“It feels so good to
have you in my arms again. But—” he pulled away to peer at me, “are you okay?
You fainted, and you look so tired.” He traced the dark circles under my eyes
with his finger.
“Yes, I’m fine. The day I fainted I hadn’t eaten or slept and yes
I am tired. I haven’t been sleeping either. But I’ll be fine now.” I clung
myself tighter to him again, breathing in deeply, memorizing his fresh scent.
He buried his face in my hair. “I’ve missed this smell. Oh,” he
said, remembering something, “I finally forgave Randall. You were right, it was
easier than I thought, and we’re okay now.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
“I thought you might be.”
“I have a great idea. Why don’t we celebrate our reunion? I’ll
cook us a big meal, we’ll eat until we’re so full we can’t breathe, and then
we’ll talk and cuddle all night.”
“That sounds great. I just need to make a quick call, and then
I’ll help you.” He pulled the phone out of his pocket and winked. “I need to
make sure that apartment is still available.”
The next morning, I woke and was surprised to see that I was still
on the sofa wrapped in Lucas’s arms. One minute we were snuggling and talking,
and the next minute we were sound asleep. Well, we were both very exhausted.
I got up as quietly as I could, took off the blanket that was
wrapped around me, and covered him with it. He never even moved. I stared down
at him for a very long moment. Happiness flowed over me like a soothing balm
with healing properties. I closed my eyes and said a sweet prayer of
thankfulness.
When I went into the kitchen I noticed it was ten o’clock. I
decided to cook some breakfast. I was thankful for Meagan who’d been taking
care of me. Even though I wouldn’t eat much she made sure to keep plenty of
food in the fridge.
“Wait—what is today?” I whispered to myself. “It’s Sunday, and
it’s ten o’clock! I’m going to be late for church.” I scurried up the stairs as
quietly as I could. I didn’t have time to take a full shower, but washed up and
got dressed in a hurry. When I was happy with the way I looked in the mirror, I
headed downstairs to Lucas.
He was still asleep, so instead of waking him, I left him a note:
Lucas,
I’ve gone to church, then to see my mother. I didn’t
have the heart to wake you. You looked so handsome sleeping. I’ll be back
around five. Make yourself at home. There is food in the fridge. I hate
to leave you, but I’ll see you soon.
~ Your Loving Lily
Ten minutes later I was slipping quietly into a pew. I spotted
Meagan and we waved. The smile on her face was suspicious, and I got the strange
feeling she was in on Lucas’ return.
Pastor Robert Franklin cleared his throat as he began. His sermon
was about abstinence, and though it was geared toward the youth, he made eye
contact with me more than once. I squirmed in my seat and felt sweat suddenly
beading around my collar. Maybe it was just me, but I got the strange sensation
he was preaching directly to me.
I was relieved when church finally ended, and I started making my
way quickly toward the doors before I found myself confessing my sinful
thoughts. Just because I was refraining from sex with Lucas didn’t mean I
hadn’t had my thoughts. As I made my way through the crowd, Meagan caught up to
me, pulling me aside and demanding all the details. I knew it. She had known he was on his way. I hadn’t realized she was so good at keeping secrets.
After I filled her in on everything, she told me how happy she
was for me, and then we hugged and said our goodbyes.
I was headed out the door when Pastor Franklin, or Pastor Rob as
he’s often called, intercepted me. “Lilianna, may I have a moment to speak with
you?” I’ve known Pastor Rob since I was a small child. He even baptized me when
I was six years old.
“Yes, of course Pastor, what’s on
have you in my arms again. But—” he pulled away to peer at me, “are you okay?
You fainted, and you look so tired.” He traced the dark circles under my eyes
with his finger.
“Yes, I’m fine. The day I fainted I hadn’t eaten or slept and yes
I am tired. I haven’t been sleeping either. But I’ll be fine now.” I clung
myself tighter to him again, breathing in deeply, memorizing his fresh scent.
He buried his face in my hair. “I’ve missed this smell. Oh,” he
said, remembering something, “I finally forgave Randall. You were right, it was
easier than I thought, and we’re okay now.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
“I thought you might be.”
“I have a great idea. Why don’t we celebrate our reunion? I’ll
cook us a big meal, we’ll eat until we’re so full we can’t breathe, and then
we’ll talk and cuddle all night.”
“That sounds great. I just need to make a quick call, and then
I’ll help you.” He pulled the phone out of his pocket and winked. “I need to
make sure that apartment is still available.”
The next morning, I woke and was surprised to see that I was still
on the sofa wrapped in Lucas’s arms. One minute we were snuggling and talking,
and the next minute we were sound asleep. Well, we were both very exhausted.
I got up as quietly as I could, took off the blanket that was
wrapped around me, and covered him with it. He never even moved. I stared down
at him for a very long moment. Happiness flowed over me like a soothing balm
with healing properties. I closed my eyes and said a sweet prayer of
thankfulness.
When I went into the kitchen I noticed it was ten o’clock. I
decided to cook some breakfast. I was thankful for Meagan who’d been taking
care of me. Even though I wouldn’t eat much she made sure to keep plenty of
food in the fridge.
“Wait—what is today?” I whispered to myself. “It’s Sunday, and
it’s ten o’clock! I’m going to be late for church.” I scurried up the stairs as
quietly as I could. I didn’t have time to take a full shower, but washed up and
got dressed in a hurry. When I was happy with the way I looked in the mirror, I
headed downstairs to Lucas.
He was still asleep, so instead of waking him, I left him a note:
Lucas,
I’ve gone to church, then to see my mother. I didn’t
have the heart to wake you. You looked so handsome sleeping. I’ll be back
around five. Make yourself at home. There is food in the fridge. I hate
to leave you, but I’ll see you soon.
~ Your Loving Lily
Ten minutes later I was slipping quietly into a pew. I spotted
Meagan and we waved. The smile on her face was suspicious, and I got the strange
feeling she was in on Lucas’ return.
Pastor Robert Franklin cleared his throat as he began. His sermon
was about abstinence, and though it was geared toward the youth, he made eye
contact with me more than once. I squirmed in my seat and felt sweat suddenly
beading around my collar. Maybe it was just me, but I got the strange sensation
he was preaching directly to me.
I was relieved when church finally ended, and I started making my
way quickly toward the doors before I found myself confessing my sinful
thoughts. Just because I was refraining from sex with Lucas didn’t mean I
hadn’t had my thoughts. As I made my way through the crowd, Meagan caught up to
me, pulling me aside and demanding all the details. I knew it. She had known he was on his way. I hadn’t realized she was so good at keeping secrets.
After I filled her in on everything, she told me how happy she
was for me, and then we hugged and said our goodbyes.
I was headed out the door when Pastor Franklin, or Pastor Rob as
he’s often called, intercepted me. “Lilianna, may I have a moment to speak with
you?” I’ve known Pastor Rob since I was a small child. He even baptized me when
I was six years old.
“Yes, of course Pastor, what’s on
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