Easter's Lilly Page 12

  I walked into the leasing office, just to discover white lilies all over the room. “What’s wrong?” Cammy asked. “I’m guessing these are for you. You should be smiling.” She pointed towards all the flowers that were everywhere around the room.

  “I woke up and he was gone without a trace,” I answered. “I don’t know, I felt kind of abandoned.” I had to fight back to urge to cry but my voice was cracking and I’m sure she could hear it.

  “Johnny does that ‘disappearing without a trace’ thing, well,” she admitted. I looked down, trying to hide my face. “He left a note.” She handed me a card that was stuck to one of the flower arrangements. I took it out of the envelope and read it. You’ll always be my Easter Lilly. I’ll be back for you. I put it back in the envelope and I cried a little more. Cammy hugged me until we saw Diego walk into the office with a grim expression on his face. Cammy seemed to be analyzing his look and then out of nowhere cried, “Oh no! Do not tell me what I think you’re gonna tell me.”

  He came over to me and said, “I need you ladies to go into the back office with me for a minute.”

  “NO!” Cammy shouted. “NO! You didn’t!” He looked at her a little surprised.

  I followed him into the office and Cammy followed behind. “Johnny was in an accident on his way home.”

  “Where is he?” I asked breathlessly. “I need to be with him.”

  “I’m sorry Lilly,” he answered.

  Cammy started screaming and punching him in the chest. “No! No! I don’t believe you!” He held her back and I sat there frozen. I ran into the bathroom in the back and threw up. When I came out, she was calmer and I sat down feeling disoriented. “I’m really all alone, now,” I said. “What am I going to do?”

  “Lilly, go back to your apartment,” Cammy told me. “I’ll meet you there in a few minutes. Let Diego take you.” I think I walked on my own but I felt as though I was in a dream. He drove me in his golf cart and he unlocked the door for me with his master key. He walked around looking at my things as though he was looking for something specific. “Is this your dad?” he asked, as he picked up Mick’s picture.

  “Yeah,” I said. “That’s him.”

  I could not believe all the changes that had taken place in such a short period of time. I think I was happy for a minute. Just for one brief minute and then it was all over.

  A little time went by, I’m not sure how much and Cammy came barreling in with a paper bag in her hand. “What’s that?” I asked.

  “Johnny told me before you got here that he thought you might be pregnant.”

  I grabbed the bag from her and threw it on the floor. “I’m not taking that.”

  “Lilly,” Diego got on one knee in front of me. I was sitting on the couch, motionless. He took my hands and said, “You are not alone.” I could not make eye contact with him. I looked at the floor. “I have a lot of money. I could take care of you. You can have your own room…” He paused for a minute. “I will ask nothing of you, but I could take care of you and your baby.”

  “Why… why would you do that?” I asked.

  “Cammy and I go way back. Let me do this for you.” I got up feeling like a zombie, picked the bag up off of the floor and went into the bathroom.

  I could hear the two of them arguing outside. I waited for the stick to give me an answer. My life changing decision was riding on a plus or a negative sign. After the test was complete I stayed in the bathroom a little longer. They were having some kind of heated argument out there and Cammy was definitely blaming Diego for Johnny’s death. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to re-enter the room just yet. When I came back they got quiet and waited for me to say something. I looked over at Diego. He looked so sincere and he was so very beautiful. But still… I took a deep breath and finally found the courage to speak. “Well Diego…” I started. “It looks like we’re going to have a baby.”

  CHAPTER 7

  Family?