18. Aspen
Itry to focus all my attention on Lily and not pay attention to the mounting stress building in the house.
Flint is true to his word and remains home after the scare with Raya and Matthew, but it’s clear that he’s under a lot of pressure. He spends all day in his office, the door firmly closed as he takes calls and does whatever he does. When he emerges, his face is drawn and grim, even though he tries his best to force smiles for both Lily and me.
I’ve pulled him aside when I can to offer my help, but he’s firmly told me he’s got everything under control. I don’t believe him in the least.
Since the encounter at the fair, Pike has become even more withdrawn, barely joining Lily and me for breakfast anymore. The girl asks for him every morning, but neither Zoe nor I have any answer to give her except, “Papa Pike is working.”
I hate the blanket of pressure suffocating the house, and I do my best to bring the men together, but every attempt has failed, even when I enlist Caden’s help.
“They’re both withdrawing,” I complain to him one afternoon as we walk through the ravine. Lily saw a rabbit earlier and is off chasing its cottontail down the path as we walk a few feet behind. “I don’t know what to do.”
Caden shrugs. “You leave them alone until they’re ready to come out,” he replies nonchalantly. “Flint’s consumed with work, and Pike’s… Pike.”
I eye him, wanting more details, but it’s not my place to ask. I also have the sudden urge to tell him my money issues, my tanked credit score, and my history with Sean. But I’ve already committed to telling them all together, after this fiasco with Raya goes away.
Or am I just making an excuse?
I shove aside the unpleasant thought and focus on the more pressing matter at hand.
“Has anyone heard from Raya or Matthew since they showed up here last week?” I ask, afraid of the answer.
It’s such a beautiful day. The birds sing in the gum trees, and the sun sprays its rays through the branches in wild, vibrant streaks. I’ve temporarily lost sight of Lily, but I can still hear the crunch of her footsteps up ahead, her little voice calling out softly for the bunny as she moves through the bushes.
“Watch out for poison oak!” Caden calls out.
“I am, Papa Caden,” she replies, her voice closer than I expect.
“Caden…?” I urge, noting that he’s avoided my question. “Have you heard from them?”
“No,” he says, but there’s a caveat coming. “But I’ve heard they’re still in Cypress Gardens.”
I stop in my tracks, staring at him. “Where? Nearby?”
He smiles thinly, reaching for my hand. “It’s not that big a place, Aspen. So probably close by.”
“Can’t we do something about that?” I insist. “Isn’t the sheriff a friend of Flint’s?”
“This isn’t the wild west. You can’t just run law-abiding folks out of town for no good reason. But if they give a good reason…” He shrugs and grins. “Let’s just say that Mike’s got eyes on them.”
“What do they want?” I mutter, more to myself than Caden.
“Lily’s inheritance.”
I feel foolish for even asking, and the thought of anyone using Lily for money ignites a spark of anger within me.
“Why isn’t this adoption going through? What’s taking so long?” I demand.
Caden pauses and looks at me, his hazel irises fraught with concern. “Are you all right, Aspen?”
My breathing becomes uneasy. I don’t want to tell him the truth, that everyone else’s stress is penetrating me. “Lily’s safety is my primary concern.”
“That’s what we all want,” he concedes, stepping closer to me. “Know that we’re working on this.”
Work faster! I want to quip, but I hold my tongue. This isn’t Caden’s fault or Flint’s or Pike’s. This isn’t something that speeds along because I’m cracking under the pressure.
“Relax,” he tells me, as if it’s that simple. “Come on, let’s get you back to the house and in the hot tub.”
“I think Lily’s a little young for the hot tub.”
“She’s always good to play in the pool, though.”
I hesitate, the idea of soaking in the bubbles appealing to me.
“Or we could always go skydiving,” Caden suggests wickedly. “That will definitely take your mind off things.”
I swat at him playfully. “The hot tub sounds like a much better option,” I chuckle. “Lily! We’re going back to the house.”
“Aw! But I didn’t find the bunny yet!” she protests.
“How about a swim, Lilbug?” Caden replies placatingly. The child’s dark head of hair pops out of the bushes, and I grimace lightly. So much for her watching for poison oak.
“Can we play water pony?” she asks hopefully.
“Obviously,” Caden replies, throwing up his hands. “Is there any other way to go swimming?”
He winks at me as Lily scampers toward us, and I again marvel at the connection the child has not only to Caden, but to all of her guardians.
And I’m part of their inner circle now, too. Lily loves and trusts me. And I think the men do, too…
If only they would open up to me and let me help more.
We have barely entered the backyard when Zoe materializes, her usually mischievous expression grim.
“Aspen, Flint’s looking for you,” she informs me. “And you, too, Doc.”
Caden and I exchange a look.
“That doesn’t sound good,” Caden comments, heading toward the house with Lily in his hand.
“No…” Zoe stops him. “Miss Lily can stay with me.”
Dread twines down my spine as Lily immediately complains. “But I want to go swimming!”
“You still can,” I tell her quickly. “Zoe will help you get into your swimsuit, and I’m sure we won’t be long.”
Caden shakes his head almost unperceivable, as if to tell me not to promise that.
“We’ll be back as soon as we can, Lilbug,” he promises, releasing her hand. “Go with Zoe now.”
I look at the housekeeper, hoping to get some sign of what’s going on, but there’s no expression to give me any clue. My heart is in my stomach as I suspect the worst, and I follow Caden through the back doors and into the kitchen.
“What’s this about now?” I whisper, but he’s just as in the dark as I am.
“Probably something to do with the adoption,” he tells me reassuringly, but I can’t brush off the sense that I’m walking onto a landmine. Or maybe that’s my own guilty conscience talking.
I really have to tell them about my money problems. Maybe this is the time, even with all their other issues. When am I going to have everyone in the same room again?
Biting on my lower lip, I allow Caden to take the lead and open the office doors without knocking. And Julian, the lawyer, leers directly at me, wagging a finger reprovingly.
“You’ve been a naughty girl, Ms. Palco,” he scolds me. “A very naughty girl indeed.”