Kathryn Shay - Be My Babies

Now, he beamed as he approached the bed. “This is the last day I’ll spoil you.”

She glanced at the tray after he set it down and inhaled the scents of cinnamon and warm bread. “Oh, Lord, I love French toast.”

Gil cleared his throat. “So did your mother. We used to make it Saturday mornings before I went to work.”

Picking up a glass, she sipped the tart orange juice. “You worked Saturdays?”

“And Sundays.” He took a seat near the window. “In those days, I was a workaholic, Lily.”

“That’s what you implied yesterday.” She didn’t want the resurrection of the topic to ruin the morning, so instead she nodded to the tray. “I see you brought the paper.”

“Yeah, it looks great this week.”

“Simon’s a good editor?”

His eyes sparkled. “He learned from the best.”

“I’ll bet.” She settled her hand on the newsprint. “I’m going to look for a job today, Gil.”

“I wish you wouldn’t. There’s no need.”

“I can’t just laze in bed forever.”

“Why?”

“It isn’t right.”

“It might be right for the babies.”

“I won’t overdo it. I have to start taking control of my life.”

He checked his watch. “Jake is coming in an hour to pick me up for our bowling league. I’ve got time, if you want to tell me about that. About Derek.”

Lily had yet to reveal the reason she’d run away from her husband or tell Gil what really happened to her and Cameron all those years ago. Now might be the time to explain about Derek. But she didn’t know if she’d ever tell him the latter. Some things were better kept from a father.

She bit into the toast. It was delicious. “A shortened version, maybe. After I eat.”

When she finished her meal, Gil took the tray and put it on the dresser. Sitting back down, he said, “I’m listening.” He’d brought a mug of coffee for himself and he sipped from it as she talked.

“I met Derek after college. His family business was a big customer of the agency I worked for and Derek was at the firm a lot.”

“What business is he in?”

“Wakefield Enterprises.”

“Wow, I didn’t make the connection. Huge conglomerate.”

“They’re rich.” And spoiled and arrogant.

“So why do you need a job, Lily?”

“Because it’s the Wakefields’ money. When I left the house in Westchester, I took some clothes and my jewelry, but not even my car. I only took the jewelry because I needed a security blanket, and because I intend to pay my own medical bills when I have the babies.”

“What on earth brought you to this point?”

“Derek swept me off my feet. He was so charismatic, I didn’t stand a chance.” She could still remember a young black-haired, blue-eyed Derek wining and dining her, catering to her every whim, professing his undying love. She didn’t know until after they were married that this wasn’t the real Derek Wakefield, this wasn’t his true personality. She explained all this to her grandfather.

“Once we were together, he couldn’t keep up the facade. But by then it was too late, because I was crazy about him. I thought I could handle the negligence and self-centeredness.” She shook her head. “It wasn’t until we tried to have a child that things became unbearable.”

“You had problems…in that area?”

“Yes. Derek wouldn’t get tested, but there were no physical issues with me.” She shrugged. “Still, maybe I was too tense.”

“How did he feel when you told him you finally were pregnant?”

She waited a long time before she answered. “I didn’t.”

In her mind, she could still see their last scene together.

She’d come home from her doctor’s appointment elated, having waited to tell Derek about the pregnancy until she was past the miscarriage stage. That day, she’d rushed to his downstairs office, knocked and entered without waiting for a reply. And there he was…

“What are you doing? ” she’d asked, horrified.

The traces of white powder still visible beneath his nose, and the paraphernalia on the desk answered her question.

“Get out of here. This is my business.”

“Derek, you can’t—”

“I said get the hell out.” He came around the desk as fast as a jaguar. When she didn’t move, he yelled, “I said, get out!”

“Derek, please.”

The slap came fast and it was hard enough to knock her back against the door. And for the first time Lily was afraid he’d hurt her and the babies.

She told Gil everything, except the part about Derek hitting her. For some reason, she couldn’t share that with him. “So I left.”

“Oh, Lily, I’m sorry.”

“Me, too. I’m going to file for a legal separation, but I need to get back on my feet again first, in case he isn’t agreeable.”

“Do you still care about him?”

“Derek was my first love, and I think I’ll always care about him. But now I have two children to protect.”

His eyes widened beneath bushy brows. “You’re not going to tell him about them?”

“I’m afraid for them, and truthfully, I’m afraid his parents might try to take them from me. I just don’t have everything figured out yet, Gil.”

“You’re not alone anymore. I’m here for you.” His eyes were sad. “I know I wasn’t there for your mother, but I learned what’s important.”

She wanted to believe that, but Lily had a hard time trusting men these days.

The doorbell rang. Rising, her grandfather said, “That’s Jake. I’ve got to go.”

“Tell him I made an appointment with Dr. Rabin.” Jake was Doc Jacobs, an established physician in town and Gil’s best friend. He had a young partner who was slowly taking over his practice. “The last time he came here, he insisted. I do need checkups.”

“I’ll tell him.” Leaning over, he kissed Lily’s head. It was the first time he’d done that. “I’ll be back this afternoon.”

“Enjoy bowling and lunch.”

After Gil left, Lily was feeling discomfited, probably because she still had some conflicted feelings about Gil’s role in her mother’s life. And because she’d talked about Derek. She’d tried to downplay that last encounter to Gil, but in reality the scene had been a nightmare. Getting out of the house unnoticed. Covering her tracks. Derek wouldn’t be able to trace her to Fairview because when she met him she’d been using the Clarkson name—which her mother had taken to protect her identity—and he’d never known Lily’s connection with the Gardners.

To dispel her anxiety, Lily opened the Sentinel to search for the classifieds. She’d feel better if she was doing something with her time.

The paper did look good, though with her art and advertising background, she couldn’t help thinking of improvements that could be made to the layout and design. The classifieds, especially, needed revamping. She began circling jobs that she could do and not be on her feet all day. There weren’t many. She was halfway through the ads when the phone rang, and she answered the extension by her bed. “Gardner residence.”

A hesitation. “Lily? This is Simon McCarthy. Is Gil there?”

“Ah, no. He just left to go bowling and have lunch with Doc Jacobs.”

“Damn.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Our receptionist called in sick and we’re fielding a lot of local ads today.” He sighed. “Never mind, I’ll try Sammy’s mother. She might be able to pitch in.”

Sammy Johnston was the photographer on staff. From the looks of the paper, she was a good one.

“What about me?”

“You?”

“I can answer phones. Take ad copy.”

“No, that’s okay.”

“Really, Simon. I was just looking at the classifieds for myself.”