The Journey Home(41)
Author: Kelly Elliott

I washed my hands and face before I turned and looked at my little princess. “You, my dear, are one good little girl. To let mommy and daddy have time together like that.” I shook my head and unbuckled her. “Let’s go have a dance outside shall we?”

I walked outside and took in a deep breath of the cool, fall air. Lily loved being outside. Anytime she was fussy, all we had to do was walk out to the deck—she was instantly calmed.

I didn’t want to stay outside too long, since it was chilly out. I held Lily close to my chest and sang to her as we danced. I had been doing the same routine since starting work. Every night when I was done working I brought Lily out onto the deck and danced with her.

“You know, she’s going to have you wrapped around her little finger,” Maddie said with a giggle.

I smiled and turned to her. I stopped moving as I saw the breathtaking woman before me. She had changed into a tan dress that fell just above her knees. It flared out at the bottom, but fit her curves in the most amazing way. She had on light tan heels and she’d put her hair up, but with a few curls framing her delicate face.

“Maddie, you look…you’re stunning.”

She blushed and looked away briefly before turning back to me. “Thank you. Your mom and dad will be here in a few minutes. I’ll go change the birthday girl and put her in a new outfit I bought today.”

I walked over and handed Lily to her. I rolled my eyes as I watched her head upstairs with our daughter. “I think that child has an outfit for every day of the year.”

“Not yet, but we’re getting close,” Maddie called back. I laughed as I made my way to our bedroom.

I’d never felt so happy in my entire life.

“OH MADDIE! IT’S beautiful,” Mary said as she admired the three-tiered cake on the kitchen island. It was covered in adorable, pink teddy bears. I’d almost forgotten to clean and sanitize the kitchen before everyone arrived for the party. I felt my face blush at the memory of Cale and I making love on the island.

I smiled and said, “I guess it’s a little overboard for just three months, but I was so excited.”

Mary waved her hand. “Nonsense. Nothing is too much for Lily.”

Monica laughed and shook her head. “Cale’s mom is just being polite, aren’t you, Mary?” Monica winked at Mary as they both laughed quietly. “I can’t wait to see what you do for her one year birthday,” Monica said. “Will there be a circus there?”

I glared at her. “Ha-ha.”

My mother came into the kitchen holding Lily. I smiled at her, but didn’t receive a smile in return. Our relationship was still sour, even with Cale working for my father.

“I remember when you were this age, Maddie. I wonder what Lily’s mom looked like at this age.” My smile faded and my heart instantly hurt. My mother had to rub in the fact that Lily was not my biological daughter.

I felt a hand on my arm. I turned to see Mary. She seemed understanding of my struggle, unlike my own mother.

“Nancy,” she said. “I’d love to get coffee together sometime.”

My mother’s eyes lit up. “I’d love that, Mary. Maybe we can invite Maddie along, see what she plans on doing with her life now. Perhaps she’ll pursue a new career with her father’s company.”

I turned away and rolled my eyes. I opened the drawer and pulled out the cake slicer.

“Actually, Mother,” I said, “I’ve found a little part-time job.”

“Really? Where?” My mother asked.

She handed Lily to Mary, who swayed back and forth as she hummed to the baby.

I took in a slow, deep breath. “Crystal Bridges. I’m working in the library, assisting one of the librarians.”

Mary smiled, as did Monica. My mother, though, had a look of horror on her face.

“What? You’re working at an art museum?” she asked.

I smiled and nodded my head. “Yep.”

She pursed her lips in distaste and squinted down with one eye, looking like she wanted to throw up. “What do you do in this assistant position?”

I shrugged and reached into another draw for three candles and a book of matches. “I shelve books, answer emails. Oh! And she’s showing me how to order books for our branch. I check out books, help people find materials…things like that.”

My mother put her hand to her chest and gasped. “Maddison Powers! If you’d wanted to be a file clerk, you could have just skipped college and gone to work in the mailroom at Powers Communications. It would have saved us money.”

Monica turned to my mother, a nasty look on her face. “Has anyone every told you that you’re a—”

“Well, let’s see about getting that cake out to the gentlemen, shall we?” Mary said, quickly putting out the fire that was just getting started.

My mother spun on her heels and stormed out of the kitchen. I felt tears threaten my eyes as Monica gave me a hug.

“Don’t listen to her, Maddie,” she whispered. “She’s just an old bitch with a crusty vagina.”

I nodded and giggled as Monica made her way out to the living room.

I took a deep breath as I attempted to get my shaking hands under control. I was never inviting my mother here again.

Mary walked up to me and smiled. “To think I used to be that kind of a bitch.”

I looked at her, shocked. Then I busted out laughing. “Mary, you will never know how much of a breath of fresh air you are.”

She winked. “I wasn’t always like this. I used to care more about how my nails looked than whether my son had his dinner.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised.

She nodded. “The moment I laid my eyes on Lily, it was like I’d been given a second chance. In a way, Lily brought Cale and me back together. In fact, we’ve been closer in the last three months than we have been in his entire life.”

I looked down at my baby girl in her grandmother’s arms and smiled.

“Let’s get this ridiculous cake out there and eat it, shall we?”

Mary grinned and said, “Yes, let’s. Come on, Lily! Let’s go show them how we celebrate Princess Lily’s three-month birthday!”

CALE SHUT THE door and leaned against it. I sat down on the bed and sighed.

“Maddie, I hate to say this, but your mother is a bitch. And she’s my boss’s wife!”

I chuckled. “You’re not the only one who thinks that. I don’t honestly know how my father puts up with her.”