Years of Summer: Lily's Story (29 page)

I threw on some make-up and just pulled my hair up into a ponytail.  Dave liked my hair in a ponytail.  Sunshine had her gear on and was waiting on her command.  “Sunshine heel.”

She jumped off my bed and placed herself beside me.  I picked up her lead and walked out of my room and went across the hall and knocked on Ally’s door.  “Ally, are you ready?”

“Yeah, just a minute.”  A few seconds later she opened her door and walked out.  She dressed kind of like me, because she didn’t know how she should dress either.

“Lily, do you know where we’re going?”

“I think I have an idea, but I’m not positive.”

“Where do you
think
we’re going?”

“I think we’re going back to UM.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about doing that since I got that letter from Jace. I need to revisit my past so I can put it completely in my past and move on to the future. That’s why Dave said we’re going back to the future. We’re going back so I can make a clean break and move on to the future.”

“Lily, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“I know it’s a good idea, Ally, and with you and Dave and Sam there it will make it easier.  I just wish Chelsea and Ty could be there too.”

“That was your group wasn’t it. It always used to be you and Dave and Jace, and Ty and Chelsea.”

“Yeah, well Brianna was normally with us too, until she and Dave broke up.  But after that, those you just named were who was in our group.  We always used to hang out together.  It is so weird to think about that now.  It seems like a hundred years ago, but it was only like two years ago.” 

I heard Dad call down the hall.  “Girls you need to get going if y’all are going to make it back by tonight.  Come on.”

Evidently Dave had told Dad where we were going. I guess he would have too.  Dad wouldn’t just let him take us off somewhere without telling him. 

Dave saw us walk into the den.  He came to me and kissed me and Sam did the same with Ally.  We all climbed into the truck and so did Sunshine.  She was ready for a trip.  She loved riding in any vehicle.  We hit I-65 and headed south.  “Dave we’re going back to UM aren’t we?”

“Yeah, Lil, we are.  I know you need to do this.  You’ve wanted to do this since last month when you received that letter, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, you’re not mad are you?”

“No, I think it’s a good idea.  It holds way to many memories for you and you need to get closure for those too.”

“Dave, you’re so good to me.  I love you so much!”

“I love you too, Lily girl.”  We held each other’s hand as he drove.  It took us about three and a half hours to get there.  We parked on the outside of the campus and walked in through the sidewalk gates.  The smell of magnolia trees fell across my nose.  I looked on the main quad and you would not believe who I saw sitting there on a blanket.  It was Chelsea and Ty.  She and I spotted each other and we walked towards each other until we met in the middle.

We embraced each other.  “Chelsea, I am so glad you’re here.  Your wedding was beautiful by the way.” 

“Lily, I missed you so much.  How are you?”

“I am actually doing great, Chels.  I wanted to tell you something at your wedding, but everything was so busy around you two that I didn’t get a chance to.”

Dave came up behind me.  He had asked them to come.  I just knew it.  “Ty, Chels, how are you?  I appreciate you coming.”

Ty answered.  “Anytime my brother.”  They punched fists together.  “Lily was telling us she had some news.  What is it?”

Dave wrapped his arms around me and lifted my left hand as it rested in his palm.  “This is the news.” 

Ty hugged me.  “Lily that is awesome news.  I am really happy for you two.”

Chelsea came to me next.  “Oh . . . Lily, I’m so glad.  If anyone deserves happiness it’s you.” 

“Thanks Chelsea.  I really am happy.  You remember Ally, my little sister.”  I reached behind me and pulled her up with me. 

Chelsea remembered her and hugged her too.  “Hey Ally, how have you been and I see you have someone with you.”

“Yeah, this is my boyfriend, Sam.”  Ally reached behind her and pulled Sam up with us too.  “He’s Dave’s cousin.”

“Oh how cool.  All in the family.”  We all laughed.

* * * * * * *

We walked all over campus that day and as I walked through I remembered all the places significant to me and Jace and they only brought up sweet memories, not pain.  Sunshine walked with me. 

Then I also remembered all of the places that were spots in mine and Dave’s lives.  We walked by Comer hall and I remembered that day he helped me out of class when Chance was still trying to get to me.  I also flashed back to the day I first met him in English 101 with Dr. Parker.  I laughed to myself about that because it was at that point that Dave and I knew there was something about the other.

He caught me.  “Lily, what are you laughing about?”

“Our first day we met in English 101 with Dr. Parker.  You and I both knew each other, but we had forgotten when and where.”

Chelsea piped up.  “What are you talking about?”

I went into the story of me and Dave being childhood sweethearts and the picture I had found of the both of us.  Ally hadn’t heard that either.  We all laughed about that.  We walked around a couple of hours and even stopped and sat at the picnic table on Wills hall quad where Jace and I sat on numerous occasions, both good and bad.  Sunshine was right there with all of us.  Jace didn’t matter anymore.  Each place that I remembered something about us was just that, a place—a place in my memory.  That is where Jace and I started, but that was it. We were never meant to finish.  Dave was my key to forever.

I held hands with my first love there and my true love held me there. The thing is my true love is all that mattered anymore. Me and Dave and Ty and Chelsea and Ally and Sam sat there and talked until about three.

  We walked out by Napier hall which is where he and Jace roomed on the third floor.  If I had known then what I know now, there would never have been a Jace and me.  There would only have been a Dave and me.  Our timing though is nothing compared to Providence.  Providence will always win out.  We left around three-thirty that afternoon after telling Ty and Chelsea goodbye.  They had an apartment in Birmingham.  Ty was beginning grad school soon for his physical therapist degree.  Chelsea had her nursing degree and was putting Ty through. 

We promised to keep in touch as we left for home.  Dave had hold of my hand in the truck.  “Lily girl, how are you?”

“I am truly fine.  Thank you for doing that for me, and thank you for bringing Sam and Ally and calling Chelsea and Ty.  It was good to see them again.”

Poor Sunshine was worn out.  Dave had taken her vest and harness off and she lay in the floor of the truck just snoozing away.

“You are very welcome, honey.  I thought you might want to do that, and I thought it would be easier having family and friends around. You seem to be stronger when you’re surrounded by people who love you, and I love you more than anything in this world.  So when do we get to be a permanent part of each other?”

“How does March 12, 1994 sound to you?”

“I think that would be better than perfect, the one year anniversary of me and you being together like I had always wanted.  I love that idea.”

“Hey Ally, leave March 12 opened for me please.  I want you to be my maid of honor.”

“Lily, do you mean it?”

“Of course I mean it.  I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.”  She reached over the back of the seat and hugged me around my neck.

Then Dave spoke up.  “Hey Sam would you be in our wedding too?”

“You better believe I will.  Can you work it out to where I can escort Ally back down the aisle?”

“I think we can do that.  Don’t worry.  We’ll make it happen.”

“Thanks man.  I really appreciate that.”

Ally squeezed my shoulder from behind as another sisterly understanding passed between us.  I would throw her my bouquet and get Dave to aim my garter at Sam.  Something told me that Sam would willingly catch it.

* * * * * * *

I began my student teaching two weeks later at Jones Valley Elementary in first grade. I missed my kindergarteners though.  Dave drove us to the school every day.  He would come and pick me up every morning right along with Sunshine and that became the way it was from then on.

I finished my student teaching that December and was given a job to work a maternity leave at Jones Valley Elementary.  With those two goals accomplished, which is what I wanted to do before Dave and I were married; that left me free to plan our wedding. 
Letters to My Future
became our wedding planner, because that was my future.

We were married on March 12, 1994, the Saturday before Spring break so we could go on our honeymoon during spring break and not have to take off work.  It worked out beautifully. 

We had our wedding at the Botanical Gardens in their Oriental garden.  It was just the right temperature.  It was about 70 degrees. Ally was my Maid of Honor and Dave’s sisters, and Chelsea were in our wedding too.  Dave’s groomsmen were Ty and Sam.  His Dad was his best man.  Dave looked so amazing in his tux and our eyes met as I was walking down the sidewalk to him.  He gave me the greatest of all Dave smiles and as Dad reached Dave and the minister asked “who gives this woman to be joined to this man,” Dad placed my hand in Dave’s and whispered to him.  “Take good care of my baby girl.”

Dave answered.  “I will sir.”

Dad spoke a little louder in answer to the minister’s question.  “Her mother and sister and I.”  Sunshine was even allowed to come to the wedding.  Everyone stared at the dog in the seat next to Mom and Dad.  She even had a special white bow around her neck.  It was the most amazing day.

This all seemed so surreal.  I never thought I would be so happy.  I am though.  We said our vows and he kissed me and the minister introduced us as Mr. and Mrs. David Jordan Jameson.  I could have floated down the aisle I was so happy.  True happiness had found me and true happiness had found Dave; now, on to forever. 

We met and greeted I don’t know how many people at the reception. There were many though. It all had been such a magical day. We were both swept up in everything. I at last had found my true happiness and my one true love. The funny thing was it had always led back to Dave. We started in Kindergarten.

Sam and Ally were engaged that summer. They were married in December of that year. Chelsea and Ty were blessed with a baby boy the following January. Dave and I are living our happily ever after. We both ended up staying at Jones Valley Elementary. He stayed in third grade and I kept that temporary job that I had. I taught Kindergarten. 

Epilogue—

So, that’s the story.  I still sometimes wonder what Jace really was.  There was always a presence to him.  At least in the end, if he was my guardian angel, he led me down the right path, because I have never been happier, and Dave and I are going on seventeen beautiful and amazing years.  It’s amazing how time flies.

Dave is still teaching third grade and he has had many students over the years come back and thank him for not giving up on them, because every other teacher had.  All the new parents want their child in Mr. Jameson’s class; I guess you could say he is a legend in our area.  I am so proud of him. 

Sunshine came to school with me until I no longer worked.  I didn’t really need her for what she was originally given to me, but I just couldn’t stand to leave her at home.  She was still a great comfort though. She was more like a security blanket those last two years I worked.  My students absolutely adored her and she liked being around them too.  I taught kindergarten for five years.  I quit work to become a stay-at-home Mom when our children were born.  

Dave and I were blessed with our first children (twin boys) in October of 1999—Jordan and Jacob.  Wow, talk about a proud Daddy.  He definitely was.  Three and a half years later we were blessed with our second set of twins, girls this time—Caroline and Claire—in March of 2003.  They are his sweet baby girls.  It was the day after our ninth anniversary.  Yes, we were blessed with two sets of twins, hence our four children.

Summer begins in three days.  I love summer.  I can’t wait.  Dave will be home and our summer of fun will begin.  It is great having a husband who teaches, because he gets the summers off too, unless he has a workshop to attend or things to do at the school.  He has been there long enough to be second in command if the Principal is not there.  He loves his job. 

Dave is also into little league baseball; well I say little league but our boys are almost eleven, and they are up for the state championship again this year, and of course have been the past three years.  Dave is a great coach.  He makes sure they have fun while they’re learning to be a team and work together.  He does not tolerate bad attitudes.  His favorite saying is “Bad attitudes lead to bad decisions.  Teams don’t survive with either one.”