Distracted: An Everyday Heroes Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Michelle Fernandez

  Spencer squats down on the ground and rests his hand on my leg. He takes in a deep breath. “Is that the image I painted for you? That if you told me about Lily six years ago, I would’ve turned my back on you?” I look up to see his tear-filled eyes. “I am so sorry for making you feel like you couldn’t be open with me. I’m sorry that I was the lowest of the lowest assholes. Baby, please forgive me. I love you and Lily. I want nothing more in this world than to have us be a family.”

  I wipe the moisture from my dusty cheeks with the back of my hand. “You mean that?”

  “With every fiber of my being,” he says. He leans in and presses a tender kiss on my lips. “Now, let’s go find our daughter.”

  Spencer rises from the ground and pulls me up with him. He wraps his arms around me, and the warmth of his body gives me back some hope. I close my eyes for a moment, breathing him in. The strength of his arms is the lifeline I need to refocus and recenter myself as I send a silent prayer to God to bring my daughter back to me.

  “Sabrina,” Spencer says, pulling me back. “The cemetery.”

  I turn to see the wrought iron gates slightly ajar. “Do you think?”

  Without another second passing, Spencer and I cross the dirt road and squeeze through the gate.

  “Lily!” I call out as my vision goes from tombstone to gravestone, hoping I’d find her.

  “Lily-pop!” Spencer calls from beside me. “Where are you, sweetheart?”

  Nothing. Silent except for rustling leaves, our feet pounding on the grass, and the crickets chirping in the surrounding darkness.

  I squint my eyes, spotting movement out of the corner of my eye. Could it be?

  “Spencer,” I call to him. He looks at the direction my fingers are pointing. “Look. I think that’s her.”

  My heart is hammering in my chest as we rush to the site. The moment I see her tiny legs, there’s an instant reprieve. Her arms are wrapped around Astra. I drop to my knees, and tears stream down my face.

  “Lily!” I scream her name, scooping her up as relief floods me. “You’re okay.” I pepper her with kisses on her face a dozen times. “Oh, thank god you’re okay.”

  “Mommy,” Lily sobs. Her voice is weak and trembling. “You found me.”

  Spencer removes his jacket and drapes it over us, still warm from his body. “Hi, Lily-pop,” he says, letting out a sigh of relief.

  “Hi, Spencie,” she replies through hooded eyes.

  “Are you hurt?” he asks gingerly as he caresses her head.

  She nods. “I hurt my ankle when I stepped in a hole over there. Then I-I fell down the hill.” Lily points behind us. She has some scrapes on her face, arms, and palms, most likely from the fall.

  Spencer gently lifts her leg, causing Lily to wince. “It might be broken, but I can’t be sure. I’m going to call the paramedics,” he says. He kisses the top of my head, then cups Lily’s face in his hand. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “I told Astra to find you and bring you to me.”

  “Well, she did a very good job. And I’m going to get more friends for her,” he says, and Lily’s face lights up. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to call the ambulance, okay?”

  “You promise you won’t leave?” she questions with so much worry in her voice. “Promise me, Spencie. You’ll come back.”

  “I’m not leaving.” He presses a kiss on her head. “I promise, sweetheart, I’m just going to make a call, okay.”

  Spencer takes his cell phone out of his pocket. It lights up when his fingers tap on the screen. “Grant, we found her . . . yeah, she’s going to need a medic. . . the cemetery . . . yeah, not too far from the entrance . . . thanks, man. We’ll be waiting.”

  Spencer hangs up and squats down next to us. “You had us worried. As a matter of fact, the whole town is out looking for you.”

  “Really? I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean to.” Lily sucks in her bottom lip as it quivers. “Are you mad at me?”

  “No, sweetheart. We’re just glad you’re okay,” Spencer says, wiping a fallen tear from her cheek. “Just promise me one thing . . . don’t run away ever again. Got it?”

  Lily nods, then Spencer wraps his arms around us, cocooning us in his jacket. When he releases us, there’s a shared smile, and a stillness settles between us. She’s safe and we’re together.

  “Why did you come here?” I ask, pushing back her tangled hair away from her face.

  “I wanted to see if my daddy’s name was here.”

  She’s making no sense with her wild imagination. I can’t blame her. I’m the one who lied about her dad’s death. “But, honey, I never told you your daddy’s name.”

  “I know. . . I-I just wanted to see.” Her tear-stained face looks up at me, then at Spencer, and returns to me. “Is it true, Mommy? Is Spencie . . .?”

  “I am so, so, so sorry I lied to you, Lily.” Shame engulfs me. “I have so much explaining to do.”

  Lily’s breathing grows heavy as exhaustion hits full force. This little girl can fall asleep mid-sentence if you let her.

  Now that Lily and Spencer know the truth, what’s next for us? He says he wants to be part of our lives. Although I’m still guarded, a part of me believes him.

  “You okay?” he asks.

  “I am now.”

  “She’s beautiful, Sabrina.” He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses my knuckles.

  “She’s our daughter, Spencer.”

  Our daughter. It’s surreal to say it out loud. I look to the clear sky as a shooting star streaks the darkness.

  Thank you, Mom, Dad, and Nonna. Thank you for bringing back my little girl and reuniting us as a family.

  I feel like I’m a kid again, staying out all night stargazing. Spencer has always been the boy that made my heart do flip-flops and butterflies flutter in my tummy. Now, in front of me is a man, the father of my daughter, whose eyes are full of promise, joy, and love.

  I need him to kiss me.

  I need to feel his connection again.

  I need to be reassured of the promises he made moments ago. I let go of his hand and grip his neck, pulling him closer to me.

  We kiss. This is not like the others. We kiss with everything we feel. For so long, I held onto a secret, and it ate away at me, festering anger and hostility toward Spencer.

  Nonna was right. I was wrong in not giving Spencer a choice. And now that he knows, he chose us without hesitation. With this newfound journey, healing begins, and I only pray that we won’t be separated again.

  Spencer

  “How did I get so lucky?” I whisper to myself. I have no fucking clue. When I arrived in Sunnyville over a week ago, I never thought I would hear those words from Sabrina’s mouth.

  I’m Lily’s father.

  This little human wrapped in bandages and a bright purple cast on her left leg is my daughter.

  I have never felt so helpless in my entire life. Searching and coming up empty until we found Lily, in a cemetery, of all places. It turns out Lily had a minor concussion from her tumble down the hill. The doctor wanted to keep her overnight just in case, and thankfully, her injuries weren’t worse.

  Callie came to the hospital and picked up Sabrina so they could get clean clothes for Lily. As expected, Sabrina was being stubborn and did not want to leave Lily’s side. I don’t blame her. After the night we had, I didn’t and wouldn’t want to leave Lily’s side either. But with much force from my sister and me, Sabrina finally relented since she knew what clothes to bring back.

  This little girl means so much to me, and I completely understand what Sabrina means when she says Lily is her world. Lily is my world now, along with Sabrina. And from here on out, I will make sure I am in their lives for as long as I live.

  I want us to be a family, and as I watch Lily’s chest rise and fall, I know I need to set some plans in motion. Sabrina and I may be good for now, but we have a shit-ton of things to sort through. Where will we live? Will they come with me to LA? Do I request a tra
nsfer to San Francisco, that’s if I still have a job? Or do we stay in Sunnyville and raise our daughter here?

  These past couple of weeks have been a roller coaster with the high of closing Becca’s investigation, the low of my suspension, and the high of seeing Sabrina again. Which subsequently led to finding out I have a daughter.

  I take Lily’s tiny hand and engulf it in mine. I need to feel her, to be reminded that this isn’t a dream. And if it is, I don’t want to wake up. I chuckle as I glance at the unicorn tucked in on the other side, cradled in Lily’s arm.

  This little girl has brought me so much hope and happiness. I almost want to break down and cry. If I had left the day after reading Lillian’s will, would I have missed out on learning I had a daughter? Knowing Sabrina, she probably would have kept me in the dark. I should be mad about that, but it honestly doesn’t matter right now. All that does matter is I have Sabrina back and my little girl is safe.

  A throaty cough catches my attention. “Hey, son,” my dad greets. “Can I come in?”

  “Sure,” I reply. With his busy schedule installing underground pipes throughout the neighboring cities, I haven’t had a chance to spend time with him as much as I should. There’s still some unfinished business between us and conversations we need to have.

  “I don’t want to take up too much of your time, but I wanted to pop in and see how she’s doing.”

  “She’s resting.”

  “That’s good,” he says, smiling.

  “Where’s Mom?”

  “Oh, you know her,” he chuckles, “she’s preparing a welcome home party for Lily as we speak.”

  Dad is looking run down and worn-out. His blond hair and beard are grey against his fair complexion, and the crinkles around his blue eyes are more prominent. The confidence he once carried in his broad shoulders appears to have waned over time.

  “How’s work?” I ask.

  “Busy,” he says as he rubs the back of his neck. He approaches the bed and looks down at Lily. “We hired a few workers to help with the Bakersfield site, and I just acquired the Sunnyville bid with city hall. We break ground tomorrow.”

  “Don’t work too hard. If you need some help, let me know. I’m here for several more weeks before I return to LA.”

  “I appreciate that, son.”

  “You need to give yourself a break, Dad.”

  “Speaking about a break, I talked to Mom. Want to tell me what happened with your suspension?”

  “I was wondering how long it was going to take you to bring it up.” I look at my watch. “Less than five minutes. That’s a record for you,” I say irritably.

  “What’s your problem? I asked a simple question,” my dad snaps with narrowing eyes.

  “There’s no such thing as a simple question with you.”

  “And what is that supposed to mean?” he asks, lowering his voice as Lily squirms in the bed between us.

  I drag my hands down my face then lean my head back, looking up at the ceiling tiles. I take in an exasperated breath before I meet his eyes. “Why can’t you be proud of me? Of what I’ve become? I know your dream was for me to make it to the pros, but after Becca died, I couldn’t do it. Why can’t being a detective be worth shit to you?”

  “Watch your tone, Spencer Hayes. Your mother and I did not raise you to be disrespectful.”

  “I don’t mean any disrespect, Dad. But I just wish you supported my decision when I turned down the contract with the Austin A’s.”

  Dad presses his lips together, making a straight line. He wants to say more, but I know he’s holding back.

  Lily grunts, squeezing her eyes. “No, please . . . I’m scared . . . Don’t hurt my mommy.” She’s having a nightmare. I don’t like it at all. Why would she dream about Sabrina being hurt?

  “Lily-pop. I’m here. Mommy is fine, baby girl.” She quiets and her breathing steadies. I watch her for a beat and wonder if nightmares are frequent.

  “Look, son,” Dad continues with a lowered voice, “I may not have supported your decision back then, and I know I was hard on you, but I just wanted what was best for you. I wanted you to have the life you deserved. You’ve always loved baseball, so when you turned it down, I was speechless. How else was I supposed to react?”

  “You could have talked to me,” I say.

  “Your mom explained it to me, and I get it now. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you the way you needed me to be.”

  “I should have talked to you about my decision.”

  “Maybe you should have. But, in the end, it was your decision. And as your old man, I would have done everything in my power to get that A’s jersey on you.”

  “And I would have fought tooth and nail against you and still joined the police force.”

  “Your mom always says we Hayes men are stubborn as hell. She is the only one that can kick our asses and knock some sense into us.”

  We chuckle. I stand and round the bed to meet him on the other side. I embrace my dad, feeling as if the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. There’s a glimmer in my dad’s eyes as he leans back and claps my shoulders.

  “I love you, Dad.”

  “I love you too, son.” He gives me a light pat on the side of my head. “And I am damn proud of you and what you’ve become.”

  A knot forms in my throat and chokes me up. Those words are all I’ve ever wanted to hear from my dad. “Thanks, Dad.” I clear my throat and point to the chair. “I’ve got something else to tell you. And you might want to sit for this one.”

  “Should I be worried?”

  “Not worried, but you will most definitely be shocked. I was when I found out,” I say.

  “All right,” he says. “Lay it on me.”

  “How do you feel about grandkids?”

  “I look forward to the day you and your sister have them. Why do you ask?”

  “What do you think about Lily?”

  “Love the girl like she’s my very own.” His forehead creases with confusion. “Why?”

  My smile grows as I nod toward Lily. “Dad, meet your first grandchild.”

  His eyes widen and his mouth slightly opens as shock covers his face. I don’t blame him. After we found Lily in the cemetery and arrived at the hospital, the initial blow finally seeped in. Disbelief was my first reaction, but I refused to show it to Sabrina. She would have taken it the wrong way.

  I watch this little human, my daughter, lying in this hospital bed. All I want to do is protect her. To be there for her from this moment on, and most of all, love her.

  “Once again, I’m speechless,” my dad replies.

  “Trust me. I get it.” I raise my hands. “That was my initial reaction. But this little girl is something else. When I first met her a week ago, I knew there was something about her, but I just couldn’t figure it out.”

  I begin to tell Dad about the events that took place and why Lily ended up in the hospital. His blue eyes bore into me as he listens attentively.

  “That connection between you and Lily is like no other. Your hearts were meant to meet, regardless if Sabrina told you or not. As for Sabrina, she is also special. I’ve always thought of her as part of the family.”

  “I was going to call it quits with Tanya until she told me she was pregnant. At that time, I couldn’t just break it off with her. Then I married her. That’s why Sabrina didn’t tell me about her pregnancy. I hurt her when she found out I was marrying Tanya.”

  “You were being noble to one woman, not realizing you were hurting another.”

  “I’ve got some making up to do and a lot of catching up too.”

  “Cherish every second with Sabrina and Lily.” He scratches the side of his jaw. “You and your sister have grown up, and I miss the days when you two were kids.”

  Dad and Mom share a love I have always wanted for myself. They love each other and have no qualms about showing it in public. And the way they raised us, loving each other and sticking by one another is the key to a
strong family. The Hayes-Ways our family motto, and it feels good to have the gap between my dad and me bridged back together.

  “Dad,” I whisper, “that little girl has softened my heart. I never wanted kids, but for Lily, I am ready to give her the world and protect her from it, all at the same time. Am I ridiculous?”

  “Not at all, son.” He gives me a proud smile. “You are my greatest accomplishment. You have become wiser and stronger than I ever dreamed. And now that you are a man and a father, hearing you say these things, I can’t help but be proud of the person you’ve become.”

  Dad and I talk for a little while longer. He gives me advice about little girls and warns I will be wrapped around Lily’s little finger. I think it’s too late for that.

  Shortly after Dad leaves, there’s a faint knock on the door. It slowly creeps open, and in walks Grayson with his son, Luke.

  “Hey,” Grayson speaks softly. “Can we come in?”

  “Yeah, sure.” I stand and wave them in. “Lily just fell asleep.”

  “Luke wanted to drop these off, if that’s okay.”

  “Hey, buddy,” I say. “What do you have there?”

  “I made this, and she told me she likes lilies.” Luke smiles, holding up the card and small bouquet.

  “That’s really nice of you, Luke,” I tell him and point to the empty chairs. “Have a seat.”

  “Thanks,” Grayson says.

  “Dad,” Luke speaks up. “Can I pull my chair closer to the bed?”

  Grayson looks at me for approval and I nod.

  “Sure, son. Just don’t wake her,” he instructs, then turns to me. “So, how’s Lily doing?”

  “She’s got a minor concussion and a broken ankle. And aside from being scared, the doctor says she’s going to be fine.”

  “That’s good news.”

  “Yes, it is.” I look over to Luke and see a faint color of blue and purple under his eye. “What happened?” I ask under my breath, jutting my chin at Luke and pointing to my cheek.

  Grayson leans in with his elbows on his knees and lowers his voice. “He got into a fight at school,” he whispers. “Long story.”