“Waves were shit this morning. You didn’t miss anything.”
“Damn it,” I said as I slowly climbed off the bed.
I took a shower and got dressed. Shaking two aspirin in my hand, I chased them down with water and prepared myself for the battle that was going to happen the second Lily walked through the door.
“Hey, Dad.” I heard as I was emptying the dishwasher.
“Hey, baby girl.”
She walked over and gave me a hug.
“How was your sleepover?”
“It was fun. We stayed up until one a.m. listening to her parents fight.”
“What were they fighting about?”
“The fact that her dad didn’t come home until midnight and her mom couldn’t get a hold of him.”
“Nice.” I sighed as I kissed the top of her head.
“Where’s Alex?” she asked with a smile.
I stared at her for a moment as I could feel the tears spring to my eyes.
What the hell?
Quickly turning around, I grabbed the clean plates that were sitting on the counter and put them up in the cabinet.
“Dad? Where’s Alex?”
Taking in a deep breath, I turned around.
“We need to talk, baby girl.”
“About what? Where is she, Dad?”
“Come on.” I took her hand and led her outside and down to the beach. “Sit down, Lily.”
“Dad, you’re scaring me. Where is Alex?”
“Alex moved out last night.”
“What? Why?”
I didn’t know what to tell her.
“What did you do to her?” she shouted.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You’re a liar! She wouldn’t have just moved out for no reason!” She started hitting me, so I grabbed her wrists and held them.
“Listen to me!” I shouted. “She didn’t quit. She’s still going to be here for you. She only moved out! Now you need to calm down!”
“NO! First my mother abandoned me, then Nanny Kate and now Alex. And you know what they all have in common? YOU! She pointed at me. “I’m tired of everyone lying to me! I hate you!” She ran through the sand and back up to the house.
Tears fell from my eyes as a light wind swept over me. Within seconds, my three brothers were by my side.
“Julia is going to talk to her,” Sam said.
“Bro, we heard that. You know she’s just angry and upset,” Sebastian said.
“Yeah, Stefan. She didn’t mean it,” Simon spoke.
“That’s the first time she’s mentioned her mother in years,” I said.
“It doesn’t matter how hard you try to protect her, there are just some things you can’t protect her from,” Sam said.
I ran my hands down my face and wiped the tears away.
“I need to go talk to my daughter.”
I got up and ran to the house. As I walked up the stairs, I could hear Julia talking to her. Standing in the doorway, Lily looked at me and then quickly turned away. Julia got up from the bed, patted my arm and gave me a sympathetic smile.
“You’re angry with me and I want you to talk to me about it. I want you to tell me everything you’re feeling right now, and then I’m going to tell you everything I’m feeling. May I come in?”
She slowly nodded her head as she sat crisscross on her bed hugging the Hello Kitty Alex had given her. I took a seat on the edge of the bed.
“I’m sorry I said I hated you. I didn’t mean it.” She looked down.
“I know you didn’t, baby girl.”
“Just tell me the truth, Dad. That’s all I want.”
“Alex moved out because we got into an argument.”
“About what?”
Shit.
“The relationship Alex and I have is complicated. We both want different things, and sometimes when adults want different things, it’s better if they part ways. But she’s still going to be around. She’s just not living here anymore. Nanny Kate didn’t live here, remember?”
“Yeah. I know. But I liked Alex living with us, and I know you did too. So don’t lie about it.”
“You’re right. I did like her living here. But sometimes when you’re an adult, tough decisions have to be made no matter how bad they hurt you. It’s part of being an adult.”
“I don’t think I want to be an adult.”
“You have many years before you need to be one, so enjoy being a kid while you can. You know how much I love you and how you’re the most important person in my life, right?” I stroked her cheek with my thumb.
“I know, Dad. But sometimes I think you love me too much and you won’t let your heart love anyone else.”
Instantly, my brows furrowed at her.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it’s true. I may only be nine years old, but I’m not stupid. You’re scared to let anyone else inside.”
“That is not true.” I lied.
“Yes, it is, Dad. I’ve watched you and Alex together. You’ve never looked at anyone the way you look at her. I watch the way you stare at her when she sings and how you look at her when you think no one is watching.”
“Lily, I—”
“She makes you happy, Dad, and there’s nothing wrong with being happy. You’ve told me a million times that it’s all you want for me. I’m telling you that it’s all I want for you too.”
“How did you grow up so fast, baby girl?” I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into a warm embrace. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Dad. Can you buy me a phone?” she asked.
“What?” I broke our embrace.
“If Alex won’t live here anymore, I want to be able to talk to her when she’s not here.”
“You bet. Let’s go.” I smiled as I stood up and held out my hand.
“Really?”
“Yes. But there will be strict rules about using it.”
“That’s okay.” She grinned.
Chapter 33
Alex
I’d spent the weekend locked up in the apartment, except when Jenni dragged me to the grocery store with her so I could shop, and she could get some snacks to take on the plane with her. I missed Lily and as excited as I was to see her tomorrow, I didn’t want to see her father.
I got up early, got dressed and headed over to pick Lily up for school. I had no idea how this was going to go, and I was nervous when I pulled into the driveway. Opening the door, I stepped inside and went straight to the kitchen. A sickness formed in the pit of my belly when I saw Stefan leaning against the island drinking a cup of coffee.
“Good morning,” he cautiously spoke.
“Morning.” I turned away from him and grabbed Lily’s lunch that was sitting on the counter.
“Alex!” Lily ran into the kitchen and threw her arms around me.
“Hey, Lily.” I bent down and hugged her tight. “Are you ready to hit the road?”
“Yeah. Oh wait, I forgot my homework in my room.”
“Go get it so we can go.”
“How are you?” Stefan asked.