Kaiya ended the call and let out a deep breath. Tyler had called her the previous day to inform her that Lili was back home. Kaiya had wanted to protest coming over so they could tell Lili that she was her mother.
“No, Kaiya. Please don’t do that. I’m sure that Lili will love to have you as her mother. She already talks nonstop about you.”
Those words had warmed her heart but hadn’t stopped the jitteriness she felt.
“I know, but—”
“No buts. The earlier, the better, Kaiya. I thought that you would be very eager to have her know that you’re her mother,” Tyler had said in a tone that reflected his surprise.
Biting her lip, she had responded tautly, “I can’t wait to tell her, but at the same time, I can’t help being scared that she might not fully accept me; that she might insist that Lena is her mother and she doesn’t want me to take her place.”
Tyler had chuckled. “Is this the brave woman who had stood up to her parents talking?”
Her face had reddened at those words. Yes, she was acting like a coward. The problem stemmed from when she had time to think as she laid on her bed the previous night and couldn’t sleep. In the first place, she had been so joyous; she had wished that she could conjure her daughter right there to tell her the truth. But when she recalled all the happy pictures Lili took with her supposed mom, Lena, insecurity had stolen up her mind, causing her to question Lili’s acceptance in her life.
“Just come over, Kaiya. Everything will be fine. I promise you,” Tyler had said before ending the call.
Well, she was here now, and she prayed within her that everything would indeed be fine. She didn’t know what she would do if Lili refused to accept her as her mom.
Feeling self-conscious in her cream-colored silk jumpsuit, which, if truth be told, she had adorned for Tyler’s sake, she stepped out from the cab and strode to Tyler’s front door. She was more comfortable in sweatshirts and leggings.
Kaiya rang the doorbell and waited. A minute later, the door opened to reveal Tyler looking good in a red chambray shirt and blue jean trousers. His wet black hair was swept back from his forehead. Kaiya itched to run her fingers through the wet mane. She colored slightly.
“Wow, you look amazing.” Tyler’s appreciative eyes roamed her figure, causing a warm flush to run through her body.
“Not overdressed?” she asked with a nervous smile.
“Certainly not. Except instead of tying your hair in a ponytail, you should let it loose. When it runs wild across your shoulders, it makes you look younger, ravishing.”
Kaiya smiled, storing that piece of information for future use.
“Come on in,” he invited by opening the door wider.
Keeping herself from chewing her nails which were freshly manicured, Kaiya entered the house, which still took her breath away just like the last time.
“Lili! Kaiya is here!” Tyler called as he led the way to the foyer.
“Lili!” Tyler called again when they waited for a short moment and the little girl didn’t show up.
After several minutes passed and Lili didn’t surface, Tyler called out to her again. He had to call her name three more times before she responded.
“I’m coming, okay?” Lili replied from somewhere in the house.
The dancer’s heart slammed painfully in her chest when she heard footsteps coming down the spiral steps.
“No running down the stairs, young lady,” Lili’s father shouted when the beautiful little girl came into view.
Casting her dad with a look filled with exasperation, Lili slowed her movements. When she reached Kaiya, she looked past her.
“Aren’t you going to say hello to Kaiya?” Tyler asked when the little girl just stood there, staring at Kaiya as if she wasn’t there.
“Hello, Kaiya,” Lili said with a touch of iciness in her voice that astounded Kaiya. Lili had always been polite to her. She didn’t understand why she was acting indifferent all of a sudden.
Before Kaiya got to reply her salutation, Lili turned to her father. “I thought you said Miss Erin was here.”
Laughing uneasily, Tyler replied, “No, I didn’t. Kaiya is here to spend the whole day with us.”
“Yippee,” Lili said with an eye roll.
