Love Times Three

New Rules

Lily waved at her father from the gate. Denver, Colorado had been her home for over four years. It was good to her. It allowed her to grow. It helped foster a relationship between herself and her father that never would've come to be if not for the tragedy that was her failed engagement. She never saw herself every coming back to Colorado, but things happened and she made a life for herself. Now she was going back to the one place she never thought she would and it terrified her.

"Mama, where are we going?" Lily looked down at her daughter and smiled. Kinsley Rose was her chocolate covered strawberry. She had red hair like her father and a smile that brightened up a room. Her brows were furrowed at the moment, which always happened when she was thinking too hard just like her father. "We're going to San Antonio, Texas." She heard the huff to her right and smiled. "Why?" Her son asked with a pout that always reminded her of his father.

Austin James was Dallas' mini me. He had blonde curls and blue eyes. If he didn't have her smile and nose Lily would have just been an incubator. "You remember Gigi, right?" Lily asked the twins who nodded. "Well, she needs some company. We're going to stay with her for a little bit and see how things go." They nodded their heads. "Aussie, maybe we'll make friends." Kinsley cheered. "I don't need no more friends. Your enough." Kinsley huffed. "I'm not your friend I'm your best friend and twin sister. There's a difference."

Lily chuckled at her twins who took more of their fathers than she cared to admit. Madere was getting up there and she needed help and company. When she asked Lily to come back, the young mother knew it was serious.

Mary Beth Johnson was a firecracker and could handle her own in any situation. The fact that she was asking for help meant she needed it and that was the only reason Lily had packed her things along with her twins and began the trek back to a place that built her up only to tear her apart.

Lily took comfort that Asher and Dallas had never returned to San Antonio after leaving for Texas University. She kept up with them via Madere and ESPN. Dallas was a force to be reckoned with, which she knew all along.

He won trophies and accolades galore. The NFL wanted him, but she knew he'd pass. He had done what he wanted which was prove to his father that he was more than good enough. He was better than him in every way.

The two started working with the Reynolds in the Austin branch and that's where they lived. Lily took joy in that she could keep her children safe and secret, because that's what they were. Safe.

Dallas and Asher showed a side to themselves that faithful day that she didn't know existed and she was not going to let them take her children away from her just because they were more successful and richer. She would kill everyone before that happened.

They landed and Lily carried a sleeping Kinsley while holding tightly to Austin's hand. They made their way to the white BMW X5 SUV that her father promised would be waiting for her with car seats upon arrival. She loaded the kids in and then their luggage before making the trip to Madere's. She called her father to thank him for everything and promised to come visit with his grandbabies soon.

As Lily watched fireworks dance in the sky she sighed to herself. "Happy birthday." She whispered as she exited the highway. The kids were sound asleep when she pulled into Madere's driveway. Madere was standing on the front porch with a bright smile on her face.

"Hey, Madere." The old woman pulled her in. "There's my baby." The two laughed together. "Let me put the kids to bed and then we can talk." Madere smiled reminded of the moment her Ella came to stay with her and a small Lily.

"I turned your room into theirs. It's got two twin size beds and toys galore. I was a little excited." Lily smiled as she carried both toddlers in. "Baby, you're strong." Madere acknowledged causing Lily to laugh. "I've had to be."