Love At Last (Lily's Story, Book 3) (33 page)

I stayed up later than normal, waiting to hear from Marcus, but he never called. Dejected, I finally went to bed.

He called during his lunch break the next day.

“How’s your mom?” I immediately asked.

“She needed some stitches, but that’s not the problem.”

I tensed, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“When we got her home, she became hysterical again. She went on and on, trying to make me promise to wait at least six months before I made any final decisions, and trying to get me to commit to dating other women for a while.” He sighed. “Lily, I don’t know what her problem is, but she is really upset.”

I know what it is, I thought. It’s me. I’m not good enough for you. Out loud, I said, “What now?”

“I think I need to spend time with her. Calm her down.” He sighed again. “I don’t think I’ll be stopping by for a few days.”

My shoulders slumped with disappointment. “Okay.” I paused, then in a small voice, “I love you.”

“I love you too, Lily.”

I wandered around the house, not knowing what to do about this. “I need some advice,” I said to the walls of my bedroom. At first I thought of calling Alyssa, but she would most likely just advise me to forget about Marcus and go back to Cameron.
 

Then I thought of Marcy. I needed someone with a more mature outlook. But then I shook my head. She had dissolved into tears at the mere idea of me being friends with Marcus. She couldn’t be objective about him.

But I couldn’t go on like this. I needed to get away.

I can go to Marcy’s house for a visit, I decided. I don’t have to tell her what’s going on, but maybe putting a little space between myself and my situation will give me perspective.

Feeling better now that I had a concrete idea, I called her right away.

“I’d love for you to come for a visit,” she said after I made the suggestion. “When did you want to come?”

“Today,” I said without hesitation.
 

“Oh.” She paused. “Okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. You know you’re welcome anytime.”

“Thank you so much. I’ll be there this evening.”

“Wonderful.”

As soon as I hung up, I packed the things Natalie and I would need, then loaded them into the car, then I changed Natalie, gave her a snack, and headed out. I took Greta to a local kennel that had space—Marcus had too much going on for me to ask him to care for her. And as I put more distance between myself and Marcus, I felt bereft, but I also felt the weight of Trish’s disappointment lifting.
 

Late that evening I pulled up to Marcy and John’s house. As I carried Natalie to the front door, I smiled, remembering the last visit. It had been emotional in a lot of ways, but I felt the air was slowly clearing between me and Trevor’s family.

“Hello,” Marcy said, pulling me into a warm hug, and I burst into tears. She pulled back and looked at me. “What’s wrong?”

I just shook my head and sniffled.

She took a sleepy Natalie from me and we went inside. “Go sit down, Lily. I’ll put Natalie on a blanket on the floor of your room.” She smiled. “I don’t want her rolling off of your bed.”

I just nodded, grateful to have her take care of Natalie for me. She left the room and I sat on the couch, then pulled out a packet of tissues from my purse. I blew my nose and dabbed at my eyes until I’d gotten myself under control.

A few moments later Marcy was back and she sat next to me on the couch and put her arm around me. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I shook my head. “Not right now,” I managed to say between sniffles.

“Okay.” She smiled in a motherly way. “You’re probably exhausted from your long drive. Why don’t you go to bed and I’ll see you in the morning?”

I nodded and let her lead me to my room, where I found Natalie sleeping soundly on a thick blanket. She seemed fine, so I left her there and got myself ready for bed, then crawled under the covers and closed my eyes.

The next morning when I went into the kitchen, Marcy had a nice breakfast waiting for me. She and John were retired, so they didn’t have to go to work. John smiled at me as I walked in carrying Natalie.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Hi. Thanks for letting me come for a visit at the last minute.”

“You’re family,” he said. “And you’re welcome anytime.”

I smiled at him. “Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me.” And I realized that’s why I’d burst into tears the moment Marcy had hugged me the night before. In her own way, she had become the closest thing to a mother that I had, and feeling the warmth of her welcome had made me lose it.

“Have something to eat,” he said, motioning to the food set out.

“I hope you like pancakes,” Marcy said, sliding some hot ones onto the platter on the table.

“Yes.” I slid into the seat and held Natalie on my lap, then I took a slice of bacon, and two pancakes. Natalie reached for my plate and I pushed it out of her reach.

“I’m done,” John said. “Let me take her.” He walked over to me and held out his arms. Natalie let him pick her up and he smiled at her. “You sure are a beauty,” he said. He smiled at me. “Just like her mother.”

I blushed, but felt myself relaxing under their loving care. “Thank you.”

After I fed Natalie, I helped Marcy clean up, then she invited me to come sit in the living room so we could catch up.

“My landlady needed her family to move into the house I was living in,” I said. “So I decided to buy a place for me and Natalie.”

“I’m disappointed you didn’t buy a place here, but I’m excited for you that you were able to buy your first place.”

“It needed a little work, but it’s shaping up nicely now.” I thought of the work Marcus had put in to the place, was still planning on putting into it, and melancholy settled over me.

“I’d love to come see it sometime,” Marcy said.

“Oh, that would be nice. I’d like to have you and John come for a visit.”

We both watched Natalie as she played with some toys I’d set on the floor.

“Lily,” Marcy said, and I looked at her. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on? Why were you so upset?”

I sighed. “Honestly, I could use some advice, but I don’t want
you
to become upset.”

She looked puzzled. “Why would I become upset?”

“It has to do with my . . . friend . . . Marcus.”

She nodded. “I see.” She leaned forward, resting her forearms on her knees. “I’ve thought a lot about you and . . . other men . . . since your last visit. You’re so young, and I . . . well, it’s not fair for me to expect you to be alone.” She smiled. “Please, tell me what’s happened.”

Feeling better about sharing my problems, I tucked my feet underneath me and began talking, telling her how much I’d grown to love Marcus, how much he loved Natalie, and how, after waiting a long time, he finally admitted that he loved me too. “He proposed to me, Marcy.”

She smiled, and her happiness seemed genuine. “Well, that’s wonderful.” Then her brow creased. “Then why the upset?”

“His mother,” I said simply.

“What about her?”

I explained all that had been going on. “Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m not right for her son.” Tears pricked my eyes and I couldn’t stop my voice from shaking as I looked at Natalie. “Why should I saddle him with a child that’s not even his?”
 

“But you said he loves her.”

I nodded. “He does, but . . .”

“This is nonsense, Lily,” Marcy said, her tone sharp.

I looked at her with surprise.

“This man would be lucky—more than lucky—to have both you and Natalie.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’d like to give that woman a piece of my mind for saying those things to you. The nerve of some people.”

I smiled at her passion in defending me and was so glad I’d come. “Thank you, Marcy. That’s very kind of you.”

“Now, have you told Marcus about the things his mother said to you?”

“Well, no. I think his hands are pretty full right now.”

“Her attitude is not your problem. You know that, right?”

“But she’s his mother. I don’t want to be the cause of a family fight.”

With sternness, she said, “That’s between the two of them.”

My self-doubt reared its ugly head again. “I can’t help but think that there’s someone better for him out there, and that maybe I should encourage him to explore a little more before he settles for me.”

“Listen to yourself. You are a beautiful, smart, capable young woman. You’re doing a wonderful job with your daughter, and all on your own.” She shook her finger at me. “Don’t doubt yourself. There’s no ‘settling’ in this equation.”

I smiled, but I had to admit, I wasn’t completely convinced that she was right.

As the day went on, I enjoyed talking to Marcy more and more and felt like we were getting closer. I considered calling Marcus to touch base with him, but decided he had enough going on, and that if he wanted to talk to me, he would call me—he had my cell phone number, after all.

Marcy had an appointment in the afternoon, and while she was gone I sat quietly in the living room—Natalie was taking her afternoon nap—and thought about what Marcy had said versus what Trish had said. My own self-doubt pushed me to believe Trish over Marcy—after all, Marcy and I hadn’t spent a lot of time together. The thought even crossed my mind that maybe I should sell my new house and buy a place down here, closer to John and Marcy. They’d made it clear that they wanted me to live closer, and if things didn’t work out with Marcus, I would have them to fall back on. If I stayed up north, I had no one.

My mood bounced between despair at ever finding happiness, and hope that everything would work out. But when my phone finally rang, and I heard the voice of Marcus’s dad on the other end, a new problem presented itself.

Chapter Thirty-Four

“We don’t know where Marcus is,” Jeff said. “His cell phone goes straight to voice mail, and his work said he ran out the door hours ago without saying anything to anyone.” He paused. “Have you heard from him?”

I shook my head. “No.” I paused, my mind racing. “What about Trish? Has she heard from him?”

“No. She’s right here, and she doesn’t know anything either.”

Frantically trying to think where he could be, I came up blank. I had no idea.

“If you hear anything, will you let us know?” Jeff said.

“Of course. And if you’d do the same for me, I’d appreciate it.”

“Sure.” He was quiet for a moment. “Lily, I’m sorry about everything that’s happened.”

All my self-doubt floated back into my mind, and that, coupled with my fresh worry about Marcus and where he could be, made me shrink in on myself. “Okay,” I whispered, wanting him to know I heard what he’d said.

“Trish wants to talk to you,” he said.

Before I had a chance to object, she was on the phone.

“Lily?”

“I’m here,” I said.

“I’m so sorry about the way I reacted.” She paused, and I thought I heard the sound of her voice cracking. “Will you forgive me?” Yes, she was definitely crying.

The sting of her words was still fresh in my mind, but I wasn’t one to hold a grudge. “Yes, of course,” I said.
 

“I was wrong. You must know that.”

But was she? My self-doubt flared within me. Maybe her gut instinct was right and I wasn’t the best match for Marcus.
Marcus.
Where was he? I needed to get off the phone with his mother and try calling him myself. “Okay,” I said, just wanting to hang up now.

“He told me how much he loves you. I can see it now. I understand.”

“He told you that?”

“Yes.”

I smiled as tears filled my eyes.
He stood up to her for me. He really does love me
. “Thank you, Trish.”

“For what?”

“For raising such a wonderful man.”

“Oh, Lily.” I could hear the smile in her voice. “I can see why he cares so much for you.”

“I’ll let you know if I hear anything,” I said.

“Okay. Good-bye now.”

The moment our connection was broken, I dialed Marcus’s phone, but Jeff was right. It went straight to voice mail.
Where could he be?
What had happened that had made him leave work in such a hurry, and without a word to anyone?
My worry growing, I didn’t know what to do. Marcy wasn’t back from her appointment, and Jeff had gone to run errands. I was all alone there, except for Natalie.

Maybe he’s on his way to see me, I thought. But I hadn’t told him I was coming down here, so he wouldn’t even know where to find me. Maybe there was a problem with Greta at the kennel. But no, that wouldn’t take hours, and they would have called me, not him. He didn’t even know she was there.

At a loss, I paced the living room, anxious for Marcy or Jeff to get home so I could get some advice about what to do. As the afternoon stretched on, I tried to call Marcus several times, and left a voice message when he didn’t answer. While I was feeding Natalie, someone rang the door bell. John and Marcy were still gone, so I hurried to answer it. As I began pulling the door open, I expected to see a salesperson, but when I saw who it was, I nearly dropped the jar of baby food I held in my hand.

“Marcus,” I said, my voice barely audible.

“Are you okay?” he said, his face serious.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? What are you doing here?” I shook my head. “How did you even know I was here?”

He smiled hesitantly. “Can I come in?”

“Yes.” I held the door open and he walked in. “I’m just feeding Natalie.” I turned and went into the kitchen and he followed me. I set the jar on the table and turned back to him, but after all my thoughts about whether I was good enough, and if we were really meant to be together, I was ambivalent about throwing my arms around him. I ached to be in his arms, but why torture myself if this was the end?

“Marcy called me,” he said.

“What?” Confusion washed over me. “When?”

“This morning.”

“Why?”

“She told me about the conversation you’d had with her. She said you were on the verge of ending it with me.” His voice choked up. “Lily, how could you even consider that? After all it took for us to finally get to this point?”