Page 9 of Lorenzo & Lily

Her heart was still racing a mile a minute and, even though it was chilly, her palms were sweaty as they clutched the blanket.

“Mama, Mama!”

Her daughter’s soft and strong body bumped into her, and little arms wrapped around her legs. “I got you a pretty shell, too.”

The fear of meeting Lorenzo faded as she took in her daughter. Liliana was the light of her life. Despite all the black and dark that shadowed her past – including the past she shared with Lorenzo – her little Lily beat it all back with just a smile.

“Did you, honey?” She crouched down and took the shell – its color a pale blue – and cuddled her baby close. “It’s beautiful. It will go perfect with all the others.”

“Can I look for more?”

Lily’s eyes tipped to the brightening sky then, because she couldn’t help herself, she glanced down the beach but Lorenzo was long gone. “Not right now, honey.” She lifted Liliana into her arms. “Mama’s got to get ready for work, and you need to get ready for pre-school with Miss Jane.”

“I like beach mornings.”

She kissed Liliana’s temple as she walked slowly towards the sidewalk. “I do, too. But you know what I like more?”

“What?”

“Tickling you!” Her fingers started tickling Liliana’s stomach as peals of little girl laughter filled the air.

“Mama!”

A bright smile on her face, Lily snuggled her baby close again. She took in the soft scent of children’s shampoo mixed with baby lotion, and felt the warmth of her little body and the ripple of her laughter.

Her smile faded as she thought of Lorenzo. Besides just the physical difference, he’d seemed a different man than the one she’d known.

He’d been angry a few minutes ago, and rightfully so. He’d been angry back then, too, but he’d still been healing. Other than a rare raised voice, he had never hurt her. Not physically, not emotionally. She knew he never could, either.

She’d been the one who had hurt him, who’d hurt their relationship and destroyed their future. She didn’t have a choice back then. To protect her family, she’d done what she needed to do. She’d never felt worthy of him back then, anyhow. Even a high society darling like her, or like she’d once been, had never thought she could make a prince fall in love with her.

Would she be able to tell him that the same person who’d forced them apart years ago, had realized their mistake and were pushing them back together now? That person had been the one to secure her invitation to the royal wedding where they saw each other again. She’d never be able to reveal who they were, not without disastrous consequences to Lorenzo’s family.

The royal family of her adopted country.

However, she could make him see, make him understand without knowing everything. He’d have to accept her word; he was different now, so he might accept it for her or Liliana’s sake.

Her mind reeled with their short conversation, all while Lily chattered on, oblivious to the change in her circumstances. He wanted them to move into the castle. No discussion, no choice, just his decision and his alone. She understood it, even while it angered and frustrated her. Too many of her choices had not been her own in the past, and it seemed Lorenzo was making decisions for her as well. He wasn’t the same person he was all those years ago.

Yet, hadn’t she been a different woman back then, too? Five years of struggle and loneliness had changed her, too. Becoming a mother had changed her most of all. She’d already proved, without a shadow of a fucking doubt, that she would do whatever it took to protect her baby girl.

That was also one thing she was going to make sure Lorenzo knew.

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