Dinner was tense, filled with Clayton’s complaints about the world. Lily’s cold demeanor only heightened the awkwardness. When she challenged her father about a broken faucet, the tension escalated, leading me to excuse myself for the night.
I struggled to sleep, but eventually, exhaustion took over. In the middle of the night, I woke to find Lily inspecting my luggage. “You took this from my mom!” she accused, clutching a piece of jewelry.
Before I could respond, Clayton barged in. “What’s going on?”
I explained it was a misunderstanding, and surprisingly, Lily softened. As we shared a late-night milk, she opened up about her loss and her father’s struggles. I realized Clayton was more complex than I thought.
The next morning, Clayton offered to fix my car, and Lily suggested I stay longer for company. I hesitated but eventually revealed the truth: I was escaping my past and the devastation left by my ex-husband.
To my surprise, Clayton welcomed me to stay. Over the following months, I became part of their lives. Lily and I formed a bond, and Clayton grew more involved, transforming into a caring father.
One evening, as we enjoyed ice cream by the sea, Clayton said, “You know, you could stay. You don’t need to leave.” I smiled and replied, “I think I’d like that.”
Little did I know, in eight months, I would help him become a father again. Life has a funny way of offering second chances.
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