Page 17 of Lily's Shadow

Austin

Lily and I both ordered coffee with an apple turnover that Bella’s makes from scratch. They are delicious when they are still warm from the oven.

Bella’s mom, Sunshine, is the one working today. She came over to talk to us for a little bit before new customers came in.

She is a very sweet woman. One that I would describe as a free spirit. A true remnant of the seventies era.

Taylor walks in a bit later, stopping at the counter to order a coffee before coming to our table.

“Lily, Austin, thank you both for meeting me here.” He smiles his hello to us both.

“It wasn’t a problem. We both needed to get out for a bit anyway.” I answer. “Is the DNA back?” My heart rate has now picked up with hope.

“It did. I have a copy right here for the two of you. I kept the original for the court hearing.” He hands us a manila envelope that I open hurriedly, pulling out the paper inside.

In bold black letters it plainly says that I am Cordelia’s father. I can’t hold back the little smile at the words. Looking over at Lily, her face is beaming right back at me.

“I should have demanded a DNA test before I just took her word for it.” I scrub my hand down my face at the thought that if she hadn’t come here looking to get money from me, there’s a chance I never would have known my daughter. Those thoughts are what’s eating me up inside.

“While that is true, I can also understand why you didn’t. But now, we are going to remedy the entire situation.” He starts pulling out a small stack of papers.

“What do we do now?” Lily asks.

“Now, I just need Mr. Montgomery to sign these documents so that I can get them over to the courthouse. I have arranged an emergency hearing for next Friday based on the evidence that the baby is in potential harm by being with her mother.” He hands the papers to me and I sign on every line indicated.

“So how are you liking our little town?” Lily asks Taylor.

“It’s beautiful here. Reminds me of home.” He answers.

They continue to talk mostly about the area of White Summer. Lily pulls me into the conversation every once in a while but I am mostly quiet as I think about my daughter and the upcoming court hearing.

Chapter 7

Lily

It’s finally Sunday, my only day off since Fiona has been out of town. I have no plans to go anywhere or do anything, except walk my dog. Last night after Austin drove me and Loki home, he asked if he could spend the day with us.

He usually goes up to the clubhouse for their family barbecue. I’m not sure how he got a standing invite, it’s probably because of Hayden and Wrench. Except, the MC guys are visiting another club this weekend.

Even though I invited Austin to stay with me, it’s still weird to have another person in the house. I’m surprised to be woken up by the smell of frying bacon. Grabbing my robe, I wander out to the kitchen.

Not alerting him to my presence, I stand in the shadows watching him cook breakfast. He has some music playing on his phone and he is so focused on what he’s doing that he doesn’t notice me.

I’m about to let him know I’m there, when he sneaks a piece of bacon down to Loki that has been sitting by his feet the whole time.

“So now you’re bribing my dog with bacon? Sneaky Austin, sneaky.” I tsk at him.

He looks up at me with a hint of embarrassment from being caught. The moment our eyes meet though, it quickly fades away and turns into something else.

Austin pulls me into his arms, and my heart nearly beats out of my chest when his lips meet mine. Neither of us come up for air, but his hands slip under my robe to caress my breast.

We are so lost in each other that the pounding at the front door takes a few seconds to recognize as knocking.

“Ignore it, whoever it is will go away.” he reconnects his lips to mine. But the knocking doesn’t go away, it gets louder. Then it is accompanied by a voice.

“Austin, I know you’re in there. I see your truck out front!” Erica yells from the other side of the door.

With a groan he steps back. “I’m sorry.”

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