Renting to Own

by Linda Rettstatt

  Suzanne Waters entered the reception area. She smiled and nodded. “Lily, thank you for coming.” She extended her hand to Tyler. “Mr. Dixon, I’m Suzanne Waters. Ms. Champion’s attorney. Please, come back to my office.”

  Tyler waited for Lily to proceed. Suzanne waved them to sit. She perched on the edge of her desk, looking down at Tyler. Lily decided it was deliberate, a way to give herself an advantage. “Mr. Dixon, I’d like to first ask why you’ve chosen to make contact with Ms. Champion and her daughter after all this time?”

  “I never had the opportunity to see my daughter before. When I saw the notice in the Lakewood newspaper, I knew I had to come and see her myself.”

  Lily stiffened, and Suzanne cast a warning glance.

  The attorney continued. “Ms. Champion and her daughter lived in Lakewood until the child was more than three years of age. During those years, you never tried to make contact?”

  Tyler shifted, drawing up one leg and resting it across the other. “I wasn’t in Lakewood. I was in college and then in graduate school in Cleveland.”

  “Oh, I see. You were living at a distance and never got back home?”

  His face reddened. “I didn’t know where Lily was living. She’d moved out of her father’s home.”

  Unable to contain herself, Lily sat forward in her chair. “You knew damned well where I lived. You knew I moved in with Helen Shaw after my father threw me out.”

  “Lily, please,” Suzanne said calmly.

  Winding her shaking fingers together in her lap, Lily sat back in the chair.

  “How was I supposed to know where you were? I just heard you weren’t living at home anymore.”

  Suzanne raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Dixon, are you telling me you never spoke with Lily’s father about her whereabouts?”

  He shook his head. “Well, no. He threatened to kill me if he ever saw me again.”

  “Ah. Self-preservation.” Suzanne stood and rounded her desk, sitting in the leather chair. “Tyler, what’s your intention with regard to your daughter’s well-being?”

  Tyler shifted again and cleared his throat. “Well, um…I don’t know yet. I…my mother…my family…” He stuttered, suddenly reduced to a twelve-year-old.

  Lily caught Suzanne’s eye and grinned, looking away so Tyler wouldn’t notice.

  “Mr. Dixon, you wanted Lily to abort your child when she told you she was pregnant. You never made an effort to find her or to see the child in five years. I think you’re here now out of curiosity, that and at the encouragement of your parents. Who, by the way, made no effort to extend to Lily and Chelsea, either.”

  “They never knew. Not until the notice was printed.” He turned to face Lily. “My mother cried when she found out she has a grandchild she’s never seen.”

  “Cut the crap, Tyler. Your mother never thought I was good enough for you. Now, all of a sudden, I’m worthy? Give me a break.”

  “I’m sorry. Lily, I was just a kid. I was scared. I had college and plans for the future.”

  “A future? Did it ever occur to you that I had a future, too?” She paused and glanced at Suzanne, but saw no signal for her to stop. Suzanne appeared to be enjoying this. Lily continued, “If it weren’t for Helen Shaw, your baby and I would have been homeless. Do you remember the last words you said to me that day at the clinic? Well, I do. They’re burned in my memory. You said, ‘I’m not paying a cent for your bastard baby. How do I even know it’s mine?’” Her voice broke and tears spilled down her cheeks.

  Suzanne rounded the desk, passing Lily a box of tissues. She turned to Tyler. “Mr. Dixon, we’re interested in resolving this out of court and in the best interest of the child. I think I can fairly say that a court will not look kindly upon your attitude and lack of responsibility, not to mention the fact that you wanted the baby aborted.”

  “I was only eighteen.” He stood and ran his hand through his hair.

  “So was Lily. She accepted her responsibility and raised a beautiful child, pretty much on her own. And at considerable self-sacrifice, I might add.”

  Tyler paced the space behind the chairs. “I’m not proud of my actions, but I’ve grown up. Lily, I’m not asking for your forgiveness. Look, I wouldn’t have opened up this door if you hadn’t posted that notice and my mother…”

  Lily stood and whirled at him. “You’re only here because your mother is insistent on knowing her grandchild? You don’t give a damn about Chelsea. You’re just here to please your mother!” Her body shook with rage.

  He shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at the floor. “I promised I’d get partial custody so my parents can get to know her.”

  “And you?”

  “I’m moving to Seattle in a month for a new job. And I’m getting married next spring.”

  Lily stared at him.

  “Don’t look at me like that. Chelsea’s beautiful, and you’ve done a great job of raising her. But…I’m not ready to be a parent. My fiancée and I have agreed not to have children for at least five years.”

  Suzanne returned to her perch on the edge of the desk. “Mr. Dixon, do you really want to drag this out in front of a judge?”

  “No, I don’t. Look, I don’t want to hurt Chelsea. And I don’t want to hurt you either, Lily, though I doubt you believe that. Is there any way my folks could meet Chelsea, maybe have visits with her from time to time?”

  Lily shook her head. “No. Absolutely not.”

  Suzanne looked at her, then to Tyler. “Mr. Dixon, would you mind if I spoke with my client privately for a moment? There’s coffee in the reception area. Please help yourself. We’ll just be a few minutes.” She held the door open and waited for him to exit.

  Closing the door, Suzanne turned back to Lily. “I think we need to consider all the possibilities here. Even if Tyler relinquishes his rights, his parents could press for rights as grandparents. How bad would it be for Chelsea to have them in her life?”

  “She doesn’t know them. I don’t know them, either. She’d be terrified and I’d be worried the whole time. What if they took her away? What if…?”

  Suzanne sat in the chair next to hers and put a hand on her arm. “Lily, I’m just raising a question here. I’ll proceed however you want me to, but I have to help you consider all the options.”

  “I know. It’s always been just me and Chelsea.”

  “What about Chelsea’s grandfather? Your father?”

  Lily shook her head. “He’s not a part of her life or mine.”

  “No contact?”

  “Not really. I called him earlier in the summer, but….”

  “Maybe it’s time to make peace with the past. You and Chelsea could both use a little family support. And, despite Tyler’s actions, his parents may be a positive presence in Chelsea’s life.”

  “Yeah, they did such a fine job with their son.” When Suzanne failed to respond, Lily looked up. “I’m sorry. So, where do we go from here?”

  “I think we meet with Tyler’s parents, find out what they want. It would help if you had someone with you, on your side. Just for the moral support.”

  “I’ll call Helen. I can’t call my father, and my brother lives too far away.”

  “Okay. I’ll get Tyler back in here. Sit tight.”

  Lily wrung her hands, a tremor shaking her body. This was getting out of hand. She wondered how much money she would need to take Chelsea and move to Canada. There was no way she would let the Dixons take her daughter away from her.

  Tyler sat down and listened to Suzanne’s proposal. “My parents wanted to come with me today, but I asked them to wait. I’m sure they’ll be happy to come for a meeting. I can call them now.” He pulled out a cell phone and punched in numbers.

  The meeting was scheduled for the following week on Friday morning. Suzanne thanked Tyler for coming. Lily only nodded when he said goodbye. She thanked Suzanne and walked woodenly to her car.

  During the drive to pick up Chelsea at Vicki’s house, Lily thought abou
t the impending meeting. She needed people in her corner and was uncertain if Helen could get the day off on such short notice. She hadn’t felt this alone since her father had thrown her out of the house.

  The light on the answering machine blinked when she walked into the living room. “Chels, how about pizza tonight?”

  “With extra cheese?”

  “You got it. Go upstairs and change your clothes.” She pressed the play button.

  “Lily, it’s Rick. I’m sorry. I have to cancel dinner on Friday. Something’s come up. I wanted to let you know right away, so you wouldn’t go to any trouble. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow, but I’ll be out most of the day. Bye.”

  Her heart sank with disappointment. She ordered the pizza, punched in Helen’s number and left a message. Pepper purred and brushed against her ankle. She picked up the cat and buried her face in his soft fur. “I hope they let us take you into Canada, Pep. We can’t stay here, that’s for sure.” She felt as though she’d aged forty years in one day. She would need passports and fake ID’s, but where did you get something like that? She grabbed her cell phone and called the one person she thought might help.

  Chapter Twenty

  Lily didn’t glance up as Rick breezed into the office.

  He stopped outside his office. “Good morning. You got my message about Friday?”

  “Got it. Thanks.” Her response was so cool it made her shiver.

  He hurried into his office and returned with an armload of file folders, stopping briefly at the counter. “I’ll be out most of the day. You can reach me on my cell if you need me.”

  She glanced at him. “I’ll leave the updated listings on your desk.”

  “Fine.”

  His car rumbled to life in the parking lot, and Lily exhaled the breath she had been holding. She startled when the phone rang. “Gardner Realty.”

  She was met by silence from the other end.

  “Hello. Gardner Realty.”

  “Is Rick available?”

  “I’m sorry, he’s…Beau, is that you?”

  “Yeah. Hi, Lily.”

  “Do you have the information I need?”

  “No, I’m working on that. I need to speak with Rick about another matter. A project we’re both involved with.”

  “Do you have his cell number? He’s out of the office right now.”

  “I do. Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  She returned the phone to its cradle. Perspiration moistened her palms. I sure hope Beau can be trusted.

  *

  Lily locked the office and went home for lunch. She logged online to pull up the balance in her checking account. Not much there. If she worked every night transcribing hearings, she could earn a couple of thousand in the next two weeks. If she feigned illness, she could put off the meeting with Tyler and his parents and be long gone before it could be rescheduled.

  She opened the desk drawer and pulled out a manila envelope, dumping the contents onto the desk—her high school diploma, birth certificates for both herself and Chelsea, proof of Chelsea’s immunizations.

  She stuffed the papers back into the envelope and closed the brass clasp. Tucking the envelope under her arm, she added water to the cat’s dish and headed out the back door. Rick’s car sat in the parking area when she pulled in. She went inside and deposited the documents on her desk.

  “Lily?”

  “Yes?”

  “Could you come here, please?”

  “Just a minute.” She stuffed her purse into the bottom desk drawer and went to his office. “Yes?”

  He looked at her, not speaking.

  “What?”

  “We need to discuss something.” He stood and walked to the front of his desk, leaning on the edge. “Please, sit down.”

  She sat on the sofa. “Finally, you’re going to fire me. I understand.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not going to fire you. I talked with Beau.”

  “Yes, he called for you. Is he buying another property?” She fought the panic rising in her throat.

  “No. And he isn’t buying fake identification and passports for you and Chelsea, either.” He sat beside her. “Lily, what’s going on?”

  She moved to stand, but he caught her arm and pulled her back down. “Talk to me, Lily. What’s all of a sudden so enticing about Canada?”

  “I have to move. It’s for Chelsea’s sake.”

  “Taking her away from everyone and everything she knows? Living like a criminal? How can that be good for her?”

  “I met with Tyler. His parents want visitation rights. I can’t let them…I…” She buried her face in her hands.

  He rested a palm on her back. “I’m sorry. But running isn’t the solution. And why didn’t you come to me?”

  “You know people who can provide false passports?”

  He laughed. “No, and neither does Beau. Lily, you can’t keep running forever. And what about your house? You couldn’t imagine moving a few streets away not that long ago, and now you’re taking off for another country where they say ‘aboat.’”

  She shivered. “I’m scared.”

  “I know. But slow down and think. You know, this could work out to everyone’s benefit.”

  “How do you see that happening?”

  “Think about it. You could get Tyler to set up a college fund for his daughter. Chelsea could end up with a set of loving and attentive grandparents who dote on her.”

  “But she doesn’t know them. And they never wanted to get to know me.”

  “Is that what this is about? You’re afraid they won’t like you?”

  “I don’t care if they like me or not. This is about Chelsea.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Look, I’m not going to explain this. If Beau can’t help, I’m sure I’ll find someone who can.” She stood and hurried from his office.

  Rick followed. “You go poking around in places where those kinds of people hang out, you’re going to get yourself killed. How will that help Chelsea?”

  “I don’t know. But I have to do something. You know about my past. I have a drunk for a father, had a baby out of wedlock when I was nineteen, and I haven’t held a single job for more than a year. I’m working two jobs now to make ends meet, which takes time away from Chelsea. And I drag her to the office with me every afternoon for two hours after school. Do you know what a good lawyer—hell, what a bad lawyer could twist that into?”

  “You’re a good mother, Lily. No one can dispute that.” He took hold of her shoulders and turned her to face him. “What you have to do is take a stand, face the truth and settle this thing. And you need to let the people who care about you be of help—the right kind of help. Do you really want to live in Canada?”

  “It’s a nice country.” She sighed. “I know, it’s crazy, and I panicked.” She dropped into her desk chair, mostly to get free of his grasp and the sensations it caused. “My attorney set up a meeting with Tyler and his parents. I called Helen, and she’s coming to be with me.”

  “Need more backup?”

  “You?”

  “Why not? I can attest to your positive qualities and parenting skills.”

  “It’s not a hearing, though I appreciate the affirmation. If you really want to come, I could use the moral support.”

  “Great. Now, no running off to another country while I’m out, okay? Besides, you haven’t earned enough vacation leave yet.”

  She blinked back tears as she looked up at him. “Thank you.”

  He grinned. “You’re welcome.” He started toward his office and then turned back. “Lily, I’m sorry about canceling dinner for Friday. I had something come up.”

  “Not a problem. It’s just as well. I have a lot on my mind.”

  “Maybe another time?”

  “Sure.”

  “You feeling better?”

  She nodded. “I am. To be honest, I didn’t really want to pack and uproot Chelsea one more time. And I have this great job.” />
  “So, you’ll be here when I get back?”

  “Just leaving to pick up Chelsea. I’ll be right back.”

  Rick retrieved files from his desk and headed out again. “See you later.”

  When the door closed and she was alone, Lily took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Everything was coming to a head at one time. Thank heavens Helen said she could come for the meeting. Having Rick there would bolster her confidence, too. Not that he had anything to do with Chelsea, but he was a stable presence in her life.

  A smile crept across her face. Then she gave herself a mental shake. Don’t go there, Lily. He’s your boss and a friend. Nothing more. She tapped the mouse to restore the computer screen, resuming her morning’s work. The warm grasp of Rick’s hands still burned into her shoulders. His hot and cold act, though, had her confused. One minute he has his tongue down my throat, and the next minute, he’s giving me frostbite.

  *

  Chelsea raced across the room, golden curls bouncing, and waving a sheet of paper. “Rick! Look what I got—a gold star!”

  He stooped down to her eye level and looked at the paper where she’d neatly printed her name and the alphabet. A bright gold star graced the top of the page with a note in red—Very good! “Wow, would you look at that.” He hugged her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “This is something to celebrate.”

  “Can we put it up somewhere?”

  “Sure. Let’s find the right place, where everyone can see. How about right here, on the front of the counter?”

  Lily turned around at her desk. “How about we put your paper on the fridge at home?”

  “But I want Rick to see it, too.”

  Rick smiled at Lily. “Maybe we can keep this one here?” He reached for the tape dispenser. “Okay, Shortstop, pick a spot.”

  With the paper taped to the counter in plain view, he took Chelsea’s hand and they stepped back to admire their work. “Now, as for the celebration. How about ice cream? Lily?”

  “I can’t leave right now. These ads have to get to the newspaper first thing in the morning.”

  “Mommy,” Chelsea whined.

  “But you two can go ahead. Just don’t overdo it and end up with a tummy ache.”