20

 

Lily looked on, horrified, as Sonia Martin buried her face in her hands and burst into tears. Lily had expected anger, disbelief, but never tears. With shaking fingers, she pulled a tissue from her bag and handed it to the distraught woman.

Sonia took the offering and blew her nose and then crumpled it into a ball. “All these years I’ve wondered if you were really dead.” Her face softened as she looked at Lily with something close to affection. “I haven’t seen you since you were a little child.” She reached out a thin hand to touch Lily’s cheek. “You’re the spitting image of your mother. That’s how I knew it was you. The necklace only confirmed it.”

A ball of emotion lodged in Lily’s throat, welling up inside until tears slid down her cheeks. “Will you tell me about her?” she whispered. “I only have a few memories of her. And no pictures except this.” She clicked open the locket with her thumbnail. Inside, the tiny black and white photo had seen better days.

Sonia leaned closer to see the picture. She smiled sadly. “Yes, Margaret was only twenty-two when it was taken. It was her engagement photo. There used to be a picture of your father on the other side.”

Lily closed the locket and wiped her face. “What was she like?”

A light glowed in Sonia’s pale eyes. “Margaret was a wonderful person, a good wife, a dedicated mother, and a dear friend. She adored you children. You were her whole world.”

Sorrow banded Lily’s heart. With everything in her, she wished she could remember her brief time with her mother. “What about my father?” She clutched her hands in her lap, half-dreading the answer.

Sonia’s expression hardened. “David was a good man, but circumstances intervened to change that.”

“What sort of circumstances?”

With difficulty, Sonia rose from her seat and limped to the fireplace. “You know the old saying ‘doctors make the worst patients’? Well, it was true of David. He was ill but ignored his symptoms until it was much too late.” She turned back to look at Lily. “He had a brain tumor which affected his personality. Made him anxious, paranoid, and totally unreasonable. Every time Margaret begged him to go for tests, he refused.”

The ball of tension in the pit of Lily’s stomach began to loosen. “Why would he refuse?”

“Margaret thought it was because he knew something was seriously wrong. None of us ever suspected what it would lead to. That he would destroy his own family.” Tears gathered in Sonia’s eyes. She moved over to the sofa beside Lily. “I still can’t believe you’re alive. We were told you’d died in the hospital. We even buried your ashes.” She pressed the tissue to her mouth.

Lily took a shaky breath. “I know it’s hard to believe.” She didn’t want to upset the woman any more than she already had. Certain details, like Doc’s quest for the truth, could be kept quiet for now.

“May I ask what took you so long to come back?”

“I only found out the truth a few weeks ago. My adoptive parents kept the story from me—most likely to protect me.”

“Please, tell me about your family. I hope they were good to you.”

Lily forced away the negative feelings about her father and concentrated instead on the woman who’d raised her. “I had a wonderful mother. She was everything a little girl could want. Kind, gentle, and loving. I was very happy for a while…until she died when I was ten.”

The lines around Sonia’s mouth deepened. “I’m so sorry. My husband, Leonard, died when Chloe was twelve. I’ve tried to make it up to her as best I can.” She closed her eyes. “Only now my own health is failing.”

Lily reached out to grasp Sonia’s frail hand, aching for the grief Chloe would soon endure. A type of grief Lily understood all too well. “Is there nothing that can be done?”

Sonia sighed. “Unfortunately, no. It’s a degenerative condition with no cure. My sister died not long ago from the same thing.”

“I’m so sorry.” Lily’s thoughts turned to Nick having to bear the loss of his aunt so soon after he’d lost his mother. How did he stay so strong? Was it his faith that gave him such courage?

The two women sat together, hands gripped, bonded by shared sorrow.

“I’ll be here for Chloe,” Lily whispered through her own tears. “I love her so much already.”

“Lily, I must ask you a huge favor.” Sonia’s voice quivered. “Please don’t tell Chloe about this until after I’m gone.”

Lily stilled. “I would prefer if you told her the truth yourself.”

Sonia shook her gray head. “I couldn’t bear for her to know her own father killed her family. It’s better she thinks her mother was an unwed teen who gave her up. Besides, if she finds out I’ve lied to her all these years, she’ll never forgive me.” A sob escaped her thin lips.

“Chloe might be upset at first—”

“Please. You’ll have her for the rest of your life. I may only have months left.” Her desperation bored into Lily.

The cuckoo clock on the wall chimed the hour, and Sonia jerked in her seat.

“Oh, my stars. You have to go. Chloe will be back any minute.” She gripped Lily’s arm with steely fingers. “Promise me you won’t say anything.”

Lily hesitated, recalling Nick’s concern for his aunt’s health. For the time being at least, she could ease Sonia’s mind.

“I promise.”

 

****

 

Nick rubbed his hands over the three days growth of beard as he waited for the coffeepot to finish brewing. He’d barely eaten, showered, or slept since receiving Ted’s ultimatum, ignoring the phone and his e-mail—basically shutting out the entire world. He needed time to think and pray. To sort out his life’s purpose and discern God’s true plan for his future.

And he needed to do it alone.

In particular, he’d avoided Lily for the simple reason that she clouded his judgment. Whenever she was near, he couldn’t think straight, overwhelmed by the powerful feelings she evoked in him. Instead, he spent a lot of time out by the falls, and in church, praying and thinking.

What did God want him to do? Nick knew what he wanted. To marry Lily and spend the rest of his life with her. But how did that fit with God’s plan for him?

Lily had made her position on religion very clear. And even though she’d been coming to church, it didn’t mean she was ready to commit to a life of faith, let alone become a minister’s wife.

The coffeemaker sputtered out its last gasp. Nick grabbed a mug and poured a cup, inhaling the rich fragrance with an appreciative sigh. He swallowed the first sip, then startled when the doorbell rang.

Lily.

His heart percolating like the coffee in his pot, he set the cup down and rushed to the door, realizing with a jolt how much he’d missed her.

But the woman on his doorstep wasn’t Lily. Nick did his best to hide his disappointment. “Maxi. Come in.”

Maxi pulled off her sunglasses to shoot him a disgusted look. “Aren’t we a sight for sore eyes?” She sailed past him into the living room.

Perplexed, Nick followed her. “You want some coffee? It’s fresh.”

“No, thanks.” She stood in the middle of the room, arms folded over her bright orange shirt. Her red hair stood up as if in preparation for battle.

“Have a seat.” He gestured to the sofa.

“I’d rather stand.”

He huffed out a weary breath. “What can I do for you then?”

She pinned him with a furious glare. “Do you know you’re breaking Lily’s heart? Making her think you care and then tossing her away like a rusty wrench.”

“Who said I tossed her away? I just needed a little space.”

“Space for what?”

“To sort out a few things.”

She stomped across the carpet, her pointed boots stopping just short of his toes. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to decide between Lily and Sarah Jane, because if you even have to think about it, you’re an idiot.”

Amusement quickly morphed into irritation. He took her gently but firmly by the arm and led her to the couch. “Sit down, please.”

She scowled and plopped down on the sofa.

Nick joined her. “Now, tell me what’s bothering you without aiming daggers at me.”

When she raised her hazel eyes to his, he was surprised to see a film of tears.

“You know I don’t have a lot of people in my life to count on.” She paused. “Lily’s become one of my best friends. She tries to pretend she’s a hard city girl, but underneath she’s as fragile as a piece of paper.”

Where was she going with this? “Go on.”

“She’s been hurt a lot, and she’s got a big wall around her. But you got through that. And now it’s killing me to see her like this.”

Alarm gripped his insides. “Like what?”

She shrugged. “All torn up. Crying and everything.”

The air whooshed out of his lungs as though someone had sucker punched him. Lily was crying over him?

“I thought better of you, Nick Logan. But you’re just as bad as Jason.” She jerked to her feet and crossed to the fireplace, her back stiff.

Sighing, Nick joined her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “He still hasn’t noticed how you feel?” He could count the number of times they’d had this same conversation over the years, yet he would do his best to comfort her once again.

“No.” She turned and sniffed into Nick’s shoulder. “And I don’t think he ever will. I’m just his best friend. Nothing more.”

He patted her back, his big brother instincts taking over. “Maybe it’s time you faced the truth…and let Jason go.”

Two tears escaped to leak down her cheeks. “That’s what I decided last night. After I’d finished with Lily.”

Nick frowned. “What do you mean finished with Lily?”

“If you’d call her, you’d know.”

Geesh, Maxi was as prickly as a pear. “Did something else upset her?”

“Maybe I will have that coffee after all.”

Nick prayed for a truckload of patience and followed Maxi into the kitchen where he poured her a cup and topped off his own.

She took the mug and stared down into the dark brew. “Your aunt asked Lily to come over to talk.”

Nick set his mug on the counter with a thud. “What did she want?”

“Lily wouldn’t tell me. But I know it upset her, and she was already worried about you.” She shot him a dark look. “It took me hours to calm her down.”

Guilt tore at his gut to think about Lily being so distraught. And the fact that he’d contributed to it made it even worse.

“She thinks you’re mad at her. That you’ve come to your senses and don’t want anything more to do with her.”

Exasperation wore through his patience. “Why would she think that?” Then, with a start, he remembered a brief telephone conversation from two nights ago. Lily had called to talk, and he’d been quick to end the call. Now that he thought about it, his tone might have been a bit harsh. He exhaled a loud gust of air and sank onto one of the kitchen chairs.

Maxi followed suit. “I think she’s hiding things from her past. She won’t talk about her family, but I know her father treated her bad. Maybe even beat her.”

Nick’s arm jerked, rattling the salt and pepper shakers on the table. “He beat her?”

“Didn’t she tell you about her father? I’m pretty sure he hit her when she did something wrong. I think it made her feel unworthy of anything good in her life.”

Nick bent over the table, his eyes closed and his head in his hands. He knew all about feeling unworthy. About the effects of a father beating you. Why hadn’t Lily told him the whole truth about her childhood? She must have known he’d sympathize with her.

Sudden clarity flooded his system as everything came into sharp focus. Lily needed him. That’s why God had brought them together. It was up to Nick to help her feel worthy. To show her how much God loved her. “I need to see her and straighten out this mess.”

Maxi smiled for the first time since she got there. “I was hoping you’d say that.” She drained her cup and got to her feet, pausing to study him. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

He glowered at her. “That, my friend, is between Lily and me.”

She grinned. “You just gave me my answer. But I think Lily’s the one who needs to hear it.”

 

****

 

Lily followed Doc Anderson down the main corridor of his medical clinic and into his spacious office.

“Thanks for coming on such short notice.” Doc motioned for her to have a seat.

“I hope this means you have some news for me.” Lily scanned the framed diplomas on the wall behind his large oak desk before perching on the edge of a guest chair. How she wished Nick were here with her.

“I do.” Doc moved to the large credenza that sat along one wall. “Tried to get a hold of Nick, but couldn’t reach him.” He looked over his shoulder at Lily, a question in his eyes.

She shrugged. “He must be busy with work.”

Doc stared at her for a moment. “Must be.” He pulled out a drawer and removed a manila folder. “I went into Kingsville to the hospital yesterday,” he said as he sank into the oversized leather chair.

Her pulse sprinted like a rabbit across a field. Maybe now she’d get some answers. “Any luck?”

He set the folder on the desk in front of her. “I think you’ll find these quite interesting.”

She opened the file and picked up the papers inside. The words danced on the page in front of her.

Lily Adelaide Strickland, age 5. Admitted on November 13th. Gunshot wound to the chest.

A bunch of medical jargon followed.

November 28th—Patient breathing on own. Still unconscious and unresponsive.

December 5th—Patient regained consciousness.

Lily skipped over more minutia about feeding tubes and bowel activity to the pages at the end. On the last sheet, the entry read: December 19th. Patient recovered enough for release.

December 22nd—Patient discharged. Released into adoptive parents’ custody.

Dazed, she raised her eyes. “So the hospital never declared me dead.”

“Apparently not. These were not the records I received. Looks like the hospital chaplain sent me a false report along with a fake death certificate.” Doc’s expression was grim.

“What possible motive could he have had to do such a thing?”

“I wish I knew.”

“Were you able to learn the chaplain’s name?” Her heart thudded against her ribs. She needed to know the name of the man who had changed her fate with the slash of a pen.

“As a matter of fact, I did.”

“And?” Lily bit her bottom lip.

He steepled his fingers and looked past her. “I remember how upset Sonia was when they told us little Addie had been cremated.” He gave a deep sigh. “If only we’d known you were still alive. You could’ve been raised with your sister.”

Lily’s hand stilled on the papers in her hand. She couldn’t allow herself to think about that now. About how different her life could have been. “His name?” she prompted.

He focused his gaze back on her. “Ah, yes. The chaplain’s name was Tobias Cunningham.”