“This place reminds me of how my life used to be in the pits. How I was a danger to both you and myself.” Raising her hand, she cupped his cheek. “I’m so sorry for the tough childhood you had. If I could do it all again, I wouldn’t grieve so hard when your father decided to stay with his wife instead of being with me, which made me take solace in alcohol.” Tears rolled down her face. “I will never regret having you because you have been nothing but a blessing to me. I only wish that I sobered up sooner to take care of you instead of allowing you to grow up in group homes. I’m so sorry.”
Tyler acknowledged what she meant by wishing she had come back into his life sooner. His mom had suddenly shown up at the apartment he shared with Lena just about when Lili came into their lives. Before then, he and Lena had left the group home and were working at a fast-food joint.
His mom had come there all weepy and apologetic, saying that she had been sober for the past two years and was trying every day to be a better person and mother.
Tyler had been overjoyed to have her in his life just when he needed her most. He had told her the past was forgiven and forgotten and welcomed her back with opened arms.
“We should move to British Columbia for a new start. Montreal doesn’t hold pleasant memories.”
Tyler had agreed with her, and when he asked his mother if she would like to come along, she had been overjoyed to be invited along and given a second chance. It had been very challenging starting all over again, but with support from both Lena and his mother, he had been able to pull through against all odds.
Sadness flowed within him when he remembered Lena. It was so unfortunate that she would not see Lili grow up. She had adored the little girl to distraction, and Lili loved her, too.
Stretching on tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek, his mom added, “Thank you for giving me a second chance and allowing me to be a part of Lili’s life.”
Tyler positioned his hands on her shoulders and smiled down at her. “Mom, thank you, too, for cleaning up your act and coming to find me. Thank you for being there over the years. I can’t tell you how wonderful it has been having you take care of Lili and me. It’s been a blessing having you in our lives. And don’t worry, Mom, we’ll both pull through this difficult phase. I also have painful memories here, but I believe we’re meant to be here at this point. We’ll help each other heal; I promise.”
She smiled at her son and patted his cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mom.”
***
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Finn,” Tyler said as he shook hands with his partner.
“Alright, Tyler.” Finn walked to his car while Tyler nodded at the men trooping out of the building.
He just finished having a meeting with a crew of contractors along with Finn Tremblay at Anderson Realty. The project planned for the luxury mall was well underway.
Tyler swung into his car and drove through the busy streets of downtown Montreal. He glanced at his wristwatch and grimaced. He hoped he could make it in time to take Lili to her first dance class. Although his mom could always take her, he wanted to see Kaiya and straighten things out with her. Even though he wasn’t looking forward to the meeting, it was something that needed to be done. He wouldn’t have his daughter being treated differently if Kaiya couldn’t handle the past.
“Daddy!” Lili shouted as she walked down the spiral staircase with her grandmother in tow as soon as he opened the front door.
Tyler, with a bright smile on his face, walked toward his daughter, who hurried down the stairs and threw herself on him as she was wont to do whenever he came home.
The usual flush of emotions rushed through him as he enveloped her in a bear hug.
“Hello, Pumpkin. How was school today?” he asked and placed a kiss on her cheek.
Giggling, she replied, “It was fine, Daddy.”
His eyes roamed her features, and pain squeezed his chest at how much Lili looked like her mother. They had the same color of hair and nose. He surmised that this was what her mother must have looked like at her age.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?” Lili asked with worry in her voice and eyes that were just like his gray ones.
Reddening because he had been lost in thought while staring at his daughter, he kissed her cheek again and positioned her on the floor.
“Nothing’s wrong, Pumpkin.” His gaze lifted from her to his mother, who was also giving him a concerned frown.
“Hi Mom,” he said, hoping to wipe the frown off her face with his gaiety.
“Hi, Ty. How did the meeting go?” she questioned, still giving him a queer look.
“Fine. Thanks for picking her up from school,” he said, rubbing his daughter’s dark dresses and smiling down at her.
“She has also had her lunch and is ready to go for her dance class,” his mother replied.
Tyler already noted his daughter’s baby pink tutu underneath her jacket. She looked so cute; he wanted to take a thousand pictures of her.
