to our bedroom. He beat me there, and as I was coming through the door,
I screamed as he jumped out and grabbed me. We collapsed onto the bed laughing,
and then our playfulness turned into passion in only a matter of seconds.

It didn’t take long before we settled into a comfortable and
rewarding routine. Lucas went everyday during the week to Randall’s studio to
work on his music, while I was busy at work on my next wedding.

Every night after dinner we’d snuggle by the fire and watch a
movie or spend hours talking about our dreams for the future. Sometimes Lucas
would play me a song he was working on. Afterwards we’d make love.

On the weekends, we’d have Meagan and Cody over for dinner. Their
relationship seemed to intensify in our absence. Occasionally we’d go out, but
the attention was becoming bothersome. Lucas was so gracious with his fans, but
the truth is, he preferred to be left alone.

What was becoming more bothersome, however, was the fact that
more and more people were beginning to ask for
my
autograph. I assumed
as a result of being put in the spotlight over the Samantha incident.

Some of Lucas’s fans, however, blamed me for his decision to give
up acting. He had to have his publicist issue a statement explaining that it
was just his dream to pursue music instead. That seemed to satisfy them, for
the most part.

Lucas was still receiving movie scripts and some of them were
really good, offering him big paychecks, but he turned them all down. For Lucas
it wasn’t about the money. We were alike in that way.

The wedding I was currently working on was proving to be a
challenge. The couple had an extremely tight budget, forcing me to become very
creative to make it work and still be beautiful, but I never turned my back on
a challenge.

I decided to help them out by allowing them to pay me in payments
instead of all of it upfront, which was normally against my policy. They seemed
to be a trusting couple and we share a mutual friend so I figured, why not.

I couldn’t believe how peaceful the last two months had been. It
seemed too good to be true. Ever since Lucas and I first met, there had been one
thing after another that had tried to interfere in our happiness. I wanted to
enjoy the peace and quiet, but I couldn’t help but feel that something was
waiting around the corner for us—blessing or curse. It seemed curse.

The wedding was finally over and my stretching the budget went as
planned and the wedding was beautiful.

I was in my car on my way to the bank to deposit the last
paycheck the couple had finally gotten around to paying me. I picked up my cell
phone and hit Lucas on speed dial. “Lucas?”

“Hey, honey, what’s up?”

“I’m on my way to the bank to deposit this last check. I just
wanted to let you know I might be a few minutes late. I’m trying to make it
there before they close.”

“Okay, I’m glad you told me. I’m still at the studio with
Randall. I was getting ready to leave to meet you at home, but I’ll stay a little
longer to finish up.”

“Sounds good. I love you, and I’ll see you soon. Take care of my
heart.”

“I love you too, and I will.”

The line was extremely long at the bank. One teller was new and
seemed to be having some trouble. Also, I guess I wasn’t the only person trying
to make it in before they closed.

“Lucas, I’m sorry to interrupt again, but there’s an incredibly
long line here, so it looks like I might be here a while. I just wanted to call
and let you know, so don’t rush okay?”

“Oh, okay well—”

“Lucas,” I interrupted as I spotted a suspicious man pulling a
bandana over his face and making his way behind the teller counter.
“Wait—there’s something happening—wait—Lucas!” I gasped as someone grabbed my
cell phone from behind me. I turned around quickly to see a man with a hoody
on, wearing sunglasses and a bandana over his face. He snapped my phone closed
with his left hand while holding a gun to my side with his right.

I watched in disbelief as four men, all dressed identically,
pointed their guns at the tellers and ordered them away from their desks and
down on the floor.

“Everyone, this is a robbery!” the tallest man shouted. “Drop
your cell phones on the floor and lay flat down on your faces. Remain there
quietly and no one will be harmed!”

One man came around and collected all the phones and put them in
a black duffle bag. I couldn’t believe what was happening. They came in so
quickly and unexpectedly that no one knew what was happening. The tellers
didn’t even have time to react. I guess that was their plan.

The tallest one, the leader I assumed, because he was giving the
orders, was behind the teller counter. He motioned for a much shorter man to
join him. They had the tellers empty their drawers into a big red bag. I heard
the leader ask for the Supervisor, who had the keys to the vault. A tall, thin
woman, with jet-black, cropped hair, stood.

The leader came over to her and placed the tip of his weapon in
her side. “You have thirty seconds to get me in that vault,” he said to her.
She was scared, but bravely led him to the door and soon the three of them
disappeared.

No sooner had I lost sight of them, than I heard someone banging
frantically on the front doors of the bank. It sounded like they were banging
the glass with their keys. Instantly a bad feeling came over me.“Go check it
out,” the man nearest me said to the other man.

The next thing I saw was a tall man with his hands raised in the
air and a gun at his back. It took me a moment to register the familiarity of
the brown, disheveled hair, and then it felt like someone punched me in the
stomach as he turned and I stared, in horror, into Lucas’s beautiful, hazel
eyes. And, as our eyes met, relief crossed his face, while anger crossed mine.

“What are you doing? Are you crazy?” I growled at him. He just
shrugged apologetically.

“What’s going on here?” the man nearest me demanded as he
approached.

“Sir, that man is my husband. Please let him leave.”

“No!” Lucas protested.

“Please, Sir, he doesn’t have to be here.”

“I’m not leaving you!”

“No one’s leaving but us,” the leader said as he and the other
man exited the vault. Relief overwhelmed me as I realized they had what they
came for and were leaving. One man shoved Lucas to the floor.

“Everyone stay down and don’t move for two minutes after we leave.
It’s been a pleasure.” They moved quickly to the front doors and disappeared
from sight.

Lucas started to crawl toward me.

“Stay still,” I snapped.

He ignored me and continued to crawl until he was by my side,
lifting me into his arms. “Are you okay?”

“Besides being mad as a bumblebee—yeah I’m fine. What were you
thinking coming here?”

“I wasn’t—and I think you mean mad as a hornet,” he mused.

“You pick your insect, and I’ll pick mine. Besides, have you ever
seen a mad bumblebee? Now shut up, teasing. This isn’t the slightest bit
amusing. I want you to answer me. What are you doing here?”

“I don’t think this is amusing. I’m just happy to see that you’re
okay. All I knew was I had to be with you. If I couldn’t get you out, then I
had to get in.”

“That’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done. You could’ve gotten
yourself killed.”

“I think it’s romantic,” the woman lying next to me said.

“Don’t encourage him,” I snapped.

“Shhh, they’re coming back,” a man whispered from across the
floor.

Lucas pushed me down to the floor and we laid as still as
possible. I could hear the nervous rumbles from the people around us. Suddenly,
all four men burst back into the bank. The leader was angry and swearing.

“Okay, who’s the one responsible for sounding the alarm?” he yelled.
“Tell me now or all of you will start dying!”

“It was me,” one of the tellers said, standing quickly. She was a
tiny, fragile, young girl, maybe twenty, and she had a look of horror on her
sweet face.

“Well,” the leader said, turning to us. “Because of this brave
one, it looks like we’re surrounded, which makes all of you—hostages,” he
growled. He turned back to her. “You’ll be the first one when we have to start
killing people,” he said smiling at her. She put her face in her hands and
began to cry.

“Leave her alone!” I yelled out before thinking.

“Lily, shhh,” Lucas whispered, grabbing my arm.

“Who said that?” the leader demanded, turning toward me.

“Don’t say anything,” Lucas whispered softly.

“Who said that?” He demanded again, becoming angry.