Author's Note: … Yeah CraftyNotePad, it was the "cookies" in Oliver's fanny pack. (That was very funny by the way.) Ok now here are the answers to the questions I felt burning your cranium, well not all the answers.
…..
(January 5, 2019 Lily and Oliver: 27)
OLIVER: "I know you don't want to talk about it but please, Lily what is going on?"
I watch her hands ball up into fists. "I promised myself long ago that if we were ever to see one another in another time we wouldn't tell one another what was going on."
I can't understand this. "But why?"
"Knowing the future isn't always good Oliver." She snaps at me. "But when it evolves someone getting hurt… if it evolves you getting hurt, I could never forgive myself." Her expression softens and I take her hand.
"But you would always tell me if you ever found something out from the future, right?" I say looking at her closely.
Lily drops my hand.
My face falls.
"Lily? What haven't you been telling me?"
She is suddenly very quiet.
"Lily, answer me!"
"Look Oliver some things you just don't really need to know."
My temper boils. "What the hell is that suppose to mean? I'm your husband! I thought I was helping you, are you not telling Doctor Brown things too? Or is it just me who is in the dark?"
"Calm down Oliver!"
"No! No I won't! Tell me, what do you know?!" I'm getting very pissed. She's not going to tell me. I can't be here anymore! I grab my coat and slam the door; it feels good making a loud noise.
"Oliver wait!" Lily is running after me but I don't want to talk. I need to blow off some steam. "Oliver I just can't tell you! Can't you trust me?!"
We are standing out on the sidewalk. The sun is setting and it's getting very cold. I turn around and glare daggers at her. "I don't know! Why can't you trust me with our future?"
Lily lets out a frustrated groan. "Because Oliver! I don't want you to know!"
I'm not listening anymore. I'm walking across the street shaking my head and getting more angrier by the second. What could be so horrible that she wouldn't want me to know? What could she… Oh God. I turn to Lily, she's crying.
I begin walking over to her but I hear a thump. In the middle of the street is another Lily. She's lying on the ground unaware that a car is speeding right to her. I run to her.
"Lily! Lily!" I'm waving my arms. I can't loose her this way! She stands slowly and looks blankly as the car comes to her. I pick up my pace and my out stretched hands come in contact with her hip.
I push her over letting her land hard on the grass next to the street. I slip, tumbling over my own feet.
LILY: I'm standing on the over side of the sidewalk watching the scene unfold. I cry out for Oliver to stop but he doesn't hear me. I watch him push the other me away from a speeding car, but in doing so I see him slip.
My heart is pounding and I run out to stop the car. But I'm too late! I hear a loud crunch and a sound escape from Oliver's mouth I've never heard from any other human being. It's a loud cry of pure agony.
Tears are streaming down my face. I can't breathe. Oliver! Oliver! I run over. The car stops a few blocks down. A tall man comes out and stares at us. The other me is sobbing in the grass just before I watch her vanish.
Oliver's face is scrunched up and red. His breath is ragged and irregular. "My… ankle" He hisses out in pain. I bend down next to him and hold his head to my chest.
"Call an ambulance!" I yell to the tall man from the other car. He grabs his cell phone and dials.
"I'm sorry Oliver, I'm so sorry." I whisper into his ear.
"It… hurts." He whimpers.
"Shh." I say running my fingers through his hair. Oliver doesn't deserve this. Oliver doesn't deserve this!
…I'm sitting in the waiting room later with Miley and Jake. My head is in my hands. When I look up I see Miley frowning at me from across the room. Her eyes flash dangerously. I gulp.
"Miley?" I choke out.
"Don't talk to me." She snarls. Jake puts an arm around Miley only to have her shrug it off.
Something inside me snaps. "Get out!" I say standing and pointing to the exit. "I don't want you here!"
Miley gets up slowly and frowns while crossing her arms over her chest. "I can be here if I want to! Oliver is my friend."
"Oliver is my husband! And I don't you here! You have not right to judge me!"
She just stares at me. I want to shout. I want to strangle her. I would never ever hurt Oliver on purpose. I see Miley unfold her arms and walk closer to me. I look over to see Jake with a worried expression on his face.
Miley opens her mouth to say something.
"Mrs. Oken?"
The two of us turn around.
"Me." I say walking over to him.
"Your husband is doing fairly well considering the circumstances. His ankle was badly wounded and it seems that he'll need to use a cane to get around for a little while. We've just put a cast around his ankle now and he's asking for you."
The doctor leads me to room 254. He opens the door and I walk inside. I hate hospitals! The door closes and it's just the two of us. I don't know how to act or what to say.
"Come here." He whispers picking up on my unsure presences. "And don't say your sorry. Just lay with me a while."
I nod and get into the bed with him. We adjust positions a few times before we get comfortable and then there's silence. I have my head on his chest. I can hear his heart beat.
"You had me really worried Ollie."
"I had to save you." He says.
"Thank-you."
"No biggie." He chuckles.
The door opens interrupting our moment. It's Jake. "Hey man." He says. Oliver waves. "Listen Miley and I are going to head home. All my best, get better soon." Jake looks very frazzled. His eyes are a little red and I wonder if he was crying. Did he and Miley get into a fight?
I stayed the night at the hospital. I couldn't bear leaving him. The next morning I wake to a nurse bustling around the room and opening up the shades. Oliver and I eat jell-o and I sign him out. We take a taxi back to the house.
(January 12, 2019 Lily and Oliver: 27)
OLIVER: Walking around with a cane is a tiresome hassle. Getting around the music shop is pure murder. Lily has been picking up most of the slake. She hasn't traveled in a while. I'm proud of her. She hasn't mentioned our argument yet, I feel like she's a ticking bomb and at any minute she'll explode. I just wish she would tell me things, I wish she'd let me in. But mostly I wish she would touch me like she use to before the accident.
LILY: Oliver's doing really well with his cane. I've been a reek. I'm scared to touch him or kiss him. I can't even look at him without feeling guilt rise up and choke me. It's because of me that he's like these. I can't let it go.
"Lily?"
I'm running around the shop organizing different categories.
"What?" I say digging through the piles of CD's.
"Come here." He tells me sitting off in the corner.
"Can't, really busy." I say running off to check the balance book by the cash register.
"Please." He begs. "I'm getting lonely.
I feel a pang of grief hit me. "I'm sorry Oliver." And then I walk quickly into the back office area.
OLIVER: I just want to see her smile. I just want to hear her laugh. I get up slowly and limp into the office with her and close the door behind me. She is sitting in a chair looking through the old documents.
"Please Lily; I'm fine now you don't have to feel guilty. Nothing is your fault." She looks up to me and frowns.
"Of course it's my fault! Oliver you could have died!"
"But I didn't the car only hit my ankle! It's ok Lily…" I try out my gentle tone. I'm reaching for her hand. But she turns me away.
"Hello? Anyone here?"
Lily jumps from her seat and runs to greet the customer. I sigh, defeated, and sit down. Later by the time we get home I have a plan. Lily puts her purse away and sheds her coat. I walk slowly into the kitchen and start making dinner. I pull out the wine we bought last week at the new French restaurant.
Lily looks at me strangely. "I could have made dinner, you should rest."
"Lily, just shut-up and let me do this."
For once she obeys, I thank my lucky stars.
She watches me cook dinner and helps get things for me. I mix the sauce and she stirs the noodles. I steal a few quick glances at her. Lily has her hair pulled up in a messy bun. She's not wearing any make-up today. I see a few lines growing under her eyes and I notice just how thin she's gotten.
I put my hand on her shoulder. She sighs under its contact. I move behind her and whisper in her ear. "I've missed you Lily… where have you been?" I feel her shiver, perfect, perfect.
"Proud of my broken heart since thou didst break it,
Proud of the pain I did not feel till thee,
Proud of my night since thou with moons dost slake it,
Not to partake thy passion, my humility." I finish the poem and wait.
"Emily Dickinson." Lily smiles, and as she does my heart is no longer broken like out dear Emily. I kiss her and she is resistant at first. I feel a burst of urgency to rediscover her body. I go slowly; Lily pulls away and shakes her head.
"Oliver I just… it's just."
"Lily I don't care, please just be with me here don't think about the past, present, or future. You are here with me… that's all that matters."
She kisses me fully and I grin against her lips, and just like that my girl is back.
(February 17, 2019 Lily and Oliver: 27)
LILY: I haven't time traveled in seventeen days. My body isn't so tired anymore. I have time to spend lazing about with Oliver. I have time to sleep and eat. Happy day! Jake has asked me out this evening. Over the phone he told me he had something important to ask me.
Oliver is staying home to crunch the numbers for our store and I'm in our bedroom applying a little lipstick. As I walk out Oliver whistles. I blush, "Well he's taking me to some fancy place, and I mean he is Jake Ryan after all."
Oliver frowns. "I don't care who the hell that guy is he better keep his hands to himself." I laugh.
"Are we jealous?" I ask making myself comfortable in Oliver's lap.
"A little, maybe… what's so important that he has to take you away from me for the entire evening?"
I shrug. "Who knows, probably something stupid. I'll try to get away as fast as I can and then you and I can…" I tail off winking at him.
Oliver kisses me and just when I'm about to slip him a little tongue the doorbell rings.
"Damn doorbell, always an evil omen." Oliver grips as I get up off his lap to answer it. Oliver follows me slowly.
"Hey Jake." I smile
He nods.
"Ready to go?" I ask.
"Sure." He mutters. I give Oliver a kiss on the cheek and grab my purse and jacket.
"Have her home at a reasonable hour Ryan!" I hear Oliver shout after us.
"Goodbye babe!" I wave from the car.
The restaurant is Italian. We order and sit in an uncomfortable silence. Jake stumbles over meaningless topics: Work and upcoming projects, and James. I nod and add little comments when I can. It isn't until we are finishing up that he gets to the point.
"I know this is going to sound a little crazy… and I'm not even sure if you'll answer me but I that I'd at least try."
I wait, my hands clasped in my lap. I watch as Jake let's out a shaky breath.
"Does she…. Does she leave me?" His voice is soft and small, much like a child's. I'm so blown away that I can't think for a minute. What the hell?
"Jake… I'm not sure I fully understand what you want from me?" I say slowly.
"You know the future Lily, I know you've seen us… does Miley leave me?" He is determined now.
"I can't tell you… it's not right."
"Please, Lily please I beg you." His eyes are so sad, so lost. "I love her."
"Why would you think she would leave you?" I ask.
"… Oliver." Jake mutters. "She loves Oliver. And she thinks that if you were gone he would love her too. But don't hate her Lily, please."
I can't breathe. I've always suspected but hearing it out loud is a haunting realization. "How do you know?" I say dumbly.
"I'm not stupid, or blind. I know she's loved him for a long time."
"But you guys seem so happy."
"Content. We are content Lily; we don't have what you and Oliver have. The way you look at him and the way he looks at you is just… amazing. You two are so in tune with what the other wants… that kind of love is beyond normal couples. It comes once."
After he finishes I watch Jake fiddle with his wedding. I envy married couples who get to wear theirs. I have only worn my ring once. I can't time travel with it, my ring sits in my jewelry box.
"She doesn't… she doesn't leave you."
Jake gives a sigh of relief. I can see the weight lifting from his chest. He smiles and stops touching his ring.
"In fact you have two other children." As I say this Jake laughs.
"Really?"
"A boy and a girl." I nod.
"Lily just… thank-you. I know it's been hard with Miley being so… strange. She loves you; she's just going through a phase… wait what about you Lily? What happens with you?"
I' am silent.
"… Lily?"
I look out the window. Knowing, knowing is a terrible cross to bare…
When I get home the lights are dimmed. Oliver has put on Al Green's Let's Stay Together. I can't help but laugh as I take off my coat. There are a few lavender scented candles lit and I find Oliver limping out of the kitchen. I have to admit Oliver with a cane is a little sexy.
He smiles at me and takes my hand to kiss it. "Welcome home love."
"Glad to be here."
"How was dinner?"
For about a second I consider telling him everything, but why waste the evening? "A little dull."
"What did the movie star want?"
I draw a blank. "Doesn't matter. Come here."
We come together and I put my forehead to his chest. His blue t-shirt is soft from the fabric softener I bought last week. His hair is a little shaggy but not as long as it was in high school. But Oliver's eyes, his are still the same dark shade of brown I'm known since childhood. They have not grown cold or sad from the hardships we have endured. He is still the same. He is mine.
"I love you." I say quietly as we pull apart.
"Love you too." He smiles kissing my head.
May neither time nor death take me from you…
…..
I'm loving everyone's reviews, I'm very lucky to have such wonderful readers. Leave your thoughts. Also, I'm not trying to make Miley out to be the bad guy in this. Things will come together in that department, promise.
Lazy Days