Chapter Five: Coffee
At promptly four o'clock the next afternoon, the McGuire doorbell rang. Lizzie glanced in the mirror to make sure she looked perfect. The first time she met Derek, she looked horrible in her flannel pajama pants and a WCU t-shirt. Now, however, she was wearing a short jean skirt and a light blue silk top with two-inch straps. Lizzie was home alone again. She jogged down to the steps to the front door.
"Hey, Lizzie," Derek said, handing her a white tulip.
"Wow! Thanks," Lizzie said, beaming as she accepted to tulip.
"So, are you ready to go?"
"Yup," Lizzie said, grabbing her small light blue purse off of the table in the foyer.
Two hours later, the two were at the digital bean, talking and laughing as if they had known each other their entire lives.
"Whoa! Look at the time. No way is it all ready six. I've gotta be at this seminar in half an hour. Did you say you wanted to come?"
"Sure. I'm curious to know what you're gonna be talkin about, and it looks like the only way I'll find out is if I go."
"Awesome."
The couple left the Digital Bean and drove over to the Sheraton Inn two miles away. There were already about ten people in the room as Lizzie and Derek entered.
Derek went up to the stage to prepare for his talk, so Lizzie looked around to see what kind of people had showed. There seemed to be one of everybody. There was a shy looking woman standing in the corner, staring at the floor. An older black man was sitting in a chair in the back reading a pamphlet. A middle aged business man was having an annoyed conversation on his cell phone. Lizzie also spotted a tall blonde that was college-aged and looked a lot like "Kate?" Lizzie asked, shocked.
"Lizzie? What are you doing here?" Kate asked, equally astonished.
"I- I was gonna ask you the same thing. I came with Derek from the coffee house."
"Oh, I thought this thing sounded kinda interesting."
"Good evening. If everybody could please take a seat, I think we're ready to begin," Derek said from the stage. He paused as everybody immediately took a seat and quieted down. "Most of you are here because I am assuming that you are interested in the Lamb of God Ministries. Just for a quick overview, our mission is to bring a chosen group of people together to worship God. How many of you have been struggling to make do in this life? Maybe you're dealing with a loss, and your friends have all run away from you and the memory? Well I'm here to tell you that there's hope. God says there's a reason for everything. He's got a reason for why you're struggling. He has a plan for you. All of you. Jeremiah 29 verse 11 states, " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.' That's right. God has plans for all of you. God has called on you to come into this room to start acting out his plan for you. Lamb of God isn't for everybody, but you will know if God wants you to come be with us." Derek talked for about 45 minutes before asking if anybody had questions.
Lizzie was confused. She was a Christian and all, but it seemed like Derek was trying to sell something.
The old black man in the back of the room raised his hand. "Where are you located?"
"We are set up in the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia. It's located about 65 miles East of Charleston"
"You mean everybody lives together?" Lizzie asked.
"Yup. You'll be surrounded by your brothers and sisters in Christ all the time. There will always be somebody there to listen and talk to you."
Lizzie was still a little confused, but she nodded and listened to the rest of the questions.
After the seminar ended, Derek and Lizzie got in Derek's car. Lizzie's stomach rumbled. It was 7:30, and she hadn't had dinner yet.
"You sound hungry. Let me take you out to eat," Derek said.
"Thanks, but I can always just grab something when I get home."
"Oh, come on. I would love to have some company for dinner."
"Well, only if you insist."
"In that case, I insist."
As the two went out to dinner at a local diner, Lizzie forgot about the seminar. They talked for two hours before Derek finally drove Lizzie home. He pulled up into the driveway and insisted on walking Lizzie to the door. Lizzie had noticed a lot of polite little gestures that Derek had made all night like opening her door for her and pulling her chair out for her at the restaurant. She could get used to this.
"Thanks for letting me take you out tonight," Derek said when the two were standing at Lizzie's front door in the dim porch light. "I had a ton of fun."
Lizzie smiled. "Me too. I haven't smiled so much in a long time."
"You're beautiful when you smile," Derek said. Lizzie blushed as he leaned down. His lips met with Lizzie's, leaving a lingering kiss burning on her lips. "Goodnight," he whispered.
As Derek turned around to leave, Lizzie caught his arm.
"Wait," she said. "I'm confused. What was that seminar?" Derek's eyes lit up, and he motioned for her to sit next to him on the bench on the McGuire's front porch.
"It's pretty much a church you live at. Imagine just worshipping God all day, everyday for the rest of your life. This world is getting more and more corrupted everyday. We're not far off from the end, and it is becoming impossible to be a true God-fearing Christian in this world. Lamb of God wants to save as many Christians as possible from destruction."
"So you mean it's like a summer camp where people meet to take a break from life for a while, and work on cultivating their faith with other Christians and then returning home stronger than ever?"
"Close. Except, Lamb of God is home."
"But what about jobs and money and practical stuff?"
"It's all taken care of. Everybody works on the grounds. Everybody who joins makes a vow of poverty and obedience."
"You mean like nuns and monks?"
"Yeah, exactly."
"So what about chastity then?"
"Nope. We want to be able to expand. We want our members to 'be fruitful and increase in number,' just like God commanded Adam in Genesis chapter one verse 22."
"So why the vow for poverty and obedience?"
"Well, Proverbs 11 four says 'Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,' and in John 14 verse 15 and 16, Jesus says, 'If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever-' "
"Oh. So pretty much it's like one big party that lasts forever."
"Yeah. Kinda. And the best part is that it's like starting your life all over again with people you can truly count on. You're not gonna wake up one day to find one of your brothers or sisters on sleeping pills, another one drinking, another stripping, and another holding a grudge against you.
"That sounds really nice."
"It would mean more than the world to me if you decided to join."
"I don't know. I don't think just picking up my life, dropping out of college, and leaving my friends and family behind to move clear across the United States is such a great idea."
"Well, Lizzie, it's up to you. I'm sure God has it set in your heart what's right for you. And remember that while you may lose your life here, the life at Lamb of God has guaranteed friends and love for life."
"That does sound nice."
"I don't mean to sound pushy, but the last group leaves in a week, and there's room for five more people. After this trip, Lamb of God is closing its doors to the outside."
"A week? I don't know."
"Lizzie, you don't have to come, but just think about what you would lose by not coming."
"I just don't know."
"Well, let me know ASAP. Even if you don't decide to come, I would love to see you again before I leave." Derek stood up and politely kissed Lizzie on the lips before walking to his car.
Lizzie wasn't sure what to make of this Lamb of God thing. Kate was at the seminar. Maybe she would know what to think. Lizzie picked up the cordless phone in the kitchen and punched in Kate's cell.
"Hello?" a familiar voice said on the other end of the line.
"Hey, Kate. It's Lizzie."
"Hey, Lizzie. What's up?"
"Well, you know that seminar you went to today?"
"Uh huh."
"Are you really gonna do it? Go, I mean. Cause it seems pretty cool, but I don't know if I could just abandon my life here."
"Lizzie, what life? The life where Miranda would rather take sleeping pill than confide in her best friend? A life where the one guy you've practically fallen head of heals for left in a rage for LA? And what about your parents and Matt? You're stuck right in the middle of that. And don't forget Larry: the drop out alcoholic Goth freak. Plus, this whole Parker thing. That was the last straw for me. It's not like I have a family that gives a shit about me either. I really hope you decide to come too. The only thing you would leave behind is one giant miserable mess." Lizzie was silent. Reality had just nailed her in the gut, and it hurt. Bad. "Lizzie? Don't forget Derek either. He's probably the best thing in you life right now. Lizzie, I'm all signed up to take the leap of faith. I'll admit that I'm a little scared, but all of the bad things in my life must be a sign that Lamb if God is where I belong."
"Something just doesn't seem right, though."
"Lizzie, I know this whole thing seems overwhelming, but what have you got to lose?"
"Not much, I guess. I think I'm just gonna try to sleep on the idea. I'll call you tomorrow." Lizzie clicked the off button on the cordless phone. She had never felt so bewildered before.
Lizzie hadn't been off the phone for two minutes talking to Kate when it's shrill ring pierced the silence. Lizzie almost jumped.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Is this Lizzie?"
"Yes. Who's this?"
"This is Mrs. Sanchez." There was no mistaking the panic in her voice.
"Mrs. Sanchez, what's wrong?"
"It's Miranda."
"Oh my God," Lizzie whispered as every molecule of air seemed to rush out of her chest at once as she braced for the worst.
"She took some medicine. Too much medicine. She's dying." The words were ice. Lizzie could feel herself gag, and then she felt nothing. The phone smashed to the tile beneath the bar stool where Lizzie was sitting. She didn't move. She couldn't. She couldn't go on living this life. She couldn't. She couldn't go on living this life. She couldn't deal with the pain and emotions stabbing her already broken heart. She couldn't. She couldn't think. She could only sense herself reach for her baby blue purse, and she could feel herself pull out her cell phone and dial Derek's number.
"Hello?" the strong, deep, safe voice inquired on the other side of the line.
A/N: So far so good? Needs improvement? Let me know what you're thinking. Do you see Miranda dieing or living after her overdose?
