A little girl gave her sandwich to a homeless man…the next day, a helicopter hovered over her house

Lily Crawford had her hands full with her cards and Gifts coming to a stop before the fireplace she dumped the whole pile on the plush rug and sank to her knees with a smile curving her pale pink lips she began to sort through her gifts 14 that was five more than last year's Lily always looked forward to her birthday every year it was the only day of the year she got to feel really special the only day her mother got to really splurge on her Lily knew they didn't have the money for a large birthday

party she never missed the crease of frustration on her mother's forehead anytime she mentioned one but her mother never made it any less special for her her mother had really gone all out for her today Lily reached for the largest gift in the pile a box about as wide as their TV she was very sure it was the computer she'd always badgered her mother for she ran her hand over the pretty blue wrapping paper then grabbed it ready to tear it apart when she felt a hand on her shoulder oh no you don't Lily groaned

and fell backwards on the living room rug seriously mom just this once this year please her mother's face hovered above her and even the curtains of Ginger hair that framed her face didn't hide her Stern frown no can do young lady go and get ready for school now now it's my birthday Lily simpered you can't order a birthday girl around can you watch me do it her mother's eyes narrowed now don't make me repeat myself Lily let out a huff of frustrated breath and moved to her feet glancing dolefully at the pile of birthday gifts

behind her she whispered I'll come back for you Lily turned towards the stair case and shuffled forward she stopped at the foot of the staircase and turned to her mother who was in their cramped kitchen preparing breakfast she watched as the woman tucked a stray strand of carrot colored hair behind her ear bare arm flexing as she buttered a slice of bread her mother was all she'd known for as long as she could remember it had been just her and her mother for years now moving from City to city on the east coast of the

us having nothing else but other they had been in New Jersey for 2 years now which was longer than they'd ever spent in one place perhaps her mother had finally left her demons behind Lily never understood why but her mother never talked about her father or about the world she' lived in before she'd given birth to her precocious Lily had asked and pleaded and tried to coer her mother had given the same response that her father didn't want her and she'd rather not talk about why until Lily had finally learned not to ask but the

questions never left her head nor the wondering was her father a monster had he been abusive what exactly was her mother protecting her from for once in all her 13 years of being alive she wanted to know another face she wanted to see her father if you keep staring at me you just might bore a hole through my forehead her mother spoke up Lily blinked in confusion then turned away sorry Mom she turned and bolted up the staircase leaving her mother behind in the kitchen one shower and several grumblings later Lily found her way downstairs

again a bowl of rice krispies was waiting for her on the kitchen island right beside a box of milk Lily dug in pushing spoon after soggy spoon of cereal into her mouth she couldn't wait to go to school and see her friends excited faces as they wished her a happy 13th birthday as they pushed gifts into her eager hands she knew what the gifts would be this year as it had always been for years since she was six either tickets to see whatever was out in the cinemas in that moment or a box full of

the Marvel Comics she'd always liked here Lily's mother pushed a blue lunch pack towards her Lily grabbed it and slung it over her shoulder remember to come home home immediately after school don't go to the park no matter what your friends tell you don't go to their houses and don't loiter around in school come straight home Lily's face fell not even this once mom Lily's mother's expression softened she let out a soft sigh then came around the kitchen island to where she sat lifting Lily's chin up with her hands she pushed back her curtain of

orange red hair and planted a kiss on her forehead don't forget that we're still new here her mother waved an idle hand around I just want you to be safe and familiar with New Jersey before you start to go around on your own it's been 2 years since we moved here Mom Lily murmured quietly and I'm 13 now 2 years isn't a very long time her mother insisted and your age won't matter if anyone wants to do something bad to you in such a big city Lily's hand joined her mother's on her cheek whatever you're

running from whatever we've been running from it's gone mother it's been 13 years and you won't see it again I promise God how I wish I could believe you her mother's eyes were so full of a wistful desperation that it broke Lily's little heart she absolutely hated to see her mother like this can I ask something Lily spoke up spill birthday girl can you she paused uncertain then threw caution to the wind and blurted out can you tell me about my father when I come back from school you promised to do so when I'm older

and well I think I'm old enough now Lily watched her mother's hands slip from her cheeks as the woman turned away and she couldn't shake off the feeling that she'd done something her mother didn't like Perhaps Perhaps her mother gripped the edge of the kitchen island tightly you know I don't like to talk about your father Lily he is one part of my life that is still a sore spot I'm not making any promises but go to school for now whatever you say Mom Lily grabbed her bag at the foot of her chair and leaned

upwards to kiss her mother on the cheek as she turned to go her mother sniffled and wiped at a tear Lily pretended she didn't notice her boots skipped stray pieces of gravel as she walked down to school sending them tumbling down the street the cool morning Breeze sliced through her long reddish hair cooling her scalp just the way she liked it this was the time of the day she loved the most when most of New Jersey was on the fringes of wakefulness the man she met wasn't like the dangerous tattooed weapon wielding men her mother

always warned her about that roam the streets of New Jersey no this man was just like any other poor hungry ragged man she saw in every alley on her way to school Lily would have looked at him and walked past without another thought but the pebble she was kicking down the road somehow found its way to his feet the man picked up the pebble turning it over and over again in his Dirty Fingers then he glanced up and smiled at her Lily paused her first instinct was to run this was what her mother always warned

her about however the man's smile was not the eager toothy slightly manic ones she'd seen on other homeless men it was soft barely a raise of both corners of his lips and very sad so sad that it reminded her of the one her mother wore mere minutes ago the man threw the pebble back in her Direction it skipped past her ending up on the other side of the road you must be going to school he noted I am Lily replied hesitantly the man still scared her quite a bit even though his demeanor was calming well

you should get on with it he prompted you don't want to be late do you no I don't Lily didn't move you look hungry she finally spoke after an endless stretch of Silence the man did look hungry with his faded blue shirt hanging from his neck like Rags from a skinny clothes rack Hollows framed his neck and collar bone and his cheeks were dark and sunken as well I am hungry the man replied Lily did the first thing that came to her head she reached for her lunchbox and unzipped it then pulled out the tuna

sandwich her mother had prepared for lunch that morning here you go she reached out offering the sandwich the man stared at her face blank then glanced down at the sandwich then back up Lily's hand was starting to ache and so she reached out and grabbed his hand she placed the sandwich in his palm my mom didn't make much because we're going to have a big birthday lunch later today but it should serve you she added I hope its plastic bag crinkled as the man held the sandwich tight thank you sweet girl Lily nodded a drop

of cold rain fell against her cheek and she squinted at the sky it's about to rain the man's smile widened placing the sandwich on the ground he turned into the alley behind him and emerged a second later with an umbrella come stay here until the rain passes Lily didn't hesitate she could hear her mother's warnings ringing in her head like her alarm clock back home but she didn't care putting one step in front of the other she reached the homeless man taking shelter under his umbrella she pushed her bag from her shoulders and placed it

on the Alley ground beside her at that point the rain had taken over with full force it tore through the streets with a howling wind scattering debris and dead leaves and twigs through its blinding sheets Lily could see her schoolmates rushing to school shielding their heads with everything from tarpan sheets to collapsed cardboard boxes to their school bags Lily was glad she was under the umbrella with the nice homeless man she turned and stared up at him curiously his eyes were fixated on the Rainy scene in front of him mouth working as he chomped down

on his sandwich he had a full head of dark brown hair and a darker stubble along his jaw his skin looked smooth gleaming even though the weather around them was dull and gloomy he doesn't look very poor up close Lily thought what are you thinking he asked Lily hastily pulled her gaze away a thin blush colored her cheeks as she spoke you don't look very homeless except for your clothes you look like I lost a lot of weight within a short period no he offered Lily nodded the man sniffed and wrapped up the rest of

his sandwich slipping it into the pocket of his shirt I did lose a lot of weight in a short while sweet girl trust me when life hits you hard your body has no choice but to take the blow to protect your spirit your spirit is all that matters Lily frowned she wasn't sure she understood the bulk of what he was saying but nodded anyway my mother used to say something similar she murmured the man turned to her brows shooting upwards in interest did she anytime I see her falling sick and losing a bit of weight

she'd tell me not to worry she would tell me her body could survive and bounce back from any blow and it was much better than bruising her spirit Lily watched the man swallow and look away into the bleakness that unfolded before them your mother sounds like a very wise woman she is Lily couldn't resist A Smile as she thought of her mother she moved me from City to City all over this part of the us even when I was a baby just her and nobody else I know she she was protecting me from something even

though she never told me what she is the bravest person I know Lily felt rather than saw the man turn to stare at her she kept her Gaze on the rain before her ignoring his stairs until she couldn't turning to face him Lily caught a look of awe and incredulity on his face it was gone in a Flash the moment her eyes met his replacing the look with a small smile he asked what is your name sweet girl never ever tell a stranger your name or any personal information about yourself her mother's voice bellowed in

her head the man's smile was gentle but insistent and Lily found her mouth opening as though being controlled by someone else Lily she murmured my name is Lily Crawford the man let out a soft gasp and took two steps backwards his back hit the alley wall and Lily frowned in uncertainty had she said something he didn't like sir she called out are you okay I am he murmured his head pivoted towards the rain and Lily watched his throat work in a swallow there the rain has stopped Lily turned to see that he was right the

sky released only a few droplets now calm enough for her to walk to school without getting drenched right she bent to pick up her school bag and lunchbox I should be on my way goodbye Lily Lily sauntered out of the alleyway slinging her bag over her shoulder she turned to glance at the man again who was standing as still as the walls beside him the umbrella still raised above his head what's your name she called out in question the man gave her his soft sad smile again Charles right Charles she repeated then turned and joined

a handful of her schoolmates as they hurried down the road to school a few meters away she turned to bid the man goodbye again and thank him for the umbrella but what she saw shocked her into silence the man had his back to her and a cell phone against his ear she wasn't very far away and could hear every word that slipped from his lips I found her an uncomfortable Taste of fear settled on Lily's tongue she turned and hurried off to school Lily arrived at the entrance of her school her mind still riddled with

thoughts of the homeless man and the Mysterious phone call she had witnessed the sound of the Bell snapped her out of her revery but she remained rooted to the spot lost in contemplation Lily Lily turned to see her bespectacled classmate Jaden approaching her his helmet haircut bouncing with each step good morning Jaden hey Lily we've got math now he said hurriedly before bouncing off to join the stream of students heading to their classrooms taking a deep breath followed suit and made her way to her math class amidst the throng of students she slipped into her

seat as Mr Bolton the math teacher walked in through another door good morning class Mr Bolton's abysmally drab voice echoed around the room he launched into his lesson quickly enough the day's topic was algorithms a subject that failed to capture the interest of most students including Lily herself 5 minutes in and her classmates were already dissociating from the class Maya in the corner was idly doodling on her desk Tracy who sat beside Lily was staring at the ceiling mouth open and eyes glazed in an hypnotic fashion Cole was right in front of Mr Bolton and

snoring away Mr Bolton's monotone voice droned on as he wrote equations on the Whiteboard but Lily's thoughts remained elsewhere her eyes remained fixated on a spot above the math teacher's head she fought the urge to sleep something within her told her that this was not a mere coincidence the homeless man didn't exactly look homeless and why had he acted so taken AB back when he heard her name was he coming back for her her heart thundered against her rib cage as these questions crashed against each other in her head Lily was getting increasingly uncomfortable in

her seat she had to get out of here and find that homeless man again as Mr Bolton turned to write another algorithm on the board Lily seized the opportunity she glanced around the classroom ensuring that no one was watching before discreetly slipping her phone out of her pocket with trembling fingers she sent a quick text to Jaden asking him to cover for her if Mr Bolton noticed her absence Lily waited for a tiny ding a few seats in front of her Jaden jerked as the ding woke him from his Slumber then stared at his phone

screen then he swiveled and gave her a thumbs up Lily returned the thumbs up glancing at Mr Bolton to see if he'd noticed anything as usual his attention was fixed on the board before him then with a firm grit of her teeth Lily quietly slipped out of her seat and made her way to the door picking up a stray bathro pass from a shelf in the back she would need an excuse if a teacher was to find find her loitering in the hallways Lily closed the door quietly behind her the hallway was deserted the muffled

sounds of Mr Bolton's voice fading as she hurried towards the exit thankfully no other teacher was in the hallways at that moment Lily slipped the bathroom pass into her pocket as she pushed the glass doors open and walked out Lily retraced her steps back to the alleyway her heart thundering in her chest with each hurried stride questions and possibilities chased themselves in her head as she imagined what she might uncover but when she reached the familiar Alleyway her breath hitched Lily paused in her tracks glanced into the dark alleyway and looked around she even turned

the corner and peered down the street Beyond there was no sign of the homeless man the alley was eerily quiet and the only sound was the distant hum of traffic from the street behind her Panic came alive inside of lily as she frantically scanned the alley searching for any trace of the homeless man had he moved on was he in danger she did the only thing she could think of at that moment with tremulous hands and frayed nerves Lily pulled out her phone and dialed her mother's number her fingers shaking as she tapped on the

screen the phone rang once twice before her mother's voice answered on the other end mom mom Lily gasped trying to keep her voice steady despite the overwhelming anxiety in her heart I need your help Something's Happened Lily stumbled to the door of their house with tremulous legs and quivering fingers those fingers slipped into the pockets of her skirt rumaging for her copy of the house key her fingers found and closed around the cool metal of the key Lily closed her eyes for one grateful second then pulled out the key and jammed it into the lock

for all the hurry she showed to get into the house she told a man she'd never met before all about her the man knew her name knew her school knew she had a mother God this was exactly what her mother warned her against everything was playing in front of her eyes like a terrible sickening movie she'd watched enough true crime stories to see how this would end the lock finally obeyed her pushing and jamming and swearing and she heard the familiar clicking sound the door swung open with a creek and Lily had one foot inside

the house that was when she heard it it was a sound that started off as dull and fair away at first it could have been a work site man drilling away at the ground some streets away it could have been the homeschooled 12-year-old boy next door who always flew his drone too close to her bedroom window but the sound grew steadily rising in Crescendo until it was all that Lily could hear slowly she turned around to see a great dark shape soaring in the sky towards her house wind lashed against her face from what she

thought was the object's wings and she raised an arm to block debris from finding its way into her eyes the great shape hovered above her house for a moment before slowly beginning its descent downwards Lily peaked through her fingers to see that it was a helicopter before Panic took over her limbs again no she murmured and pushed against the front door stumbling into the living room she had no idea what she was running from but she knew it had something to do with the homeless stranger she'd seen today Lily quickly shut the door and pressed

her back against it panting heavily he eyes shut she counted to 20 silently then peeled them open and looked around her gifts still lay at the foot of the fireplace the way she'd left them that morning a few yards away her bowl of cereal sat on the kitchen island unmoved mom she called out voice tinged with a hint of desperation Mom I'm back stiff silence answered her Lily took a shuttering breath fear gluing her to the spot before the door of course her mother wasn't home her mother worked at a convenience store on the other

side of New Jersey it would take her at least 1 and 1 half hours of hard driving to get back home on time Lily listened intently for any sign of life on the other end of the door the whipping of wind had stopped now and she didn't hear anything for a while then she heard short sharp footsteps as someone moved to the front door Lily's heart began to thunder again a Curt knock on the door forced a gasp from her lips Lily came a curious voice Lily Crawford go away Lily snapped a pause and then

I am not here to harm you Lily I merely want to show you something go away I will not go away until you open the door Lily I mean no harm I promise The Voice steady and patient replied Lily tried to decipher it tore her thoughts apart to tell if it was the man she'd met in the alleyway but try as she might she couldn't another knock Lily with a sigh of resolve Lily pushed away from the door and turned to open it the man standing before her looked nothing like she would have expected he

wasn't the alley man either this man looked as old as her mother with blue eyes like chipped pieces of sapphire and a blonde buzzcut Lily's Eyes slid from his face down to take in his blue dress shirt pants ants and loafers what do you want with me she finally mustered the courage to ask the man's lips lifted in a small smile my name is Dylan your Aly friend sent me here Lily he wants to meet with you whoa the alarm bells in her head were going crazy now Lily began to shut the door in the

man's face when he blurted he's a friend of your mothers he's not Lily torted you're lying the man let out a soft impatient noise then reached into his pocket and pulled out an old picture he pushed it into Lily's hands and she held it gingerly the picture had more than a handful of wrinkles across its face as though it had spent a lifetime being passed from one hand to another a corner of the picture had been chewed off Lily looked closely at the picture was that her mom she looked more carefree and wilder than the

steel-framed in a flowery blue sleeveless dress when had Lily ever seen her mother in anything but ugly blue jeans and a thread bear paint smeared shirt beside her was a man no a boy with mousy brown hair whose tips dusted his shoulders he had more hair than the man Lily remembered from the alley but she couldn't mistake those sharp hazel eyes he was hugging a guitar to his chest and they were both laughing curiosity flooded her like a wave and so did the questions who was the man in the picture when was this taken why

did Mother look this happy how could this guy Arnold have the picture was this some sort of trick what to do now she stared up at the man again where'd you get this like I said I'm a friend of your Aly friend who's a friend of your mother's that's an awful lot of friends I agree he stepped back and gestured to the massive aircraft behind him now I would be delighted if you came along he's dying to meet you you see but I don't know you the man pursed his lips no you don't it's a

visible problem I explained to him but if I know your father well he's a lover of theatrics the rest of what he said was lost on Lily only one word made sense to her father he pursed his lips again this time what looked like regret passed over his eyes at last he sighed and said yes Lily your father he wants to see you her hesitation was worn thin at that point she could go and could return before dinner time she had one chance to find out who her father was to understand why she never grew

up with him to be complete like she always wished jutting her chin forward she stepped out of the house ignoring the instincts screaming in her head the helicopter loomed before them like a great big Firefly that couldn't wait to devour them Lily had never been in an aircraft before and this Chopper did look terrifying enough the silver body shimmered in the sunlight and the blades towered above her Casting Long Shadows on the grass she could hear the hum of the engine and feel the faint vibrations in the air even though the great machine was still

and unmoving it was as if a piece of The Sky Had descended right onto her doorstep I'm nervous she confessed right behind you Arnold said I don't like flights never have but they cover great distances that you can't cover on foot or on Wheels and they've got a great view she looked at the helicopter tentatively again the pilot a blonde lady with large headphones and a wide smile waved at her she waved back dinner time she repeated or my mom would make you all regret knowing her I have no doubts about that slowly Lily crossed

the lawn with Arnold and walked up to the chopper she could see the neighborhood kids staring in awe her senses seemed to shut off as soon as she stepped into the spacious cabin adorned with plush leather seats each one seemingly more comfortable than the last soft ambient lighting bathed the space in a warm glow adding to the rich atmosphere all right buckle up folks we're clear for takeoff said the pilot as she clicked dials into place Arnold calmly and gently steered Lily to one of the seats and sat down beside her then clicked in her

seat belt and then his don't worry sweetie said the pilot she was staring over her shoulder at Lily and her smile made her a bit comfortable I've flown these babies since birth since birth the lady chuckled no no Babies Can't Fly helicopters but I've been doing this for a long time just sit back and enjoy the view as the helicopter's engines roared to life Lily felt a surge of excitement coursing through her veins the cabin vibrated gently as the rotors spun faster and she instinctively ly gripped the armrests with anticipation the sound of the engines

grew louder drowning out any other noise and soon enough she felt gravity's pull as the helicopter began to lift off the ground the ground slowly left them while they pulled up into the air the world below shrank steadily until the houses were large dots in the landscape and the people were smaller dots she thought she would throw up it'll be over soon enough Arnold assured her it helps if you've got a comfort song she frowned a what a comfort song Here let me plug these in for you he gently placed headphones over her ears and

soft music started playing on the speakers drowning out any other sound not bad eh he mouthed she nodded and settled back a bit wek be there soon enough he repeated he was right the song was barely over when the rotors slowed down and the aircraft began to descend Lily looked out the window and beheld the largest building she had ever seen up close she took off the headphones and pointed at the Manion is that it is the house of your host yes she turned back to admire the building as the chopper touched down on the

sprawling lawn the Grandeur of the estate took her breath away with its towering columns the flowery Frontage and carefully tended Gardens stretching as far as the eye could see it's beautiful she gasped I couldn't agree more she turned back to him curiosity drawn into her Bright Eyes does my father know the alley man are they related who owns this place Arnold looked amused again but occupied himself with releasing himself and Lily from the seat belts your questions will be answered in time Lily now come on it's almost tea time she gave him a confused look

tea time oh it's a mid-afternoon meal of tea and sandwiches I had no idea how foreign the idea is here in America you're from Britain England Lily Arnold said patiently like he had explained it a thousand times already I'm from England all righty folks all clear called the pilot thanks Charlotte he opened the door of the helicopter as the sound of the blades died down I cannot miss Mrs Jackson's egg sandwiches you should try them as well Lily was more occupied with the softness of the grass below her feet and the equally gentle teasing scent

of spring sailing with the flowery Breeze M this is really good Lilia exclaimed she took another bite of egg sandwich and then another before gulping a cup of Earl Gray with it hey easy there tiger Arnold called half reaching for her she smacked her tongue with a Grimace what is that it's the best tea there is it's kind of sour well I don't expect you to like it on first taste give it time it'll come to you she looked around the dining room once more the walls were Ador warned with floral tapestries and silver-edged mirrors

reflecting the soft glow of the candles and chandeliers the room itself was bathed in soft Candlelight casting a warm glow over the elegant table and the chairs attached it's all beautiful she said Arnold looked up and a smile split his face wait till you see the rest of the house who owns it all the h helicopter the Mansion she asked she had a hint but she still needed to confirm it your father owns it all all this while I thought he was dead or he wanted nothing to do with me she lowered her head gently

placing the half bitten sandwich back on the plate and all this while he was alive and living out here why'd he abandon me and come back all of a sudden Arnold sipped the last of his tea then deafly set down his cup come I'll tell you a story while I give you a tour of the house I don't want to hear a story and I don't want to tour the house is what she wanted to reply but he was already on his feet and headed out of the room she hurried after him almost running into

Mrs Jackson the older plump woman smiled softly at her ruffled her hair and walked on past into the massive kitchen Arnold was already down the hallway when she caught up with his long yet slow strides once upon a time there was a lady and there was a man who met in California it usually starts that way a spark a Zing something that links them to each other love at first sight know what I mean Lily nodded even though she didn't the man in question was the young budding son of of a rich British business magnate

who had made his Mark in California the son stood to inherit lots of Fortune and the lady well when compared to him she wasn't much just the average girl trying to get through college how did they meet each other Lily asked Arnold smiled see the boy always had this thing for music he had this great acoustic guitar up in his room that he practiced on never really got the hang of it but he never relented either they met at Pennsylvania Western University when he came for an Arts tour and saw your mother's paintings then fell

in love with the artist herself Arnold had led them to a large room with smooth wooden floors that looked like they had been waxed recently he stopped her and motioned down another Corridor this is the drawing room Miss Trenton would be pissed if she found someone walking over her waxed floors he explained who's Miss Trenton the hous keeper she's got quite The Temper she reminds me of someone in our story can you guess who it is Lily shook her head well the lover boy's father the oil magnate also happened to be an ill-tempered man who

doted on his only son like his life support and when he found out of his son's relationship with some average young girl he quite simply asked him to call it quits did he Arnold tilted his head slightly not immediately no if anything the lover boy's father gave him chance after chance after chance to end things with the ordinary girl but see the lover boy was well too deeply in love his head was steeped in it wow Lily exclaimed well the father already had a marriage choice for his son a young woman named Ivory who was

the daughter of the second wealthiest man in California their marriage would mean a strong alliance between the two most powerful families in the city Ivory didn't like the sun and the feeling between them was Mutual but they had to do it for their fathers Arnold sighed anyway when his father found out that his son was still hanging out with the lady he had been forbidden to be seen with he took matters into his own hands what did he do well he personally met and threatened the innocent young lady and when a man as big as

he was walked up to you and told you a few harsh words you'd melt right down to your shoes he stopped in front of a door and clicked it open the room was empty but there were realistic paintings of a meadow on the walls he never put this room to use Arnold murmured his face had suddenly grown wistful Lily's Eyes widened slightly my mom's got design patterns like those in her notebooks does she now that's interesting he closed the door and continued the tour and the story now the lady was made of steel but this

man was fire and it seemed she melted outright so she left without a word she left the state and never looked back his mother begged him to honor his father's dying wish which he did he married Ivory who of course tried to be a good wife to him but it was never like his first love nothing ever is to be honest our lover boy was heartbroken after his first love disappeared didn't eat for days didn't leave his room or take a shower I assure you that can get very unpleasant to watch after a while he

didn't even show up to his own father's funeral all he could think of was his lady love and how she'd slipped through his fingers his marriage with Ivory fell apart after a while as she was tired of sticking to him when he didn't care as much about her Arnold shook his head slowly as he continued I have to admit she was difficult to find at first we soon came to realize that painting wasn't the only thing your mother was great at she was great at hiding too but why did she keep running and hiding Lily

asked voice hushed the old scary man is dead now isn't he he can't harm her anymore Arnold Shrugged and gave her a small smile some things cannot be forgotten Lily trauma Cuts deep and your mother she loved your your father very much but she was very wise then as I'm sure she is still your grandfather would have harmed you if he knew she was pregnant with you she wanted to protect you from this life Lily and she did a good job of it too Lily's Eyes were starting to smart she pulled her gaze to Arnold's

shoes she never told me why we kept running hands settled on her shoulders in a comforting gesture your mother was doing doing it to Shield you she successfully kept that life away from you for 13 years I guess Lily sniffled and wiped at her face before glancing up again can I see my father now Lily caught herself feeling and sounding eager she couldn't believe she was this excited to meet a man she never knew existed until a few hours ago Arnold let out a great sigh again and His Hands slipped from her shoulders Lily frowned

found he's here is he not you told me I'd find him here I did and you will Arnold replied patiently but it's late you should get some rest first Lily's Eyes darted around there were no windows in the corridor and it was hard to tell what time it was my mom will be worried and I have school tomorrow her voice trailed off she didn't care one bit about school if she had to pick between learning about her past and enduring Mr Bolton's mechanical droning she'd rather go for the former one miss day of school won't

hurt and I'm sure your mother will understand Arnold smiled and gave her a wink in that moment she realized just how much he looked like that stranger in the alleyway Charles come on now Miss Crawford he urged steering her down the corridor let me see you to your room Lily followed Arnold down the corridor her mind turning with thoughts and emotions she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that was turning the sandwiches in her stomach nor could she ignore the burning curiosity that drove her forward as they walked Arnold filled the Silence with more anecdotes

about the mansion and her parents but Lily only listened quietly not catching a word of what he said her attention was divided between between his words and the questions that buzzed incessantly in her mind finally they reached a set of ornate double doors at the end of the hallway Arnold paused and turned to face her a gentle smile on his lips here we are Miss Crawford he gestured towards the doors your room for the night Lily's heartbeat increased in tempo as she gazed at the doors a mixture of excitement and apprehension coursing through her veins

she took a deep breath and pushed the doors open the room was bathed in soft Candlelight casting a warm and inviting glow over the beautiful beige Furnishings more paintings hung on the walls and when Lily looked closely she realized a lot of them were some of her mother's artworks how had her father gotten his hands on them a large four poster bed dominated the center of the room its Rich velvet curtains drawn back to reveal crisp white linens and plump purple pillows this is wow Lily murmured her eyes wide with Wonder Arnold chuckled softly I'm

glad you like it if you need anything don't hesitate to ask your comfort is our top priority Lily nodded her gaze lingering on the bed she suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her her her eyelids becoming as heavy as lead with sleep I think I'll take you up on that offer she murmured a yawn escaping her lips Arnold smiled warmly of course get some rest Miss Crawford we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow with that he bid her good night and left her alone in the room Lily stood in the center

of the room for a moment taking in her surroundings before crossing the room to the bed she slipped under the covers the softness of the mattress engulfing her like one of her mother's warm hugs and in a matter of seconds Lily was asleep striking image of her mother don't you think yes especially with that fiery red hair it's uncanny Lily slowly stirred from her sleep becoming more aware of the soft murmur of voices floating around her The Whispers seemed to dance on the edge of her mind like Sleek Shadows flitting just beyond her grasp but

she has beautiful eyes just like her father's I saw her when she arrived yesterday it was the most Sublime thing Lily's brows furrowed as she tried to make sense of the Snippets of conversation filtering into her room she clenched her fists under the blankets and even though she was wide awake now she didn't want the world around her to know yet the bed beneath her was so soft that she didn't ever want to get up from it however the sudden Creek of the door opening startled Lily and she cracked open one eye to peer into

the dimly lit room a figure stood silhouetted in the doorway its appearance making the whispering people quiet and down what's going on here the voice was firm authoritative slicing through the s soft murmurs like a blade we're just tidying up Sir came the reply well get on with it Mr Crawford will be here shortly Lily's heart skipped a beat At The Mention Of that name she held her breath straining to catch any further Snippets of conversation as the voices faded and the footsteps receded alone once more Lily lay still in her bed her mind racing

with question questions and uncertainty was Mr Crawford her father most likely the name had been said with a sort of reverence and respect that left her in no doubt Miss Crawford came the voice again Lily I know you're awake Lily let out a small groan of frustration and threw her covers aside Arnold was standing at the foot of her bed dressed in a simple t-shirt and a pair of corduroy trousers he had his usual smile on with a resigned sigh Lily ran a hand through her tousled red hair good morning Arnold she greeted him trying

to mask her lingering sleepiness with a smile Arnold crossed the room to the side of her bed with a grin his blue eyes twinkling with Amusement did you sleep well he asked Lily nodded her smile widening yes I slept very well thank you excellent Arnold clapped his hands together now how about a refreshing bath to start the day lily shook her head a spark of excitement lighting up her eyes actually Arnold I'd like to see my father now please Arnold's smile faltered slightly but he recovered quickly of course of course he said gesturing towards the

door but let's have breakfast first shall we your father is on his way and he's assured me he will soon be here Lily hesitated for a moment torn between her eagerness to meet her father and the prospect of a delicious meal ultimately her growling stomach made the decision for her all right breakfast it is she agreed her mouth watering at the thought of freshly baked pastries and perhaps a cup of steaming coffee with a nod of approval Arnold led the way out of the room and into the corridor Lily trailed behind him eagerly they soon

arrived at the doors of the dining hall where the aroma of breakfast greeted them like an old friend Lily pushed open the mahogany doors to the dining hall and her eyes widened in amazement at the sight before her the room was just as Grand as she remembered from yesterday with golden chandeliers casting a warm glow over the polished wooden floors and more paintings running from one wall to the other but what truly caught and held her attention was the long dining table that stretched across the room groaning under the weight of an extravagant Feast platters

of food covered every inch of the table from delicious looking roast chicken with golden crispy skin to steaming bowls of buttery mashed potatoes marmalade and salad there were mountains of fluffy scrambled eggs crispy bacon and fluffy panc cakes drowned in syrup bowls of fresh fruit glistened enticingly while jars of jam and preserves added a splash of color to the spread it was a veritable Feast Fit For A King Lily's mouth watered at the sight of so much delicious food it was like the birthday lunch she dreamed of having but somehow never had the chance to

experience she wished her mother was here to see this Arnold chuckled at the awe on her face and guided her towards the table impressive isn't it he remarked a hint of pride in his voice help yourself Lily there's plenty to go around taking a seat at the table Lily wasted no time in filling her plate with a generous portion of scrambled eggs as she took her first bite she couldn't help but moan in delight at the thick texture and rich flavor looking up at Arnold with a grin she exclaimed these eggs are amazing thank you

Arnold Arnold smiled back at her warmly his eyes crinkling at the corners I'm glad you like them Miss Crawford he replied there's plenty more where that came from so don't be shy about helping yourself Lily opened her mouth to thank Arnold again when the doors of the dining room suddenly swung open again she turned to watch a man strut inside wearing a three-piece suit and a dove Gray coat the first thing that occurred to Lily as she sat there was that the man looked familiar and then her eyes widened in Surprise Charles Charles gave her

a hesitant smile he glanced at Arnold who gave him a reassuring nod of the head then back at Lily hello Lily questions were crashing into one another in Lily's head she shook her head standing to her feet slowly how did you how did you get here you look totally different too Charles pushed his hands into his coat's pockets and smiled again well I didn't need that attire anymore and left the streets to prepare for this moment prepare for what the smile slowly faded from Charles's face as he regarded her I had to prepare to meet

my daughter Lily's heart pounded in her chest as she stood before Charles rooted to that very spot was this really happening was the man she had encountered in the alleyway truly her Father Charles took a tentative step forward his face lined with worry Lily could tell that he didn't know what to do Lily I uh I'm sorry for being absent all these years he began I should have been a part of your life but before he could say more Lily's instincts took over and she rushed forward Charles staggered backwards as her arms wrapped around his

midriff covering him in a hug for a moment Charles stiffened he seemed taken aback as if he hadn't anticipated the gesture then slowly he eased into the Embrace and wrapped his own arms around her tears streamed down Lily's cheeks as she held on to her father feeling a flood of emotions wash over her it was a moment she had longed for a moment she had imagined countless times in her dreams and she was here right now living the moment as they pulled away from the hug Charles crouched down to Lily's eye level a tender smile

playing on his lips you have no idea how much I've missed you Lily how much I ACH to see you Lily smiled through her tears her heart swelling with warmth at her father's words I've missed you too Dad she replied that singular word rolled off her tongue with a sense of familiarity she hadn't felt in years Charles chuckled softly the sound filled with both Joy and sorrow I still have your sandwich Lily's voice joined her father fathers in laughter you can keep it with a gentle Pat on her shoulders Charles stood to his feet his

gaze lingering on Lily for a moment longer come on let's go see your mother he said she must be worried to death this time they took a car back to Lily's house in downtown New Jersey Arnold pulled the car to a stop in front of the house and peered out of the window he exclaimed oh God Lily followed Arnold's movement and looked out to see about half a dozen squad cars parked before their front porch of course her mother had alerted the police Lily opened the car and got down then waited for her father to

do the same she slipped her hand into his and led him to the front door Lily reached for the door knob but before she could open the door it swung open to reveal her mother her mother's hair was in a messy bun face streaked with worry and tears she glanced from Lily to her father and then back her expression morphing from worry to confusion hello Nancy Charles spoke up after an endless stretch of Silence their eyes met and for a moment the years peeled away leaving raw the emotion that had been buried under a myriad

of wha ifs nany's eyes widened in disbelief a torrent of memories crashing over her as she took in the sight of Charles not just as the boy she once knew but as a father with their daughter by his side without a word tears breached the dams of her eyes tracing paths down her cheeks she had lived with the ghost of their love haunted by the Spectre of Charles's father who had driven a wedge so deep between them that it seemed insur mountable yet here he was the embodiment of every dream she had forced herself to

forget as Nancy sobbed into Charlie's shoulder Lily moved closer her heart in her throat when Nancy finally looked up her eyes met his a silent conversation passing between them Charles I I never thought nany's voice broke the weight of the moment pressing down on her Charles took her hand the familiarity of her skin against his igniting a spark that had never truly been extinguished Nancy I'm so sorry for everything for not being there for not fighting harder for letting the Shadows of the past dictate our future Nancy shook her head a fragile smile dancing on

her lips through the tears it was not just you Charles I was afraid too afraid of your father of the world of losing you so completely that I hid away thinking it was better to cherish the memory of us than face the reality of our separation Charles's gaze was steady his resolve clear I've lived every day with the wha ifs Nancy but standing here now with our daughter I can't help but think that maybe it's not too late for us for a new beginning for a chance to write the wrongs of the past Nancy looked

from Charles to Lily and back again the magnitude of the moment enveloping her a new beginning she echoed the words a whisper of possibility yes Charles affirmed squeezing her hand gently together as a family it's all I've ever wanted the room was thick with emotion the air charged with the potential of what could be as Lily watched her parents a sense of belonging enveloped her the pieces of her identity clicking into place and in that small Vine covered Cottage a family began to heal their love a testament to the enduring power of Second Chances one

day Lily and Charles sat facing each other in a local cafe the air was filled with the scent of fresh coffee and pastries a comforting backdrop to their profound conversation Lily her curiosity peaked leaned forward her eyes wide with the anticipation of a story long awaited dad Lily began her voice a mix of Wonder and skepticism what were you doing sitting on that street if you were so well off it just doesn't add up Charles leaned back a warm smile spreading across his face as memories FL Ed back he chuckled softly before replying ah that

was all Ivory's doing Ivory Lily echoed her brows knitting in confusion yes Ivory Charles affirmed his eyes twinkling with the remnants of old laughter she was an old friend of mine quite unique in her ideas Ivory was the one who suggested I sit on that very Street promising me that one day I'd see a girl not just any girl but one with a heart of gold walking to school Lily listened her mouth slightly aape as she tried to piece together this unexpected fragment of her father's past Charles continued and she was right that girl was

you Lily it was your kindness that brought us together then Charles sighed his expression turning more serious Ivory was much more than just a friend you see my father your grandfather had always hoped I would marry her but my heart belonged to your mother Lily nodded absorbing the weight of her father's words Charles leaned in lowering his voice as if to share a secret despite everything Ivory admired my commitment to Nancy when we lost touch it was Ivory who took it upon on herself to find your mother and you Lily's Eyes widened in disbelief she

found us yes Charles said nodding Ivory has her ways she's resourceful and determined she learned about ny's workplace your school everything it was her who indirectly led me to you a silence fell between them heavy with the realization of the intricate connections that had shaped their their lives but why didn't you ever tell me about her before Lily asked her voice a mere whisper Charles reached across the table taking Lily's hand in his I guess I was waiting for the right moment and maybe a part of me wanted to keep some stories just between us

until we got to know each other better Lily squeezed her father's hand a gesture of understanding and acceptance as they sat there surrounded by the soft hum of the cafe Lily realized that the tapestry of their lives was woven with threads unseen each Twist and Turn Guided by hands of those who had walked their paths before them in the warmth of the Autumn Sun she found a newfound appreciation for the mysterious ways in which their Destinies were intertwined