Building A (Strange) Family

Road Trip

"You don't owe him anything," mom was sure to remind her as she prepped her bags by the door the next evening.

" I know mom. I know it's stupid-"

"It's not stupid." Mom interrupted.
"It just shows your character. A lot more character then he ever had. I'm proud of you."

Lilly came back over to her and kissed her head.
"I'll be gone probably a week.
His lawyer just asked if I could help straighten things out.
Call if you need anything."

"Where is David? You're not leaving without saying goodbye to him, are you?"

Lilly looked at her phone.
"No, I won't. Thought he would be up by now..."

As soon as she said it, both bedroom doors open and all the guys came out with a backpack and folded blanket apiece.

David looked at the guys, then to Lilly.
"Looks like we're ready."

Lilly just stood there.

"Are... Are you not leaving for Oregon tonight?" Mark asked.

Lilly shook her head a little to clear it.
"Well, yeah... But I didn't expect- I didn't think you guys were going to-"

David dropped his bag and took her face in his hands.

"I told you: I'm going to be right with you through this."

She smiled as he kissed her forehead, then down to her lips.
She looked around him to the others.

"And the rest of you? You sure you wanna go?"

They arrived in Riverbend just as the sun was starting to rise.
Pulling up as close as she could to the two story house,
Lilly turned the car off and quickly rant up the steps to the pourch.

There, she pulled up a flower pot and found the hidden key.
She unlocked the front door, watching the sun through the windows as she rushed.

Through the kitchen she unlocked the door to the basement.
Then, she was able to run back to the front door,
pulling curtains as she passed them for good measure.

"Clear! Run! You are invited into this house!!" She yelled from the porch.

The car doors opened and, covering as much of their bodies as possible in their blankets, the guys ran the small way across the yard and into the house.
As she had instructed them before, they ran through the kitchen and through the door to the basement.

Once they were all in, Lilly closed doors behind them.
After the basement door was closed, they could slow down.
There were a couple windows high up, but Lilly easily blocked those with boxes and things from around the basement.
The guys space enough around the junk down there to get somewhat comfortable, having no energy for anything else.
Lilly found David drifting off on a broken easy chair under the stairs.
She touched his cheek and he looked up at her, weary and happy.

"You gonna be okay?" He whispered. He touched her hand on his cheek.

She smiled and nodded.
"I'm gonna catch a couple hours of sleep. Lawyer will be here around 4 or so. Just rest."

He was already asleep before she leaned down to kiss his temple.

That evening, her fathers lawyer was still there.
Mr. Fischer was a pleasant man in his late 60s.
He made no secret about the fact he thought Lilly was mistreated.

"Not to speak ill of the dead, but..."

Lilly could only smile, assuring him it was all fine.

They sat at the island in the kitchen, spreading out paperwork everywhere.
There was lots of paperwork, things to sign, final wishes and things for the funeral.

"Are you sure you want to take this on?" He asked half way through. "I can't help feeling his other kids, the one's he acknowledged and spoiled should take some of the responsibility."

She laughed a little. "Believe me, if they want to stop by and help they can... But, it's been my experience that, if left to them, it wont get done."
He sighed. Apparently, he knew her half siblings as well.

The sun wasn't quite set but the rain that had been going most of the day darkened everything and the basement door soon opened.

Lilly and Fischer both jumped, but David didn't seem to notice or care.
He stumbled to Lilly, eyes still not quite open, and slumped in the stool next to her.
His body slouched and leaned over her with a little moan.

Lilly couldn't help but giggle.

"Mr. Fischer, this is my partner David. He and his brothers came up with me. David has made it clear he wants to be my support through all of this... Even if I currently happen to be supporting him."

Fischer laughed and even David snorted, nudging into her shoulder.