"It doesn't matter to me anymore. Being on my own for the past couple of years has helped me to realize that I shouldn't be dependent on others for how I'm feeling about myself."
Cami nodded. "But just remember that you aren't an island unto yourself. We are here to support you as best we can. Don't rob us of the opportunity, sis."
Warmth filled Lily's heart. "I won't. In fact, I am going toneed someone to do a little running around with me. I need to get a car. I'll be making trips into Minneapolis so want to have my own wheels."
"Are you able to drive still?"
Lily nodded. "I got the all-clear from the doctor I was seeing in London. He ran me through a bunch of tests for my vision and my reflex and response times. I'll most likely have to renew annually with a medical report to support being medically able to drive. I'm very aware of when symptoms are popping up that might prevent me from driving safely."
When Cami didn't reply, Lily glanced over to find her sister regarding her seriously. "What?"
"I'm just realizing how much you've grown up during the time you've been away. I can still remember the young girl I managed to con into taking me to the bar."
"Yeah, that wasn't very nice of you," Lily said as she reached out and playfully smacked Cami's arm. "Facing the wrath of the trio wasn't very fun at all."
"True, but you know, if I hadn't gone there that night, I'm not sure if things would have unfolded like they did with Josh. That was a turning point for us."
"Well, I'm glad that it turned out to be something good. I was so angry with you after that."
Cami grinned. "I know, but you forgave me."
"That I did. But you still owe me."
"Feel free to cash in at any time."
Lily stretched out her legs and then slid them off either side of the lounge. "Guess I'd better get back to work. I want to get a certain amount done before I call it a day."
"Yeah, I need to check on Jessa again. She was taking a nap when I left her. Don't say anything to her, but I think that baby is going to be here sooner rather than later."
Lily frowned. "How far along is she?"
"Thirty-four weeks, so technically the baby would probably be okay if delivered now, but every day he stays inside is better for him."
As they walked toward the porch steps, Lily said, "I admire how determined she is to stick to the bed rest."
Cami nodded. "She's gone to great lengths to protect this pregnancy."
"It will be nice to have a little one in the family again."
Cami opened the door and held it for her. "Yes, it will. I think we're going to stick close until he arrives. We have a couple of dates lined up, but each year we purposely make those concerts close so we can spend more time here during the summer."
Lily stopped for a glass of water while Cami put together some juice and fruit for Jessa's afternoon snack. Back in the library, she continued on with the task, methodically working through the invoices. They went back quite a few months, but hopefully within another day or two she would be all caught up.
"How's it going?"
Lily looked up to see Nate in the doorway. Her breath caught in her lungs as she watched him walk toward her. His faded jeans were grubby, and the t-shirt he wore had stains on it. Clearly he'd decided to put in some time under the hood of a vehicle or two at his shop. He wasn't a big man like Matt, but he still had the height of Lance and Josh, and was all wiry muscle. The perfect build for the work he loved so much…getting under the hood of a car and making it purr like a kitten.
"Everything okay?" Nate asked.
Realizing she'd been staring and hadn't answered his first question, Lily swallowed and glanced back at the screens in front of her. "Yep. Making pretty good progress, I think. It should be done in the next day or two."
The aroma of gas and oil drifted her way as he nearedwhere she sat. They were scents she would always associate with him. Her high school girlfriends had wrinkled their noses whenever he’d come around them after a day at work. The smell of the garage had clung to him, and his hands, though clean, still had stains on them. It had repulsed her friends, but to Lily, all of that represented the man she loved doing what he loved. He worked hard, which was more than she could say about the guys her friends chose to hang out with.
Nate settled on the corner of the heavy oak desk. "It will be a relief to have all that entered. With my year end coming up I need to get that up to date or my accountant will have a stroke."
"Do you have payments that need to be entered as well? I'm assuming you've paid these bills one way or another." Lily made the mistake of looking away from the screens and straight into his chocolate brown gaze.
"I hate to ask you to do more."
