Lilly turned on the spot and walked purposefully out of his bar and back to her car. She didn’t want him to chase after her. She was angry with him and wouldn’t listen to anything he had to say with a clear mind. She couldn’t understand how she could be in love someone so much and then hate them at the same time. She was disappointed that he could be so cold and demanding. It seemed that he was punishing her for his secret, which he wanted to share.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Finding Lilly’s brother, William, was the primary task to be done today. Elijah wanted answers, and he was going to find him with the help of Mickey. He needed to find out what he was up to and how that affected Lilly. Elijah wanted to protect her from her own family. In different ways they were destructive to her mental being and he wasn’t happy about it. What he really wanted to do was talk to Lilly, but it was bad timing. What he wanted to say, couldn’t be said in anger or wielded as a weapon.
His own family supported both him and Jack and he’d never experienced such hatred from the people who loved him. If he had his way, he would remove her completely from her family’s clutches and never let her see them again. That was unreasonable so instead he would teach her to stand up to them and not listen to their negativity.
Leaving the law firm was the first step, now he needed to make her a part of his family instead. He still wanted to marry her, but she hadn’t forgiven him yet. She would inthe end, he would make sure of it. She wasn’t answering her phone or her door, he had tried for days but to no avail.
First, Elijah needed to know where William was and have a conversation with him about the drug dealing. He called Mickey to see if he had found out where he was.
“Dude, have you found the little shit yet?” Elijah asked as soon as he heard the call connect and before Mickey could utter a word.
“No man, I could do with some help.” Mickey said.
“Yeah?” Elijah asked, he needed to help and was surprised Mickey needed it.
“Yeah, can you get over here, leave precious Blue’s for a while. Is your beauty working today?” Mickey asked.
“No, smart arse she isn’t, she’s not speaking to me. I’ll be over in an hour.” Elijah said.
“Please tell me you haven’t fucked it up with her. I’ll see you in an hour and you can tell me all about it.” Mickey said.
Elijah hung up the phone without saying goodbye, he was dreading telling Mickey what happened. Mickey would kick his arse for being so stupid. He ignored the paperwork still sitting on his desk and headed over to Mickey’s office.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Lilly braced herself for another meeting with her parents, coming to her childhood house was a punishment to her. It represented everything she missed out on as a child and teenager.
Nevertheless, the duty of a daughter overtook anything she may want and when summoned, she came. Walking up the driveway, the immaculate lawns and plants made her sad. Everything had to be perfect in her mother’s eyes, nothing out of place. Appearances were the most important thing and that included her garden as well. If only her parents were judged on the love they gave their children. Perhaps they wouldn’t be so respected then or they may actually make an effort to show her some love.
The rebellious side of Lilly bubbled to the surface when she entered the property of the Harrison household and the urge to run across the lawn with her heels on always came to mind. She had the same urge when she saw a bowling green as well. There was something about a perfect lawn that she wanted to ruin. Irrational thoughts but she owned them and giggled at the prospect.
Maybe one day.
Hoisting her bag higher on her shoulder, she reached out for the doorknob and caught herself. She couldn’t just walk in, she had to knock first, and she didn’t understand that formality either. They weren’t the parents to walk around naked, so what she might be interrupting piqued her interest.
Lilly raised the heavy lion’s head on the door, lifted it high and let it drop. Her parents hated she did that as it was a loud knock when the metal hit its target. She waited for the door to open looking at the door frame, studying the tiny spider in its web. It was busily playing with a fly it had just caught and readying it for its next meal. The door still hadn’t opened, and she went to bang the door knocker again and the door swung open.
“Oh my God, you look amazing, who are you fucking because he is doing you a world of good with your complexion and twinkle in your eye,” her Aunt Jane exclaimed.
“Aunt Jane, it is wonderful to see you, why are you here? Bloody hell, you’re a welcome sight in this household,” Lilly answered.
The two women hugged fiercely and Lilly squeezed her plump Aunt until she squealed. She adored her Aunt Jane, she was a breath of fresh air but lived down on the south coast and didn’t visit very often. Aunt Jane pinched Lilly’s cheek and kissed it better.
“Come on in and have a drink, your mother is being a bitch and I need reinforcements,” Aunt Jane said conspiratorially.
Jane and Gale were sisters, and they hated each other, Lilly didn’t know why and didn’t really care. What Lilly cared about most, was the fact that she rarely saw her Auntand when she did, she liked to spend every waking moment she had with her. Aunt Jane was full of life, the exact opposite of her mother who seemed to hate life and everyone in it. How two people could be so different and be raised by the same parents was beyond her knowledge. They were only a couple years apart in age, but Aunt Jane who was older appeared a lot younger.
Lilly followed her Aunt Jane through the house and wished she had a coat with her to hang on the bannister. Instead, she whistled tunelessly and skipped behind Aunt Jane, who made a swift pace through the hallway and out to the garden. Lilly’s mood soon darkened on sight of her parents. Gale was talking at Dylan rather than to him, it was rare to see Dylan appear anything other than in total agreement with his wife but he couldn’t have heard them approach. Lilly watched as he rolled his eyes at Gale, pick up a newspaper and completely ignore her.
It lifted her heart to see that her father wasn’t as browbeaten as she thought he was. There was hope for him yet. She now wondered why he put up with it. It didn’t matter why. It was their relationship and none of her business.
“Look who’s arrived, we can start now Lills has graced us with her presence.” Aunt Jane announced. “First let me get a drink, I think I need a drink first to get me through this next hour,” she added.
“What are you talking about Aunt Jane,” Lilly said and nudged her in the ribs and started to giggle, “Get me a Martini and lemonade while you’re getting a drink, sounds like I will need one too,” Lilly said.
“Your mother has a plan and your place has been decided, that’s why I have been summoned, so that we are a united front.” Jane floated over to the drink’s trayjust by the French doors and poured her and Lilly a stiff martini, she skipped the lemonade and added ice. Lilly watched as she came back and handed her the drink and they clinked glasses.
