CHAPTER SIXTEEN
If Lily had thought things would change after that day with Nate, she had been sorely mistaken. It had been almost three weeks, and she had only seen him from a distance at church. He'd moved out of the manor the week after they'd gone car shopping, and when she'd asked her doctor if he'd called, he had said no.
Sweat slid down her back, soaking the waistband of the shorts she wore. It was way too hot for her to be out here, but she wanted to help Will. He'd approached her to see if she'd give him a hand setting up a surprise dinner for him and Amy. It looked like Will was ready to take a second shot at marriage. She was happy for them. Since she'd returned to the manor, she and Amy had become good friends. Amy was much like Megan in her approach to Lily's MS. Both of them treated her like she didn't have it, but never questioned her if she had to back out of something.
"Maybe you should go back to the manor," Will suggested as he came to where she was hanging a lantern on a tree branch. "It's way hotter today than I thought it was going to be. And you've been out here for hours."
"I want it perfect for you and Amy," Lily told him. "And I'm doing okay."
She had purposely come out early so that she could work slowly. Will had taken Amy and Isabella on a shopping trip to Minneapolis the day before, which had gotten Amy out of the way so they could do most the preparations before they’d gotten back a short time ago. Laurel was in charge of the food. Violet had planned to help with the decorating, but one of her kids had come down with some sort of bug overnight, so she'd had to stay home with her. It had meant some extra work for Lily, but she was happy to do it for them.
"It looks beautiful," Will said as he glanced around. From what he'd told Lily, this clearing held some sort of significance for them.
Lily brushed a bead of sweat from her cheek. "Let me just finish this up and then it's all yours. I think Laurel will be here shortly with the food."
"And you'll bring Amy out here?" Will asked.
"I'm going to try. That girl of yours can be a little inquisitive." Lily smiled. "But I'm going to do my best to make sure she doesn't suspect anything."
“She went into town right after we got back to help Julia pick out something for the baby. Isabella tagged along, so I think we’re in the clear for a little while.”
After Will had helped her hang the last lantern, they began to light the candles inside each one. White tulle was strung from the branches of the trees, and Will had set up a stereo for some music. The last thing to be decorated was the intimate round table Will had carted out to the clearing. Lily spread a tablecloth over its surface and set a small floral arrangement with candles in the center. All it needed now was the dishes and food.
She heard a commotion and turned to see Laurel and Matt come into the clearing carrying boxes.
"The food has arrived," Laurel said with a grin.
It didn't take long for them to set the table with the dishes Laurel had brought and then place the meals under silver domes.
"It smells heavenly," Lily said. "Is there more at the house?"
Laurel laughed. "You know me too well."
After making sure everything was how Will wanted it, they left him alone in the clearing, pacing around the table. Back at the house, Amy was talking with Jessa when they walked in. She looked at them and then asked, "Where's Will?"
"He said he had to do something. He'll be back in a few minutes." Lily felt her pockets and then frowned. "Oh rats."
"What's wrong?" Amy asked.
"I was out for a walk and think I dropped my phone somewhere." She looked at Amy. "Would you come with me to see if I can find it?"
"Sure." Amy stood up. "Where were you walking?"
"I took that path out past Jessa's greenhouse."
Amy nodded. "That's the one that goes to the clearing where we had Isabella's party. We'd better go before it gets any darker or we won't be able to find it tonight."
Lily allowed Amy to take her hand and pull her toward the back door. She tried to ignore the tingling in her legs and the weakness that was spreading from her lower back downwards. There was no doubt she was going to pay for what she’d done today, but right then she just wanted to get Amy to Will and then she’d deal with it.
"Supper will be ready when you get back," Laurel called after them.
"I heard lots about the party," Lily commented as they walked toward the path. "Will said you did an amazing job planning it."
"It was a ton of fun. Hope I can do another one next year for her."
"So you’ve made up your mind to move here?" Lily asked.
Amy glanced at her. "I don't know. I want to, but I'm not sure what's in Will's mind about our future just yet. I don't want to rush anything, but I can't just stay on indefinitely at the manor."
