Chapter 12 - YEAR SIX
Nathan rented a three-bedroom house outside Chicago.
The kitchen was too small.
The garage door made a terrible noise.
The upstairs bathroom leaked.
Lily loved it.
“This is my room?”
She ran inside.
Nathan smiled.
“If you want it.”
“I want stars.”
“Stars?”
“On the ceiling.”
Nathan nodded.
“We can do stars.”
Grace stood in the doorway.
“You've never painted anything in your life.”
“How hard can it be?”
Three hours later, blue paint covered Nathan's shirt, his face, the floor, and somehow the hallway dog they were temporarily watching for Michael.
Grace laughed until she cried.
Nathan pointed the roller at her.
“Don't.”
Grace smiled.
“You wouldn't.”
He rolled a blue stripe across her shirt.
Grace stared at him.
Lily gasped.
“Daddy.”
Nathan realized his mistake.
Grace picked up a paintbrush.
Nathan ran.
The paint fight lasted twelve minutes.
Cleaning it took four hours.
That night, Lily slept beneath badly painted stars.
Nathan stood in the doorway.
Grace joined him.
“She likes them.”
“They look terrible.”
“She doesn't care.”
Nathan smiled.
Then he became serious.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Coming back.”
Grace looked at him.
“I didn't come back for you.”
“I know.”
“I came back because Charles died and I thought Lily might finally be safe.”
“I know.”
Grace studied him.
Nathan wasn't asking her to rewrite history.
He wasn't pretending love erased what happened.
That was one reason she had begun trusting him again.
Nathan continued.
“I don't expect anything from you.”
Grace smiled faintly.
“That's probably why I'm still here.”
Nathan looked at her.
Their eyes held.
Five years of pain remained between them.
But so did something else.
Something that had survived despite everything.
Grace stepped closer.
Nathan didn't move.
She kissed him.
Softly.
Once.
Then she stepped back.
Nathan looked stunned.
“Was that…”
“Don't ruin it.”
He smiled.
“Yes, ma'am.”
Grace laughed.
Inside the bedroom, Lily opened one eye.
“I saw that.”
Grace jumped.
Nathan laughed.
“Go to sleep.”
Lily grinned.
“Are you getting married?”
“No.”
Grace answered too quickly.
Nathan looked wounded.
Lily giggled.
Grace pointed toward the bed.
“Sleep.”
Lily closed her eyes.
Ten seconds later she whispered.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“Don't disappear.”
Nathan's smile vanished.
He walked to her bed.
“I won't.”
“Promise?”
Nathan remembered his father.
Promises.
Secrets.
Fear.
He chose different words.
“If I ever have to leave, I'll tell you why.”
“And I'll always do everything I can to come home.”
Lily nodded.
May you like
That was better than a promise.
It was the truth.
