“Christian,” she hesitated.
“It’s. Your. Business.”
She took a deep breath to steady her voice and her racing thoughts. “Fight for her. She’s worth it. And your mom’s house is the perfect place to raise her. Fight for more than just the summer.”
Christian exhaled as if he’d been holding his breath the entire time. His shoulders slumped slightly before he returned his gaze to hers. “I know she is. Maybe I should talk to your friend and find out what’s going on.”
“I wouldn’t recommend that,” she warned.
Christian’s shoulders stiffened as he looked at her with his eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Mallory let out a frustrated sigh. Christian worked in healthcare. He should know better than to think Dan would tellhim everything that Lily said. While it was true, Dan wasn’t at work when they spoke, it still wasn’t a good idea to get the one person who she’d opened up to, to break her trust. He had to know better than that.
“Do you think that’s smart? Even if you could get Dan to tell you everything, should you?”
She regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. She had sworn to herself that she wouldn’t interfere, and there she was harshly second guessing him. The harshness of her words was unintentional, but she had instantly reverted back to herself as a child in need of a safe space. The idea of her one confidante sharing everything brought on instant feelings of betrayal.
“You sure went from having no opinion to questioning my instincts as a parent.” The change in his demeanor sent a chill through her.
“Christian, I didn’t mean—"
“Save it. We’re going to get going. I’m tired and have a lot on my mind.”
With that, he got up and headed for the door, calling for Lily as he went. Mallory sat frozen on the couch as the realization struck her. This was the first time he’d ever been angry with her. She remained frozen in place even as Lily looked back at her with pleading eyes as she followed her father out the door. After insisting she be included in the decisions about Lily, he had quickly proven that her instincts had been correct.
CHRISTIAN
Chris felt like shit. He hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before and a nap before work also wasn’t happening. He had planned to take a sick day, but Lily wasn’t having it. She all but begged to go to Mallory’s, and since he had no desire to face her the only way Lily was going to her house was if he dropped her off on his way to work. He hadn’t given Lily more than anoncommittal shrug before he went to his bedroom to lie down, but time had run out. If he wasn’t going to work, he had to make the call soon.
“Well?” Lily asked from the couch as soon as he emerged from his room in search of coffee.
“Lily I—"
“Just drop me off. Whatever you guys are fighting about doesn’t have anything to do with me, so I shouldn’t be punished for it. I like her!”
Actually, it had everything to do with her, but he couldn’t tell her that. If he was honest with himself, their fight had everything to do with him. He probably could have reacted a bit better, but she was wrong to judge him that way. As Lily’s father, he had every right to know what was going on before making a major decision about her life.
“I know you like her, but—"
She cut him off again. “If she wasn’t going to be around, you shouldn’t have brought me to her house.”
She was right. He wouldn’t have introduced them if he hadn’t planned on her being someone permanent in his life. He was pissed, but was it permanent? He didn’t want to think about it.
Before he could respond, his phone vibrated with a text message.
Mallory: Lily is still coming over tonight, right?
He looked up at Lily, who was watching him expectantly with her arms folded. He had to make a decision, but not before coffee. Lily followed him in silence when he made his way to the kitchen.
After a few sips, he picked up his phone and sent Mallory a simple “yes” before returning his attention to his daughter. She was sitting at the small table still waiting for his response. He never had and never would mistreat her, but she knew better than to push.
“I’ll drop you off over there. You still don’t want to go back home?” he finally responded.
“Please don’t make me. Can’t you talk to Mom? She’s tired of me, anyway.”
“Your mother loves you.” No matter his issues with the woman, he never wanted Lily to feel less than loved by either parent.
Lily didn’t respond to what he said. She just stared at him with a purposely blank expression on her face. Chris wished he knew what was going on in her mind. He would definitely be stopping at Dan’s after he dropped Lily off. No way was he continuing to blindly navigate the situation.
