Magnificent Folly - Iris Johansen [9]
Pain tore through Lily as she remembered how Cassie had glared at her a few minutes before. Dear heaven, Cassie had never looked at her like that. She felt almost sick with misery. Cassie would get over it, she told herself. By the next day her daughter would have forgotten Andrew Ramsey.
No, she was lying to herself. Cassie wouldn’t forget. Cassie seldom forgot anything, and she was always steadfast in her loyalties. By an odd quirk of fate she had fixed her loyalty on Andrew Ramsey, and she would cling to it even if it meant being torn between Andrew and her mother.
Lily moved toward the front door, blinded by tears. Her stomach was so tied into knots, she knew she wouldn’t be able to eat, and there was no way she could go to bed and sleep. A moment later she was standing on the wooden deck, looking down at the moon-silvered surf crashing against the rocks on the beach below.
“Let me talk to her.”
Lily jerked around to face the flight of stairs leading to the deck.
“I wasn’t going to see you two until tomorrow.” Andrew was coming up the steps. “But then I remembered Cassie, and how she was bound to react. She’s upset, isn’t she?”
“Yes, damn you.” Lily clasped her hands tightly together. “Why the hell did you come here? Everything was fine before you showed up.”
He was now standing before her on the deck, gazing down at her face. “And you’re in pain too. Damn, I’m sorry, Lily.” He took an impulsive step forward. “Let me help to—” He stopped and slowly shook his head. “Not yet.”
“You can help by going away.”
“That’s no answer. You’re very close to Cassie. You know how she thinks.”
“But you don’t. You don’t know anything about her. She’s not a toy you can take up because you want to play father, then drop when she begins to bore you.”
“It’s not like that, Lily. Trust me.”
“I can’t trust you. I have a daughter lying in bed probably crying herself to sleep, and she won’t even let me comfort her.” The tears brimmed helplessly in Lily’s eyes. “She’s never turned away from me before. She’s always loved me and known I love—” Her voice broke, and she was forced to stop. She was silent a moment, and her voice was still uneven when she was able to continue. “Please go away and leave us alone.”
“Can’t you see I can’t do that?” The pain threading Andrew’s voice was so intense, it startled her. “I have to help. Let me see her, Lily.”
“No.”
“Please.” Andrew’s features were strained in the moonlight, the flesh drawn tightly on the bones of his face. “I need to help. I can’t leave you like this. Let me talk to her for five minutes and try to make it right between you.”
“And tell her you’re her father?”
“No.” His grave gaze was fixed on her face. “I don’t have that option until I earn it or you give it to me. I’ll just make her understand.” He smiled coaxingly. “I’ll even make sure she eats her dinner.”
Lily looked at him in surprise. “How do you know she didn’t?”
“Well, you said she was upset. Naturally, I assumed …” He gestured impatiently. “That’s not important. Do you want Cassie to have a bad night?”
“Of course not, but I don’t want you—” She stopped when she realized what she was about to say. Was she so selfish, she would prefer Cassie to be miserable just because she couldn’t be the one to comfort her?
“Cassie’s the most important thing in your life; it’s only reasonable that you would resent outside interference.” Andrew’s tone was infinitely gentle.
“You’re very perceptive.” She looked him directly in the eyes. “I do resent you. If I let you talk to Cassie now, it doesn’t mean that I won’t try to get rid of you as soon as possible.”
Andrew smiled sadly. “I know, Lily.”
She turned away from him and looked out over the sea. “Five minutes. First door to the left.