by Annie Young
“Oh, no,” Lily said. “I haven't showered and my hair is a mess.”
Wyatt chuckled and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “You look great, Lily. Trust me.” He flashed a wink and then lifted his phone up. “Okay, say 'cheese'.”
Lily and Maggie looked at the camera and leaned toward each other, pressing the sides of their faces together.
“Cheese!” they both said in unison.
Wyatt took a few pictures and then his eyes widened. “You know what? Let's take one with all three of us. What do you say?”
“Yeah!” Maggie jumped up and down.
Lily shrugged. “Sure, why not? Who will hold the camera?”
“I'll take a selfie,” Wyatt said. “Lily, why don't you sit on one side of me and Maggie, you sit on the other?”
Maggie crawled up beside Wyatt and sat down on his right side. Lily did the same, taking a seat on the floor to the left of Wyatt. She scooted up close him until her side collided with his. As soon as their bodies touched, the familiar tingling of attraction washed through her. It reminded her of the night before. Not even twelve hours ago, they were kissing and enjoying some of the most sensual and erotic foreplay that Lily had experienced in a long time. It was difficult not to think about all of this.
Wyatt held the camera out in front of him, flipping the image around so that he could take a selfie. “You guys have to get closer.”
Maggie leaned in and pressed her face against Wyatt's. Lily scooted a little closer, but still didn't want to make Wyatt feel uncomfortable.
“Come on, Lily,” he said. “You've got to get in the picture.”
She scooted closer still, then leaned toward him, bringing her chin so that it practically rested on Wyatt's shoulder. His cologne, combined with the scent of his natural musk, wafted into her nose. It turned her on a bit, but she forced herself to focus on something else. Anything else.
“Alright, smile,” Wyatt said.
All three of them smiled wide and Wyatt snapped the picture.
“Perfect,” he said, holding the phone out so that everybody could see the image he had just taken.
“That's really cute,” Lily said, admiring the photo.
Wyatt slipped his phone back into his pocket and got up from the floor. He held out a hand to each of the girls and assisted them to a standing position.
“Just so you know, Lily, there's no rush for you to leave this morning,” Wyatt said.
“Mildred will be back soon, though,” Lily replied.
“I know, but it doesn't mean you need to leave right away.” Wyatt took a seat onto the couch as he spoke. “Mildred would probably like to see you.”
Lily shook her head. “Maybe, but I'm sure she's going to want to tell you guys all about her trip. I don't want to intrude. Plus, I should get back and get my apartment in order. It was kind of a mess when I left it.”
“Alright, well then, I guess I'll give you a call in a few days,” Wyatt said, standing right back up from his position on the couch. He approached Lily with open arms. “Sound good?”
Lily stepped forward and embraced him, letting her body relax into his chest. “Yeah, that sounds great. Thank you again for everything. This was honestly one of the best weeks I've ever had.”
“I agree,” Wyatt said, squeezing her tight. “I'll miss having you around. Hopefully, though, Mildred will be on board with that weekend arrangement we were talking about.”
“Yeah, I hope so,” Lily said.
Wyatt released her from the hug, but Lily didn't want to let go. She kept her arms around his back as long she could, then finally pulled away. Her eyes were now shrink-wrapped in tears. She managed to keep them from falling down her cheeks again, though.
She turned around toward Maggie, who already looked like she was about to cry. Her lower lip was trembling and it was clear that she was trying her hardest to hold it back.
“Can I get a hug?” Lily asked, squatting down to Maggie's level.
Maggie didn't hesitant. Not for a moment. She came sprinting up to Lily, wrapping her arms around her neck. She began to sob, which of course, made Lily sob as well. The two ladies cried for a few moments, then Lily broke the hug.
“I'll miss you, Aunt Wiwee,” Maggie said, through sniffles.
Lily wiped the tears off of Maggie's cheek. “I'll see you soon, okay? I promise. I swear on our friendship necklaces that I'll come by and see you next week, no matter what.”
“Okay,” Maggie said, before pouting out her lower lip.
Lily stood up and let out a long sigh. She glanced back toward Wyatt. He flashed a warm smile at her and nodded. “See you soon.”
“Yeah,” Lily said. “Definitely.”
Gravity tugged on her heart, making it difficult to move toward the front door. It was like every single part of her just wanted to stay and live there, but she knew that wasn't exactly an option. She had to start her regular life again. She had to move forward, with the knowledge that maybe some things just weren't meant to be. Maybe, just maybe, everything actually had happened for a reason and she was only ever supposed to be Aunt Lily, never Mom.
Lily didn't say another word. She knew that if she tried, she'd just choke up and start crying again. So she turned and walked toward the front door. When she got there, she picked up her duffel bag and suitcase and headed outside. Her old, raggedy Honda Civic was out front right where she had parked it over a week before. Her stomach sank as she tossed her bags into the back and slid into the driver's seat. It was time to head home and face reality again.
Chapter 21
Lily
Lily pulled her car into the parking lot and glanced out the front windshield at her apartment building. It was the place she had called home for many months, but it suddenly seemed kind of foreign to her. She grabbed her bags and headed up to the fourth floor. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she was greeted by the nauseating smell of garlic and curry. One of her neighbors considered himself to be a chef, but really, it seemed like everything he ever cooked smelled like something Lily would have thrown away in the garbage.
Welp, she thought. Guess I'm home now.
She walked down the hall and the wheels of her suitcase squeaked as she pulled it along the tile. When she got to apartment 403, she stopped and sighed. There were three envelopes stuffed into the crack of the door, just above the handle. She recognized them immediately, because it wasn't the first time she'd gotten a notice from her landlord.
At least I made good money last week, she thought, pulling the envelopes out of the door jam and stuffing them into her purse. I'll be able to catch up on my rent payment finally. Maybe that will get the landlord off of my back, at least for a little while anyway.
As soon as she got inside, she dropped her bags by the front door. It only took a quick glance around for her to remember how dark and dingy her apartment was. She'd almost forgotten. Either that, or maybe she never even fully realized it. However, after living in Wyatt's mansion for almost ten days, her place seemed more horrible than ever before.
Her tiny kitchen was to the right. It had just enough counter space to butter a piece of toast and not much else. It didn't even have a dishwasher and the oven was nothing to get too excited about. With only two burners on top, there was no way she'd ever be able to practice cooking.
How am I supposed to get better at cooking with a kitchen like this? She thought. There's no way. I might as well accept the fact that the Filet Mignon I made last night was just a fluke. I just got lucky, that's all.
When she got to her living room, she plopped down onto the love seat. Both of the cushions were worn out, so she had to sit in just the right spot to keep the frame underneath from pressing painfully against her rear.
“This doesn't feel like home any more,” she whispered.
All of her stuff was there. Her pictures, her furniture and her handful of bright green house plants that seemed happy on the window sill. However, she felt out of place. It was like she
had out grown the apartment or something.
It didn't matter how she felt about it, though. This apartment was all she could afford and even with the low rent, she was barely squeaking by. It wasn't like she could go out and find something newer or better. Even though she had made good money the past week from taking care of Maggie, it wasn't nearly enough to put a deposit down on a nice apartment. Rent had skyrocketed in the city and she was lucky to have a place at all.
I guess I'll just got to try to be happy with what I've got, she thought, reaching forward to grab the remote from the coffee table.
When she looked up at the television, she nearly laughed. She'd almost forgotten how small the screen was. Compared to Wyatt's, it looked like a handheld device. In order to make out the image, she almost had to squint.
The real problem, is that I got a taste of what the good life could be like and now anything less seems terrible, she thought. I guess it's true what they say, about how what people don't know doesn't hurt them. I was happy with this apartment before I lived with Wyatt. Now, this place just seems kind of drab and empty.
It wasn't just her surroundings that made her sad, though. The emptiness she felt didn't come just from her cramped living room and the lack of luxury she had there. It also came from the fact that she was no longer playing house wife. She was no longer taking care of Maggie or making meals for Wyatt. That was what really ate her up the most.
For the previous ten days, she'd had a real purpose in her life. Every morning, she had a mission. It changed every day, but it always involved making breakfast for Maggie and then taking her to do something fun. Now that she was back in her apartment, she only had to fend for herself. It felt meaningless to her.
As much as I hate to admit it, I think I really just enjoyed playing Susie Housewife, she thought, with a chuckle. There's no doubt about it, actually. Last week was the happiest week I've ever had. I didn't have any worries. I wasn't concerned about making my rent or getting up two hours before dawn to make make coffee for grumpy strangers. I was completely in the moment, exactly where I wanted to be. I was surrounded by the two people that I care more about than anybody else in this whole world.
“But what on Earth am I supposed to do about it?” she whispered to herself, followed by a long sigh.
Lily leaned her head back, letting the couch cushions pull her in even further. She stared up at the popcorn ceiling, mindlessly watching the overhead fan spin lazily above her. Her heart ached. She missed Wyatt's house. She missed being with him and getting to spend time with Maggie. All she wanted to do right then was to pick up her cell phone and give him a call.
I can't do that, though, she thought. I can't call Wyatt. Not right now. He'd wonder what I was calling about and think I was weird and creepy if I called just to hear his voice. That's really all I need to hear, though. That would ease this worry and anxiety inside of me. Just a quick conversation.
She stood up and grabbed her phone from her purse, then took a seat once again. When she opened up the screen, she was greeted by the old photo of Wyatt, Caroline and Maggie at the beach. She couldn't help but to smile when she saw it. For a moment, she really considered unlocking the phone and calling Wyatt. After seeing that picture, though, she knew that she couldn't. Caroline was in that photo and it reminded Lily of the night before, when Wyatt stopped the foreplay.
I can't step on his feelings, she thought, tossing the phone to the opposite side of the couch. I have to respect his decision not to get too close to me. If I care for him, which I do, then I need to honor his wishes.
“God, I wish I could just get him to lower his walls, though,” she said out loud.
I'd give anything just to get to spend one evening with Wyatt, where we were both free as birds, she thought. Just a few hours where we could forget about our pasts, and who we are and what we do. Maybe then, if both of us could drop our walls, we'd get to experience what we really want with each other. What's the harm in that, really? It's obvious that both of us are attracted to each other, so why do we have to continually play these games?
Lily battled herself in her own mind, wishing that she could change something that she had no control over. It was exhausting and soon, she was so tired and upset by it that all she wanted to do was to go to bed. So that's what she did. She got up and headed straight to her bedroom, leaving the unpacked suitcases by the door.
Her bed, which was normally such an inviting sanctuary for her, also felt foreign. It was only a twin size mattress, less than half the size of the one she got to enjoy at Wyatt's place. She crawled on top of the covers and laid her face in the pillow, letting out a frustrated scream.
“Why is this so hard?!” she shouted to herself.
Lily quickly rolled over on her back and stared at the ceiling.
I just want to feel happy again, she thought. I just want to be back living at Wyatt's, that's all.
Lily thought about calling her parents and telling them the situation, but she couldn't do that. Her mom and dad would never understand what she was up against. They'd never be able to make her feel better about her attraction to the father of her surrogate daughter. Neither would any of her friends. They all already thought it was weird that she even stayed in touch with Maggie and Wyatt. They would have disowned her if they ever found out she had a burning schoolgirl crush on Wyatt.
She was alone, with nobody to call and nobody to comfort her. She felt like crying and screaming and punching the wall, all at the same time. In her gut, was a ball of every possible emotion that she could feel. There was pain, jealousy, anxiety, hope, desperation and love. Love for Wyatt. Love for Maggie. Love for getting the chance to spend so much time with them over the last week.
I should just go to bed, she thought, despite the fact that it wasn't even noon. Maybe I need a nap. Maybe I'll wake up and everything will feel a little better.
With that, Lily rolled over and closed her eyes. As she slowly drifted to sleep, the only thing she could think about was Wyatt and how amazing it would have felt if he was lying on that tiny twin mattress with her.
Chapter 22
Wyatt
Not more than ten minutes after Lily left with her bags, Wyatt heard the doorbell ring. He was downstairs, playing in the basement with Maggie. His eyes widened and he smiled.
Did Lily forget something here? He wondered. Maybe I'll get to see her again.
Since the moment she'd walked out his front door, his heart had been aching. It had only been about ten minutes, but he legitimately missed her. His house felt empty now that she was gone.
“I'll be right back, okay?” he asked Maggie, who was too focused on her coloring book to even look up.
“Okay,” she said, still coloring away.
Wyatt stood up from the floor and jogged upstairs. He went straight to the front door and pulled it open.
“Hey, hey,” he said, before even looking to see who was on the other side. “Did you miss us that much?”
Once the door was open, he was greeted by someone, but it was most certainly not Lily like he had been hoping. Standing in the doorway was Mildred. Her gray hair was tied back into a pony tail and her glass were sitting at the very tip of her nose. It looked like a soft breeze could have blown them straight off.
“You know what? I actually did miss you guys,” Mildred said.
“Oh, hey, Mildred,” Wyatt said, embarrassed. “Sorry. I guess I thought you were someone else.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” she said, with a wink.
“No, no,” he said. “It's not like that. Here, let me get your bags.”
“Thank you, dear,” Mildred said, as she slipped her duffel bag from her shoulder and passed it to Wyatt. He was surprised by how heavy it was.
“Looks like you came back from vacation with your bags more full than when you left,” he said, laughing.
“Well, you know, I had to pick up some souvenirs for everybody,” Mildred replied. “I've got a few fun things in there for Maggie that I
think she'll like.”
“I know she'll like whatever you got her.” Wyatt carried the bag in through the doorway and set it on the floor. “She likes any kind of gift.”
“Where is Maggie, anyway?” Mildred asked. “I can't wait to see her. I know I've only been gone for ten days, but it has felt like months.”
“Maggie is playing downstairs,” he said. “You should go surprise her. I'm sure she'll be super excited to see you.”
“I'll do that,” Mildred said, setting her other suitcases inside the door. She looked around the front room and drew in a long breath. “You know, as nice as it was to spend some time on the beach and relax, it sure does feel good to be home.”
Wyatt smiled. “Well we're glad to have you back.”
“No troubles while I was gone?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, none at all. Things went pretty smoothly.”
“So Lily did okay?” Mildred asked. “I was a little nervous about it, just because I'm so used to Maggie being in my care. I felt like an over-anxious mom going out of town and leaving their kid for the first time or something. It was kind of a strange feeling, to be honest.”
“No, Lily did really well,” Wyatt said. “You know how much Maggie adores her, though. All she wanted to do was spend every waking moment with Lily. They did a lot of fun things during the week. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased with how it went.”
“Does this mean I can take more vacations?” Mildred said, with a smirk that told Wyatt she was joking.
“I know you're just kidding, but seriously, you deserve more than one vacation every five years, Mildred,” Wyatt said. “And speaking of vacation, I wanted to talk to you about something really quickly.”
Mildred's eyebrows rose, causing the wrinkles on her forehead to show. “What is it?”
“Would you have any interest in taking weekends off?” he asked.
Mildred looked a bit confused by the question. “I suppose if you wanted me to, then I could.”