Chapter 38
Tyler breathed a sigh of relief when the plane took off. He’d been praying and thanking God the past three days so he wouldn’t be anxious, but the stress of planning the wedding had finally gotten to him. As soon as they were cruising at their altitude, Lauren left with David on her hip to mingle.
“Hey.”
Tyler turned when Shelly sat beside him. “Hey, Shel.”
“You know, I wanted to say, that night before the accident, I didn’t mean to insinuate that you didn’t love her or wouldn’t stick around. I’m sorry if it came across that way.”
Tyler grinned. “No, I totally got it.”
“I know you’ll make her happy.” She watched Lauren across the plane bouncing David on her lap as she talked to Danny. “You already have.”
“And thank you for making Danny happy. I’m glad you guys ended up together.”
“Me, too.” Shelly glanced back to Tyler. “Some days he seems too good for me.”
“Guess we’re both marrying out of our league.”
Shelly’s eyes widened. “Do you know something?”
“It’s going to be a great vacation for all of us.” He patted her knee. “Don’t be anxious about anything, right?”
“Right.” She nodded. “So, where are we going? I mean, thirteen hours puts us—”
“Far away.” Tyler shook his head. “You’re worse than Lauren.”
“Guess that’s why we’re friends.” Shelly smiled. “Thanks for the free vacation.”
“My pleasure. Think of it as your bonus since you’re my new accountant.”
“You’re not working, are you?” Lauren asked Danny sitting in the seat across from his with David.
“Not really.” He glanced up from his laptop. “Kind of.” He shut it. “Writing.”
“A new play?”
“A book, actually.” He looked at her with a crooked grin. “My story.”
“That’s great. I didn’t know you wrote novels.” Lauren bounced David on her knee.
“I don’t.” Danny chuckled, crossing his legs. “But Shelly has been on me about it. She says plays and movies speak to a generation, but novels last forever.”
Lauren pondered his words. “She’s right, for the most part.”
“It’s not as easy as I thought. I mean, besides the fact that I’m long-winded and it will probably end up being a series, revisiting the sin, hurt, loss…” His eyes shifted down. After taking a deep breath, he raised them again. “It’s hard. But I know God wants me to. He wants me to lay it all out to help others. For His glory.”
“That’s what it’s all about, right? Helping others and glorifying Him.”
“Pretty much so.” Uncrossing his legs, he leaned forward. “So, once I get this book thing down, how about I write your story?”
Chuckling, Lauren shook her head. “I am not that impressive.”
“But everything God has done through you is.”
“That’s why I share my story with others, in light of God’s Word. My story alone can’t save someone, but the Word of God never returns void.”
“Amen.” Danny nodded.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have landed,” the pilot announced early the next morning, waking the passengers. “Welcome to Florence, Italy.”
Applause filled the plane.
Lauren’s face lit up. “Really?” She patted David’s back when he stirred in his sleep.
“Yes.” Tyler kissed her. “So far, so good?”
“Amazing.” She slipped her free hand in his.
They piled into a tour bus at the airport. Raphael and his family were already aboard. Tyler held a still-sleeping David and Lauren sat on the edge of her seat in the front row.
“I hate to break it to you,” Tyler said, “but we’re about two hours away still.”
Lauren sighed.
“Take a nap.” He massaged her shoulder. “I promise to wake you before we get there.”
Though she fought it for some time, sleep finally came. Lauren was dreaming of fields of flowers when Tyler whispered in her ear.
“Cinderella, it’s time to wake up.”
Opening her eyes, she yawned as she rubbed them. Luscious green hills and trees were on either side of them. A large brownish building appeared in the distance.
“Is that—”
“A castle?” Shelly finished Lauren’s sentence from the seat behind her.
“I told you one day you’d have your fairytale wedding.” David, now awake, climbed from Tyler’s lap to Lauren’s. “Wait until you see the wedding costumes.”
“You didn’t actually pick out her dress, did you?” Shelly asked. “If you did, that could be bad luck.”
“We don’t believe in luck, good or bad,” Tyler said. “But no, I narrowed it down to three. You also get to choose where we say our vows. There’s the second-level patio which has an ocean view, the garden, or the chapel.”
“There’s a chapel?” Lauren’s heart rate increased the closer they came to the enormous brick structure.
“Yes. I thought you might like that the best.” Tyler slipped his arm behind her.
Chills came over her as she faced him. “All this, for me?”
He rested his hand against her cheek. “Ah, Angel, I’d give you the whole world if I could.”
“You already have.” She kissed his lips.
“Buona giornata! Welcome to Castel Banfi!” A woman wearing a navy blue renaissance dress with paisley front and sleeves met them when they stepped off the bus. “We are so pleased to have so many fine lords and ladies visiting us.” She bowed. “Please join me for a tour of the grounds while our peasant boys carry your luggage to your dwellings.”
The garden was abloom with roses of all colors. Tyler held her hand as they walked the cobblestone path while their guide, Madame Catherine, spoke of the history of the castle. In the distance was an Olympic-size pool and grass fields for archery, croquet, and other lawn games. Beth’s daughter and Raphael’s older children explored different paths. David, at eye level to most of the bushes while on Lauren’s hip, reached out to touch the blossoms as they passed by. Tyler paused at one bush to pluck two red roses.
“One for you.” He placed it in David’s fingers. “One for mama.” He handed the other to Lauren.
“You smell it.” Bringing the flower to her nose, Lauren inhaled. “See?”
David shoved it against his nose and exhaled.
“We’ll work on that.” Tyler lifted him from her arms and approached a bush filled with yellow buds.
“He adores you,” Madame Catherine said to Lauren. “Both of you.”
“He does.” Taking her phone, Lauren snapped a few photos of her guys. The background couldn’t compare to the beauty of the tenderness of the scene.
The tour concluded an hour later when Catherine showed each guest to their dwelling. The four-poster bed in the middle of the wedding suite was the largest Lauren had ever seen.
“Wow.” She collapsed on it. “We could fit like five people on this bed.”
Tyler chuckled. “Well, it’s all you for the next two nights. Then I’ll join you.”
“Come nap with me.” Rolling over, she patted beside her. “You and David. Clothes and shoes on, above the covers.”
“I have a bed in Danny’s room. David is sharing with your dad.” He kissed her forehead. “Patience, my fair lady. Soon enough, soon enough.”
Tyler found Raphael in the library after leaving David with Richard for his nap. Three of the walls were bookshelves, ten shelves high. The fourth wall was windows and a door to a patio that overlooked the grassy field and pool. Raphael easily removed books from the seventh shelf, while Tyler could hardly reach the sixth on his tiptoes.
“You have done well, Boss.” Raphael continued browsing book spines.
“Thanks, Raphael. I’m glad you and the family could join us.”
He pulled a blue-covered book from the shelf. “We would not have missed it. The boys are looking forward to sword fighting lessons tomorrow. My wife is thrilled to not prepare the meals this week.”
Tyler collapsed in an armchair. “I’m gathering marriage advice. Do you have any to offer?”
Raphael sat on the matching floral sofa. “This is a good start. Treat her as the princess she is, always. She is a princess, the daughter of the King of Kings. When you treat her as that, you love her as Christ loves the church.”
“It was fun planning, coming up with ideas she would love.” Tyler stared through the window at Raphael’s wife and kids heading toward the pool. “Do you ever think it’s too good to last? That all the blessings can’t keep coming? I mean, they have to run out eventually, right?”
Raphael scrunched up his face. “Is that what happened when you went to Africa? The blessings ended?”
Thinking for a moment, Tyler shook his head. “No. I learned to follow God, trust Him for everything. And I met you.”
“When Lauren was in the hospital? The blessings came to an end?”
“It was difficult, but we both learned how to stand on scripture. We memorized a lot of verses. I’m amazed how God brings them to mind when I need them.”
“Ah. When you were in the car accident? Did God stop raining down the blessings?”
“No. I learned to allow Lauren to take care of me. He brought the best eye doctor to provide the therapy I needed. It’s been five months and my vision is better than ever.”
Raphael nodded. “Your career. The blessings have ended there?”
A grin spread across Tyler’s face. “I was asked to play the apostle Paul in a movie this fall. Next year I’ll direct one that Danny wrote. I’m looking forward to being a director, giving new actors their big break.”
Raphael leaned forward, book in between his hands. “Tell me, Boss, will the blessings end?”
“Only if I stop following Him.”
Flipping the book over so the front cover faced up, Raphael ran his hand across it. “To be the best husband, you must be firm in your faith. You must know what you believe and why you believe so when the mabaya season comes, you can lead your family through it. This book helped me understand Christianity and what the scriptures call us to.” He placed it in Tyler’s hands. “Continue to learn from those who came before you. Seek God in all you do. Love Him with all your heart and you’ll do fine, Boss.” Raphael stood. “I’m going to meet my family at the pool. Enjoy your reading.”
Tyler stared at the cover. Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. He smiled. Adam tried to get him to read it years ago.
Forgive me for waiting so long, Lord. Tyler opened to the first page. Teach me, grow me, make me wholly Yours.