The Lyon's Cub Caitlin (Lyon The Next Generation 1)

“I’m not going anywhere until you smile for me, and mean it.” He added on just as I was about to give him a watery fake grin.

“She's just sixteen years old

Leave her alone, they say

Separated by fools

Who don't know what love is yet

But I want you to know

If I could fly

I'd pick you up

I'd take you into the night

And show you a love

Like you've never seen, ever seen”

He sang a few bars from what had become my favorite song the year before, some old classic that makes my heart sing each time I hear it no matter what daddy has to say about it and the man who sung it. Sheesh.

Now my smile was genuine as I finally sat up in bed, feeling the burden of fear dissipate by the look in his eyes. “Todd?”

“What is it sweetheart?” Still with that look.

“Don’t ever look at anyone else the way you look at me.” He started shaking his head before I got the last word out. “Promise.”

“I promise you baby, no one else will ever have what’s yours.” And hearing his reassurance for the one-hundredth time was enough to make me smile from my heart. Sometimes, like now, it hits me out of nowhere just how lucky I am.

Most girls, even some I know personally, don’t have it this good. Parents who love them the way a parent should, and a guy like my Todd, who even although he’s miles and miles away, can still make me feel like he’s just a touch away.

We exchanged our morning pleasantries, before it was time to get up and get the day started and as always I hated turning off the iPad and getting out of bed. It will be hours before I can talk to him again and it was getting harder and harder to face each day without him.

We used to spend every lunch break together at school, every weekend together here at the house. And because of my advance classes, we’d shared a few classes together as well. Although it’s been two years since he’s been gone I still haven’t gotten use to it and doubt I ever will.

Because my mind was in that place I was a little cross when I made it downstairs to the breakfast table. It doesn’t take me long to get ready in the morning since I’m not allowed to wear make-up. So all I have to do is pull a drying brush through my hair after my morning shower and shampoo and slip on my jeans and tee or sweater according to the weather.

Today was blazing hot even though spring had just started. The perfect day for a nice summer dress, or a tank top and shorts which daddy would eat his tongue if I wore any further than the backyard.

I miss the dresses mom had started buying for me when I grew out of my tomboy stage, but there was no point in me wearing that stuff now anyway since Todd was gone.

Not that I don’t like getting dressed up and fussing with my hair on occasion, but I find my heart is never really in it because he’s not here to see the end result. I like the way his eyes light up when he sees me looking good. But, no opportunity for that, since Colton Lyon is a closet monitor.

“Morning daddy.”

“Morning princess.” I gave him the usual peck on the cheek before finding my chair. The others were trampling in with their usual noise as mom stood at the stove plating pancakes and eggs while daddy held Cody on his lap and kept an eye on the trips who were in their connected high chair.

I guessed from mom’s sour face that she was peeved about something and since she’d never made it to my room the night before with the good news, I could only surmise that it had something to do with me and my going away to college.

I chanced a peek at daddy and he was just calmly sipping coffee and looking at her while she pretended to ignore him. “Mommy, what did daddy do to you this time?” Catalina squirmed into her chair and stared at mom with that half grown half child look on her face.

Mom had just placed the platters of pancakes and eggs on the table and was turning back for the bacon. “What do you mean?”

“That thing on your neck.” Of course all eyes flew to mom’s neck where she wasn’t fast enough to hide the hickey with the hand she slapped over it.

The twins’ eyes widened, Caleb looked confused and I wanted to hide under the table as daddy smirked and mom turned beet red. How could I forget how embarrassing my parents are? Gross! Still I felt the warmth of a child who’s secure in the knowledge that her parents love each other still after all these years of marriage.