Be My Babies

“You told Gil she died in a bus accident.”

“Another lie.”

“Oh, Lily.”

“She went home with one of the patrons from the club. And never came back. They found her body on the street, near a garbage dump.”

Tears flowed now. She tried to dash them away, but she was transported back to all the horror of her mother’s death and the terror of being left alone.

Simon slid closer and took her hand. She latched on to it for support, but she couldn’t look at him, so he pulled her close and held her.

“I’m sorry. I thought I’d dealt with this.” She buried her face in his chest, as if it were the most natural thing to do. “You’re the first person I’ve ever told this to.”

“Derek doesn’t know?” There was an odd note in his voice. It got that way every time he talked about her husband.

“Are you kidding? No. And he wouldn’t want me to tell him. That’s one reason why he won’t find me here. He doesn’t know about my connection to you all.” Oh. “I mean to Gil.”

“It must have been hard for you, Lily, living like that.”

“It was, but, Simon, my poor mother…She was a good person. I think life just gave her too many knocks.”

“What happened to you when she died?”

“I was sixteen, by then, and she’d left some money. She stashed it away, truly, in a mattress. With working two jobs, it was enough for me to live on.”

“Didn’t social services have something to say about that?”

“It’s easy to get lost in New York City.”

“I can’t believe you were left alone.” He was still holding her, and his hand smoothed down her hair. It felt comforting—and something else, too. Closing her eyes, she sank farther into him. “You were Jenna’s age.”

“I love Jenna’s innocence. Because I never was like her. I craved it, though, and respectability.”

“I can see why.” He kissed the top of her head. Settled his hand at her neck.

All she wanted was to stay in Simon’s arms. She’d never felt protected by Derek. Instead, she was always taking care of him. This was such a welcome change, maybe even a needed one during her pregnancy, which had made her feel utterly vulnerable.

But it couldn’t last and it wasn’t reality. After a few more precious moments in his arms, she drew away, sat up and wiped her eyes. “Damn. I’m a regular fountain around you.”

“This is something to cry about.”

“That’s why I’m torn about what to do with Gil.”

“It’s a hard call.”

“Simon, this would hurt him so much. And what purpose would it serve, to tell him? He already feels so much guilt.”

“You really care about him, don’t you?”

“Of course I do!”

“I think maybe your instincts are right. As you said, what good would it serve for him to find out about Cameron?”

She released a heavy breath. “Okay, then. I feel better, knowing you agree.”

Reaching out, he took her hand again. His was big and masculine and easily encompassed hers. “Let me say something. You’re a wonderful person. You’ve survived so much. And you still worry about others.”

“I ran away from Derek, Simon.”

“Which was the right thing to do. You have character and strength. Remember that.”

Tears welled in her eyes again.

“Uh-oh. We’d better stop this.”

She looked down at her hand in his. So did he. He was right—they had to stop. Because the last thing Lily needed in her life right now was a relationship with this man. With any man. Although, in her heart, she didn’t want to curtail her feelings for Simon.

This time, however, she’d listen to her head.

STILL REELING from his afternoon conversation with Lily, Simon met his sister at the Fairview Diner for dinner. The cool air inside felt good after his walk over in the warm May weather.

“Hey, Simon,” Artie Conklin, the owner, said, when he came in.

“Hi, Artie. How’s that son of yours doing? He just got promoted, didn’t he?”

“Yep, to head of the ambulance crew. Still goes on calls, though.”

“Good for him.”

“How’s Lily?”

“She’s good.” More than good. Wonderful. And beautiful. Very, very beautiful.

“Glad to hear.” Artie nodded across the room. “Your sister’s in the back booth.”

“Thanks.” He found Sara sipping a glass of wine and kissed her cheek before he said, “Hi, sis.”

“Hi, Simon. That happen often?”

“What?”

“People asking you about Lily Wakefield. Right after you ask about their families?”

“Everybody asks me about her and Gil. They know her through the paper.”

“I heard she was working there.”

He motioned to their waitress for another glass of wine. “How are you, Sara?”