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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
Lily took a summer job to pay for her art supplies but had no idea her manager would go crazy on her first day working the register. Things only worsened when her estranged father stepped out of the line to defend her. But his reappearance wasn\u2019t welcomed, and it upended her life.<\/p>\n
Lily grinned widely when she arrived for her first day working the counter at a local caf\u00e9. Summer holidays had started the previous week, and Lily was looking forward to spending the next few months producing new artwork.<\/p>\n
However, that wouldn\u2019t be possible without this new job. The money she made would be used to buy an easel and a new set of paints, so she was cheerier than most would be at the prospect of their first day.<\/p>\n
\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
She needed better supplies for what she had in mind. It would also make her artwork pop, as cheap paint didn\u2019t have the same effect. So, she set to work with high spirits, arriving a little earlier than expected and listening intently to the other person on shift, Kyle.<\/p>\n
\u201cOK, so you\u2019ll be taking the orders. I was told you know how to use the system,\u201d he explained carefully. \u201cI\u2019ll be focused on making coffees, and you can help me with simple stuff like serving or packing muffins and the works.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCool,\u201d Lily nodded, smiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut,\u201d Kyle lifted his finger. \u201cThe mornings are the worst. We\u2019re gonna be running and running straight for a couple of hours. Any mistake can set us back like crazy, so I need you to be on the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily gulped but nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were supposed to have someone else on this shift, but well,\u201d Kyle paused and looked around, then started whispering. \u201cThe manager, Mr. Reynolds, is insane. A word of advice: stay clear from him as much you can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe hired me,\u201d she said, frowning slightly. \u201cHe was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all for show,\u201d Kyle shook his head. \u201cHe wants people to take the job, but once you\u2019re on the payroll, he goes crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNoted,\u201d Lily said, thankful for the advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cOK, new girl,\u201d Kyle rubbed his hands. \u201cLet\u2019s start this show!\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
As soon as Lily turned the sign on the door to \u201cOPEN,\u201d a flurry of businesspeople rushed in. She ran to the register and started taking orders. She tried not to be intimidated by some of the more intricate coffee orders and powered through.<\/p>\n
She was already feeling in the zone when a hard tap on her shoulder made her jump slightly. It was Mr. Reynolds, and his eyes were blazing.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations, new girl,\u201d Mr. Reynolds said. \u201cYou\u2019ve just managed to get fired on your first day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? But why, Mr. Reynolds? Did I make a mistake?\u201d Lily asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, you came to work looking like a clown.\u201d Mr. Reynolds gestured at Lily\u2019s bright blue hair. \u201cSo get back into your clown car and get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily ran her fingers through her hair, which she\u2019d dyed that weekend. \u201cBut there\u2019s nothing in the dress code about hair color\u2026I checked, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Reynolds sneered. \u201cI should\u2019ve known better than to hire some snotty teenager. You have no understanding of how to present a professional image. There\u2019s no place for someone like you in my coffee shop. Now get out!\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily stared at Mr. Reynolds in shock. All her dreams of buying high-quality oil paints died as she faced being jobless once again.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey! You can\u2019t speak to my daughter like that!\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/8d4bd2a2b35fe3afa545b2e8c20e778296de8f1982a4f89b2e0b1de3a66d8c39.webp\")
\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
Anger and embarrassment coursed through Lily\u2019s veins as she recognized the voice calling out to her. She spun and saw the person she hated most in the world stepping out of his place near the front of the queue: her father.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll talk to my employees, make that former employee, however I like!\u201d Mr. Reynolds yelled back. \u201cIf you don\u2019t like it, take her back to the circus and don\u2019t return.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily looked at the floor in shame as her father, Damian, got close to the register, wanting to keep fighting with her manager. He had walked out on her and her mother, Alison, when she was 13. Although she tried, the memory of that day was always lurking in her consciousness.<\/p>\n
Four years ago\u2026<\/p>\n
The harsh sound of the car trunk woke Lily up with a start. She was disoriented for a second until her mother\u2019s voice registered. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be this way,\u201d she pleaded. Lily frowned, confused, and lifted her comforter.<\/p>\n
Her fingers separated two panels on her window\u2019s blinds, and she saw her mother, looking lost and scared with her arms wrapped around herself, confronting her father. Damian was dressed, complete with a coat and hat.<\/p>\n
The car was running. \u201cIt\u2019s the only way,\u201d he yelled, desperate. Dad circled around the car and got into the passenger seat before Alison could say anything else. The glare of the headlights almost blinded her, but he quickly pulled out of the driveway and off into the night.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
Lily watched in horror as her mother \u2014 the strongest woman in the world, as far as she knew \u2014 covered her face with one hand and sobbed. The sound had her putting on her slippers and running outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom!\u201d the 13-year-old wailed. \u201cMommy, don\u2019t cry.\u201d<\/p>\n
She wrapped her arms around her mother\u2019s waist, leaning her head on Alison\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Lily. What are you doing up? It\u2019s late,\u201d Mom asked, sniffing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did Dad go?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Alison answered, tightening her hold on Lily.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen is he coming back?\u201d the young girl demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d her mother replied, shaking her head.<\/p>\n
Lily was old enough to put the pieces together. Her father had left, and if her mother had no idea where he went, there was a good chance he was not coming back.<\/p>\n
With moisture gathering in her eyes, Lily turned to her manager and saw the expression of a man who thought he was better than everybody. She looked at her father, who looked ready to fight Mr. Reynolds, and couldn\u2019t decide which was worse.<\/p>\n
Finally, she threw her apron down on the counter. \u201cFine! I\u2019m leaving!\u201d she exclaimed, threw an apologetic look at Kyle, and stormed out of the coffee shop\u2019s back entrance. She was halfway down the street when her father caught up to her.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/6da3af73f741cfd6d6e4ab22f9e96641747c51146c1ff9df6445b6a76f6a3b8f.webp\")
\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
\u201cLily, wait!\u201d he said. \u201cI want to talk to you\u2026 I know you must hate me, but I have so much to explain. There are details you need to know about the day I left.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo away!\u201d Lily yelled, refusing to stop her brisk pace. \u201cI don\u2019t care about anything you have to say to me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, Lily! I had to go. I didn\u2019t have a choice, but I\u2019m back now and want to make it up to you.\u201d He grabbed her shoulder, tried to stop her, and pleaded. \u201cIf you\u2019ll just give me ten minutes to explain\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Wrenching her shoulder off his grasp, Lily repeated that she wanted nothing to do with him. \u201cForget I exist! I did!\u201d she spat and started walking again, weaving between smartly dressed businesspeople until she reached the subway entrance.<\/p>\n
She stomped down the cement stairs and felt it in her soul. Luckily, the next train had just arrived, and she entered discreetly before finally releasing the tears she had no idea were still behind her lids. The 17-year-old couldn\u2019t fully release all her feelings in such public, but it was impossible to hold on to her wits.<\/p>\n
Aside from being humiliated in front of many coffee shop customers by the manager just for having blue hair, she had to face the man who betrayed her and her mother so horribly. Lily had been a daddy\u2019s girl through and through until he just picked up and abandoned them.<\/p>\n
It was a struggle, not just emotionally but financially. Her mother had only held a part-time gig at the time because her father made good money. But suddenly, Alison was working extra shifts. Lily knew that other 13-year-olds took care of themselves, but her world was upended in a second.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
She had to use the bus to go to and from school instead of being driven by her mother. Lunches and dinners were now her responsibility because Alison had no time. In the meantime, she was mourning the loss of her father, who had changed his number and didn\u2019t even write. He was just gone.<\/p>\n
It took a while before Alison found a steadier job, but she wanted more of her daughter, so they moved to a better area. Lily exited the subway and walked toward her relatively new townhouse. Her mother had decided Lily needed to be in a better school district to have more chances to get into college and bought a great house.<\/p>\n
The mortgage was a little more than they had paid in rent before, so Alison now had a second job. Lily hated seeing her mother working so much, so she couldn\u2019t ask for paint supplies from her. She knew Alison would say yes and sacrifice more of herself to buy anything, which only worsened her resentment towards her father.<\/p>\n
Hence her deep desire for a job, which had lasted less than half a day. \u201cThis must be some sort of record,\u201d Lily muttered after opening the front door. She removed her shoes and let her purse plop on the floor before running to the kitchen for a glass of water.<\/p>\n
She downed the liquid in one gulp and washed the tears from her face in the sink. Her hands reached for a paper towel to dry off, and she threw it in the trash can when she was ready. Cringing, Lily kicked the plastic container, a real-life demonstration of what she wanted to do to herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m never crying for my father again,\u201d the teenager muttered and went to her room. Finally, it was time to concentrate on something more important: her artwork. She propped a canvas up on her desk and took out her paints. The tubes were nearly empty.<\/p>\n
She angrily took the fullest tubes\u2014black, burnt orange, and turquoise\u2014and squeezed some paint out onto the old dinner plate she used as a palette. She then started painting. A few hours later, she stepped back to stare at the result.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, it looks like Pollock and Frankenthaler got drunk together and had a blindfolded paint-off on the same canvas,\u201d Lily sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I think it\u2019s beautiful,\u201d Alison said from behind her, startling her. \u201cThe colors are interesting, but the texture and shapes are amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to say that. You\u2019re my mother,\u201d Lily chuckled, setting the plate down and running to her mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, sweetie,\u201d her mother returned the hug happily. \u201cYou haven\u2019t hugged me like this in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know,\u201d Lily murmured into her chest. For a second, all she wanted was to tell her mother what happened with Mr. Reynolds and her father\u2019s unexpected appearance. But Alison yawned heavily and leaned her forehead on Lily\u2019s head. \u201cMom, why don\u2019t you take a nap?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to make you dinner for a change,\u201d Alison said but yawned.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Lily stepped away. \u201cYou sleep. I\u2019ll make dinner. Besides, I already bought the frozen ravioli and sauce you like.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds delightful,\u201d her mother sighed happily, nodding. \u201cAlright. I\u2019ll have a nap.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll call you when it\u2019s ready,\u201d Lily said, watching her mother wobble to her bedroom. \u201cI love you, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you, sweetie,\u201d Alison said, closing her door.<\/p>\n
An hour later, they were at the dinner table, enjoying the sweet scent of cream sauce, bacon, and mushroom on top of doughy, delicious cheese-filled ravioli. Lily hoped to keep their dinner cheery and light-hearted, but Alison asked about her first day at work. She had no choice but to tell her the truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe manager took one look at my hair and fired me on the stop,\u201d the teenager confessed, shrugging in defeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s just ridiculous!\u201d Mom said. \u201cThe man runs a coffee shop, not an investment banking firm. I\u2019ve seen a million baristas with crazy hair, piercings, and tattoos. It\u2019s almost on-brand to look a little different. What does it matter if your hair is blue?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019d like to know,\u201d Lily sighed. \u201cBut I can\u2019t do anything about it. My co-worker Kyle had already warned me about the manager. I don\u2019t think I could\u2019ve asked for a second chance, and I know we shouldn\u2019t give up, but I just don\u2019t think working for that man would\u2019ve been good. Tomorrow, I\u2019ll go looking for a different job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the spirit, sweetheart. This is 2023. Managers need to understand that employees are not doing them a favor. People are working for a living. They deserve respect,\u201d Mom smiled. \u201cStill, I can see you\u2019re sad about it. I know it\u2019s hard, but you can\u2019t let life get you down, no matter how difficult it gets. Keep your eyes on the bright future ahead of you, and you\u2019ll always find a way through any hardships.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily smiled. Her mother\u2019s optimism was infectious, but she found that focusing on the future was easier said than done when the present seemed so miserable. No matter how hard she tried to get a new job over the next two weeks, nobody wanted to hire her.<\/p>\n
Soon, she was out of paint supplies and canvases. The bright side was that her mood had rendered excellent results on her artwork. \u201cThere truly is something to say about sadness driving creativity,\u201d Lily murmured, putting away her latest piece.<\/p>\n
With a sigh, she turned to social media, intent on posting the photos she had taken before, during, and after finishing her new canvas. Lily always did that and garnered a few loyal followers who encouraged her to keep painting.<\/p>\n
The clich\u00e9 image of a lightbulb appeared in her mind when an idea surfaced. Smiling, she created a post to appeal to her friends and followers. Asking people online for help when it wasn\u2019t an emergency felt wrong, but it couldn\u2019t hurt. After adding her e-wallet details, Lily clicked to post and waited.<\/p>\n
A few messages came, telling her the artwork was great, and some contributions started arriving, as evidenced by the notifications on her phone. But it wouldn\u2019t be enough. Lily didn\u2019t have enough followers for that. Still, she was grateful.<\/p>\n
She focused on finding other jobs on online sites and tweeted about accepting commissions for digital work. Lily loved painting in canvases the most, but she had also taught herself how to make drawings online. \u201cAt least digital colors and canvases don\u2019t run out,\u201d she said, opening the illustrator software to distract herself.<\/p>\n
Her frustration grew as the days passed, and no one wanted to hire her. Being 17 didn\u2019t help, as she couldn\u2019t sign up for most apps. But one morning, Lily was about to leave for another day of fruitless job-hunting when she almost stepped on a huge package on the floor outside the front door.<\/p>\n
She could tell immediately that it wasn\u2019t a regular delivery as the package had a big red bow on top and no shipping label. But there was a card with her name on it. With trepidation, Lily grabbed it and went back inside. Her brow furrowed upon reading the card:<\/p>\n
For Lily. My favorite artist. I know you\u2019ll put these to good use.<\/p>\n
But she still unwrapped the package, and a quiet gasp escaped her lips at the sight before her. Inside was the set of the high-quality oil paints she\u2019d wanted and two large canvases. There was no indication of the sender; for a second, she thought it was her mom. But there was no way Alison could afford that set.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt must have been someone online,\u201d she breathed but frowned. \u201cAlthough, I don\u2019t know how they got my address. That\u2019s weird.\u201d<\/p>\n
She took out her phone and began a live session on social media, telling people about the gift on her doorstep and thanking whoever had done it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t wait to start working with these! Thank you so much!\u201d Lily expressed to the camera and ended her live session. Forgetting about her job-hunting for the day, she rushed to her room, arranged all the supplies, and started pouring her heart out on the large canvas.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t until much later that Lily saw one of her newest followers, artlover, had commented: \u2018Hope you like them!\u2019 on her post. She didn\u2019t think much of it until she discovered another surprise the next day.<\/p>\n
Lily was bringing in the mail when a plain envelope bearing her name caught her attention. Inside was a local art gallery pamphlet advertising an open exhibition day for young artists. The gallery would also be running a competition with a cash amount and mentorship as the prize for the winning artist.<\/p>\n
Her fingers shook as she stared at the pamphlet. This was the opportunity of a lifetime! She had to enter, but dark thoughts lingered in her mind as she wondered who might\u2019ve put this in her mailbox.<\/p>\n
Her reservations about her mysterious benefactor only grew when she saw artlover had commented on one of her latest posts with a link to the same competition and suggested she enter it. Worries that she may have picked up a creepy internet stalker swirled through her mind all afternoon.<\/p>\n
I probably shouldn\u2019t have accepted the paint set and stuff, Lily shook her head, staring intently at her computer. Some people gave gifts just because it pleased them, but she had a feeling this person had other intentions.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the stalker knew her address. She had been so delighted with the present that she had barely thought about that aspect. The lack of a shipping label meant the creeper came to her house in person to leave it.<\/p>\n
Her nerves only got worse as time passed, so Lily couldn\u2019t stop herself from confessing everything when her mother arrived and called.<\/p>\n
When her mother arrived home that evening, Lily showed her the comments and told her about the package and the pamphlet. Alison clicked on artlover\u2018s profile and studied it in silence for several minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay\u2026this is definitely a bit creepy, but I don\u2019t think we can report this to the police,\u201d she said. \u201cSweetheart, it doesn\u2019t look like they\u2019re expecting anything from you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Lily asked, biting her bottom lip. \u201cBut should I try to return what I have left of the paint supplies?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I think that\u2019s unnecessary,\u201d Alison shook her head. \u201cAnd I know you\u2019re going to think I\u2019m crazy, but I think you should still put your name down for this open exhibition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what if artlover is there?\u201d Lily asked. \u201cWhat if they try to kidnap me or something?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be there too,\u201d her mother assured her, \u201cand I won\u2019t let anything happen to you. I\u2019m not sure about the security at the gallery, but we\u2019ll have to stay and keep an eye on your paintings anyway. Other kids will be there, and artists too. Any danger is unlikely unless you get pulled into an ally. Now that we\u2019re aware, we can take precautions. You\u2019re carrying around that pepper spray I got you, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Lily nodded, reaching for her purse. \u201cI haven\u2019t used it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good. We should be fine,\u201d Alison continued, crossing her arms. \u201cYou can\u2019t miss this opportunity because of this random fan.\u201d<\/p>\n
The teenager still had misgivings about entering the open exhibition, but her mother was right. This opportunity to showcase her art was too good to pass up. She\u2019d just have to go there prepared for trouble and trust her mom and the gallery\u2019s security to keep her safe.<\/p>\n
Lily worked hard to complete some new paintings during the two weeks leading up to the exhibition. She was so focused and determined to produce a piece worthy of winning the competition that she hardly slept. She was a bundle of nerves when she and Alison carried her paintings into the gallery to set up.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be great, sweetheart,\u201d her mother said as they approached the area assigned to Lily. \u201cYour art will be a hit, and that artlover person won\u2019t have the balls to do anything while I\u2019m around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily glanced sideways at her mom and hoped she was right.<\/p>\n
Soon, Lily\u2019s paintings were arranged on easels in a corner of the main room. The gallery opened soon afterward, and gallerygoers poured through the doors. Alison took a moment to go to the restroom, so Lily clutched the pepper spray discreetly and watched as a group of art admirers came to look at her work.<\/p>\n
Although Lily\u2019s ears were perked and ready, they discussed her paintings in soft voices. She couldn\u2019t hear much, except that most of them enjoyed it. The teenager was prepared to listen to all kinds of opinions, but that movement was still nerve-wracking.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s amateur at best,\u201d a man scoffed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, please,\u201d a woman countered, and Lily could almost feel her rolling her eyes. \u201cYou only like things done by already well-known artists. But you can\u2019t become anything in this industry that way. Everyone starts somewhere. This work shows incredible potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow so?\u201d someone else in the group asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not a lot of technical knowledge, so yes, she\u2019s an amateur. But the passion\u2026 I feel it,\u201d the woman continued, and Lily grinned stupidly. \u201cThis one\u2026 she was angry\u2026 this one is painful, almost like she is describing something traumatic\u2026 and this one is pure delight. It\u2019s dynamic. Versatile. That\u2019s what art needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman was passionate in her explanations, and Lily wanted to thank her. But she was too shy. Surprisingly, she didn\u2019t have to wait much because the woman came right up to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss, you made these paintings?\u201d the prim older lady asked.<\/p>\n
Lily finally stood. \u201cYes, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are fantastic, particularly that one,\u201d she pointed to the \u201cpure delight\u201d canvas that Lily had created when she received the new paint sets from artlover.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019m Miriam,\u201d the woman introduced herself, and Lily was shocked to learn she was a teacher at an esteemed and expensive local art school. Lily dreamed of studying there after high school.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so nice to meet you,\u201d Lily said. The teacher asked about her plans for the future and told her how talented she was and that she should enroll in art school.<\/p>\n
Before Lily could say that she couldn\u2019t afford it, her mother wrapped an arm around her waist, \u201cWell, she\u2019s considering her options now, but your art school is on the list,\u201d Alison bragged, smiling proudly.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcellent!\u201d Miriam commented. \u201cI just can\u2019t get enough of that painting, so I\u2019m buying it. How much?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily\u2019s mouth opened, but no sound came out. Alison took over again. \u201cWe\u2019re not sure how these things are priced, but I think $150 is fair,\u201d she suggested.<\/p>\n
The teacher shook her head. \u201cNo, no. This one is worth $350,\u201d she stated, dribbling on her checkbook quickly. \u201cUse this money for more supplies or your future school fund. You, young lady, have real talent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily beamed at the praise, and her mother only tightened her arm.<\/p>\n
When the group left, the teenager turned to her mother and jumped slightly. \u201cMy first sale!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so proud!\u201d her mother exclaimed, sniffing to prevent her joyful tears from falling.<\/p>\n
Lily and Alison were both still in awe from that interaction when a familiar interrupted their delight. \u201cI see you\u2019ve put my gift to excellent use. I\u2019m so glad you took my suggestion to enter the competition, Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily turned in horror to see her father standing in the gallery, smiling like he had the right to be there.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you serious? You\u2019re artlover?\u201d she asked, appalled.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamian!\u201d Alison uttered, shocked. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Damian\u2019s smile faded as he looked from his ex-wife to his daughter. \u201cYou didn\u2019t tell her you saw me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily wanted to kick him as her mother swiveled her head. \u201cYou saw him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom,\u201d the teenager shook her head. \u201cHe came to my job and yelled when my manager fired me.\u201d Lily rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d Alison asked, looking hurt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want to worry you, not when you\u2019re always tired from working two jobs,\u201d Lily replied, sadly shaking her head. \u201cAnd anyway, I just walked away and told him to leave me alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlly, you\u2019re working two jobs?\u201d Damian asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t pretend you care about us!\u201d Lily spat. Her hackles raised at the concerned look in her father\u2019s eyes. He had no right to be worried about them, not when he had left them so unceremoniously that night four years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlison. Where\u2019s the money I\u2019ve been sending?\u201d he asked, and Lily stepped back. Her mother had closed her eyes and crossed her arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all in her college fund,\u201d Alison confessed. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to use it, so I just saved it for her future.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMOM!\u201d Lily exclaimed, grabbing her mother\u2019s arm. \u201cDad was sending money all along? You\u2019ve been struggling. Why didn\u2019t you use it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want to,\u201d she said, ashamed. \u201cI didn\u2019t need it. Not when he left\u2026\u201d Her mother\u2019s voice broke, and all thoughts of money went out the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee?\u201d Lily looked at her estranged father. \u201cSee how you hurt us when you left! We don\u2019t need your money. Mom, you can send that back to him. I\u2019ll make my own future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes were shining with anger.<\/p>\n
\u201cLily, you have to let me explain,\u201d Damian sputtered. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to leave. I had to! To protect you two!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDamian!\u201d Alison cautioned angrily.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had no choice!\u201d he continued, getting desperate.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you did!\u201d her mother cried out. \u201cWe could\u2019ve gone with you!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of life would that have been for her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily\u2019s head was swiveling back and forth between her parents. Their words only got more and more confusing.<\/p>\n
\u201cA life where her whole family is still together!\u201d Alison continued, the tears spilling freely. \u201cWe would\u2019ve worked things out!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d Damian retorted, exasperated. \u201cYou two would\u2019ve been in much more danger! They didn\u2019t know I had a family. It was much better this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why are you here?\u201d Alison yelled, and Lily finally noticed the eyes of other gallerygoers on them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSTOP!\u201d she raised her hands. \u201cYou two, stop this! We\u2019re being watched. Let\u2019s go outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
They went outside after asking a kind gallery employee to watch out for Lily\u2019s paintings.<\/p>\n
\u201cOK, it\u2019s time to tell me whatever you two are arguing about,\u201d Lily said when they were away from curious eyes on a quiet street outside the gallery. \u201cMom, what do you mean we could\u2019ve gone with him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Lily,\u201d Alison sighed heavily.<\/p>\n
\u201cLily, I was placed in a witness protection program,\u201d Damian revealed.<\/p>\n
Lily started chuckling involuntarily. \u201cNo, seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLily, I\u2019m serious,\u201d her dad continued while Alison nodded. \u201cI was working accounting for several funeral homes when I discovered something wrong in the numbers of a particular one.\u201d<\/p>\n
The teenager frowned, crossing her arms. \u201cOK\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were laundering money, baby,\u201d he added, his voice sobering.<\/p>\n
Lily\u2019s eyes widened, and she turned to her mother, nodding in confirmation. \u201cIt\u2019s the truth, Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOK. What happened next?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI took the information straight to the police. I was an independent contractor, so the funeral home didn\u2019t know anything about my family, and I used to give out my old apartment\u2019s address. I always forgot to update that info,\u201d Damian explained. \u201cThat apartment was trashed. Luckily, they were between tenants, so no one was hurt, but the police contacted some people and told me I needed to hide.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew about this?\u201d Lily asked her mother, confused and hurt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew, sweetheart,\u201d Alison replied carefully. \u201cI wanted us to go with him. But your father didn\u2019t want that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily turned to her father.<\/p>\n
\u201cBaby, I had no idea how long the investigation would last. How long I would be on the road,\u201d Damian said beseechingly. \u201cI wanted you two free of all that. They didn\u2019t know about you yet, but it was only a matter of time. I had to leave immediately. I\u2019m sorry I didn\u2019t say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could\u2019ve told me! I was 13, not three,\u201d Lily stated, enraged. \u201cI would\u2019ve understood or tried to. It would\u2019ve been much better than to live with the misconception that my dad left us high and dry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI just was scared, baby,\u201d Damian muttered, rubbing his forehead. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t an easy decision. I thought you would fight it like your mother, so I just left\u2026 to protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could\u2019ve told me too, Mom!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. But it was too painful. I was too angry at your father for not considering taking us all,\u201d Alison sighed. \u201cI was also angry at him for going to the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause it put him in danger,\u201d she shrugged. \u201cI thought it may have been better to ignore whatever he found.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I couldn\u2019t do that,\u201d Damian shook his head, smiling slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOK,\u201d Lily bit her lip. \u201cBut what\u2019s changed? Why are you back?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe owners of the funeral home are finally in prison. I testified for the prosecution, and now, I\u2019m free again,\u201d he said, shrugging.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Dad was sending money, and you didn\u2019t use it?\u201d Lily asked her mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I was too angry, too proud,\u201d Alison confessed. \u201cI know it was hard. I should\u2019ve used it, but I did save it for your future.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich means\u2026\u201d Damian started and smiled, \u201cyou can go to that fancy art school you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou heard that teacher?\u201d Lily asked, pleased.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I did,\u201d he confirmed. \u201cI\u2019ve seen your social media. You are a wonder, baby. I\u2019m sorry for missing the last four years and not telling you the truth. But I want to make it up to you. I also saved some money for your college, so you can do whatever you want. Or take a trip, too. Artists need to see the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait, wait. We\u2019re getting ahead of ourselves,\u201d Alison shook her head. \u201cShe\u2019s going to college and art school before any trip around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily laughed, and it was a wholesome sound.<\/p>\n
\u201cOK, Ally,\u201d Damian acquiesced. \u201cLet\u2019s go back inside and see how many paintings our little artist sells?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s sound like a plan,\u201d her mother nodded.<\/p>\n
The event at the gallery was a success. More people told Lily that she had great talent. Unfortunately, the big prize and mentorship went to someone else. But she didn\u2019t feel sad, especially knowing that her parents had money saved for her future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need comforting, guys. You already secured my future. Someone else needed this grant more than me,\u201d the teenager said when her parents tried to cheer her up.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are so wise,\u201d Damian marveled. He spent almost every dinner with Lily and Alison since the gallery event but never stayed the night. No one was ready for that, and Lily had no idea if they would get back together.<\/p>\n
\u201cBesides, I have another way of raising some extra money for my supplies,\u201d the teenager announced. \u201cI posted a bunch of photos from the gallery and got more followers. More people are visiting my commission\u2019s link, and I\u2019ve already got two orders.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s amazing, sweetheart,\u201d Alison breathed, surprised. \u201cWow. I had no idea people could still make money from art. I mean, you hear all these stories about starving artists.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not wrong, Mom,\u201d Lily agreed. \u201cIt\u2019s hard for everyone. That\u2019s why I think going to college and art school is better. I\u2019ll have more options. I was thinking about studying business or\u2026 accounting.\u201d She grinned at her father, who beamed with pride.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, you\u2019re smarter than I was,\u201d Damian chuckled. \u201cIn college, I was undeclared for so long. It wasn\u2019t until I met your mom that I decided accounting was a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Alison added. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I told you before, but your father was a partier\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily listened intently to stories about their youth. She vaguely remembered some of these conversations when she was younger, but they felt free to tell her more details now.<\/p>\n
The way her parents laughed in unison filled Lily\u2019s chest with joy. She had no idea if they were getting back together, but having her whole family back together after those years was amazing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lily took a summer job to pay for her art supplies but had no idea her manager would go crazy on her first day working the register. Things only worsened when her estranged father stepped out of the line to defend her. But his reappearance wasn\u2019t welcomed, and it upended her life. Lily grinned widely […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18283"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18290,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18283\/revisions\/18290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}