36
Lily poured herself another cup of tea and settled down at the table. She cautiously sipped the hot liquid as she sat down to discuss her past with the young woman across from her.
"Where do I start? How about my relationship with Dean? That is where all of this started really. I was no older then you Rose when I met Dean. I was young and naive. I believed that love could conquer all. As you already know…I was wrong. Love couldn’t conquer my parents. You see, Dean’s family…they were the scourge of Chippewa Falls. His father was a drunk and his mother was a woman of ill respite. Their bad reputation had unfortunately backlashed against their son.
Dean was a good boy. He really was, that’s why I fell in love with him. We began seeing each other secretly, because I knew that my parents would never approve."
"But they did find out?" Rose asked.
"Well…I told them actually. I remember that day so clearly. It was a year after our affair had began…"
~*~
It was a bright and sunny day. Lily was just returning from a visit with Dean. A bright and happy smile lit up her face as she entered the house. The smile left her as she saw her parents in the setting room along with Trudy and Joseph Dawson and their son Andrew. She tried to sneak upstairs, but unfortunately her mother had spotted her.
"Lily! Good, you’re home!" Sally Brookes called out to her daughter. "Wherever have you been? You’re always disappearing off somewhere everyday. Wherever do you go? Hmmm…oh never mind. It doesn’t matter in the least. Your father and I have some news for you! Some very exciting news actually."
"Hello Lily," Andrew smiled brightly, obviously happy about something. Lily frowned. She didn’t care all that much for Andrew Dawson. She didn’t really know him all that well. He was nice, handsome, tall…a fine catch if there ever was one. But she was more attracted to Dean. Poor, black sheep of the community, Dean. Plus Dean hated the Dawsons with a passion. They were the model respectable family and Dean hated that. No Dean didn’t like Andrew Dawson, so therefore, neither did Lily.
"Andrew," she coldly nodded, before turning back to her family. "So. What’s this news?"
"We’ll leave you three alone to discuss this," Joseph nodded, escorting his son and wife out of the house.
Lily frowned. What was this news and what did the Dawsons have to do with it? Sally and Hank Brookes looked at each other and then back at their daughter. Excitement gleamed in their eyes.
"Your mother and I had just gotten through closing a deal. A deal that sets both you and Andrew up for life," Hank grinned. "You’re seventeen years old now Lily. It’s time you settled down and have a family of your own."
"Daddy…what are you saying?" Lily felt her stomach drop. She wasn’t liking the sound of this at all.
"The Dawson’s and your mother and I have talked it over. Next month, you and their son are to be wed."
Lily’s world then came crashing down. Marriage? To Andrew Dawson? Why that was unthinkable! Especially now that she had found Dean! She loved Dean! Not Andrew! It should be Dean she was marrying!
"Daddy no!" Lily cried out.
"Lily," Sally looked at her daughter, surprised at the outburst. She had thought Lily would be happy with the announcement.
"My dear girl, why not?" Hank just looked at her. "The Dawson’s are a good, respectable family. A union between our families is a good move."
Lily took a deep breath, knowing what she must do to avoid this marriage. She’ll have to tell them about Dean. She didn’t want to, but there was no other choice. If she didn’t tell them about Dean…they’ll make her marry Andrew.
"Because I’m in love with someone else."
Sally crossed her arms, her mouth
open in disbelief. "Pray tell, who is this boy and why
haven’t we met him?"
Lily sucked in her breath and closed her eyes, hoping for the
best. "It’s Dean Mitchum. I’m in love with
him."
"Dean Mitchum," Sally gasped in horror, her hand flying to her chest. "You don’t mean Nathan Mitchum’s boy! You can’t possibly mean him!"
Lily meekly nodded and winced as her father roared in outrage. "How! How can you be in love with a boy you don’t know…unless…"
Lily bowed her head, knowing that she was in really big trouble. "We’ve been secretly seeing each other for a year now. But Daddy, he’s a good boy. He really is."
"I can’t believe this! A whole year and you’ve been lying to us!" Hank bellowed, his face growing red with anger.
"Daddy please. I only lied because I knew that you wouldn’t approve of Dean! But Daddy, give him a chance! Invite him to dinner…" Lily pleaded, but all her pleas fell on deaf ears. Her parents were too angry to listen.
"You are not going to see that boy again Lily! We’re not having it! Sally, send for Joesph and Trudy. Tell them to get over here straight away. The wedding is to take place at the end of the week and we need to start planning now!"
"Yes dear," Sally nodded, disappearing into the room they kept their telegraph.
"And as for my disobedient daughter, you are not leaving your room until your wedding day!" Hank pulled Lily up to her room and locked her in.
~*~
"One week later, Andrew and I were wed. I kept hoping that Dean would charge into the church and save me. But he never did. Instead, he remained outside; and then after we were wed, he watched me come here. To the house we’re in now. I didn’t come ut for a week."
"How did you two come to have the affair?" Rose asked, leaning back in her chair. Jack forgive her, but she was finding Lily’s story enthralling.
"My first day out alone, I ran into Dean. We had decided that no matter what, we were going to be together. No matter what. So as I pretended to be the dutiful wife…"
"You were seeing Dean behind your husband’s back."
"For a while. Andrew found out soon enough; but he pretended not to know. He too wanted to keep the image of the perfect couple in tact."
"Lily, forgive my forwardness…but I have to know…how did you know that Jack was Andrews and not Deans?" Rose blushed.
Lily smiled modestly. "Because Dean and I were sure not to sleep together. We kissed, hugged, but we never went that far. Not until we ran away together. I remember telling Dean I was pregnant. He was so angry with Andrew…"
~*~
Lily sat on the park bench dabbing away her tears. It wouldn’t do for Dean to see her crying. He couldn’t know her condition. Not yet anyway.
"Lily?" He came from behind, smiling, happy to see her again. His happy smile turned to a grim frown of concern when he noticed her tears. "Lily? What’s wrong? Has Andrew done something to hurt you? Because if he has…"
"No Dean. Andrew didn’t hurt me. In fact…he’s given me something. Something I wish you had given me instead," Lily wiped at her falling tears, knowing that Dean was going to be angry with her; Angry that she had allowed Andrew to touch her in a way he could not.
Confused, Dean frowned, having no idea what Lily was talking about. "Pumpkin, you’re confusing me. What did he give you that was so horrible?"
Lily swallowed and stared him in the eye. Her tears were suddenly dried up and her throat was dry. "A child. Dean…I’m so sorry. But it was my wifely duty. Dean…I’m with child. I just found out today."
At first Dean was quiet with shock. What could he say to this? He had no right to be angry, because she wasn’t his. But he couldn’t be happy either. "That son of a…I’m going to kill him! I’m going to kill him for this!" Dean got up and was about to head for the park’s exit, but Lily grabbed his arm before he could go any further.
"Dean don’t! Just leave Andrew be. He’s a good man. Really he is. Since I can’t give him the love he deserves…the least I can do is give him a child…hopefully a son. I owe him that much. We both do."
Dean sighed in resignation, taking the seat next to Lily. As much as he hated Andrew, Lily was right. They both owed him this. "Ok. Fine. But that’s it Lily. This child, but no more. Our duty to him is done."
Lily smiled, thankful that he wasn’t angry with her. "I love you."
"And I love you. Come here," Dean pulled her against him, rubbing the chill from her arms. "We’ll get through this Lily. I promise you."
Lily just held onto him tighter as the baby inside her grew. Her life had just become more complicated.
~*~
"Nine months later, Jack was born. I had thought that my love for Dean was a deep as love could get. But when the midwife placed my tiny son in my arms…I knew that it would never compare to what I felt for that blue eyed child in my arms. Jack was perfect in everyway and his love for me was the most purest, most special love in existence."
"He still is perfect and pure," Rose blushed. "I’m sorry. Go on."
Lily smiled at her son’s young bride, recognizing the love that she held for Dean directed towards her son. She was happy to know that Jack was well-loved. "Jack was what had made my life happy. I had less time with Dean, but the time I spent with my son had made up for it tenfold."
"You say that you loved Jack more then you even loved Dean. Why did you leave Jack like you did then?"
"I didn’t…I had thought that Andrew would be there to raise our son. I didn’t know that he would perish in that fire. I had wanted Jack believe that his mother was dead rather for him to know that I ran off with another man. Believe me Rose, I hated leaving Jack. But he was his father’s heart and soul. Losing me would hurt Andrew, but losing Jack…that would have destroyed him. I couldn’t do that to him. I couldn’t take away the one person he was living for. Besides, Jack was too old and would never leave Andrew and he would hate me for choosing Dean."
"Well then, why did you choose
Dean?"
"Because, Dean wanted to move on, but I couldn’t let
him go. Not without me and as I made that choice, I knew I would
have to leave my son. So the night before the fire, I spent it
entirely with Jack. I gave him my last gift, the portfolio, and
posed for one last drawing, which he had given to me and I still
have to this day. I said good-bye to him the next morning and
watched him leave for school. Then I left to meet
Dean…unaware that it would all end in tragedy. That my
precious son would be considered an orphan and become a
wanderer."
"He’s a hero. He’s saved me more then once," Rose placed a symphetic hand over Lily’s, who was reduced to tears.
"I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me."
"Let me talk to him Lily. I’ll make Jack understand. He needs to hear your side of it. He needs to hear it from me."
"Thank you Rose. You are such a kind soul," Lily hugged her. "Thank you so much for what you’re doing for my family."
Rose could only smile and hope that indeed, Jack would listen to her and forgive his mother. After all, Lily’s story was very similar to her own.