Magnificent Folly - Iris Johansen [7]
“That’s absurd. I’m almost thirty, and that makes you only twenty-five or twenty-six. You can never catch up.”
“I was afraid you’d feel that way nine years ago.” He added gently, “But I think you’ll find I’m very mature for my age now, Lily.”
“I won’t find you any way at all.” Her voice was shaking. “I want you to go away and leave us alone. Cassie is mine.”
“And I gave her to you.”
“No.” She drew a deep breath and tried to steady her voice. “There was nothing personal about it. You have no right to Cassie. Henry said there was no danger of the donor’s ever trying to claim her.”
“I’m laying no claim to Cassie. She’s yours, Lily.”
“Thank you. How very kind.” Irony layered Lily’s voice.
“I want to be kind to both of you. Let me help, Lily. I’m not trying to take Cassie away. I understand that I have no rights you don’t give me.”
“Good. So go away.”
“I can’t go away.”
“Why not?”
“Because Cassie has rights too.” He paused. “Cassie has a right to anything I have to give her, if she decides she wants it.”
“She doesn’t need you. I don’t need you.”
He didn’t answer.
“Have you been meeting Cassie behind my back and trying to influence her?”
Hurt flickered across his face. “I said I hadn’t spoken to her. Perhaps when you get to know me better, you’ll find I don’t lie.”
“I have no intention of getting to know you better.” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I’ve gotten along without help from anyone for the last nine years, and I certainly don’t need any help now. Henry never should have told you where to find us.”
“Henry had no choice. Besides, he likes you. He hated to see you struggling all these years.” Andrew lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “But he knew you wouldn’t accept any help. Your wounds had to heal first, and you had to be sure you didn’t need help before you could allow yourself to accept it.”
“Be quiet. I don’t know what you think you’re doing here, but I wish you’d go away. Neither Cassie nor I need or want you.” She turned and started down the beach.
“I hope you’re wrong.” Andrew’s voice held a note of wistfulness as it followed her. “Dear Lord, I hope you’re wrong.”
Her steps quickened until she was almost running as she fled up the path toward the beach house.
“She wouldn’t listen?”
Andrew turned his gaze from Lily, to see Gunner Nilsen coming down the cliff path. Andrew smiled ruefully at his friend. “I knew she wouldn’t, but I had to try. She was getting frightened, and I couldn’t stand it. She’s had enough fear and hurt in her life.”
“And you haven’t?” Gunner asked. “The pain is so great that just one of those sessions you go through would traumatize any member of the Clanad.”
Andrew shook his head. “That’s different. I’m not the victim. It’s my choice.”
Gunner was silent a moment. “You could go underneath.”
“No!” Andrew said violently. “It has to be on her terms. She deserves fair treatment. Honesty.”
“I suppose she does.” Gunner clapped a hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “Come on, Quenby will be waiting, and you promised to call Jon this evening. You can’t do anything more tonight. Lily’s been among the walking wounded for the last ten years, so you can’t expect her to trust you right away. Give her a chance to absorb what you’ve told her. You can see her in the morning.”
“If she’s still here in the morning.” Andrew’s gaze went back to the beach house. “She’s frightened. Why is she so damned scared of me?”
“You know why,” Gunner said. “Cassie. You should have let someone else be the donor.”
“I couldn’t. Not from the first time I saw Lily.” Andrew turned away and fell into step with Gunner. “She’s different now.”
Gunner nodded. “She’s a damn beautiful woman.”
Lily was more than beautiful, Andrew thought. The first time he’d seen her she had been nineteen years old, a girl with long, gleaming chestnut hair, huge dark eyes, and an appealing, dewy-eyed freshness. Her hair was shorter now, barely reaching her shoulders before turning under in a shining bell. She had ripened and matured and, though she had lost that youthful sheen, she had gained character, humor, understanding.