I looked at Scott, sitting next to me in my minivan. I had parked it across the street from Lily Mitchell’s house. He had called me the day before and asked me to help him out with one more favor—just this one favor. Once he had explained to me what it was, I couldn’t say no to him.
“There she is,” he said and pointed. “Look at her; isn’t she gorgeous?”
I exhaled and nodded, then placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Let’s do this.”
He took in a deep, nervous breath, and I got out of the car. I walked toward Lily, who was hurrying to her car in the driveway while searching her purse for her keys.
“Excuse me? Lily?”
She stopped. Her green eyes landed on me. “Yes? Can I help you?”
I glanced briefly toward Scott in the car across the street, and she saw me do it, then went pale.
“No, no, it’s him again.”
I reached out my hand. “It’s okay, Lily.”
“No, it’s not. He’s been stalking me, and he’s a creep. I have a restraining order out on him. He’s got some nerve showing up like this again.”
“Lily, listen to me…”
She pulled out her phone from her purse. “I’m calling the police.”
I placed a hand on her arm to stop her, then looked her deep in the eyes. “Lily, you need to listen to me. You’ll want to, okay?”
She lowered the phone, her eyes scrutinizing me. “Why should I trust you? You’re with him, aren’t you?”
“Just hear me out,” I said. “Then you can call the cops afterward, okay?”
She contemplated for a second, then nodded. “All right. I’ll hear what you have to say.”
I breathed, relieved, then pointed toward Scott. “That guy over there has been stalking you; you’re right about that.”
She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Okay, and?”
“And you’re right that he has been acting very creepy toward you…”
“So, now that we’ve stated the obvious, I’m still waiting for the good part…”
I grabbed her shoulders. “Lily. That man over there has a very special reason for wanting to see you. He’s been trying to find the courage to approach you and tell you something very important.”
Lily’s eyes looked like they didn’t believe me at first, then eased up. A furrow grew between her brows.
“Tell me something? Like what?”
I exhaled. “He’s…Lily…he’s your father.”
She pulled back. “Excuse me?”
I bit my lip, then nodded. “He only just recently found out himself. That’s why he has been following you. He was trying to find a way to tell you. He wants to talk to you and tell you more himself, but…well, he can’t as long as you’re scared of him.”
She swallowed. I saw tears well up in her eyes as she looked at Scott, who had stepped out of the car and stood in the street, staring at us.
“Are you telling me that…that…that man…the creep is my father?”
I nodded. “Yes. He didn’t know he had a daughter until six months ago when his old girlfriend—your mother—died and her mother—your grandmother—contacted him to let him know. All he wants is to get to know you. Do you think you can find room for him in your heart?”
Lily stared at Scott, and in that second, I could suddenly see just how much the two of them looked alike. It was uncanny. The angled nose, the green eyes, and even the small furrow between the eyes when they were worried or confused.
Lily took a step closer to him, narrowing her eyes, studying Scott. Scott remained still, but I could see his hands were shaking badly as she approached him slowly. She stood close to him, studying him from top to bottom with a skeptical look. Scott smiled nervously.
“You’re…supposed to be my dad?”
He nodded.
“Do you have any proof of that?”
He shrugged. “We can do a DNA test if you like. If that’ll make you feel better.”
She paused. “Maybe. You sure are handsome enough for my mother to fall for you.”
That made Scott smile. Tears were springing to his eyes, and his torso was shaking.
“Okay,” Lily said, nodding. “I will trust you for now. But we’re doing that test just in case.”
“So…can I see you sometime?”
She looked at him. “You can take me to lunch next week. Then I’ll have called the police and retracted the restraining order.”
Scott eased up. His shoulders came down, and now he was smiling blissfully like only a father gazing upon his daughter could look. She gave him another glance, then turned on her high-heeled Doc Martin boots, and walked past me, yelling after him, “But you’re paying; don’t forget that.”
“I won’t!” he yelled back.
“And bring the big checkbook because I want lobster!”
That made Scott laugh.
“That’s my daughter,” he said, tears in his eyes as she drove away. I hugged him and held him tight.
“No doubt about it,” I said.
I pulled out of the hug, and Scott grabbed my face between his hands. “Thank you so much for all you have done for me.”
I blushed. Being this close to him again made my stomach flutter.
“No problem. What are friends for, right?”
He looked into my eyes, and I felt myself go soft.
“I’d say we’re a little more than that, wouldn’t you?” he said.
I scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
He tilted his head and leaned in for a kiss. Seeing this, I felt a huge desire to lean into it too, but I stopped myself.
“No, Scott,” I whispered. “We can’t do this.”
“Why not? You and Matt have split up. Sarah and I are over. I’ll be moving out soon. I realized I’m still in love with you.”
That was a little too much for me, and I pulled away. “What are you talking about, Scott?”
“I’m crazy about you, Eva Rae. I always was.”
“I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Tell me you’re crazy about me too,” Scott said, grabbing my chin and pulling it up.
I shook my head. “I…I don’t know, Scott.”
“At least let me see you again.”
I shook my head and took a step away from him. “Not now. I need time to think. I rushed into things with Matt right after my marriage ended. I never really sat down and thought about what I wanted. There’s a lot I need to figure out, but right now, I just want to be there for my family, for my children.”
He nodded, eyes disappointed. “Okay. But call me when you’re done thinking.”
“We’ll see. I need to go now. Angel will wake up from her nap soon. Do you need to be dropped off somewhere?”
He shook his head, then looked down, putting his hands in his pockets.
“I’ll grab an Uber home. You go ahead.”
I left him standing there on the asphalt, looking after me as I got into my car while he waited for his ride. Our eyes locked as I drove past him, standing there, looking like a child who had just lost his toy.