“I know, but it doesn't mean you need to leave right away.” Wyatt took a seat onto the couch as he spoke. “Mildred would probably like to see you.”
Lily shook her head. “Maybe, but I'm sure she's going to want to tell you guys all about her trip. I don't want to intrude. Plus, I should get back and get my apartment in order. It was kind of a mess when I left it.”
“Alright, well then, I guess I'll give you a call in a few days,” Wyatt said, standing right back up from his position on the couch. He approached Lily with open arms. “Sound good?”
Lily stepped forward and embraced him, letting her body relax into his chest. “Yeah, that sounds great. Thank you again for everything. This was honestly one of the best weeks I've ever had.”
“I agree,” Wyatt said, squeezing her tight. “I'll miss having you around. Hopefully, though, Mildred will be on board with that weekend arrangement we were talking about.”
“Yeah, I hope so,” Lily said.
Wyatt released her from the hug, but Lily didn't want to let go. She kept her arms around his back as long she could, then finally pulled away. Her eyes were now shrink-wrapped in tears. She managed to keep them from falling down her cheeks again, though.
She turned around toward Maggie, who already looked like she was about to cry. Her lower lip was trembling and it was clear that she was trying her hardest to hold it back.
“Can I get a hug?” Lily asked, squatting down to Maggie's level.
Maggie didn't hesitant. Not for a moment. She came sprinting up to Lily, wrapping her arms around her neck. She began to sob, which of course, made Lily sob as well. The two ladies cried for a few moments, then Lily broke the hug.
“I'll miss you, Aunt Wiwee,” Maggie said, through sniffles.
Lily wiped the tears off of Maggie's cheek. “I'll see you soon, okay? I promise. I swear on our friendship necklaces that I'll come by and see you next week, no matter what.”
“Okay,” Maggie said, before pouting out her lower lip.
Lily stood up and let out a long sigh. She glanced back toward Wyatt. He flashed a warm smile at her and nodded. “See you soon.”
“Yeah,” Lily said. “Definitely.”
Gravity tugged on her heart, making it difficult to move toward the front door. It was like every single part of her just wanted to stay and live there, but she knew that wasn't exactly an option. She had to start her regular life again. She had to move forward, with the knowledge that maybe some things just weren't meant to be. Maybe, just maybe, everything actually had happened for a reason and she was only ever supposed to be Aunt Lily, never Mom.
Lily didn't say another word. She knew that if she tried, she'd just choke up and start crying again. So she turned and walked toward the front door. When she got there, she picked up her duffel bag and suitcase and headed outside. Her old, raggedy Honda Civic was out front right where she had parked it over a week before. Her stomach sank as she tossed her bags into the back and slid into the driver's seat. It was time to head home and face reality again.
Chapter 21
Lily
Lily pulled her car into the parking lot and glanced out the front windshield at her apartment building. It was the place she had called home for many months, but it suddenly seemed kind of foreign to her. She grabbed her bags and headed up to the fourth floor. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she was greeted by the nauseating smell of garlic and curry. One of her neighbors considered himself to be a chef, but really, it seemed like everything he ever cooked smelled like something Lily would have thrown away in the garbage.
Welp, she thought. Guess I'm home now.
She walked down the hall and the wheels of her suitcase squeaked as she pulled it along the tile. When she got to apartment 403, she stopped and sighed. There were three envelopes stuffed into the crack of the door, just above the handle. She recognized them immediately, because it wasn't the first time she'd gotten a notice from her landlord.
At least I made good money last week, she thought, pulling the envelopes out of the door jam and stuffing them into her purse. I'll be able to catch up on my rent payment finally. Maybe that will get the landlord off of my back, at least for a little while anyway.
As soon as she got inside, she dropped her bags by the front door. It only took a quick glance around for her to remember how dark and dingy her apartment was. She'd almost forgotten. Either that, or maybe she never even fully realized it. However, after living in Wyatt's mansion for almost ten days, her place seemed more horrible than ever before.
Her tiny kitchen was to the right. It had just enough counter space to butter a piece of toast and not much else. It didn't even have a dishwasher and the oven was nothing to get too excited about. With only two burners on top, there was no way she'd ever be able to practice cooking.
How am I supposed to get better at cooking with a kitchen like this? She thought. There's no way. I might as well accept the fact that the Filet Mignon I made last night was just a fluke. I just got lucky, that's all.
When she got to her living room, she plopped down onto the love seat. Both of the cushions were worn out, so she had to sit in just the right spot to keep the frame underneath from pressing painfully against her rear.
“This doesn't feel like home any more,” she whispered.
All of her stuff was there. Her pictures, her furniture and her handful of bright green house plants that seemed happy on the window sill. However, she felt out of place. It was like she had out grown the apartment or something.
It didn't matter how she felt about it, though. This apartment was all she could afford and even with the low rent, she was barely squeaking by. It wasn't like she could go out and find something newer or better. Even thou