Somebody That I Used To Know

I'm Your Parent Too

"Are you ready?" Molly asks and puts the backpack on Lily's shoulders.

"Yes!" Lillian exclaims, smiling.

"Be careful, baby. Call me if you need anything okay? Have Daddy call me tonight so we can talk."

"Okay, Mummy."

"Um... be good, I know you will. When we talk, I need you to tell me how Daddy is, alright? Go in a seperate room and talk to me. Make sure Denise is nice to you, if she's not, you tell me and I'll come pick you up. If you want to come home, I'll come get you."

"I miss Daddy."

"I know you do but sometimes Daddy's or Mummy's need help for a while and they shouldn't really be around their kid."

"Daddy shouldn't be around me? Is he mean?"

"No, baby, no. Daddy's not mean, he's just... needing a bit of help. So you let me right away if something happens, do you understand?"

"Yes, Mummy."

"Okay, let's go outside."

Molly lets out a sigh and opens the door. Tom steps out of the car and Lily runs towards her father.

"Daddy!"

"Hello, darling." Tom chuckles and holds her in his arms. He quickly kisses he cheek and buries her head in his shoulder. Molly sees the tight grip around his arms, desperately holding onto the child. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. I want you to come home."

"I know, my love, but we have a new home now. There's someone I want you to meet, okay?"

Denise awkwardly steps out of the car, seeing Molly's disapproving eyes burn into her skull.

"Hi," Denise quietly smiles. "I... uh, I'm Denise."

"Hi, Denise." Lily says. "You're really pretty."

"I am? Thank you, dear. So are you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you've got super pretty curls."

"Thank you. My daddy has them too. His are more red though and mine are gold. My mummy has blonde hair but it's straight."

"I know, sweetheart."

"You do? How?"

"Well she's right there and I live with your daddy. I see his curls all the time. Especially when he gets out of the shower, they're super curly."

"Mine are too!"

Denise softly smiles at the child at her feet.

"Lillian," Tom says.

"Yeah, Daddy?"

"Do you know who Denise is? Like, who she is to me?"

"Um... I'm not sure."

"She's my girlfriend. No one can replace your Mummy but... she'll be around a lot. I want you to treat her well, okay?"

"I will."

"Good."

"Tom?" Molly calls out.

"Yes?" he sighs.

"Come up here, please."

Molly stands at the top of the small rise in their lawn, her arms crossed.

What do you need?"

"I'm picking her up at 5 tommorow night."

"No, you're not. I'm keeping her."