Chapter 35
A week later
“Are you sure you’re good with this?” Tyler asked Lauren backstage as Steve performed his opening monologue.
“I think it’s a bit too late to not be.” Lauren straightened his blue tie.
Tyler drank in her beauty in her blue cocktail dress. “You look amazing.” He ran his hand over her sheer skirt.
“Thank you.” She kissed his lips, setting his adrenaline in overdrive. “Don’t be nervous,” she whispered in his ear. “I’m here to hold your hand.”
“Do I look nervous?”
“Yes.” She kissed his neck and then nibbled on his earlobe.
He took a step back. “Okay, you need to stop.”
A sly smile spread across Lauren’s face. “I’m distracting you.”
“No joke.” Tyler ran his hands over his hair, then down his suit jacket. “How much caffeine did you have today?”
“Too much.” She straightened her dress. “I had to because we took the red-eye in last night and David was wide awake this morning. Plus being on TV gets me all excited.”
“Will you help me welcome the world’s hottest couple trending on social media, Lauren Riley and Tyler Stevens?”
“Noted.” Tyler took her hand in his. “Don’t talk too fast, Miss Mania. And no kissing on TV.”
Waving to the audience as they walked on stage, Steve greeted Lauren with a hug and shook Tyler’s hand.
“Lauren, you look great,” Steve said once he was seated behind his desk and they were on the couch beside it. “You’re one hot mama.”
The audience laughed.
“Thanks, Steve.” Lauren crossed her legs.
“But in all seriousness, you’re a mom now. We have a picture of your little guy.” Turning to the screen, the audience oohed and aahed at the photo of Lauren holding David. “He’s pretty cute. Looks a bit like his daddy.”
“Sure does. Especially when he smiles.”
“How old is he now?”
“Almost seven months.”
“The last time you were on the show, you were pregnant, visiting the centers. Then you ended up in the hospital.”
“I did. With preeclampsia.”
“You were in there two months?”
“Yes. It was rough, but God sustained both of us. David was born three weeks premature, but he’s on track in his development now.”
“A little ahead,” Tyler said. “He’s smart like his mama.”
“And Tyler, you were beside her the entire time?”
“That’s what friends do. Stand beside one another during hardships.”
Steve raised his eyebrows. “But you’re more than friends now?”
“Still best friends.” Tyler stared into Lauren’s eyes. The sparkle in them widened his smile. “But headed toward husband and wife.”
“Thanks for keeping us up to date about your relationship and lives on social media. Your posts are so real, very inspiring.” He focused on Lauren. “Loved your vlog when you were in the hospital.” He shifted his eyes to Tyler. “And the photo of her ring right before you walked down the red carpet was classic.”
“Social media doesn’t have to be a bad thing.” Tyler ran a hand down his tie.
“Will we get to see you plan the wedding on social media? Go cake testing with you, see your dress, all that fun stuff?”
Lauren sighed. “No, because apparently, he’s planning the entire wedding.”
Tyler smiled. “It’s a secret.”
Ooooos filled the auditorium.
“Are you okay with this?” Steve asked. “I mean, my wife wanted to be in on all the planning. I wasn’t even allowed to pick out her ring by myself, let alone flowers and food.”
“I trust him.” Lauren glanced at Tyler. “I think.”
“We’ll post pictures after,” he said.
“In the meantime?” Steve asked. “What are you up to this spring?”
“Lauren is speaking at a few churches and centers.” Tyler straightened. “Our play at the LA center will be Livestreamed on Good Friday.”
“This one is about Christ’s ministry and death?”
Tyler nodded. “It is. The best so far.”
“Well, that’s exciting since Once Lost received rave reviews. Speaking of, when does it come out in theaters?”
“End of July.” Lauren slipped her hand in Tyler’s. “We’ll have plenty of time to settle into married life before the premier.”
“Which brings me to the next topic.” Steve sipped from his coffee mug. “Tyler, are you ready to be a dad? I mean, you’re saying ‘I do’ not only to Lauren, but to her adorable son.”
“Absolutely.” Tyler grinned. “I can’t imagine life without David. He’s one of the reasons I waited so long to reveal my feelings to Lauren. We were such great friends I didn’t want to threaten my relationship with her and him.”
Stretching her arm behind him, Lauren ran her fingers through his hair sending chills down his back. “They’re adorable together. Tyler took us to the zoo on Valentine’s Day and had David cracking up with his elephant impersonation.”
Steve’s eyes widened. “Well, I think we have a video of that, don’t we?”
The audience cheered as Tyler’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t.”
Lauren bit her lip. “I may have.”
The video she took of them at the elephants played on the giant screen. The entire audience was busting up by the end. Even Tyler was laughing.
She kissed his cheek. “I couldn’t resist.”
Tyler settled back into the couch. “So, what do you think, Steve? Am I ready to be a dad?”
“I’d say so, man. I think my family needs to go to the zoo with you. My kids will love you.” Steve faced the audience. “We’ll be right back with more of the Lauren and Tyler show. Stay tuned!”
The crowd applauded as they cut to commercials.
“You guys are adorable.” Steve leaned back in his chair. “Thanks for coming on.”
“Are you mad?” Lauren rubbed Tyler’s arm. “I wasn’t trying to embarrass you.”
“No,” Tyler squeezed her hand. “Just surprised. But we did say no kissing on TV.”
“Talk about being a great witness.” Steve nodded to the frozen image of Tyler and David on the screen behind him. “It’s not easy to be a Hollywood dad. Keep it up, show others you have your priorities straight.” He grinned. “And some kissing is good for the ratings.”
They walked through Times Square with Ruth’s family the next evening after dinner at Lauren’s favorite Italian restaurant. Every time Lauren pulled David’s hat over his ears, he batted at it. The scarf she wrapped around him only lasted a few minutes.
“He’s fine.” Tyler folded the scarf and slid it into his pocket.
“It’s freezing.” Lauren zipped his baby leather jacket up more.
“He has his dad’s New York blood.” Tyler lifted a squirming David from her arms. Holding him higher in the air, Tyler pointed to the giant ads. “Look at the lights, buddy.”
“Oooooo.” David’s eyes widened at the sight of the neon lights. He shifted his head wildly, attempting to take everything in at once.
“He’s like you the first time you saw Broadway,” Tyler teased.
“A little bit.” She took David back when he lifted his arms to her. “Kind of intense, huh, buddy?”
Suddenly Tyler spun them both. David giggled uncontrollably.
“Less intense. More fun.” He kissed Lauren’s cheek, then David’s.
Lauren stared into the face of the man she loved. New York with Tyler and my little guy, completely in love. Intense, but fun.
The sights when hiking were beautiful, the climbing exhilarating. By the second day of their rock climbing excursion with the girls, the guys were reaching new heights while the girls snapped photos.
“Whatcha doing for Lauren’s birthday?” Danny asked as they scaled a wall with their guide leading the way.
“Headed to Chicago for a concert. Then she’s going to speak at the center.” Tyler paused. “Her dad is going, but would you want to as well? Take in the sights, visit your old stomping grounds?”
“Nah.” Danny wiped the sweat from his forehead on his sleeve. “Don’t know that I’ll ever go back there.”
“Why not? You can claim for good what Satan tried to destroy. Minister to people on the streets.”
“You know when I met you I said I’d been clean and sober five years?”
“Yeah.” Tyler nodded.
“Well, I’d been off the streets two-and-a-half years when I decided to minister on the streets. After having a few meals with some of the homeless people, I visited places Kat and I went together, talked to some of the street vendors she knew. We would spend Sunday night through Wednesday morning together, doing touristy things, hanging out together in the park reading. I thought it would be good for me to process all that happened, but it just hurt. The whole time there was this aching inside me. It took me back to the dark times right after she died.” Danny paused his climbing, readjusting his grip. “I ran into a dealer that night and ended up getting high.”
“Hey, man. I’m sorry.” Tyler rested against the rock. “I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. I called my sponsor and Pastor Ted, the guy who took me home, the next day.” Danny continued up the face of the rock. “‘If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.’ I know my limitations. No more Chicago. Besides, Brandon lives there.”
“Oh.” Tyler’s eyes widened. “Hot center director guy?”
Danny laughed. “Yep. Ended up going to Moody Bible College instead of Arizona.”
“Shel still talk to him?”
“They’re friends on social media. She said she’d block him if I wanted her to. It’s not an issue, but I definitely don’t want to take her near him. Not until we’re married.”
“You have a ring yet?”
Danny glanced down at Shelly before extending his right hand to the next boulder. “Looking.”
“You ask her dad?”
“That’s the issue.” Danny sighed as he hoisted himself to the next rock. “Nice guy, but a little intimidating. She’s the youngest and the girl, his princess. The first several months we were dating he kept asking what I was going to do for a living. Apparently, running a non-profit and being a screenwriter doesn’t count as work.”
“Does he know how much you make? I pay you a decent salary for running our little non-profit. Plus all the commercials you’ve sold, not to mention your screenplay—”
“Don’t think it would matter. He’s a nine-to-five kind of guy. He loved the idea of me being a pastor, until he found out I wanted to minister to those on the streets. He stopped talking about jobs around Thanksgiving. I think Shelly told him to knock it off.”
“Well, you’ll want to find a ring before our wedding.” Tyler secured his foothold. “Couldn’t ask for a more romantic setting to propose.”
“We’re spending Easter with them, so I’ll bring it up to him then.” Grabbing the guide’s hand, Danny pulled himself up to the landing and stood. “How’s your eye therapy?”
“Not bad.” With a grunt, Tyler heaved himself up without help. “I’ve only fallen a few times, right?”
“This counts?”
“Yep. So does playing video games. I think I have Lauren hooked. We’re up to four times a week. And my kickboxing is coming along.” Tyler dusted himself off. “You need to get in the ring with me when we get home.”
“No way, bro. You’ll kill me.”
The guys returned the girls’ waves.
“You ever feel too blessed?” Danny wiped the sweat from his brow. “Like you wake up and think ‘Is this really my life?’”
“Every day, man. And in a month we get to put on the best performance yet.”
“God willing.” Danny slapped Tyler’s back. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For being friends with a Jesus freak like me.”
Tyler shook his head. “No, man, thanks for putting up with a miserable sinner like me.”
“We’re all sinners, bro, once lost but saved by grace.”
“That we are.” Tyler turned to him. “So, you’ll be my best man?”
“Absolutely. I’ll even marry you if you want. I do have my license.”
“I’m working on flying in Raphael.”
Danny chuckled. “That would be awesome.”
All morning Lauren and Shelly followed them with cameras, covering their eyes when the guys lost their footing, cringing when one of them scraped his leg on a rock.
“They’re pretty wonderful, aren’t they?” Shelly’s smile hadn’t faded since they left town two days ago.
“Yes, they are.”
“Do you have more speaking engagements set up? New York raved about the event there. Attendance has increased, counselors are sending praise reports of kids helped. One group of teens even started a FIGHT study on their high school campus, discussing the strategies you presented.”
“That’s awesome. I have three in April, two in May. Then we get married.” Her heart began to race. “We’re getting married, Shel. Can you believe it?”
“You excited?”
“Beyond excited—and very ready.”
“Me too.” Shelly sighed.
Lauren wrapped her arm around her best friend. “Don’t be anxious. You guys have only been dating seven months.”
“I know, but it’s hard being patient knowing he’s the one.”
“It’ll happen, in God’s perfect time. Focus on your walk with the Lord, supporting Danny with the play. The next month will go by fast.”
“Then you’ll be getting married.”
“You’ll be my maid of honor, right?”
“Of course.” Shelly pushed against Lauren. “It’s for the best. We can only plan one wedding at a time and you have known Tyler forever.”
“Seems that way.” Lauren peered off into the distance. “Is it crazy that even though I’m so happy, sometimes I miss Adam terribly?”
“Not at all. But of anyone to end up with, Tyler is the one who can understand the most.”
“And he does. We went to all of Adam’s favorite places in New York. I wouldn’t have gone, but with him at my side, it was okay. We told stories, laughed thinking about things Adam would say and do. Ruth even said afterwards it was healing.” Lauren stopped, staring at the guys. They laughed, wiping the sweat from their brow. “Hard to believe a year ago I was falling apart.”
“I’m proud of you, girl. I know the ultimate healing came from God, but you put a lot of work and effort into it.”
“Thanks for being so supportive.” She faced Shelly. “I appreciate you sticking with me through all my seasons of life.”
“Are you kidding? Your life is more entertaining than a nighttime drama.” She hugged Lauren. “Thanks for not becoming too rich and famous for me.”
“Besties forever, right?” Lauren asked.
“Without a doubt.”