Chapter 20

The entire ride home my dad and I just talked. Getting to know each other better. He wanted to know all my likes and dislikes and my little pet peeves.

Then Nick stopped in front of a large house.

"Well this is my stop," Nick said.

All three of us got out and my dad hugged Nick.

"Thanks for coming with me," my dad said.

"No problem, Kev," Nick said.

Then Nick came over to me and hugged me.

"I'm glad that you're going home with your dad. You take care of him. Okay?" he asked.

"I will," I said.

"I'll call you tomorrow," my dad said.

"All right," Nick said as he grabbed his suitcase and walked up to his house.

We waved good bye and then got back into the car. I sat in the front with my dad.

Then we pulled up to a gate and my dad pushed in a code. Then the gate began to open.

I was in awe as we pulled up into the driveway of this enormous house.

"Is this your house?" I asked quietly.

"Yep, this is now your home," my dad said as he stopped the car.

"Oh," I said.

"Come on, let's go inside," he said as he got out.

I got out and just stared at the large house. Then my dad came over to me and took my hand.

We walked up to the front door and went in.

He turned on a few of the lights and the house lit up.

"Well let me give you a tour of your new home," my dad said.

"Okay," I said.

"Here's the kitchen, and then through here is the living room," he said.

I was amazed at how beautiful everything was. The furniture looked like it had never been sat on before. Everything looked like it had never been touched before.

We walked downstairs to the basement. He had a beautiful piano set up in the corner of the room and a couch in the other corner. And all around the walls he had shelves full of awards and pictures.

"This is my little hideout," my dad said.

I smiled at him.

Then we walked into back into a room.

"This is my studio, that I like to work in often," he said.

"Wow," I said as I looked around at all of the equipment.

Then we walked back out and I looked around at all of the pictures and awards.

"Who are they?" I asked.

"They're like brothers to me," he said as he took the picture down and showed it to me. "There's Nick, and then there's my cousin Brian, Howie, A.J., and me."

I stared at the picture wondering if this is why he had left me and my mom, for his career.

"You'll get to meet them tomorrow," my dad said as he put the picture back up.

"Is Nick coming to?" I asked.

"Yeah, he'll be here," my dad replied.

Then he took me upstairs to show me the rooms.

"This is my room," he said.

We walked in and everything was a mess. He had clothes everywhere and his bed wasn't even made.

"And this can be your room," he said.

It was across from his room and a couple of doors down the hall.

I walked in and looked around at everything. There was a huge bed and a desk in the corner. And it had a beautiful bay window.

"This is my room?" I asked surprised.

"Yeah, unless you'd like a different room," he said.

"No, it's perfect," I said.

"Well you can continue to look through everything, I'm going to go downstairs and get your things real quick," my dad said.

"Okay," I said.

Kevin quickly went downstairs and went to get Lily's things.

I walked around the room still not believing how beautiful it was, and that it was mine. I went over to the closet and opened it. It was a walk in closet. I walked in and looked around. Then I sat down at my desk.

The room was decorated beautifully. My bed was a beautiful dark purple with light blue pillows on top. There was a beautiful full length mirror right next to the night stand. And there was purple wall paper that went around the very top of the ceiling. Everything looked so perfect.

Then my dad walked in with my boxes. He set them down at the end of the bed for me.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"I can't believe it's mine," I said.

My dad smiled at me and then hugged me. "Well believe it, cause your my daughter, and I'm not letting you go anywhere," he said.

"Thank you," I said.

Then he let go and asked, "I bet you're tired, aren't you?"

"Yeah, kind of," I said.

"Well the bathroom is right down the hall," my dad said.

"Okay," I said.

"I'll be right back, okay?" my dad asked.

"Okay," I said.

Then my dad left.

I grabbed my pajamas and then went down the hall to the bathroom.

Kevin went into his room and jumped on his bed. Then he sat down to call Brian.

"Hello," Brian answered.

"Hey, cuz. We're back now," Kevin said.

"When did you get in?"

"Just about a half an hour ago."

"You sound so happy? What happened?"

"I'll tell you everything tomorrow. I just wanted to invite you and the guys over tomorrow for a barbecue."

"Sounds good, I'll be there. And I expect to get an explanation of why you've been acting so strange lately."

"Don't worry Bri, you'll get one."

"Okay, good."

"Oh, can you do me a favor and call the rest of the guys. I have to go."

"Sure, and I'll talk to you later, I guess."

"Thanks, bye."

Kevin hung up and then went to go check on Lily. He walked into her room and she was sitting at her desk writing.

He quietly sat down on the bed and watched as she seemed to be in deep thought.

I heard my dad come in, but I was in the middle of a thought so I continued writing. I just had to write down how excited I was to finally be with my dad. And how relieved I was to be with someone that loved me. I finished my thought and then closed it. I turned around to see my dad smiling at me.

I walked over to him and hugged him.

"I love you," my dad said.

"I love you too," I said.

"Are you ready for bed?" my dad asked.

"Yeah," I said.

He got up and then I climbed into bed. My dad tucked me in and kissed my forehead.

"Can you hand me my backpack?" I asked.

"Sure my baby," my dad replied.

He picked it up and handed it to me. Then I opened it up and took my bunny out. I zipped my bag up and then threw it on the ground.

"Can I see that?" my dad asked.

"Yeah," I said.

He took the bunny and then studied it.

"Mr. Floppy?" he asked, smiling at me.

"Yeah! How did you know?" I asked shocked.

"Because I bought this for you when you were just a baby," he said as he gave it back to me.

"What?" I asked surprised.

"I was at the baby store buying you diapers when I started looking at all the stuffed animals. And then this one right here, just kind of stuck out. He was just too adorable, just like you. So I thought you would love him," my dad explained.

Then he laughed at his memory.

"And when I brought it home, your mom just about flipped out on me. She was like 'What are you thinking buying her that bunny? It's like ten times her size.' I just told your mom that you would grow into it, and you did," he said as he smiled at me.

"I sleep with it every night," I said.

"Good, I'm glad to know that a little part of me has always been with you," he said as he kissed my forehead again. "Good night, love you."

"Night, love you too," I said.

Then he got up and shut the light off.

"Um. . .Dad," I said quietly.

"Yeah Lily," my dad said as he stood in the doorway.

"I was wondering if you could. . .um . . .well never mind," I said, changing my mind.

"No Lily, tell me what you wanted me to do," my dad said as he came closer to me.

"It's stupid," I said.

"What was it?" my dad asked.

"I was just wondering if you would lay with me," I said.

"Of course I can," my dad said as he sat on the bed. "Anything for my little girl."

"Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome," my dad said as he laid down. "Now scoot over. You're hogging all the blankets."

"I am not," I protested.

"You are too," my dad said. "Look, this is all I've got," my dad said as he held up the corner of the blanket.

I laughed at him. "Fine, have some of the blankets."

"Thank you," he said as he took the blankets. Then he pulled them completely off of me.

"Hey," I said.

He laughed. "Just kidding. Here you go," he said as he covered me.

"That's better," I said.

"Good," he said.

Then I rested my head on his chest as he hugged me.

"Night Lily," he whispered. "I love you."

"Night Daddy, I love you too," I said.

Then he kissed the top of my head.

Kevin couldn't believe how lucky he was to be holding his daughter. He had waited fourteen long years to hold her again. And now she was his to take care of and to love.

He laid there listening to her quiet breathing. He gently played with her hair as she went to sleep.

All through out the night she would find his hand and tap it. As if to make sure that he was still there with her. He always smiled as he felt her light touch on his hand.