“Yeah, I am,” he said shocking me even further.
“And you figured it was cool to just walk right in like no big deal. You probably weren’t going to ever tell me either,” she said before storming off to her room.
I debated going after Aria. Instead I turned to Barrett.
“You knew? How long?”
He took my hand and walked us over to sit on the couch.
"I thought it might be true after that first time we met. When I saw her picture on your desk at work I knew for sure. I didn’t want to say anything. I figured you would tell me when you were ready.”
“And good thing I didn’t,” I said crossing my arms again.
“Lilly, I know you heard my mom. She isn’t my fiancé though. We never even discussed marriage before I left for the Red Cross. It was just all what my parents wanted and convinced Sophia that it was what she wanted too.”
“But that is your life, and this is ours,” I said trying my best to shrug off his words.
“No,” he said scooting closer to me and taking my hand. “You. I want you to be my life. If I had only known from the start. You don’t know how many nights I went to that club after hoping to find you again. You stole my heart then.”
“Barrett, I don’t know.” I hesitated. “This all sounds lovely but I have Aria to think about and…”
“And I want the chance to worry and think about her too. I never believed in fate, but Lilly, I know it’s what brought you to my office that day. I never did forget you because maybe a part of me knew that you were here taking care of my baby.”
“You don't understand. I don’t even know if Aria is going to forgive me, let alone accept anyone else. The thing I told you about the Navy SEAL. It’s the same story she heard her whole life and up until yesterday she believed it.”
“I couldn’t tell her what really happened. That I didn’t even know her father’s name. What kind of mother would I be? I just don’t know what to do now,” I gave out in a defeated huff.
I never expected parenting to be easy. It wasn’t a lie when people said it should come with a manual. For the most part though I had gotten along pretty well. This was the first time that I truly had no idea how to fix the situation.
Barrett lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my palm breathing me in. I had to admit that instantly, my body calmed at his touch.
“We go in there and tell her the truth. It may not be pretty, but it is what it is. And now we are all here together. I know we are meant to be together, to be a family. So that is how we will work this out.”
I nodded my head in agreement. I never once thought I wished I had Aria’s father in our life. In that moment as I leaned into his touch I realized how much I had missed not having his support here to help me.
Twenty-Five
Barrett
Together Lilly and I got up from the couch and made our way to Aria's room. She knocked softly on the door and I waited just behind her. I was after all the stranger in all of this. I would give her as much room as was needed.
“Aria,” Lilly called when she didn’t answer. “I know you're mad, but we need to talk about this.”
She knocked again and still no answer. Lilly looked back at me worry on her face. I didn’t
have a good feeling either.
Lilly opened the door and walked into the room.
“Aria?” She called before bursting back out “She’s gone!”
“What?”
She handed me a piece of paper. In a child’s had was the simple words “I am running away.”
It was such a simple and innocent phrase but also sent a chill of panic through me. This was after all the city and it was starting to get dark.
“How could she get out your on the second floor?” I said confused.