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"Lilly, honey," Gracen says softly, and there's no hiding the quaver in her voice She's scared to death, and I wish I could make it better for her, yet I don't kno I also don't want to make it better for her This is her bed sheher lie in it I' here in Marek's house, right?"
Lilly nods her head, her lips pursed solemnly as she watches her mom with utter trust
"Well," Gracen continues hesitantly "This ht be hard to understand, but Marek is actually your daddy"
Lilly's head slowly turns and she looks at me I can tell she doesn't understand My heart feels like it's about to burst out of my chest
"He's your daddy just the way I'm your mommy," Gracen continues "The way Pop-Pop is my daddy, Marek is your daddy"
Lilly just stares at Gracen and I' Gracen's eyes slide over toway better than I ever could
Gracen shifts a little in the chair, cuddles closer to Lilly She reaches her arm around Lilly's back in a protective cocoon "You see, Marek and I used to be very good friends And we ether out of a whole lot of love So he's your daddy and I'm your mommy"
Fuck I s hard against the emotion We made you from a whole lot of love
I lock s bo backjust how much Gracen and I loved each other
My eyes focus on Lilly Of all the questions I expect her to ask
Where has he been all this time?
Why didn't you tell me before?
Will we live here forever?
Will he be my daddy now forever?
Does he love me?
She floors me when she looks at Gracen with the ut to marry him?"
Gracen doesn't even look to uidance Her answer is immediate and swift "No, honey Your daddy and I are only friends who both love you very row up to be such a big girl And I know this is hard to understand, but I'm really sorry you didn't knoas your daddy before Mo of me--"
Okay, can't fucking stand that shit any my voice heard for the first tiet her attention, "Lilly"
Her head turns toat erness to understand I have no clue if these words are right for her because I've never had a serious talk with a toddler before, but they seeht to o away and leave you and your ood daddy I promise"
Gracen's head turns away and she looks out theHer fingers rub against Lilly's lower back
"Your ured out," I continue, since I have her attention I figure she's understanding only about half et the to work hard to make that so"
At this point I'd cue dramatic music and Lilly would scramble off Gracen's lap to launch herself intolike that until just this very moment I can almost even hear the music in my ears, but then there's the proverbial sudden scratch of a needle on an album
Lilly turns to gaze at Gracen, who looks froht sh I can tell it doesn't fully reach her eyes
"Mommycan I watch some more Paw Patrol?" Lilly asks, and my jaw drops
Seriously? The kid just found out she has a daddy who's not going to be that douche Owen, and she wants to watch Paw Patrol?
"Sure, baby," Gracen says, and pushes up out of the chair She turns to set Lilly back down into it and grabs the remote to aim at the TV
I stand frorossed in sos drive fire trucks and fly helicopters
Gracen walks pasther elbow and pull her into the formal room