Page 4 of Lily's Shadow

“I don’t know. She’s been calling me nonstop for the last couple weeks. At first I was just ignoring her calls, but then I blocked her. She knows she is supposed to call my lawyer, not me.”

“You need to find out if Cordelia is your’s.”

“What? Who?” I look at her with confusion.

“The baby, her name is Cordelia.” She states.

“How do you know that? I didn’t even know that.”

“Oh Austin.” She sits down next to me and leans her head on my shoulder. “I know you block out that part of the world but I still have friends back home. Her cousin Heather was in my class, we talk sometimes.”

I glance outside and notice how late it’s getting. “Hay Hay I have to get to the grocery store before it closes. I promise I will tell Lily everything. I know she is your friend too, I hate that she got pulled into this but my brain just went blank. I didn’t know what to do or say.”

“Austin, this is a small town. People talk, you’re going to have to convince her to play along until Erica leaves town.”

“I know.” I tell her before I kiss her on the forehead.

The trip to the grocery store is blissfully uneventful. I got there about twenty minutes before closing so it was basically empty. I am loading my car, when my cell phone rings. I glance down at the screen planning to ignore it but when I see the name “Ellen Montgomery” I know better.

“Mom.” I answer.

“Austin James.”

Uh oh the middle name clues me in that I am in trouble. I don’t even bother starting the car, just sit behind the wheel waiting.

“Well, I’m waiting.” She says after a minute of silence.

“Waiting for what Mom?” I sigh, knowing what is coming.

“Waiting for my son to tell me about the woman he is engaged to, that he never introduced to his mother. Waiting to hear how that Bitch found you.”

“I found out tonight that Hayden has been in contact with some of her old friends. One of them is Erica’s cousin. I’m willing to bet they realized I wouldn’t be far from her.”

“That explains that but tell me about this fiance I have never met.” She demands.

“Lily is a friend. You’ve met Fiona right?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Lily works for her at the tattoo shop. I’ve been teaching her self defense. She was standing next to me when Erica caused a scene at Hay’s Den. My mind went blank, I just wanted her to go away. I wasn’t thinking, it just spilled out of my mouth before I knew what I was saying.” I explain.

“So what are you going to do about it?” She asks after letting my explanation sink in.

“I’m hoping I can convince Lily to play along until Erica leaves town. Mom, you need to know she is claiming the baby is mine.” I say in a rush.

“What the fuck!” She shouts.

Oh shit, my mom never swears. She was there when Erica told me I wasn’t the father. I think she was more heartbroken than I was over it. She wanted to be a Grandma so badly, she claimed Hanley as her own after we moved here.

“Austin, if that baby is yours you better bring it home to Nana.” I can hear her starting to cry.

“Mom. I swear to you if Cordelia is mine, she is not going anywhere.” I promise.

“Cordelia? She had a girl?” Mom sniffles.

“Yes, Mama. Look, I have to go. I'm sitting in the parking lot at the grocery store. They're going to think I’m casing the joint if I sit here much longer. I’ve gotta get home and clean up before Lily gets off work.”

“You’re seeing her tonight?” She asks.

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