Page 23 of Unlikely Guardian

Judging from Lilly’s reaction, this would be yet more bad news. Jason wasn’t sure he was ready for that, but it didn’t stop Erica from continuing.

“Michael said Ms. Nelson started the paperwork to revoke your custody of Megan.”

OH, THIS WAS GOING to get messy.

Lilly had known this moment would come, of course, but what she hadn’t counted on was having to deal with it only minutes after the scare with the possible breach of security. Judging from the fierce look that Jason was giving her, dealing with the killer or security issues might be easier than the conversation they were about to have.

“I’m sorry,” Lilly said. She was. Genuinely sorry. “I intended to tell you.”

His left eyebrow shot up and he indicated an un-spoken When? However, Jason didn’t voice that question. “I want the three of you to go to the back of the house. If I need you to move into the panic room, I’ll let you know through the intercom.” He turned his gaze on the nanny. “Erica, Lilly will probably need help getting out of that wheelchair and into the room.”

Okay. So, he didn’t intend to let her explain. Not that she needed to shed much light on her decision, anyway. Since there was nothing Lilly could say to him to make this better, she decided to comply. Besides, Jason was right: it’d be safer for them to be out of the front room. Because if the would-be killer returned…

But she stopped.

Best not to go there.

Keeping a firm grip on Megan, Erica turned and headed down the hall. Lilly did the same. Not easily. The carpeted floor wasn’t exactly a good surface for the wheelchair to maneuver on. Still, Lilly had no intention of asking for help.

Erica disappeared into a room at the end of the hall. Lilly tried to follow her, but it only took one hard bop of her wheels on the door frame before she realized that Jason was right—she wouldn’t be able to squeeze through.

So Lilly sat there.

Like the rest of the house, the playroom reflected the same homey environment that Jason had created for Megan. Cheery pastel-yellow walls. Overstuffed floral chairs. And toys. Lots and lots of toys. Not gender-specific, either. Megan had a pinto rocking horse, dozens of colorful plastic building blocks and stuffed animals. Some of them were huge, including the fuzzy orange elephant perched in the corner near the doorway to what was probably the panic room.

“Do you need help?” Erica asked.

Yes. But Lilly wasn’t going to ask for it. “I’ll be fine right here.”

She hoped.

The front door was only about thirty feet away. Too close if someone came barging through it. Of course, Jason wouldn’t let that happen. Which only contributed to the massive amount of guilt that Lilly was suddenly feeling. She hadn’t done anything wrong by trying to get custody of her daughter, but then she hadn’t done it the right way, either. Despite the investigation and security arrangements, she should have found the time to tell Jason.

Megan began to squirm to get down, and Erica eased her into a standing position on the floor. Lilly almost reached out her arms—an automatic gesture to welcome Megan to come closer—but she held back, hoping the child would come to her.

She did.

Megan toddled her way and gave the wheels a cursory inspection before turning her attention to Lilly. She cocked her head to the side, a gesture that so reminded Lilly of Jason. That was his expression. Along with his eyes, Megan looked very much like his biological daughter.

“Da-da?” Megan babbled, and she yawned, rubbed her eyes and pointed to the door.

“Da-da’s busy right now,” Erica responded, her voice strained yet somehow soothing. “He’ll be here soon.” Erica sank down into a rocking chair and tipped her eyes to the ceiling before her gaze came back to Lilly. “Jason had to know about that call from your lawyer.”

“Yes.” It was too bad, though, that the news hadn’t come from her.

But Lilly immediately rethought that. That wasn’t the sort of news that could be softened, so it probably didn’t matter who the messenger was. Besides, she had to give Erica the benefit of the doubt here. The woman obviously loved Megan. If Jason lost custody, that would mean Erica would lose Megan, too. She wouldn’t have any rights to see the child, either. Lilly understood that concern.

That fear.

Because even though she’d only known Megan for a few precious minutes, she couldn’t imagine losing her.

Megan rubbed her eyes again, and while keeping a precarious balance, she stooped to retrieve a well-worn, blue polka-dotted blanket from the floor. She shoved it against her right cheek.

“It’s her nap time,” Erica explained. “She still takes two a day. One short one in the morning and another longer one in the afternoon.”

Lilly felt a pang of jealousy in her heart. Such basic information. But it was info she didn’t know. Here was her own daughter, her own flesh and blood, and she knew so little about her.

That would change.

---