Solomon released his hold on me and pushed me to the floor. “I loved Lisette with all of my heart and I wanted to be with her forever. I regret she died, but she would have anyway, if I had not tried to change her, so keep this in mind. You might have forever, but Chansey doesn’t, and eternity is a long time to regret what you wish you had done.” Solomon turned to leave, but stopped at the doorway and added, “Marsala isn’t the one that’s going to keep you and Chansey apart. It’s you.”
I watched my best friend leave, hurt by the words I used against him in anger.
Sebastian reassured me, “He will forgive you, but Curry, his words are true. It is your decision to make, but don’t take it lightly because I strongly believe your attempt to save her will kill her in the end. When you discover everything you did to save her was in vain, you will hate yourself for not choosing differently. This is how the gods work. They always get their way. Trust me, it’s been tried before.”
“I will think about it, Sebastian and I thank you for your wise counsel.”
He gave me a fatherly hug and said, “You know where we may be reached.”
I didn’t need time to make a decision because it had already been made. They didn’t know Marsala nor had they seen the vengeance in her eyes when she spoke about Chansey all of those years ago. She wouldn’t just kill her, because that would be too merciful. She would make her suffer while she forced me to watch.
I would tell Grady and Anna tomorrow that I would be leaving. I would continue to pay the rent so they would hold the apartment because I didn’t want a stranger living among them. They were my family now and I wanted to protect all of them.
Chapter 17
Leaving Chansey, without being forced, would at least give me the time I needed to fabricate a lie about the reason for my departure. Lying had regretfully become second nature to me, but deceiving Chansey proved to be nearly impossible. My heart conspired against me and vetoed every falsehood I conjured to hold me near her for as long as possible. My heart’s plan worked for the moment because I was empty handed when the morning arrived.
I tried to convince my heart it was a dangerous game for Chansey, but in the end, he won, convincing me I should be with her today. Since he successfully thwarted all of my deceptions, I left in search of her, allowing myself one last day with her.
Anna let me in the backdoor and directed me to find her in the living room. With each step toward her, the distance closed between us and my tension diminished, until I realized she wasn’t alone.
I stood in the entryway to the living room, unnoticed by Chansey, and saw her holding a tiny infant wearing pink and white. She gazed upon the face of the sleeping baby and hummed as she instinctively rocked back and forth, while examining the grasp of the tiny hand around her finger.
Lorelei was stretched across the floor coloring and noticed me first. “Curry!” She jumped up and ran over to me, hugging my legs and I was bewildered by the way she seem to have taken up with me. “Are you going to help babysit me?”
“I’m certain Chansey is a much better babysitter than me.”
Chansey watched my exchange with Lorelei and said, “Come see who’s here to visit me.”
I entered the living room and sat next to Chansey and the baby on the couch. “This is Lorelei’s baby sister, Lily.”
I leaned over to take a better look at the fragile little one. “She’s so tiny. Aren’t you afraid you’ll break her?”
“She’s not that small. She weighed over seven pounds when she was born.” She adjusted the baby’s position and asked, “Isn’t she beautiful?”
I didn’t know a thing about babies and wasn’t interested in learning, but she did appear to be a beautiful. “She is a lovely baby. I like the way her hair spikes up. Makes her look like a punk rocker,” I joked.
Chansey stroked her hand gently over Lily’s hair, uselessly attempting to make it lay down. “I know. I love it, too. I could just eat her up, she’s so cute.” She continued to stroke Lily’s hair and her eyes lit up brightly as she looked upon the little person in her arms.
I saw the happiness this baby brought to Chansey and it added yet another reason to my list of why I should leave. I couldn’t give her this thing that she so obviously wanted and deserved because I could never father a child. Only a human could give her babies.
Lily squirmed in Chansey’s arms and began to fret, before advancing into a full blown cry. She might be tiny, but her wailing was not.
“What’s wrong with her? Why is she crying?” I anxiously asked.
Lorelei shouted, “I bet she has a stinky diaper. Are you going to change it?”
“Definitely not!” I replied.
“Her diaper is still clean. I think she’s just hungry. Don’t you get a little cranky when you’re hungry?” Chansey rose from the couch and leaned over me, handing the baby to me.
“What are you doing?” I asked, making no move to take Lily from her.
“I’m giving you Lily so I can get her bottle,” she answered.
“Can’t I go get the bott
le?” I questioned.
“You can if you know how to prepare it, do you?”
“Well, no,” I admitted.
“Okay, then. Chill. She won’t break and I’m sure Lorelei can help you if you need it.” She turned to her and said, “Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, ma'am,” she respectfully answered.
Without further discussion, Chansey placed Lily in my arms and went to the kitchen. I looked at the crying infant in my arms, and as if on cue, she stopped crying and looked at my eyes watching her.
Lorelei noticed her change in temperament and said, “Hey, I think she likes you.”
“I think you’re right,” I agreed as I stroked Lily’s hair, mimicking the way Chansey did it. “You know, Lily, I’m a little jealous of you because Chansey has never smiled at me the way she does at you.” I turned to Lorelei and said, “But, it’s a secret so you can’t tell Chansey, right?”
“Right,” Lorelei promised.
Chansey returned from the kitchen with Lily’s bottle and said, “What are you three talking about?”
“Its a secret between the three of us and I know this little one is not talking.”
“Well, she seems to have taken a liking to you and since the three of you are sharing secrets, you can feed her.” She held the bottle in my direction.
“Nope, not happening. I’ve never done that and I’m not starting today,” I refused.
“Stop looking at me like I’m crazy, I didn’t ask you to breastfeed her. It’s just a bottle with milk in it and you put the nipple to her mouth, she does the rest. That’s how it works.”
I took the bottle from Chansey and nervously did as she instructed and watched Lily alternate between sucking greedily and catching her breath. “Doesn’t she need burping, or something like that?”
“Just put her against your shoulder and pat her back gently.”
I followed Chansey’s instructions without protest and placed Lily over my left shoulder, patting her back until I heard her burp.