Forbidden Serenade: Final Notes (Book 3)

Chapter Ten

Millie swung her feet above the ground. "Where are we going, mommy?"

I turned a corner and drove down the road to James' house. "To daddy's house. I want to talk to Lilly."

"She says she never wants to talk to you again."

I sighed. "I know, baby."

"So why are you going?"

Turning into the driveway, I parked behind Lilly's car. She was already inside. "Because I miss her and want to see if she will change her mind."

"I don't think she will. She was really, really mad at you."

Sam turned around in his seat to face Millie. "Shut up, Millie."

I put my hand on his forearm. "Hey. Be nice to your sister."

Sam rolled his eyes and exited the car. Millie and I followed his lead up to the house. James pulled the door open as we approached.

"What's going on, Riley?" he asked as we approached.

I kept my chin up and my shoulders back. If I wasn't confident, I could at least fake it. "I want to talk to Lilly."

James' eyes shifted between our other two kids. "I'm not sure that's the best idea."

Stepping forward, I pressed past him. "I don't care. I'm done waiting. Legally, she's supposed to be with me."

James allowed me entrance as I stormed past him and to Lilly's room. The door was shut and locked. I knocked loudly on the wooden door separating me from my daughter.

"Lilly. Open the door."

She shouted from behind the door. "Go away!"

I shifted on my feet, knowing this would not be easy. "Please open the door so we can talk."

"I don't want to talk to you!"

I tried the doorknob again, rattling it as my voice rose. "Open the door, Lilly. I am your mother, and legally, you are supposed to be at my house. We are going to stop this game and you are coming home with me to talk."

Lilly ripped the door open, and my heart immediately cracked. Dark streaks of mascara trailed down her face with her tears. She screamed her words with all her hurt and pain coming out with it. "Dad is changing the custody arrangement. I never want to live with you again. I hate you! You have ruined my entire life! I hate you!"

"Lilly." I took a step toward her, and she took an equal step back. My fingers twitched at my sides, wanting to wipe her tears away. I grappled for words, her raw hurt ripping my heart to shreds. No matter how old she was, she would always be my baby. "I never meant to hurt you. I'm so sorry."

Pressing her lips together as though holding back a sob, she shook her head. "You don't care about me."

"Of course I do. I love you!"

"That's not true!" Her voice turned into a shrill scream. "If you loved me, you wouldn't have stolen him! You wouldn't have slept with him and destroyed my entire life!"

"I never meant to hurt you." I tried to take a step toward her again, but she retreated a step back once more. "It wasn't intentional. Elijah and I met and just...we didn't mean to fall in love and we never meant to hurt you."

She glared at me through teary eyes. Pure hatred I wasn't sure I could ever overcome hung on her every word. "It was all a lie. Why would I ever believe you?"

I shook my head. "I never lied to you, Lilly."

She stomped her foot, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "Yes, you did! That's how you got those tickets. You didn't win some stupid contest. You lied to us! And then you let us go there like idiots and pretend like you didn't know him and that we actually had a chance with him!"