Page 74 of The Lady and the Footballer
Lily’s father looked from one of them to the other. “Truthfully, I cannot be certain of anything. But what I do know is that I cannot have a man working for me or playing for the club when he has given us reasons to be suspicious of him.”
“Did the other committee members agree with him leaving the team?” Emmaline asked, and Lily had to give her friend credit for not withering under her father’s glare.
“I am the main sponsor of the club.”
“That may be true, but I believe that all have a say in player relations,” Emmaline said. “They might have an issue if you have released a player without their approval or a vote.”
“Very well. Then Thornton left of his own will.”
“But he didn’t!” Lily cried out, hating the desperation in her tone but unable to overcome it.
“He did,” her father said, standing, tugging at the bottom of his jacket. “He is gone, Lily. You must understand that, accept it, and forget about ever meeting him. It’s what he has done regarding you.”
At that, he was marching out of the room, Lily watching him go helplessly before she turned to Emmaline, trying to prevent the tears from leaking from her eyes.
“You don’t think that is true, do you? That he actually just left, without a word to me?”
“This likely came as a surprise to him as well,” Emmaline said, running a hand over Lily’s back. “It’s not as though he is gone forever. His life is here. He still has his home and his family. He has you.”
“But Emmaline,” she said, her voice a whisper. “What if the reason my father made him leave had nothing to do with the club or the mill but rather was because of me? What if my father found out about us, or was even suspicious, and used this opportunity to get rid of him?”
“Then so be it,” Emmaline said gently. “Colin decided to become involved with you as much as you did him. He chose you. Give him a chance to tell you what he is choosing now. Take the opportunity to tell him what you want after you decide that for yourself.”
Lily eyed her. She knew in her heart exactly what she wanted.
“I want him,” she said.
“There’s the spirit,” Emmaline said with a wide grin. “And now the previous impediment between you is gone. There is nothing your father can threaten him with any further.”
“I suppose, but?—”
“Then go after what you want,” she said. “Tell him how you feel. What do you have to lose?”
“My dignity if he denies me,” she said, to which Emmaline shrugged.
“It’s worth it.”
Lily couldn’t help but laugh as she reached out and pulled Emmaline close to her, grateful for her friend and the fact that she was always there for her, no matter what was to come at them.
“I must find a way to speak with him.”
“I can get a note to him if you’d like. My correspondence isn’t exactly closely read.”
“Thank you, Emmaline,” Lily said before they busied themselves writing the note, Lily simply asking Colin for a conversation. She and Colin had found ways to come together before, but he had always found her, telling her that he couldn’thave her putting herself in danger anymore by attempting to seek him out alone.
She hoped that continuing to honor his wish would show him how much she cared about what he thought and requested.
And she prayed that he would understand she wanted him, no matter what her father said.
She felt, deep in her heart, that what they had together was more than just a passing fling, that he cared for her as much as she did him.
But she had been wrong before. Many a woman had.
She supposed she would soon know – one way or another.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Colin stared at the food before him but found he couldn’t eat.
