Chapter 12

Mike walked into the Martins' house looking for Lily.

"She's in her room with the girls," Jaime said.

"Thanks," Mike said as he walked down the hall.

"Okay, so who do you think is hotter, Freddie Prinze Jr. or David Boreanaz?" Jaclyn asked Samantha as she looked at her magazine.

"Definitely David Boreanaz," Samantha replied.

"What do you think?" Jaclyn asked me.

"I think Freddie Prinze Jr. is," I said.

"Exactly," Jaclyn said. "He is so much cuter!"

"Um, excuse me. Is it okay if I come in?" Mr. Countrymen asked as he stood in the doorway.

"Sure," the girls replied.

I hopped off the bed and gave him a hug.

"What are you doing Lily?" he asked.

"Nothing really," I said.

"Just girl stuff," Jaclyn said.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked. "Privately."

"Sure," I said. "Jaclyn, is it okay if we go out back?"

"Yeah, of course," she said.

"Thanks," I said.

We walked out to the back and sat down on the lawn chairs.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked hesitantly.

"Something very important," he said.

"Is it good news or bad news?" I asked.

"Good news," he said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I saw your dad today," he said.

"My dad?! He's here?!" I asked shocked.

"Uh huh, he's been wanting to see you," Mr. Countrymen answered.

"He wants to see me?" I questioned.

"Yeah. But Lily I don't want you to get your hopes up too much. Right now he's just visiting and I'm not sure if he's going to take care of you," he explained.

"Oh," I said disappointedly.

"But I think he wants to. Actually I'm pretty sure he wants to be your dad," he said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, but first he has to talk to Kate and get all the paper work situated. All right?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "When do you think I'll be able to meet him?"

"I'm not really sure. But I'll call you and let you know, okay?" he asked.

I shook my head yes.

"Okay, well I better get going. I just wanted to let you know that we might have a good family for you soon," he said.

"Thank you," I said as I hugged him.

"You're welcome sweetie," he said. "Oh yeah, and he said that he loves you."

"Really?" I asked happily.

"Yeah, he wants you to know that," he said.

I was smiling from ear to ear as we got up and then walked back into the house.

"I'll call you tomorrow," he said as he walked out.

"Okay," I said.

I went back into my room where the girls were still arguing over who was cuter.

"Is it okay if I borrow your Discman?" I asked Samantha.

"Sure sweetie," she said.

"Thanks," I said as I picked her Discman off of the desk.

I put my Mariah Carey CD in and then put on my headphones. I laid down on my bed and grabbed my journal, then I began to write.

April 7, 2000

Okay, so I just got some of the best news of my life! My dad is looking for me and I'll get to see him soon!!!

Right now I have so many emotions that I'm feeling. I don't know whether to cry or scream or jump up and down?!?!

I want to jump up and down and let everyone know that I have a dad. And that he loves me! I'm so ecstatic that I will finally be able to meet him. And the thought of actually being a family is so incredible because a couple of days ago I would have thought that it was impossible to find a family. Especially my OWN family.

I felt like screaming just so I could let everything out. I felt so stressed because I figured I would never have a family to love and it was my fault. But now things may be different. I just needed to scream so I could let it off my chest.

And then I felt like crying because for some reason I was hurt that he had come back. I was glad, but yet I wanted to know why he had picked to come back now. Why didn't he find me sooner? How come I never got to know him? Did he abandon my mom and I? Did he not want to love me then? Was I too much for him to take care of? Was he really going to be my dad now? Or would he realize that he couldn't take care of me and leave like everyone else had?

I closed my journal and lightly cried as I remembered Alan and Joanne. I prayed to God that my dad wouldn't do the same.

I placed the Discman back onto the desk and my journal into my box.

"You okay Lily?" asked Jaclyn.

"Yeah. I'll be fine," I said as I laid down.

I pulled my bunny close to me and went to sleep.

Mike sat down by the phone and called Kate.

"Hello."

"Hi Kate."

"Oh hi Mike. What happened?"

"He wants custody."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, he seems to be genuine about it."

"Okay then we'll set up a meeting."

"Actually I told him about 8 o'clock tomorrow morning."

"That's perfect."

"Okay, so I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah. Bye."

"Bye," he said.

He hung up and then called Kevin.

"Hello," Kevin answered.

"Hi, it's Mike."

"Did you talk to Lily's social worker?"

"Yeah. The meeting will be at 8 tomorrow morning."

"Okay, good."

"And I saw your daughter earlier."

"How is she?"

"She's fine, but she could be doing better."

"I am going to give her everything she needs."

"Look, I just hope to God that you're true to your word, for that little girl's sake."

"I will be. Just give me the chance to prove it."

"You can start by showing up at that meeting tomorrow."

"I'll be there at 7:50."

"Okay good."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Mike said, then hung up.

Kevin went to bed hoping that the morning would come soon.