Slow Ride (Riding with Honor) (13 page)

“If you were me
, mom, what would you do with this video?” she asked.

“The
judge may not take it seriously coming from Tommy as he has a vested interest in seeing that woman face the music.  You’re little Gretchen’s teacher and little Melody’s foster mother…coming from you it might have a little more impact,” she said. “Listen to that voice in the pit of your stomach…she won’t steer you wrong.”

“Thanks mom…I love you.”

Dana had just climbed out of the shower when her cell phone rang.  Looking at the caller she recognized the number but couldn’t place it.

“Hello?”

“Hi Dana!  This is Lilly.  I need your opinion on something....” she said.

“Ok sure
,” she said hesitantly.

“Can you meet me downtown at Reece’s for lunch?” Lilly asked
.

“I…uh…sure I guess.  What time?”
she asked.

“Around
noon sound ok?  We can grab some lunch and then I need to run by and try something on and I want your honest opinion.  The guys can fend for themselves for lunch, this is important.” she said anxiously.

“Sure…”

“Ok great!  See you then,” Lilly said and disconnected the call.

She hadn’t spoken to Lilly since Gretchen’s party but she had thoroughly enjoyed the time she’d spent with her.  Lilly was a hard one to figure
out.  Being engaged to Bobby one would think she would look, well rough… like him. 

Lilly was sophisticated looking and acting.  She didn’t know that much about her but she seemed like a really nice woman.  She had always been a loner and the only real friend she had was her mother.  Having a girlfriend around her own age was sounding pretty nice.

She had fallen asleep with her heavy thoughts last night and hadn’t woken up until nearly nine this morning.  Maybe she could talk to Lilly about what was going on…without really giving too much of herself away.  Lilly might have insight into Tommy.  Then she could decide the best route to go.

She was torn between turning the video into the police in hopes they would arrest Casey and blow any chances of her getting the girls and just showing up at the preliminary hearing and giving it to the
judge.  Either way she needed some space and time to think about what to do without Tommy’s influence.  Lilly was his friend but she was her friend too…
wasn’t she?

She made it to the restaurant a little early and was surprised to find Lilly already there.  She hadn’t seen her car in the parking lot.  Sliding in to the booth
Dana smiled at her.

“I didn’t see your car out front…”
she said.

“Dickie dropped me off in the tow truck.  I have to testify in a pretty high profile criminal case in
New York in a few weeks.  I’m a widow but my first husband and his best friend were involved in this scandal…to make a long story short… Bobby is crazy protective of me right now.  I had a little run-in at the shop with an FBI agent that was in on the whole thing and so…yea, he insists that I’m with someone every second of every day,” she said. “So I hope it’s ok for us to use your car.”

After placing their orders for lunch Dana asked
, “Where are we going?”

“Well I used lunch with you as an excuse but I ordered my wedding dress online and had it delivered to a local shop
, now I need to go get fitted,” Lilly said.

Dana
couldn’t help but envy the sheer joy she could see in her eyes.  “Sounds like fun.”

When lunch arrived at the table Lilly suddenly turned pale and nearly ran from the table.  Alarmed
, she quickly followed her into the women’s restroom. 

She could hear the poor woman heaving in one of the far stalls.  She’d never dealt with a sick adult before but it couldn’t be much different that dealing with a sick child.

Grabbing some paper towels she ran them under cold water and rung them out well and then made her way back to the stall.

“Lilly? Open up let me help you
,” she said through the door when the retching subsided.

The toilet flushed and then the door opened a bit.  Lilly sank against the far wall of the stall. 

“Here use this to wipe your mouth and face,” she said, handing her the moistened towels.

“I’m sorry… I thought I was over this.  I was fine yesterday and now today here we go again
,” Lilly said, taking the towels and patting her forehead and cheeks with them.

“You’ve been sick?” s
he asked.

“Yea, off
and on for a few days now.  I guess I need to see a doctor since it’s not going away on its own,” Lilly replied.

“Do you have a fever or anything?”
she asked.

“No, it just kind of comes and goes.  It seems worse in the middle of the day but by the evening I’m fine again
,” Lilly said and then sighed heavily.

Could she be experiencing morning sickness?
  “Are you pregnant by any chance?” she asked.

“Oh no… I can’t have kids
,” Lilly smiled weakly.

Dana swallowed hard.  She wanted to hug her because she truly understood the woman’s pain.  “I’m sorry…
believe me I understand what that’s like,” she said, looking meaningfully at her.

“You…?” Lilly asked.

“My tubes were malformed from birth.  My parents and I had no idea until I became a teenager and my periods weren’t normal… even when I did have one.  After my last surgery they assured me that there was
no
chance…” she said, fighting to hold in her tears. 
Lilly didn’t need that.

Lilly’s face looked thoughtful for a moment.  “I have a period…regularly…I should’ve started…”

“Did the doctor say it wasn’t
possible
for you to have children?” she asked.

“Well no…but I was married for ten years and never once…in all that time
,” Lilly replied.

“But what did the
doctor
say
, did he tell you there was
no
chance,” she asked again.

Lilly’s face paled even more.  “Oh God!  Darren, my late husband…he cheated on me…many times and they never got pregnant either…
Oh God, Dana!  What if it wasn’t me?” she asked, staring at her with a horrified expression on her face.

“I need to sit down
,” Lilly said suddenly.

“Ok
, let’s go out so you can rinse your mouth and wash your hands,” Dana said, leading her out of the stall and over to the sink.

After Lilly cleaned
herself up they headed back to their table and sat down.

“Did you ever see a
fertility doctor or specialist about it?” she asked.

“Not a specialist…” Lilly replied.

“Have you used protection…?” she asked.

“We’ve only been together for…
things kind of happened fast for us,” Lilly said. “They are all kind of like that…when they see something they want they
really
go after it with everything they have and I…”

After a long pause
Dana prompted, “You what?”

“I can’t be pregnant
,” she whispered.

“Try to eat something.  We’ll finish lunch
, find a drugstore and you’ll know for sure one way or the other,” She said.  “I’ve seen Bobby with you and I seriously doubt he would be that upset.  He adores you.”

“It’s just that he’s really good with Gretchen but I just can’t picture him with kids of his own
,” she said between bites. “I mean Tommy is a
great
father…not that he wants or needs anymore kids…but he’s like a natural you know.  Chuck… God help us if he ever reproduces… but Bobby is… well you’ve seen him.”

Reaching across the table, she grabbed
Lilly’s hand.  “What do you think…I mean about possibly being pregnant?  Would that be a bad thing for you?”

Lilly looked thoughtful for a moment and then said
, “I always wanted a child… when I was married to Darren…I think I wanted one to fill a void that was missing in our marriage.  I would never have appreciated it like I will if I’m pregnant with Bobby’s child.  I’m just not sure how to tell him.  Our relationship is so new…”

Dana couldn’t help the tears that flooded her eyes.

“
Oh God!
I’m so sorry…all this talk about being pregnant and…” Lilly said. “That was
very
insensitive of me.”

“No
, it’s not that…I mean I’m jealous if you
are
pregnant…but for the first time in my life I think I’m more jealous of the relationship part,” she said with a small smile.

“You have to know how over the top Tommy is for you…
right?” Lilly asked.

“I…he says things…”
she started.

Lilly laughed and choked a little and then laughed some more.  “I’m sorry… go on…
but I have to tell you that with Tommy being Bobby’s best friend, I’m sure I have some idea of the things he might say to you.” Lilly laughed again. “A little hard to take?”

“Oh you have no idea
,” she whispered.  Then seeing the look on Lilly’s face she laughed too. “Ok, maybe you do.”

“How do you feel about Tommy, Dana?” She asked
.

“It
’s just that…I’m…he’s so hot!” she finally blurted. 

Lilly laughed some more and said
, “It makes you wonder what is in the water around here…I mean, even Dickie and Chuck are good looking for an older and younger guy.”

She laughed too.  It felt like she’d known Lilly her whole life.  If only she’d had a friend like her in high school… or even college for that matter.

“It’s just that I’m like this ugly duckling and I have a hard time trying to figure out what he sees in me,” she said.

“You are
way
off the mark…if you need a confidence builder you should listen to them talk sometime.  I must tell you I was a little jealous of you…they were teasing Tommy about you one day and I heard Bobby say that if I had hair like yours he’d never let me leave his bed,” she said with a smile. “Of course I figured out quickly that it was just to get a reaction out of Tommy and get him to admit how much he likes…” Lilly stopped mid-sentence and her smile faded.

“I understand about Tommy’s fascination with my hair…he sort of told me.”
she said with a blush. “It’s just…there was this guy in high school.  I didn’t look like I do now…back then…it was pretty bad…anyways, this guy he made me think he liked me but it was all just a cruel joke.  I’ve just never been able to let it go I guess and so with somebody like Tommy being…well
Tommy
…I don’t know how to take it.”

“I haven’t known Tommy that long but I know he likes you because…it’s just obvious.  I can’t explain it…even Gran said…” Lilly stopped again.

“Tell me,” she prompted.

“Gran said you were perfect for him
,” Lilly said. “I have to give her credit she is usually pretty smart about stuff where the guys are concerned.  I don’t know how she does it but…  My point is, if you want him I can promise…he’s all yours…just tell him how you feel.”

“Maybe I will…one of these days I’ll just get up some courage and do it
,” she smiled. 
Maybe Friday after giving the judge the video.

“Well
, let’s get the bill and go find out if I need to possibly consider a bigger dress,” Lilly said, taking a deep breath.

An hour later they were sitting on the couch of a high end bridal boutique staring at each other.

“You have to be there when I tell him.  I can’t do this by myself. 
Please,
Dana…what if he thinks I tricked him or something?” Lilly said. “I actually told him I couldn’t
get
pregnant.  What if he’s mad or disappointed?”

“You’re being
ridiculous!  Besides I’ll babysit anytime you need time alone,” she said, patting Lilly’s hand.

“
Oh God!
  I should see a doctor right away… I drink wine sometimes…what if it hurt the baby?” Lilly said. “I should call my sister but I should tell Bobby first shouldn’t I?”

“Stop!  You’re freaking out and
that’s
not good for the baby.  Take a deep breath and blow out,” she ordered.

After Lilly calmed down a bit she convinced her to try on the dress and after several tucks and pins were added she was given another date for a final fitting.

“Now what should we do?” she asked just as Lilly’s cell phone rang.

“You answer it…its Bobby!” Lilly said making a face.

“That should sufficiently freak him out,” she said.

“No
, just tell him I’m in the bathroom at the moment and that we’re heading to the shop as soon as I’m done,” Lilly said. “I can’t do this over the phone…please, Dana?”