UNTIL I FOUND YOU
Chapter Thirty-Two
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 repute. Their bad
reputation had unfortunately back-lashed 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?
Hmm…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 out 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 intact."
"Lily, forgive my
forwardness…but I have to know…how did you know that Jack was Andrew’s and not
Dean’s?" 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 sympathetic 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.