LillyThe moment I spotted Rick, my spirits lifted. After all, I’ve known him for almost two decades. We got along better than Jack and I. He understood me better than Jack.“You look tired.” Rick mumbled into my hair as he hugged me, then spun me around.I giggled. Probably not a good scenario if caught by the paparazzi.“Geez, thanks! You don’t look so great yourself,” I scoffed.In his suit, he looked much older than his thirty-four years. It was probably why Noona preferred him wearing suits. She didn’t want anyone to get wind that he was six years younger.“I got us some food.” He pointed to platters on the table. “Strawberry poppyseed salad, and a Mediterranean sandwich, just in case you’re not in the mood for a salad.”Oddly, my stomach churned but I ignored it. It had been a weird day.“Thank you. How much do I owe you?”“It’s on me.” He grinned wide. “I want to hear all the details about what the hell is going on.”I groaned, shooting a glance over my shoulder. “It’s a long s
Lilly“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Rick asked for the tenth time since we left D.C. Thankfully, this would be the last time for his question because we were in front of my home. Even better was that all the paparazzi were gone. Chance must have come through with his promise of fixing it all. “Noona can stay with you,” he suggested.Another wave of nausea rolled through me. God, I’d kill for ginger ale.“I’m sure,” I assured him as I pulled on the door handle of his BMW. He’d need Noona to take care of him. “Have your wife put ice on your face when you get home. Otherwise, you’ll look like Rocky tomorrow.”He choked out a laugh. “If I was Rocky, your boss would have never landed a punch.”I leaned over, pressed a kiss on his cheek. “I’m sorry this happened.”He waved his hand. “It happens every day.”I rolled my eyes, and exited the car. “Tell Noona I’ll call her later.”Shutting the door, I watched him drive away. And the entire time my doctor’s words played on repeat in my mind. Ch
LillyAs I sat behind my desk, I nervously waited for an open window to catch Chance. I’d been at work for two hours, but he’d sent a message to Kimberly and I not to be disturbed.The message I sent him last night showed he’d seen it, but no response came. Only one missed call. From my boss. God, I hoped Chance would take the news well. He was good with my daughters, but we never talked about children. It was a moot point since I couldn’t have any more. Or at least I thought so.“How are you feeling?” Kimberly startled me out of my thoughts. “You’re still pale.”It’ll be my complexion for a while.“Much better today.”I glanced toward the door where the man who stole my heart sat behind his executive desk. Still no word and lunchtime approached rapidly.I stood up and smoothed down my skirt. Black pencil skirt and white blouse. I couldn’t handle green today. My fingers trembled and I interlocked them together. I knocked on the door, determination settled deep in the pit of my stomach
Lilly“Thank you for picking me up,” I said again.Noona drove like a goddamn maniac but it was better than taking Chance’s car. Regardless of whose name was on the title.“I want to kill the fucker,” she growled, though it looked a tad bit comical.“I knew Dr. Packard would see you right away,” she continued, abruptly changing subjects. “At thirty-five, you're at a higher risk.”I sighed. “Thirty-four.”She waved one hand, then glanced at the clock. “We’ll have five minutes to spare.”We were ten minutes away from my OB/GYN.“Not if you kill us with your driving in the process,” I muttered.I had to wonder about life’s funny ways. It took me years to get pregnant with Saoirse, and took three years to get pregnant with Sierra. But apparently with Chance it took no time at all.“I’m just so fucking mad,” she continued. “I could spit fire. I don’t understand why you’re so calm.”I turned to gaze out the window, the blur of trees in my vision. “It wouldn’t be good for the baby to get up
LillyFriday. Departure day. Putting the past behind me.It was a little past noon when Rick came through my door.“Hey beautiful girls,” he greeted. Everyone screeched and ran to give him a hug.“Are we going now?” Saoirse asked, ready to get her adventure started.“We have a few hours,” he kneeled down as he responded. “Go through your room and double check you haven’t forgotten anything.”She nodded and sprinted up the stairs. Rick sauntered to me, pecking me on the cheek. His eye was still bruised.“Hey there, Rocky.”“I wish I could say you should see the other guy, but I never punched him back,” he mused.“I know,” I patted his cheek gently. “You took the high road.”“So, what are you and Noona up to, taking off to Croatia?”“Kind of spur of the moment, you know,” I answered blushingly, uncomfortable with my lies. “Thanks for letting her join me in a few weeks.”“Ahmmm,” he added pensively. “I don’t buy it. Why don’t you try again?”I glanced at him exasperatedly. “You are such
TWO WEEKS LATERI miscalculated. Misjudged. Bottom line, I fucked up.Staring at the text message, I was left hollow. Empty. For a week straight, I’d gone back to the message and read it again and again.Pregnant. Twins. Left.My gut wrenched. My chest cracked.I pushed her too hard and wanted too much. My jealousy. My fucked-up, arrogant ways. My temper. My blind jealousy. I fought so hard to keep her and lost her anyway.After that text, I drove to her house to find it fucking empty. I called her. Over and over again. I had private investigators looking for her. Her house in Croatia, the one she let my mother use. Nothing. The town where she lived with her parents. Nothing. I even went after Rick and Noona, until those two disappeared too. They landed in Zagreb and then fucking nothing.The day she walked out my door replayed over and over again. Every look. Every word.She’d said goodbye that day. Except I was too stupid to hear it.I recalled the way her dark eyes flashed with hur
LillyThe little village of Brsečine on the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia was where I found myself.The old stone dwelling gave off dreamy vibes and the dwelling held so much history.A decade ago, I fell in love with the 16th century old stone villa, which was a summer residence to a celebrated local Renaissance artist, situated in a valley-like spot on the way to Dubrovnik. The house had thirteen bedrooms, some inhabitable currently. Eventually it’d be ridiculously too large for our family, but I clung to this dream of one day having a large family and having reunions with all the people I cared about and loved.And then there was the dream of turning it into a small beach rental with an exit right to the beach and a magnificent terrace with a view of the sea. The beautiful courtyard reminded me of the story about Romeo and Juliet. The whole place just had so much character. From almost any point in the house or the yard, you could see the Adriatic Sea stretched for miles and a protect
LillyKai and his father arrived.Sienna ran past all of us and threw herself into Kai’s arms like she hadn’t seen him in a year. I couldn’t quite decide whether to cry or roll my eyes. Cursed hormones.I strode out of the courtyard behind her, approaching Jonathan.“Hello Lilly,” he greeted me with a wide smile.“Welcome,” I smiled back. “How was your trip? You must be tired.”“Trip was good but long,” he replied. “Quite a hideout you have here.”I glanced over to Sienna and Kai who looked like two lovebirds in heaven. Young love had never looked so naive and romantic. Geez, I wasn’t quite sure whether I was ready for this.Ready or not, it’s coming.Jonathan’s chuckle pulled me back. “Makes me kind of feel old,” he commented.“Agreed,” I muttered. I hoped my daughter’s love story would go better than my own. And make it platonic, I added mentally. “I’m not ready for my daughter to seriously date,” I countered.“I understand that completely,” he replied. Silence followed, lingering t