Chapter 36
“I’m excited to see your place,” Danny said when he picked up Tyler Monday night the second week in May.
“It’s only bare rooms at the moment.” Tyler relaxed in the passenger seat as Danny drove. “Painters come on Monday, flooring the week after. Lauren and I are still deciding verses for the walls.”
“She’s fine with moving?”
“It was her idea. I would have moved in with them. She wanted something that was us.”
“You guys need something that’s yours. Best to start anew. Your house sold?”
“Yep. Hers too, as of yesterday. The movers come the day we leave for our wedding. We hired Michael, Adam’s old assistant, to oversee it all while we’re gone. How’s the new screenplay coming?”
“Finishing up the final revisions. Figure we can shop it out this summer, hopefully after Once Lost is released and a big hit. You’ll direct this one?”
“Absolutely.” Tyler grinned. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“That’s funny,” Tyler stared at the door handle when it opened without his key. “I wonder why it’s unlocked.”
“Surprise!” About thirty men filled the living room. Richard, David, Pastor Max, the guys from Bible study, even his agent, Mitch, was there.
Tyler stumbled back, then faced Danny. “What’s this?”
“Your bachelor party, man.” Danny laughed. “We couldn’t let you get hitched without a party.”
Once Tyler greeted everyone, Danny passed out permanent markers. “The reason we met here tonight wasn’t only to celebrate Tyler passing from singlehood into marriage and fatherhood, but so we could pray for and bless his family. God gave me this cool idea when they started building the house of writing scriptures and prayers on the foundation. I’ve been totally blessed the past several years to watch Tyler’s and Lauren’s faith grow. I’m sure you’ll agree with me the best we can give them is our prayers.” Most of the men nodded, some said amen. “The Chinese food will arrive in a few hours, so take your time. Go from room to room and prayerfully write whatever God puts on your heart.”
“Thanks, man.” Tyler hugged Danny. “Once upon a time I thought my bachelor party would include strippers and alcohol. Prayers and potstickers are perfect.”
Danny chuckled. “I’m super excited for the three of you. I know God will bless your marriage and family if it’s built on the foundation of His Word and prayer.”
“Amen,” Tyler said.
“Remind me why we’re doing Zumba at night?” Lauren asked as Shelly drove down her driveway.
“Because it’s fun. Besides, it’ll help you get an extra workout in before the wedding and all that fabulous food you’re going to eat on your honeymoon, wherever you end up going.”
“I guess. It’s just a hassle leaving David. I mean, Bonnie is used to watching him when we go Tuesday and Thursday morning.”
“Your dad loves his grandpa time. I’m sure he doesn’t mind.”
“Well, he did pick him up an hour ago. Said he was anxious to see him and wanted to take him to the park for a while.”
“See?” Shelly glanced at her. “So, it’s official? The house is sold?”
“Yep. I need to start packing this week. Tyler talked to Michael today. He’ll oversee the move while we’re gone.”
“That’ll be good. He’s so crazy organized.” Shelly looked her over. “Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
The pain that had been growing in her heart all day increased. “We need to start over together, right?”
“You do.” Shelly frowned. “But I know that house holds a lot of happy memories. I’ll be praying for you.”
“Thanks.” Lauren shifted her gaze out the window so Shelly couldn’t see her tears. “I appreciate that.”
Wandering from room to room, Tyler fought tears reading what the men wrote. Scriptures in the dining room included those of fellowship, verses in the kitchen for God’s constant provision. The family room floor contained prayers for their conversations, entertainment, and family time to bring glory to God. David’s bedroom floor was covered with prayers for him to accept Jesus as his Savior, as well as verses of God’s protection and to honor his mother and father. Prayers in their bedroom were for unity, strength, and rest with scriptures about their marriage roles squeezed in between. In one of the extra bedrooms, Tyler found prayers for Tyler and Lauren’s future child, verses for God’s perfect timing. He could no longer repress the tears when he read verses from the book of Samuel about David and Jonathan’s friendship. It echoed the desire in his heart that one day he and Lauren would have a child and the Lord would bond them all.
“I can’t stay, but I wanted to say congrats and wish you well.” Mitch shifted his eyes from the verses on the floor to Tyler when he entered the office. He extended his hand. “It’s been a pleasure working with you all these years.”
Tyler hugged Mitch. “Thanks, Mitch. Sorry I was a jerk for so long.”
“You’ve made up for it.” He sized Tyler up. “That first day you met her, I didn’t think you had it in you to treat her right, let alone make any kind of commitment to her. I’m glad you proved me wrong.”
“I didn’t have it in me. It’s only with God’s help that I became the man I needed to be for her, and David.”
Mitch stared at him a minute before speaking. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Tyler said. “Anything.”
“All these years you never preached to me. You preached a bit at Will’s funeral, on TV after the play, even at the awards. Why didn’t you preach to me?”
Open his heart to You, Tyler silently prayed. “I’ve invited you to church and Bible study, prayed for you to seek God and come to know Him. I’ve tried to live my faith in front of you so I didn’t need to preach at you.”
Mitch shifted his mouth. “You prayed for me?”
“Still do.” Tyler rested his hand on Mitch’s shoulder. “Is God answering them?”
“What day and time’s Bible study?”
“Tuesdays at seven o’clock. Would love for you to join us.”
“Maybe I will.” Mitch started towards the door then paused. “An offer came in today you probably want to consider. It’s on location for up to six months, but they’re fine with Lauren and David traveling with you. Starts September. Beats your highest offer to date.”
Tyler raised an eyebrow. “Oh. Well, I’d have to talk to Lauren.”
Mitch nodded. “I told them that. They’re sending you a script to review.”
“What genre? Action?”
“Biography.” The corners of Mitch’s mouth slowly turned up. “The life of the apostle Paul. You’ll be filming in Israel and Rome.”
Chills came over Tyler the moment Mitch mentioned Paul. He shook his head as Mitch walked out the door, shifting his eyes to the floor. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
“God, You amaze me,” Tyler whispered. “I don’t feel the least bit qualified, but I’ll keep going where You send me.”
The church parking lot was more full than she had ever seen on Zumba day.
“Guess Monday night Zumba is the thing to do,” Lauren said as they walked to the multipurpose room.
“I guess so.”
Shelly opened the door, revealing about a hundred women.
“Surprise!” they shouted.
Lauren stared at all the ladies dressed in workout clothes.
“Surprise!” Beth came up and hugged her.
“I don’t get it,” Lauren said.
“It’s a bridal shower for you, silly. But we knew you’d be mad if you were the only one in workout clothes, so I put on the invitation to come ready to sweat.”
“Are we working out?”
“Not at all,” Shelly laughed. “We’re eating, playing games, and laughing. In fact, Beth got that amazing spinach dip.” She turned to Beth. “You did get the dip, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did,” Beth said.
“Lead the way.” Lauren walked into the room, hugging people as they approached her.
The night was filled with fun, food, and fellowship. They played “name the places Lauren and Tyler have traveled together” and “where was this picture on social media taken.” But Lauren’s favorite game was “Totally a line or true love?”
“The paper being passed out has quotes from Tyler that he either spoke in a movie or said to Lauren,” Beth explained as the triple-layer chocolate cake was served. “It’s your job to determine which it is. You write ‘totally a line’ if it’s from a movie or ‘true love’ if it was reserved for Lauren alone.”
Papers were passed out and the ladies were given ten minutes to complete them.
“Lauren is going to help us with the answers,” Beth announced when time was up. “I’ll read the question and she’ll answer either ‘totally a line’ or ‘true love.’”
“That’s a lot of pressure,” Lauren said. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to tell the difference.”
The ladies laughed.
“I’ll give you hints if you need them.” Beth winked. “Number one. I find you extremely attractive and I can’t keep my hands off you. It’s gotta be worth something.”
Lauren grinned. That night on the cliffs when I lost my first teaching job because of him. “True love.”
“I don’t want to think about a future without you.”
Lauren rolled her eyes. “Totally a line.”
“I more than love you.” Beth placed her hand over her heart.
“Totally a line,” Lauren chuckled.
“I only want to be here to hold you. You don’t have to do this alone.”
In my pit of depression. Lauren swallowed the lump in her throat. “True love.”
“The moment I saw you, I knew you were going to rock my world.”
Lauren shook her head. “That’s a line. And a pretty bad one.”
“I’ll show you being with me can be the happiest place on earth.”
The balcony of his beach house the November after we met. “True love.”
“No more glasses?” Richard sat beside Tyler with David and his plate of food.
“Nope.” Tyler smiled. “My eyesight is back to normal a few months earlier than the doctor expected. The therapy worked.”
“Wonderful.” Richard positioned his drink out of David’s reach. “Are you getting nervous?”
“Excited. Nervous.” Tyler threw a potsticker in his mouth. “I’m a little bit of a wreck, but trying not to show it. How am I doing?”
“Not bad. All the plans set?”
“Yep. Talked to the wedding coordinator yesterday and planned the menu.” Tyler picked up kung pao beef with his chopsticks. “I remember teasing Adam before he got married because he was so nervous. Now I get it. It’s not that I’m having doubts, but some days I wonder why she would want to spend the rest of her life with me.”
Richard nodded as he finished chewing an egg roll. “Felt that way my entire first year of marriage.”
“What changed?” Tyler cut some chow mein noodles in half and offered one to David. He stared at the noodle as it slipped through his fingers, then immediately picked it up from the table. “It’s like spaghetti, David.” He held one in the air and then ate it for David to see. David mimicked his behavior, bouncing once he devoured it.
“I started believing that she loved me as much as I loved her.” Richard broke off a tiny piece of teriyaki chicken to feed his grandson. “She does, you know.”
Tyler handed David another noodle. “Some days it seems too good to be true.”
“That’s the grace of God, right?” He patted Tyler on the back. “I love you, son. I know you two will have a wonderfully blessed marriage. Keep the Lord first, Lauren second, and David third. And take her out often, so I get lots of time with my grandson.”
Son. Not only had God redeemed his relationship with his own father, but He had given him an amazing father-in-law. “Thanks, Richard. I will.”
“Thank you,” she hugged Beth, Shelly, Cheryl, and Joyce when everyone left.
“Nothing but the best for you, girlfriend,” Beth said.
“Thank Shelly for coming up with the games,” Joyce said. “I was a little worried about the ‘true love’ one, but that was hilarious.”
“I seriously can’t believe he remembered those lines.” Shelly dipped a carrot in the artichoke dip. “This dip is seriously better than Mexican food.”
“He is an actor. He needs to have a great memory, which could be a bad thing if I say something stupid.” Lauren turned her attention to the engagement picture of her and Tyler outside his beach house on the gift table. Everyone who attended signed the mat. Small presents in bridal wrap surrounded it. “Thanks for the picture, but I didn’t want gifts.”
“We asked them to either make a donation to the Angel Houses or bring their favorite book on parenting or marriage, a Christian movie or comedy,” Cheryl said.
“Thousands came in for the Houses,” Shelly said.
“And it looks like you and Tyler have plenty to keep you busy at night.” Beth motioned to the table.
Lauren laughed so hard she almost sprayed the water in her mouth all over her friends. “I think we’ll find other activities to occupy our nights.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“So, you all leave in a week?” Joyce asked.
“Eight days.” Lauren sighed. “I have a ton to do before that.”
“How many are going?”
“Seventeen,” Beth answered. “I confirmed the jet yesterday.”
“Do you know our destination?” Lauren’s eyes widened.
“Nope. Simply called in a guest list and confirmed check-in and take-off time.”
“I can’t believe he’s taking care of all the wedding attire,” Shelly said. “I’m a little worried.”
“He’s not letting me pack any clothes,” Lauren said. “Told me he wants it a complete surprise where we’re going.”
“Us, too.” Shelly sighed. “He said he’d send out the weather report the day before we leave so we can pack.”
“Mr. Hollywood is a keeper, for sure.” Beth smiled.
“Yes, he is.” Lauren gazed at his handsome photo.
Tyler was reading on the family room sofa when Lauren opened her front door.
“I’m in the family room,” he called.
“Was your night as blessed as mine?” she asked, plopping down beside him on the sofa.
“Pretty amazing.” Tyler wrapped his arms around her. “I can’t wait for you to read the scriptures and prayers that are all over our floors. Mitch even came.”
“He did?”
“Yeah. Said he might start coming to Bible study.”
“Wow.” Lauren stroked his arm that was around her.
“And as if that isn’t crazy enough, he said I got called about a new part. A biography.”
“Oh. Who’s it about?”
“The apostle Paul.”
“What?” Lauren swiveled to face him. “You’re kidding?”
“How would you feel about spending half a year in Israel and Rome?”
Her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh, Tyler. That’s insane.”
“I know.” He shook his head. “So, how were the games?”
“Hilarious.” She narrowed her eyes. “How did you remember all those lines? Some were from almost ten years ago.”
“Because I meant them.” The back of his hand grazed her cheek.
Lauren bit her lip. “Do you remember everything I’ve said to you?”
“Only the good stuff, Angel. Only the good.”