Chapter 21

I woke up to feel my dad's hand on top of mine. He was gently rubbing my hand. I looked up at him and he was staring at me.

"Morning my girl," he said as he smiled at me.

"Morning Dad," I said as I sat up.

My dad sat up and leaned against the head board with me.

"Did you sleep good?" he asked.

"Yeah, actually I did," I said.

"That's good," he said.

"Um. . .but I'm sorry that I kept you in here last night," I said.

"No, don't apologize. It's okay," my dad said. "Actually I'm glad you did. I haven't got to hold you in such a long time."

Then my stomach made a very disturbing growl. I looked at him embarrassed.

My dad just began to laugh.

"Hungry?" my dad asked.

"Yeah, I guess," I said.

"Okay, why don't you take a shower and get dressed while I make us some breakfast?" he suggested.

"Sure, that sounds good," I said.

"Okay," my dad said as he got up and walked out.

Then about five seconds later my dad walked back in.

He smiled at me. "I don't know what you like. Pancakes, waffles, French toast, cereal, what?"

"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like pancakes," I said.

"All right, pancakes it is. And Lily, it's never too much trouble to feed my daughter," he said as he smiled at me. "Okay?"

"Okay," I replied.

Then my dad walked out again.

I got up and grabbed some clothes. Then I went into the large bathroom.

There were two sinks, a huge tub, and a shower on the other side. Everything was decorated so beautifully. I felt like a princess in this huge castle. I had never been in something so extravagant and so expensive.

After I was done gazing at everything I took my shower.

Kevin began making pancakes for Lily when his phone rang.

He grabbed the phone and answered it as he poured the pancake mix into the bowl.

"Hello."

"Hi baby."

"Kristin! Oh god, it's so good to hear your voice baby."

"I've missed you so much. Where have you been? I've been trying to call but all I get is your answering machine."

"I went on a mini vacation."

"Where? When? And with who?"

"Nick and I just went down to Jacksonville for a couple of days."

"You and Nick?"

"Yeah."

"What were you doing there?"

"Uh, I don't really want to talk about it right now."

"Why not Kev?"

"I'll call you tonight. So how have you been?"

"Okay, I guess. Just missing you terribly."

"Same here. I can't wait until you can come home. Then we can finally be together."

"Yeah, and alone. Just you and me."

"Uh, yeah."

"Is everything okay Kev?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, everything's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I promise I'll call you tonight."

"Okay, I have to go now any ways."

"Bye, love you."

"Love you more," she said.

Then they hung up.

Kevin sighed. Telling Kristin about Lily had sort of slipped his mind. Lately he had just been worried about getting her back. Not about what management thought, the guys, or Kristin. Just about getting his daughter back in his arms. But he knew that he would have to explain to her and the guys. He hoped that she would understand, and not be upset with him.

I walked downstairs to the wonderful smell of pancakes.

"Perfect timing," my dad said as he set a plate full of pancakes on the table.

"Smells wonderful," I said.

"I hope they taste that way," my dad said as he smiled at me.

"You don't cook that often?" I asked.

"Not really. But when I cook a meal, it's usually delicious," my dad said as we sat down.

"Okay, that's good," I said.

My dad served me a plate and then began eating himself.

We just sat in silence eating our food. It was a good silence though, just us enjoying being together.

After we had finished eating we just sat there. I looked around at the kitchen, again noticing how nice everything was. I wondered when he was going to tell me about him being in a singing group.

"So is Nick coming over later?" I asked.

"Yeah, him and the guys. We're going to barbecue and go swimming," he said. "Does that sound good?"

I shook my head yes. "But I don't have a swimsuit."

"Okay then, I guess we'll have to go shopping," he said happily. "Do you need anything else?"

"Not really," I said.

He gave me a skeptical look.

"Are those the only two boxes you have?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Only one of them is filled with clothes," he said.

"I know," I said.

"Lily, it's okay if I buy you things. You don't have to be afraid to ask for something that you need," my dad said. "Besides, I'm your dad. I'm supposed to buy you clothes and your supposed to bug me for money and to go shopping and all that other good teenager stuff."

I smiled at my dad.

"We'll go and pick out a few outfits for you," my dad said. "Okay?"

"Okay, I think I can do that," I said.

"You're a teenager. I know you can do that," my dad said.

"Yeah, I think you're right about that," I said.

"Okay, let me clean up the mess here and then get myself cleaned up. And then we'll go," my dad said.

"All right, sounds good to me," I said.

Then we got up and began putting the food away and washing the dishes.

He went upstairs to his room and I went to mine.

"Dad," I said.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Can I use the phone? I want to call Mr. Countrymen," I said.

"Sure sweetie, that's fine," my dad said.

"Thanks," I said as I walked into my room.

I sat down at my desk and called Mr. C.

"Hello."

"Hi Mr. C, it's me Lily."

"Oh hi Lily. How are you? Is everything going okay with your dad?"

"Yep. You would not believe how big this house is. It's like a mansion!"

"Really? Do you have your own room?"

"Yeah! I've got a huge bed, a desk, a chest of drawers, a bay window, a telephone, a small t.v., and it's beautifully decorated."

"Wow, sounds wonderful."

"It is. And I just wanted to thank you for getting me here."

"You're welcome Lily. I'm just so glad that I could help you."

"You didn't help me, you saved me from the loneliness. When no one wanted me or cared that I existed, you did."

"I'll always be here for you Lily. If you ever need me."

"Thank you so much."

"You're welcome. So what are you and your dad doing today?"

"He's taking me shopping for some new clothes and a new bathing suit!"

"Oh, sounds like fun."

"It should be."

"Well you enjoy your day. Okay?"

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

"Bye."

I hung up and then finished doing my hair and putting on a little make-up.

My dad peeked his head into the door. "Ready to go?"

"Yep," I said as I quickly slipped on a pair of sandals.

Then we walked out and got into his 4-Runner.

He drove us to this small little strip mall. We got down and went into one of the stores.

"Okay, pick out whatever you want," he said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yep, go ahead," he said.

"Okay," I said.

Then we walked over to the bathing suits. I picked a few of them out and then tried them on.

While Kevin waited for Lily to try on her swim suit, he checked out some of the other clothes. He picked up a few cute shirts for Lily, or at least he though they were cute. He was going to show them to her when she got out.

I tried the bathing suits on, not really liking them. Until I tired the last one on. I put it on and looked into the mirror, loving the color. It was a bright orange tankini with yellow flowers. It definitely had a summer feel to it.

I walked out of the dressing room to show my dad.

"Do you like it?" I asked.

He shook his head approvingly. "Yes, I do. But the question is, do you like it?"

"Yeah, this is the one I like the most out of all of them," I said.

"Okay good," he said.

Then he handed me a pile of clothes.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Thought you might like these," he said. "You can try them on and see if you like them, if not we can put them back."

"Okay," I said as I walked back to the dressing room.

I looked through the pile of clothes he had picked out for me. Surprisingly, there were some very cute things. I couldn't believe it, I was liking something my dad had picked out. Of course he was famous, so he should know how to dress.

I tried everything on and modeled it for him. He just smiled and told me that I looked adorable.

Finally after a couple of hours in that store we were ready to check out. We set all the clothes on the counter and watched as she rang everything up.

"That'll be $622.19," the cashier said.

My eyes just about bugged out of my head.

My dad handed her credit card. Then he kissed the top of my head.

"It's okay Lily," he said.

"No, it's not," I said quietly.

He looked at me surprised. Then the cashier gave him his credit card back. We grabbed the bags and then went back to the 4-Runner.

"Lily, what did you mean by that?" my dad asked as he started the truck.

"Nothing really," I said.

"Yes you did, and I want to know why you said that," my dad said.

"Just because," I said.

"Because isn't an answer," my dad said.

"Because I don't want to become a financial burden on you," I said angrily.

He just looked at me kind of surprised.

Then I began to lightly cry. "I don't want to lose you."

My dad reached over and held my hand. "That won't happen."

"You don't know that," I said.

"Yes, I do," my dad said. "Look, money is not a problem for me. And even if it were, I'd manage somehow. But I would never, ever leave you."

"But. . .," I began as I wiped away my tears.

"Nope, no buts. As far as I'm concerned you and I will be together forever," my dad said. "Okay?"

"Okay," I said as I reached over and hugged him.

"Good, now I want you to know there's nothing to worry about," he said as we drove home.

'I hope not,' I thought.