Page 107 of Painting Her Fate

“Then we’re good.” Daniel states with a twitch of his lips.

I’m pretty sure I was just accepted in. Best not fuck this up.

“What’s going on here?” Lili asks, a little out of breath. My smile pops right back into place. She still has the baby in her arms as she sits next to me. “You gettin’ on okay? My dad isn’t scaring you away with words, is he? Rest assured, he’s all bark and no bite.” She moves hair away from her face then sets the baby on her knee, “Whew! You have this lass tuckered out miss Mallory!”

The baby coos merrily and bounces up and down in Lili’s lap. Lili giggles a bit tired and shifts her hair behind her so the little one wouldn’t tug at it. I find one of her baby cookies on the table and hand it to her. She takes it and gins at me with her few teeth. So cute.

Lili smiles at her niece, but all I see is Lili. Her flushed cheeks and that look of pure delight at being here is something I’ll never forget. Her gaze meets mine and Mallory kicks her feet wildly, wanting down. Lili complies and sets her down, taking her cookie from her so she doesn’t choke. She toddles from knee to knee, passing everyone nearby to get to her mommy.

Lili’s cellphone rings, disturbing the moment. She looks at the screen, her face lighting in surprise and she’s quick to answer it. As soon as the faces show- “Gran! Oh, my, it’s so good to see you!”

While they talk for a few minutes, I got up and grabbed two waters from the cooler then casually made my way back to the table. One of Lili’s uncles now lounges in the chair I vacated, so I knelt next to Lili on her other side, opened one of the bottles and offered it to her. She mouths a thank you and takes a sip.

An older Scottish woman’s voice rings over the line, “Who is that? Is that Alexander? What ye waiting for, Lassie? Put him on!” She is audacious and I recognize now who Lili has shadowed.

She turns the phone so that both her and I are in the frame together, no hesitance in doing so. The similarities between Lili and her Gran are strikingly similar. “Hello, I’m Zander. Lili has told me so much about you.”

Now that I’ve come on screen, Tamara is trying to squeeze herself in behind Gran.

“Ah, it’s lovely to finally see you,” she beams, “I hear you have taken quite a fancy to my granddaughter.” She is quite blunt, isn’t she? I like that.

“Hello Zander! Nice to see you again!” Tamara shouts in the background. I give my hello then the screen freezes. But the audio is still working.

“Tamara, I think I have a bad connection.”

“We can’t – see –”

Lili fumbles with her device then gives up, “call me later.” She hangs up, sets her phone in her lap, and turns so are faces are close.

What I would give to kiss-.

She places her lips to mine in a light caress, possibly thinking the same thing as I. Just a quick kiss, just enough for me to chase, wanting more of her, but not with this many spectators watching us. A chorus of‘awe’and,‘how cute’flows from many of them, and I think Jackson chimed in with‘ewww, gross’making a few of the adults laugh.

“I have wanted to do that ever since the egg hunt.” She whispers.

I give a quick glance to her father who surprisingly isn’t upset at his daughter’s display of affection. I relax a little and gaze into her eyes, eyes teaming with want.

“Me too.”

“Are you ready to go?” She lowers her voice, “I think I want some tiramisu.”

I know that code word.Mercy woman.

“Behave, Ms. Hayes.” I lean close to her ear and groan.

God, this girl.

We give our goodbyes, the rugrats all run to us, giving us hugs and high fives.

“Anytime you two want to babysit, let us know.” Lili’s aunt Sam chimes in, Mallory on her hip, “I’m being serious. Our date nights are few and far between anymore.”

Lili’s finger is clasped in Mallory’s chubby hand as she babbles, her toothy grin full of cookies and drool. Then Lili lets go and wiggles her fingers at the baby in a wave of goodbye. Lili tells her aunt she will let her know soon, as she isn’t sure how long she is staying in town.

She can’t go back home. She can’t.

Her father and I shake hands, saying the other person’s name and giving each other that knowing perceptive stare.Protect herwritten throughout the unspoken meaning.

Back at her condo, we barely have enough time to make it through the door before my phone starts blowing up with text after text. I bet I know who it is.

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