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She gives me big eyes like when she wants something, and I wonder how long it’ll be before that stops working. “But I miss her, and I want her to pick us up from school again.” This kid is killing me.
“Remember when before she came to us and I explained the situation was temporary?”
“Yeah.”
“That means it doesn’t last. That she was only going to do the job until your mom came back. Since she’s back, Lily is going to work somewhere else.”
There is so much conflict in her eyes that I don’t know where it all comes from. She’s too young to look this pensive. “But I love her, and this isn’t her fault.” The pain in her voice makes me want to move mountains.
“What are you talking about?”
“I was playing when I was supposed to be napping. I’m the one who woke Aiden up to go play on the trampoline. And I knew the flap was open, Daddy. But I wanted to play. It’s all my fault.” She fidgets with her hair for a moment. “That means it’s not Lily’s fault, right? She can come back?”
I want to say yes and give into Franny’s hopes. And mine. But I hesitate, and before I speak, it hits me.Why the hell am I hesitating?
Abigail hates Lily. But ex-wives hate new girlfriends all the time. Lily’s dad hates me. But, again, it’s common for fathers hate their daughter’s boyfriends. Lily took a new job…so what? People can commute from Somerset Harbor to the city. Half the population does already.
There is no real reason for us not to be together unless she is done with me. That would be insurmountable, and if she tells me that’s the reason, then I’ll back off. But I will be damned if I’m not going to give this another shot. There is too much good between us not to try again.
I smile and kiss my daughter on the top of her head. “We can talk about Lily later. Can you draw me a picture? One that’ll go with Aiden’s elephants?”
“Okay.” She climbs back to the floor.
I need the space to think. First things first, a babysitter. And then, I am going to get my girl back.
37
Lily
“Are you sure that’s everything you want to take with you?” Mom asks. “What about those pillows?”
I smile at her, not wanting to insult her taste. “They aren’t mine, and they won’t fit in the rental with everything else.”
“Oh. Okay.” Her shoulders slump.
“What is it?”
“Don’t worry about—
“Mom. What is it?”
Still, she hesitates. “It’s been nice having you home.”
“But you could rent this room.”
Her laugh is more like a cackle. “Are you joking right now? Please tell me you’re joking.”
“No—
“I would rather have you home any day, Lily.”
I sigh. “It’s just…with the resort coming, I figure you could use the money.”
“Is that why you’re leaving? It better not—
I shake my head. “It’s not the reason. It’s like I told you. The restaurant is an amazing opportunity for me. I can’t pass it up.” I also can’t pass up a fabulous excuse to get the hell out of Somerset Harbor. Not when I almost bumped into Abigail downtown the other day. Seeing her is my nightmare right now. I have never been so hated as to be persona non grata around kids, and that stings way more than I thought it could.
“As long as that’s not the reason. I don’t want you worried about us, Lily. We will be fine. No matter what your father said to Cormac.”
