Chapter 17
Kevin woke up to see Nick sitting in front of the t.v. playing his video game. Then he looked down and saw Lily's head resting on his chest, sleeping.
"What time is it?" Kevin whispered.
Nick practically jumped as he heard Kevin speak.
"Geez, Kev. Don't scare me like that," Nick said. "And it's 7:30."
"Already?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah, you two have been sleeping for a couple of hours," Nick said.
"I don't want to take her back," Kevin said.
"I know you don't Kev, but we promised Kate that we would," Nick said. "And besides, I'm sure you'll be able to get to see her tomorrow."
"I better be," Kevin said as he kissed the top of Lily's head.
Then he gently rubbed Lily's back so he could get her to wake up.
I woke up to see Nick staring at me. He smiled at me.
"Mornin' girl," he said.
I sat up and looked at my dad. He looked kind of sad.
"Lily, we have to take you back to the Martins' now," he said.
I knew that I would have to go back sometime, but I didn't want to.
"Okay," I replied quietly.
Kevin felt like crying. He knew that she didn't want to be with those people. She wanted to be with him, just like he wanted be with her. But he knew that he'd have to wait until he got custody.
"Come on," my dad said as he took my hand and we got up.
Nick shut the game off and we walked out of the hotel.
The ride back to my foster home was complete silence.
I just sat there holding my dad's hand trying to hold back the tears that wanted to escape.
Kevin was trying his hardest not to cry. He didn't want to let Lily go again, not for a second time. Especially not after he had found her after 14 years.
Nick pulled into the driveway of the Martins' and then shut the car off.
The tears were slowly rolling down my cheeks as the three of us got out.
I grabbed my dad's hand and held it lightly.
We walked up to the door and my dad knocked on it. Then Ryan answered it.
"I've brought Lily back," he said.
"Good we were starting to get worried," Ryan said.
"Can I just say good bye to her first?" my dad asked.
"Sure," Ryan replied.
"We'll just be a couple of minutes," my dad said.
"Okay," Ryan said. Then he shut the door.
Kevin looked down at Lily and saw that she was crying. That right there broke his heart. He couldn't stand to see her hurting. If she was hurting, then he was too. Then he also began to cry.
"Ssh, ssh, it's okay," my dad said as he wiped away my tears.
"How do I know you're coming back?" I choked out.
That hurt Kevin even more. She didn't realize how much he loved her and wanted to be with her.
"How do I know that this isn't the last time I'm going to see you?" I questioned as the tears continued to flow.
Kevin didn't even bother responding, he just pulled Lily close to him and hugged her as they both cried.
Nick stood back as he watched the two of them. He was trying his hardest not to cry, but damn it if he wasn't getting a little teary eyed himself. But he knew that this time he would have to be the strong one, instead of Kevin.
My dad pulled away and stared at me. Then he took his thumb ring off.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I never ever take this ring off. It remains on my thumb at all times, but for now I want you to have it. To know that I will be coming back, not only for the ring, but for you," he said as he handed it to me.
"You never take this off?" I asked.
"Never," he said.
I looked at him unbelieving.
"He's not lying Lily. That ring has sentimental value to him and he never goes anywhere without it," Nick said.
"I will be coming back," my dad said.
Then I grabbed a hold of him and hugged him.
"I love you my baby," he said.
"I love you too daddy," I said.
He pulled away and kissed my forehead. I held his hand and he slowly walked away. Then I reluctantly let go as he continued to walk away.
I didn't even bother to try and wipe my tears away. They just continued to flow.
Kevin's heart sank as he let go of Lily's hand. He continued to cry as he watched her stand there alone on the porch.
He got into the car and just stared at her. Then he placed his hand on the windshield, saying one last good bye.
I put my hand up and waved good bye. I mouthed, "I love you."
"I love you too," Kevin said as Nick backed out.
I watched as the car slowly took off. I prayed that that wasn't the last time I saw my dad.
Kevin turned around in his seat so he could get one last look at his daughter. Then he saw her run into the house.
Kevin slowly turned back around staring straight ahead.
"It's okay Kev. You'll see her again soon," Nick said, trying to comfort Kevin.
"Did you see the way she looked at me though? She was so scared," Kevin said.
"I know Kev. But you'll be able to protect her soon enough. You'll be able to hold her in your arms again soon," Nick said.
"I know I will. But she needs me now, Nicky," he said as another wave of tears spilled out.
I ran into the house not acknowledging anyone's questions. I just ran straight into my room and collapsed on to my bed.
Kevin looked in the rearview mirror and saw Lily's black backpack.
"She forgot her backpack," Kevin choked out.
"I'll take it to her," Nick said.
"But. . .," Kevin began.
"Kev, it's best if you don't see her again. I don't think either of you could handle another good bye, even if it is just for a little while, " Nick reasoned.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Kevin said as he wiped away his tears.
Nick turned the car around and drove back to the Martins'.
"Just stay here, Kev," Nick said as he parked the car.
"All right" Kevin choked out.
Nick grabbed Lily's backpack and then walked up to the house.
Kevin wanted so badly to get out of the car and run into the house to find Lily. But he knew that if he did, he wouldn't be able to leave this time.
Ryan opened the door to see Nick standing there.
"Lily forgot this. Can you please give it to her?" Nick asked as he handed it to Ryan.
"Sure," replied Ryan.
"Thanks," Nick said, then he walked away as Ryan shut the door.
Nick got back into the car and drove off.
The entire ride to the hotel was filled with Kevin silently crying as the radio quietly played.
Kevin listened to the radio and realized that the song he was listening to was describing exactly what he was feeling.
Thank God I found you I was lost without you My every wish and every dream somehow became reality You brought the sunlight Completed my whole life I'm overwhelmed with gratitude Cause baby I'm so thankful I found you
Every word was true. He was so thankful that he had been able to see Lily again. He had prayed every night that he would be able to see her again, and God had granted him his wish. And he knew that without Lily, he was lost. But the instant he hugged her and told her that he loved her, he was complete again.
"Kevin, we're here," Nick said.
Kevin shook his head okay. Then they got out and went up to their rooms.
"Kevin, are you going to be okay?" Nick asked worriedly. "I can stay if you'd like to talk to or something."
"No, I'm fine," Kevin said.
"Are you sure?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, I'm just going to go to bed," Kevin said.
"Okay, but if you need to talk I'll be right next door," Nick said.
"Thanks Nicky," Kevin said as he suddenly gave Nick a hug.
"No problem Kev," Nick said. "Get some sleep."
"Night," Kevin said as he walked into his room.
"Night," Nick said as he walked to his room.
Kevin stripped down to his boxers and then climbed into bed.
He continued to cry as he thought about Lily and her being all alone.
"Here let me give that to her," Jaclyn said as she took the backpack from Ryan.
"All right," he said.
I grabbed my pajamas and went into the bathroom. I quickly changed and then went back into my room to find Jaclyn sitting on my bed.
"Your dad brought your backpack," she said.
"Did he come in?" I asked quietly.
"No. He just dropped it off," she said.
"Oh," I replied as I sat down on my bed.
"Lily, are you going to be okay?" Jaclyn asked. "I know that we don't know each other that well, but if you need to talk I'm right here."
"Thanks Jaclyn. But I'm just going to go to sleep," I said as I wiped away the last of my tears.
"Okay," she said as she got up and left the room closing the door behind her.
I opened my bag and pulled out my bunny, Mr. Floppy. Then I threw my bag at the end of the bed and shut the light off. I held my bunny tightly as I cried myself to sleep.
It was like the best and worst day wrapped into one. It was like a dream come true to finally be meeting my real dad. He had told me that he loved me the instant that we met. And during the time that I was with him, I felt like I was really his daughter and he was really my dad. Like were finally a family.
But in a matter of seconds things had changed again. Someone was leaving my life once again. It seemed to be a reoccurring theme. But this had to be the worse yet. I heard my dad tell me that he would be back. But I couldn't completely believe him. I wanted to, God knows I wanted to, but I couldn't. I knew that I would be crushed even more if he didn't come back like he had promised.
I closed my eyes not wanting to think about it any longer. I just wanted to sleep away the pain that I was feeling.