Keep Me Close

Dear Old Friend

I woke up to my little girl no longer in bed with me, curious to where she was until I heard voices downstairs. I quickly threw on my mask and an old dress shirt and made my way to the living room.
"Im sorry again, I never-" the voices cut short,
"Miss Giry I forgive you. Its ok. You were her best friend, you didn't mean to." I saw my little girl sitting on the couch with none other than Meg Giry beside her. In the chair next to the fireplace sat Madame Giry, then she seemed to sense my presence in the room. My daughter then looked at me lurking in the shadows.
"Father?" she said. I emerged and a gasp came from Meg's mouth.
"Erik" she said looking at me. My jaw tightened. I was displeased to see her in my home, speaking with my child. The daughter of the woman she shot and killed. She stood there with a terrified expression on her face, barely being able to look me in the eye. Madame Giry stood from her seat and gave me a look of sympathy.
"Come Lily, let's go to the kitchen and get your Father some coffee" said Madame Giry holding out her hand to my daughter. My child gave me a look as if asking for permission and I nodded telling her to run along.
Meg and I stood in the living room alone.
"Erik I-" she began only to have me cut her off.
"Meg, I will never be able to forgive you for taking my angel away from me" I said sternly. A tear streaked down her face,
"I know Erik I'm so sor-"
"You didnt let me finish. However, I do owe you an apology. You are correct. I was to blind to see the talent you possess, as I was still obsessing over Christine. After all you and your mother did for me, and I was selfish. I am sincerely sorry for that. I never meant for you to feel so much pain and have to make the choices you have" I said and then she stepped closer to me. I took a step back, unsure of her next move.
"I am so sorry Erik. I am so, so sorry. I took her from you, and took her from your child. I can never forgive myself for that" she began to sob. I didn't really know what to do at this moment, I only really have ever comforted Christine and my child, both of who's sorrows could be solved with me holding them and signing them a song until the tears ceased. Then out of nowhere, Lily came running and attached herself to Megs hip's hugging her. Meg seemed taken aback from this action, but then she  pulled her up so she was now holding my child. She held her tight and sobbed into her soft brown hair.
"Lily you really are the sweetest little girl. You so remind me of your mother " Meg said through her weeping. This made my heart hurt. Lily would need some strong mother figures in her life and Madame Giry and Meg might be just that. As she got older there would be things I would have no idea how to deal with. Madame Giry emerged from the kitchen with a tray of coffee and pastries that Lily insisted we buy yesterday when she was drawn into the bakery as she saw the breathtaking cakes in the windows. She pointed out what little details she would've changed about each design and how little mistakes the pasty chefs had made.
"Now, that this is all out of the way, Erik we have business to attend to today" said Madame Giry placing down the tray. I quickly lost focus as my daughter grabbed a powdered donut off the tray and continued to get the powder all over her face and nightgown. She blushed and giggled slightly. Meg noticed too, and a smile grew on her face. I laughed at the sight, and them Madame Giry quickly scolded me,
"Erik Destler, are you even listening to me?" she said stamping her cane to the ground. If anyone else had evenr spoken to me that way I would've lost my mind; however she was different.
"Yes, apologies. Continue." I said, as a small giggle came from my daughter. I smirked at her,
"We need to have you check the set list for tonight and approve it, and then you have a meeting with the housing department discussing winter arrangements for the staff at three, and we need your signature on a few things" she said. I sighed.
"And also, there's three weeks left of summer, we need to figure out school arrangements for Lily" she said. My heart sank to the floor, I couldn't bare the the thought of my little girl leaving me for hours at a time. I glanced at her and she had a nervous expression on her face. This meant she would have to return to school soon and be away from the park and me.
"Why can I be here teacher? I'm more than qualified" I said. She looked at me sternly.
"Erik, she needs to be around other children. Yes you would be excellent teacher for her, however you are a busy man with many responsibilities. Lily needs a normal childhood at normal school. There is a school only a few miles away from here. I can make some calls to get her in" Madame Giry said. It wasn't worth the argument with her, she knew better than me when it came to being a parent. I was fairly new to this whole ordeal.