I nodded. "Okay, Donald," I smiled.
"So," he rasped out "What…brings you…here?" He cocked his eyebrow, clearly examining the man who had shown up to see his daughter.
"Umm…"
A small smirk on his lips made me realize he was playing with me.
"I’m actually here to see how Lilli is doing. She left so quickly and has been away for some time, just trying to be a good friend." I responded in a partial truth.
"Friend?" He rasped. Amusement filled his eyes. All I could do was grin.
Lilli emerged back into the living room with a plate. A large dark skinned woman, who also held a plate, followed. The food smelled great and my stomach growled. Lilli walked toward me and put the plate in front of me.
"You don’t have—"
"Are you not hungry?" She raised one eyebrow.
"Uhh…"
"Exactly, just eat." She gave me a stern look and then headed back toward the kitchen.
Donald shook silently and I turned to him, he grinned weakly.
We ate; pleasant conversation filled the room keeping dinner light and friendly. Lilli was so at ease, yet so stressed at the same time. Watching her look at her father with sadness and adoration, I couldn’t imagine watching someone dear to me get sick like this.
"Oh wow," Lilli stretched and yawned. "I didn’t realize how late it had gotten." She turned to me. "You have a bag, I assume?" I nodded. "Go grab it," she ushered me out of the living room.
"What did you say to my dad?" she whispered.
"That’s between your dad and I," I grinned and walked out the door laughing. Bag in hand, I headed back to the front door. I reached for the knob but it wouldn’t turn. I knocked.
"Are you ready to tell me now?" Lilli shouted from the other side.
Unbelievable."Are you kidding me?"
"Nope," she shouted through the door.
"Fine, just open the door," I chuckled.
She pulled the door open. I started to take a step but she stopped me. "Well?" she raised her brow.
I shook my head and mumbled, "Diabolical."
"I told you not to forget it," she winked and smiled.
"I introduced myself to him and then he asked me why I was here."
"What did you say?" I couldn’t tell if she was pissed or worried. I prayed she didn’t slam the door in my face.
"I told him you left so quickly and have been gone so long I was just being a good friend and checking up on you." I shrugged.
She crinkled up her face.
"You really shouldn’t lie to him. He’s like a human lie detector, ya know?" Then she got an evil smile. "Did he say anything else?"
"Actually you interrupted us, so that's as far as it got." I pushed through the door and passed her.
"Up the stairs, go right, door at the end of the hall," she ordered.
"Is that your room?" I grinned.
She shook her head and smacked my arm.
"It’s my father’s room, pervert." She laughed. "Do you think I would actually let you rummage through my old things?"
Laughing, I headed up the stairs. Once in his room, I took a quick glance around. I found a small picture frame that held a photo of a woman about Lilli’s age; it was an older photograph. After a few more minutes of examination, I realized this must be Lilli’s mother. Another photo taped to the large dresser mirror was of a younger Donald. His arms wound around a scrawny little brown haired girl. Immediately, I knew that this was Lilli; it was all in the eyes. I could only assume that the older woman was a grandmother or aunt.
Moving to the other side of the room, I found photos of Lilli and Donald on fishing boats. However, Lilli is always in the background with a book or cringing away from a fish that Donald was holding. I put my hand over my mouth to hide the laugh. Once I started to feel like a creeper for going through her father’s room I quickly changed into a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt.
Heading back toward the stairs I saw Lilli standing in the living room with gray cotton pants and a t-shirt; her hair pulled into a ponytail. She looked amazing. I shook that off and headed toward her and Donald.
"Do you need anything?" I overheard Lilli ask Donald. He was now in a hospital style bed that was in the corner of the living room. He shook his head. "Well, I’m going to get you some water for next to your bed." She turned around, evidently having not heard me enter the room, and ran directly into my chest. Instinctively my arms went around her to keep her from falling. She blushed and pulled away. "Sorry," she mumbled.
I didn't want to let her go.
"No problem," I grinned.
She headed toward the kitchen, turning around before reaching her destination.
"Did you need anything?"
I shook my head."No, why?"
"I just figured that you were going to go to bed," she shrugged.
"Oh…uh…are you headed up too?"
"Um…that’s my bed right there," she pointed to the couch.
"You’re going to sleep on the couch?" I asked.
"Yeah, that’s—"
"Lilli, I’ll sleep on the couch." I offered and meant it.