Page 27 of Dancing With Guilt

“I suppose he’s anxious to meet her?” Aunt Katie asked quietly, her eyes darting back to Lily before coming back to the front of the car.

“He is, I keep expecting to get a message demanding I bring her over to him tonight, but I think he’s calmed down a little. For now. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? It’s Lincoln, after all. He’s not used to being made to wait.”

“He’s waited this long, a few more hours won’t kill him,” Aunt Katie sniped, but her anger wasn’t directed at Roxie. That was totally reserved for Lincoln. “He might be handsome, and smart, and rich, but this is really so stupid of him.”

“It’s okay, really.” Roxie took one hand off the steering wheel to pat Katie’s left hand. “Now that he’s calmed down, what he says makes sense. He has things I can’t provide for her. And he should get to know her anyway.”

“I know you’re right, but I just feel so angry about it all.” Aunt Katie moved around in her seat, adjusting herself until she found a more comfortable position. “I just, oh I don’t know what I want to do, but I want to do something.”

“You can do something, make this as easy for Lily as you possibly can. I know you love her deeply, and even if this takes a turn for the worse, if I know you’re with her, I know she’ll be okay.” Roxie glanced back at Lily, but the little girl had headphones in her ears now, her lips moving silently along to whatever song she had on.

“She will be, you know I’ll protect her with my life.” Aunt Katie sighed deeply and looked out of the window on her side again. “It is nice here. Is it warmer in the winters than back home? I’ve heard coastal towns can be cold in the wintertime.”

“It’s not so bad, really. Sometimes it can be downright chilly, but it’s tolerable most days.” Roxie shrugged and flicked the indicator switch up to turn into the parking garage. “The summers are amazing, but the influx of tourists can make it a nightmare. Otherwise, I think you’ll like it here. It’s not Florida, but it’s not that bad.”

“I’ll have to give it a try, I guess.” Aunt Katie opened her door once Roxie pulled to a stop and turned the engine off. “Let me help with our bags.”

“I can manage, just wait with Lily for a second.” Roxie soon had the bags out and they were all going up to her apartment in the elevator. “I’ll sleep on the couch while you two are here. Lily can have the small bedroom and you can have the larger one, Aunt Katie.”

“Oh honey, I don’t want to put you out,” Aunt Katie said with a frown, but Roxie just shook her head.

“I’m not making you sleep on that couch, no matter comfortable I think it might be. Your back won’t tolerate sleeping on that thing for long.” Roxie opened the door to the apartment and brought in her guests. “It’s only a small place, but it’ll do for now.”

“Wow, Mommy! Is that the ocean?” Lily ran to stare out of the sliding glass doors at the ocean beyond. “Can I go out there?”

“In a minute, honey, let’s put your stuff away first, okay?” Roxie called and Lily came rushing back to help.

“Can I go swimming tomorrow?” Lily asked as Roxie opened up the first suitcase filled with her daughter’s clothes. They were good quality and all in good shape. Aunt Katie didn’t waste the money Roxie sent her and she knew it.

“I don’t know, baby. It’s been kind of cold lately, and you have to meet someone tomorrow.” Roxie looked over her shoulder as she hung the clothes on hangers to see Lily staring at her solemnly.

“Who is this person I have to meet, Mommy?” Lily’s eyes looking, her mouth set in an unhappy line. Roxie had seen that same look on Lincoln’s face a dozen times and on June’s even more often.

It nearly broke Roxie’s heart looking at how upset her daughter was and that made the decision for her. She’d tell Lily tonight about her father. There was no good to be had in making Lily wait.

“Well, you’re going to meet your father tomorrow, Lily,” Roxie replied as she came to sit beside her on the narrow bed.

“Oh,” Lily said very quietly, her brows furrowing deeper together, until even her forehead was wrinkled up a little. “I have a father?”

“Well, yes, honey, of course you have a father. Do you want to see him?” Roxie pulled her phone out of her back pocket, grateful that she’d come home to change before she’d gone to pick up her rather untraditional little family. Wearing jeans meant she could keep her phone on her all the time. “This is him.”

Roxie scrolled through her pictures until she found one from their time in Cambodia, Lincoln was smiling a carefree smile and laughter lit up his entire face. Then she scrolled some more and found a picture of him on the beach, sitting in the sun lounger, just enjoying the warmth and the sunshine. “This is him.”

Lily held the phone, her hands over her mother’s, as she stared at the man she hadn’t known existed. But that was because Roxie had never told her who he was. Of course, Lily had never asked, but she must have wondered.

“He’s very handsome,” Lily said, a small finger coming out to touch somewhere around Lincoln’s face. “Do I look like him?”

“You do, and your Aunt June too, his sister. She was my best friend all my life until I turned eighteen. We lost touch for a while, but she’s in my life again. You’ll meet her soon too. I’m not sure when, but you will.”

Aunt Katie came to the door and Roxie looked up, lost and unsure of how to tell Lily the next part. Aunt Katie’s lips pursed in a ‘be strong’ kind of way and she nodded at Roxie. After a deep breath, Roxie continued. “If you want to, you can come down here and live with him. Or you can stay in New York and live with him there.”

“But I live with Aunt Katie, Mommy. I can’t live with my daddy.” Lily shook her head and gave Roxie a look that questioned whether her mommy was silly or not.

“Well, soon you’re going to have to go live with him. Aunt Katie will be coming with you, I promise.” Roxie rushed to add in that last bit. “And if you come down here, maybe I can see you every day?”

“Oh, that would be wonderful,” Lily spoke with excitement now and happiness shining in her eyes. “I miss you when you’re gone, Mommy.”

“And I miss you, baby. I really do.” Roxie pulled Lily close and blinked away tears she didn’t want to shed. Tears might upset Lily, and Roxie wanted to avoid that at all costs.