Love's Providence: A Contemporary Christian Romance Read online

  “I’m being careful. Trust me. There’s nothing to be concerned about.”

  Just then, Alex swung the door open and stepped out of the bathroom. He had on a pair of jeans and a black polo shirt that hugged his muscles, and his wet hair glistened like the igneous rocks Lily had studied last spring in Geology.

  He grinned at the three of them, apparently enjoying the gawking. Definitely nothing to worry about.

  Chapter Eleven

  August 6

  St. Simons Island

  Lily pushed her plate away and leaned back in the wrought iron chair outside a café in the village. A low rumble echoed from the clouds looming over the ocean. They were heavy, full of water, just waiting to ruin the perfect afternoon. In front of her, tourists and locals bustled by with loaded down bags and boxes as if they knew danger was approaching. She hoped the rain held off, or rolled on out to sea. She hated rain.

  The thought suddenly reminded her of Jackson’s mom tending the rose bushes, her gloved hands working the soil, picking out weeds, clipping off the dead bulbs. She could hear Mary’s voice as if she were right in front of her.

  “Rain makes the flowers grow even more beautiful,” she had said one day as she taught Lily how to care for the roses. “Sometimes it’s the unpleasant things of life that make the good parts stand out.”

  It hadn’t made much sense then, but maybe Mary was right. Strange that she had popped into Lily’s thoughts now. She felt a tug on her heart, an uneasiness that she had learned over the years to heed. She said a silent prayer for Mary, for whatever reason she could not quite grasp.

  Alex’s laugh brought her out of her thoughts, and he glanced at her curiously as he set down his tea.

  “You okay over there? You looked like you faded out on us for a minute.”

  She looked over at Emily and Alison who had the same curious look, but she shrugged and smiled.

  “Sorry. I was just watching the clouds. Looks like it might rain.”

  He glanced behind him. “Yeah. I think you’re right. Maybe we shouldn’t go fishing today.”

  “No way.” Lily sat up straighter.

  Alison laughed and placed her soda on the table. “Good luck with that one. I doubt you could stop Lil from going fishing if a hurricane was coming.”

  “Really?” Alex said. “I had no idea you liked it that much.”

  “Are you kidding?” Emily added. “I’m surprised she’s not majoring in it.”

  “Trust me, if it was an option, I would,” Lily said.

  Alex laid down his fork and leaned toward her. “How did I not know this about you?”

  Lily glanced over at Emily and Alison, willing them to stay quiet.

  “Well, I don’t go as often as I used to. I guess it just hasn’t come up.” Emily’s eyes met hers, and Lily was thankful for the understanding that passed between them.

  She could tell Alex didn’t exactly buy it, but as he was about to open his mouth, someone called his name. Lily looked over his shoulder as he turned around, and walking toward them was a slender red-head holding several bags in her hands. Her stomach wrenched for a moment. Not another beautiful woman panting over him.

  “Chloe.” He pushed his chair back and stood up.

  Relief washed over her. It was just his sister. He took a few steps toward her, meeting her a few feet away from their table.

  “What are you doing here?” Alex asked, almost mumbling.

  Chloe leaned sideways and looked around him toward the table, but her sunglasses hid her eyes. She smiled up at Alex.

  “I was just doing some shopping. Why don’t you introduce me to your friends?”

  Lily couldn’t see his face, but she noticed his body stiffen as he lowered his voice and mumbled something she couldn’t here.

  Chloe’s smile broadened, and she pushed her sunglasses on top of her head. They had the same hazel eyes, even the crinkles on the sides. She pushed Alex aside and stepped around him.

  “Oh Alex, really. Don’t be rude.” She pulled a spare chair up to the table between Alison and Emily and looked back up at him with wide eyes. “Well?”

  Alex sighed as he returned to his seat beside Lily. He gestured toward her first.

  “Chloe, this is Lily Brennon and her friends Emily and Alison.” He gave Lily a smile, but she could tell he was uncomfortable. “This is my sister, Chloe.”

  Lily extended her hand. “Hi. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Chloe stared at her as if she were trying to determine whether Lily was real or imaginary, sending a flush of embarrassment through her.

  Chloe finally offered her hand. “Same here.”

  Lily looked over to Alex again, and this time there was no mistaking the tension in his body. He cleared his throat.

  “Lily and her family came down from Alabama on vacation a few weeks ago.” She waited for him to explain further, but he barely paused before changing the subject. “So what are you doing here?”

  Chloe narrowed her eyes, but before she could answer, the waitress interrupted to take her order.

  “I’m not staying,” she said, waving her off. Once the waitress scurried away, she turned back to Lily. “So you’ve been here for several weeks?”

  “Oh no. We only stayed a week. I came back down for a few days with my friends.”

  Chloe paused and pressed her lips into a thin pink line, a flicker of dawning on her face. She took a quick glance at Alex.

  “Well,” she said. “Saint Simons must have made quite an impression on you. That’s an awfully long drive.”

  The chill in Chloe’s voice made her pause. Surely this was not the same woman Steve had spoken so highly of.

  “Yes,” Lily said. “I really enjoyed it.” She glanced over at Emily and Alison, but they looked just as surprised as she felt.

  “So how long are you staying this time?” Chloe asked.

  “Only a couple of days. We have to be back at school next week for pre-season.”

  “Pre-season?”

  “Yeah. We play volleyball at Samford University.”

  Chloe smiled, but nothing about it seemed warm.

  “How nice.”

  Alex folded his hands together on the table, and Lily noticed his knuckles go white.

  “So, what are you doing here?”

  Chloe finally looked at him, and she leaned back in her chair with a smile.

  “Like I said, I was doing some shopping and I happened to notice you. Is it a problem? Did I interrupt something?”

  Alex just stared at her, so Lily spoke up.

  “I’m glad you came over. Alex and Steve both have spoken very highly of you, and I’ve been hoping to meet you.”

  A curious look flashed over Chloe’s face. “You’ve met Steve too? Funny. Neither of them mentioned you before.”

  Now Lily was certain of Chloe’s reaction to her, but she had no idea why. She looked over at her friends, but Emily was glaring at Chloe like she was getting ready to pounce on her.

  “Lil,” Alison said. “Don’t move.”

  “What?” Lily stared at Alison’s ashen face.

  Emily’s eyes widened as well. “Do you have your Epipen?”

  “No, why?”

  Alison reached her hand slowly toward her. “Just stay still. There’s a bee flying around your head.”

  “What’s going on?” Alex asked.

  “Don’t move!” Emily pointed at him, and he froze.

  Lily tried to stay still while Alison carefully waved the bee away, but she’d rather have slapped them both. As soon as it took off, Alison grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the table. Lily nearly stumbled over the chairs as Alex jumped up at the same time.

  “What is going on?” Chloe asked, standing as well.

  Emily began gathering drinks. “We need to go sit inside. Lily’s allergic to bee venom.”

  “Deathly allergic,” Alison added. She tugged Lily toward the front door. “Let’s just sit inside.”

  Lily pul
led away and stood her ground. “Excuse me, but I am a grown woman. Please don’t tug me around like a toddler. It was one stupid bee. I’m fine. Let’s just sit back down.”

  Alex frowned. “If you’re that allergic, maybe it’s best.”

  Chloe stooped over and grabbed her bags. “Well, this has all been very exciting, but I have a lot of errands to finish up.”

  Alison frowned at Lily. “Come on, Lil. It’s not worth the risk, especially without your Epi.” She nodded toward Chloe. “It was nice to meet you.”

  Lily sighed and followed Alison toward the door. She waved at Chloe as she went in.

  “Nice meeting you. Good luck with the wedding.”

  Chloe didn’t even acknowledge her. How rude. She watched Alex grab one of Chloe’s bags. He met Lily’s gaze and smiled a silent apology.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said.

  Lily walked into the café with her friends wondering what she could have possibly done to make Chloe dislike her so much.

  Alex looked both ways before he stepped off the curb and followed Chloe into the street. He was tempted to fling her into the oncoming traffic, but he restrained himself until they reached her car.

  “What is wrong with you?” he growled.

  She unlocked her car and slung her packages to the passenger side.

  “Me? What’s wrong with you?”

  “Don’t even start with me, Chloe.”

  “How old is she?”

  “It’s none of your-“

  “Does she know anything about you?”

  Alex’s blood boiled, rippling and rolling with fury.

  “I’m only going to say this once,” he began, “so listen carefully. You have no say in what I do with my life. I know that somewhere in that thick head of yours you think you’re doing what’s best.” He took a deep breath and steeled himself to the anger in her eyes. “But I swear to God, Chloe, if you don’t back off, we have nothing more to talk about. Ever.”

  She blinked, and her stony demeanor began to crumble.

  “I just want you to be happy, and to do the right thing.”

  “That’s just it. I am doing the right thing. You just can’t see it.”

  She dropped into the car and swung her legs under the steering wheel. When she looked up at him again, she was already rebuilding her wall.

  “Chasing after some kid who has no idea what she’s getting into is certainly not right. And neither is abandoning your responsibilities.”

  He let out a long sigh and dropped his head. She would never understand. Life was well-defined for Chloe, with edges that ran straight and narrow toward perfection.

  “Listen,” he said. “After Monday, everything will be fine. You’ll see.”

  She shook her head. “After Monday, you’ll have made the biggest mistake of your life.”

  He placed his hands above the open door and squeezed the frame with all his frustration. He pulled his head up and glanced at the café where Lily was waiting with her friends, and his eyes caught something familiar. It was gone before he could pinpoint what had caught his attention, but something was off.

  Chloe reached past him for the door handle, and he backed away.

  “Alex, I know you’ve been through a lot over the last year, and I know you don’t want to listen to me. But it’s not too late to make this right.”

  She pulled the door closed and cranked the car, pulling out slowly into traffic. He watched her drive away then looked back toward the café across the street. He still couldn’t figure out what he’d seen, though something in him told him he already knew. But it couldn’t have been her.

  He spotted Lily and her friends through the window getting settled at a table inside. For a brief moment, he considered what Lily would think of him if she knew the truth. In so many ways, she was like Chloe, with her clearly defined boundaries of right and wrong. Maybe she wouldn’t understand either.

  He shoved the doubts back to the corner from where they’d crept. Lily was good and kind, and he couldn’t just walk away from her. No, he’d take care of everything once and for all on Monday. Then maybe he could convince her, and himself, that he wasn’t a liar.

  “You’re such a liar,” Lily said and swatted Alex’s chest.

  She lifted her head from his shoulder and rested on her elbow, her feet mingling with his as they hung out of the back of his SUV.

  “Hey, watch the violence.” He rubbed his chest. “I am an officer of the law, you know.” He furrowed his brow, but he couldn’t hide the laughter in his eyes. He reached around her shoulder and tucked her under his arm again.

  “You expect me to believe that you caught a twenty-four pound bass?”

  “I did!” he insisted. “My dad and I used to fish all the time when I was a kid. We even won a couple of tournaments.”

  “That’s a load of crap. If you’d caught a twenty-four pound bass, you’d be the world record holder, and last time I checked, it was still George Perry, who happens to have held onto that record for nearly eighty years.”

  He shook his head and laughed. “You’re too smart for your own good.”

  Lily couldn’t help but smile. The day had been perfect, and the evening was following suit. Alex had parked in a grove of oak trees lining the waterway between the island and the mainland, and she’d almost convinced herself they could stay there forever, pretending the rest of the world didn’t even exist. Looking toward the sun dipping below the causeway in the distance, she tried to focus on anything but the fact that it was their last night together.

  “Did you have a good time today?” He squeezed her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

  “Yes. That was so nice of your friend to let us fish off his dock. How many people owe you favors?”

  “Enough to help me impress you a little. But I’m running out fast.”

  She ran her hand under his shirt and across his abs, wishing she could stay another day. But then again, she’d just wind up right back here, wishing for another.

  “I can’t believe I have to leave tomorrow,” she said. “It seems like I just got here.”

  “I know.” He reached behind him and folded his pillow under his head. “Is there anything I can say to get you to stay?”

  She lifted her head again and looked at him. “I really wish I could. You have no idea.”

  “I think I do.” He pulled her face toward his.

  Kissing him had become an addiction. How was she supposed to return to her life as if everything was normal? As he pulled her tighter and the heat between them began to grow, an urgent need to hold onto him threatened to overwhelm her. She didn’t even know when she would see him again. He pulled her on top of him, exploring her mouth, her neck, her shoulders.

  Don’t stop.

  She had no idea if she’d thought it, or said it, but she was aware of it all the same. When he pushed her shirt up, the same voice echoed in her head that had wanted more every time he touched her. But this time, it was Alex who pushed her away.

  “Lily,” he said as he wrapped his hands on the side of her face. “Let’s do this.”

  At the sight of the intensity in his eyes, a wave of heat rushed through her. But somehow, a small voice broke through.

  Stop.

  “I can’t.” She pushed herself the rest of the way up. She swung her leg off of him and scooted to the back of the car, pulling her shirt back down and feeling like a complete loser. She let the breeze wash over her, wishing it would wash away her foolishness. How many times had she led him on, only to slam on the brakes? He slid over and sat beside her on the edge of the car.

  “Hang on a second. I think you misunderstood what I meant.” He chuckled quietly. “At least, I hope that was a misunderstanding.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He looked out over the water and sighed. “Well, I meant that I want to do this.” He gestured his hand between them. “You and me. Us.” He glanced at her, and she could see his apprehension. “I know it may seem
crazy since we live so far apart. But I think we could make it work. What do you think?”

  Relief and embarrassment flushed her cheeks, and she couldn’t stop the nervous giggle that jumped out of her.

  “I thought-“

  “Yeah, I know what you thought.” He said with a grin.

  “You really want to be with me?” she asked. “I have no idea when I can see you again. Wouldn’t you rather be with someone you could actually take out on a Friday night?”

  “No. Just you.”

  His answer, so simple and somber, caught her off guard. She hadn’t let herself even consider the possibility of a real commitment between them.

  “You’re absolutely sure?” she asked.

  “I’m sure.” He tapped his fingers to his chest. “Seems like it’s you who’s uncertain.”

  She looked out over the water and wondered how to answer. They were so different. Enjoying some time together was one thing, but committing to something more?

  “I just don’t want you to have to sit around being bored because of me.”

  “Are you sure that’s it? There isn’t another reason?”

  “Like what?”

  Alex looked at her in silence for a moment. Then he lifted the chain from around her neck.

  “Like Jackson maybe?”

  Instinctively she reached for the necklace and tucked it back inside her shirt.

  “No, of course not.” Her stomach knotted. “He and I are through. Have been for a long time.”

  “Then why keep his necklace on?”

  “It’s not his necklace.” She pushed her way out of the car and paced in front of him. “You don’t understand. The necklace was just a promise to pray for each other. It was never about our romantic feelings. I’ve had it on since I was nine.”

  She stopped pacing and watched him mull over her words. What if he asked her to take it off? It was just a necklace, wasn’t it? But even as the thought came, in some deep corner of her heart, she knew it was much more than a necklace, and she was sure Alex knew that too.

  Alex reached his hand out toward Lily. “Come here,” he said.

  He’d wondered all evening how she would react if he brought up the necklace. He wouldn’t have even mentioned it if she hadn’t seemed so hesitant just now. And her nervous pacing only confirmed what he’d already suspected. He had no intention of competing for anyone, even her.