Page 43 of Timeless
“Lily’s dad, he?—”
My mom sat silently while I explained what Lily had told me about the events in London, moving here under the false pretenses of change, the way he used carefully staged photos and twisted threats to manipulate her into thinking my life was in danger if she didn’t cooperate and leave town.
It was cruel and calculated.
It had to be the worst feeling: being betrayed by a parent.
“I just don’t understand how? Why?” I shook my head.
“And the unfortunate reality is, you might never get those answers. It sounds like there’s a lot of moving parts that you could unpack and overanalyze until your final breath. But do you really want to waste your energy on the negativity of the past that you can’t control, or do you want to move forward on a path that is within your reach and full of light, love, and promise?”
“Figuring out people’s whys is part of my job. It’s what I do. I create a profile, analyze all the evidence and variables in an effort to get to the root of why people behave the way they do.”
“I totally get that, and that’s what makes you great at your job. You see things others often don’t. You make connections and put the pieces together, but, sweetheart, this isn’t your job. Lily’s dad isn’t a person of interest in any of your cases.”
“But how do I let go of this anger? I don’t want to dump any of this on Lily; she’s been through so much. She’s still hurting.”
“You do what you’re doing right now. You don’t bottle it up or ignore it; you talk about it. You know I always like to find thepositives and focus on the good, like realizing that without the past, you both wouldn’t be where you are now. But I also know the importance of having your voice heard. Having your feelings and thoughts validated. Life isn’t easy, and sometimes we need to vent without the other person trying to fix our problems, and that’s okay too.”
“That’s how I felt this morning.”
“What happened?”
“I helped Lily get all settled back into her condo yesterday, but no matter how convincing her smile appeared, I could tell she was on edge . . . I guess I hoped that by now she’d feel safe enough with me to open herself up completely.”
“From what you’ve told me, Lily’s been through a lot. You can’t expect her to word vomit every encounter or thing that’s happened in her life overnight.”
“I don’t. It’s just . . .”
“You are your father’s son through and through; it’s in your nature to want to fix things for others. While it isn’t always your job, I could never fault either of you for it because it’s sweet how much you care.”
“I want to shoulder her pain so it doesn’t touch her, but I don’t know the full extent of everything, other than the few details she’s shared about an ex-boyfriend.”
“Not every person’s pain can be yours to bear, Jaxon. Have faith that Lily will open up when she’s ready. Until then, you need to be patient with her and continue being the supportive and compassionate son I raised you to be. Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Anytime, you know I’m here for you always, no matter thesituation or your age. I’ll always be your mom; that job doesn’t just stop because you’re an adult.”
“You’re the best.”
“Now, tell me about feeling grateful because I’m dying to hear all about my future daughter-in-law.”
I leaned back in the chair, with a grin stretched wide across my face as my heart pounded against my ribs with a steady rhythm. My mom’s words, “future daughter-in-law,”hit me like a lightning bolt, awakening every corner of my mind as I pictured Lily walking down an aisle toward me in a white dress that made everything and everyone fade into the background.
Calling her mine.
Calling her my wife.
I knew early on, before any of it made sense, that Lily was my endgame, and when she disappeared, she didn’t just take a piece of my heart with her; she took the whole damn thing. But somehow, like a divine miracle, she came back, and that dream of giving her my name flickered to life again like embers catching fire.
There were still obstacles ahead, tough conversations to be had, and things we had to face since being separated, but I also knew the connection that Lily and I shared was as rare as it was real, and that alone was worth fighting for every single time.
Chapter Thirteen
Lily
“Heard you’re going for the world record in how many times a person can get vomited on during a shift?” Erica’s voice came from behind where I stood in front of my locker, changing out of my scrubs.
