Choosing Hope

By Bill Sanderson

When Kyle drugged her drink Lily ran and called David to rescue her, again. But Kyle keeps threatening Lily and refusing to let her go, so David made sure she was safe. This time Lily notices that David is not just her uncle's friend who is willing to help. This time she sees a man who is kind and honourable and loving ... the kind of man she's always dreamed of marrying.

But when Kyle takes his brutal revenge on Lily she finds herself pregnant. Is it David's child or Kyle's?

In the end, Lily makes the only choice she can - she chooses hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bill Sanderson
• Release date: Nov 25, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465806918

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Choosing Hope

By William A. Sanderson

Copyright 2011 William A. Sanderson

Smashwords Edition

Copyright Notices

Copyright (c) 2011, William A. Sanderson, all rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover photograph copyright (c) 2010, Lee J Haywood, used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license. The cover may be copied, distributed, transmitted or modified under the same terms provided that the work is attributed to the copyright holder, Lee J Haywood, and that any work resulting from the modification, alteration or transformation is license for use under the same or similar license.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Copyright Notice

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Epilogue

About the Author

Coming Soon

Chapter 1

Sons of bitches, they're all sons of bitches.

Lily Wright slammed the door of the Volvo sedan as she folded herself into the front seat. She looked furious and scared and relieved all at once. She locked the door with an emphatic gesture and said Get me away from here.

Do you want to talk about it?

David MacLean looked over at Lily, his face full of concern. He pulled away from the curb onto a mostly deserted Bank Street.

The son of a bitch put something in my drink. He said it would 'loosen me up'.

Who did? asked David.

Kyle. I heard the band talking about me in the green room, but I thought it was just macho idiot talk. Sons of bitches. Lily was starting to shake. I trusted him, David, I trusted him. I thought he cared for me. And he turns out he was only trying to get into my pants.

Drugging a drink is serious stuff, Lily. Are you sure? asked David in a preternaturally calm voice. Lily might be winding down, but David was beginning to get angry.

Yeah, I'm sure. I caught him red-handed because he didn't see me in the balcony above the bar coming back from the washroom. We were supposed to stick around after hours and have a drink with his new band. Lily paused and looked at David with glistening eyes. He didn't even look ashamed, he just got mad at me. He was supposed to drive me home.

And...

So I grabbed my coat and took the emergency stairs and ran to the 24 hour Shoppers. Then I thought about calling Uncle Jimmy but he's out of town again, so I thought of you. I so glad you came. She gave a wan smile and then sat back in the seat and adjusted it back a bit for her long legs. David turned his head to look at her and saw a line of tears start to move down her cheek.

Here, said David as he handed Lily a package of tissues.

Lily's purse began to play music. She fished out the cell phone and looked at the caller number. Why's he calling now?

You don't have to answer.

He'll keep bothering me until I do. But she pressed the cancel button.

The phone rang again. I'd better answer.

Be careful.

Lily took a deep breath and answered, curtly Yes, what do you want? ... Not a chance, not after that stunt you pulled...No, Kyle...I'm not interested Kyle...You'd better not... Lily was getting angrier. Stay away from me. I don't want to see you ever again. She closed the phone.

It rang again. This time she hit the cancel button and held it to shut off the phone. Nervously, she said He said he won't take no for an answer again. He said he'll be waiting for me at the house. She began to sniffle. David patted her hand.

Overwhelmed, Lily began to cry in earnest. It's OK, Lily. Crying is good.

I feel like a total fool. She paused. I don't know why he wanted me there if all he wanted was sex. There were plenty of other women practically throwing themselves at him and the band.

David didn't answer. He knew why they wanted her. He'd known it since Lily arrived in Ottawa over six years ago to attend the University of Ottawa as a tall and coltish 18 year old and watched her increase in grace and poise each year since. She was very tall, almost six foot six in the high heeled boots she wore tonight, with a well proportioned face, light auburn hair, hazel eyes and an outgoing smile that captivated everyone. Tonight she looked truly beautiful in a very short turquoise club dress and black tights mostly hidden by her winter coat. Delectable, even.

The Queensway was practically deserted, only a few cars and salt trucks on the road, so it was a matter of minutes before they were turning off onto Pinecrest. David kept looking over at Lily. As inappropriate as it was, he was again struck by the clean lines of her long legs and the long elegant hands holding her gloves. He was imagining kissing away her tears and stroking her long auburn hair. Down boy, he thought. She's had a bad night and doesn't need you to make it worse.

As they were stopped at the corner where they would turn into the subdivision where Lily lived with her uncle Jim, they spotted a car in the driveway of the town house. Oh no. Lily looked shocked. I don't believe it. He's here.

Who is?

Kyle.

David looked ahead and saw an older BMW in the driveway with a very large man pacing angrily back and forth beside it. What do you want to do, Lily?

Lily looked up and her face got hard. What I want is to give him a good swift kick where it hurts, but mostly I just want him to go away.

David drove past the house without stopping. I'll go around to the other side of the park while we figure out what to do. He found a spot to pull over where they wouldn't be seen.

Did he see us? she asked nervously.

I don't think so. Do you want to call the police? She shook her head.

Do you want me to go talk to him? She shook her head again.

Would you feel safer if you came to my place? The guest room is made up. David looked over and up at Lily, hoping that she would agree.

Yes, I think so. Lily's eyes were filling again.

David continued around the park and turned left onto the T junction that led back to Pinecrest. He's still pacing. He looks like he wants to hit something. Lily said quietly.

He'll get bored, eventually, and go home. David replied, moving the car into the lane for the Queensway on-ramp. He was starting to get the shakes. Adrenaline jag, he thought, I'm glad I didn't have to confront him. I might have to later.

Kyle won't give up soon. He likes to be in control. I guess I said No one too many times for his liking. Lily was looking exhausted. She sat quietly, shaking and sniffling for several minutes until she regained control. I'm sorry I bothered you, David.

It really isn't a bother. You needed a friend.

I'm sorry I used such strong language. I'm not normally like this.

I don't think what you've been through tonight counts as normal in anyone's books. I hear worse at the rink every Monday. David smiled to reassure Lily.

As they passed the Bronson exit, she leaned forward a bit and asked So where do you live?

Rockcliffe Park replied David.

Oh, right. I remember Uncle Jimmy saying something about that.

Lily knew that David was a senior accountant with the federal government. He was also Jimmy's best friend. She sat back again, imagining one of the small neat houses near the Rideau River that would have riotous flower gardens in the late spring. She looked over at David. He didn't look like he'd just gotten out of bed to rescue her except for the shadow of beard. His jaw was set hard, like he was angry about something.

Are you OK? asked Lily. You look pretty angry.

David blew out a deep breath. Yeah, well, guys like him really get to me. David shook his head. I was thinking that I might have to take him on in your driveway. I don't know what I'd have done to him.

Are you serious? He's bigger than me and you only come up to my chin. Lily was touched that David would do that for her, but Kyle was so much bigger than David's five foot eight and 170 pounds. He could hurt you badly.

He probably could, but I've stood up to bullies before. The conversation lagged while David turned onto the Vanier Parkway. Lily again studied David's profile. He's such a good man. I wish I could find someone like him. She noticed that his jaw was starting to relax. He has a nice strong face, she thought.

As they turned left and drove past the Indian Embassy, Lily began to be curious about what kind of a house David lived in. He drove past Ashbury College and turned again. This isn't what I was expecting. Lily thought. David pulled into a long driveway and thumbed a remote. He drove around a huge house to where a detached garage that looked like an old carriage house was just opening up. He pulled into a six car garage next to an old red Austin Healy while the garage door closed behind them.

This really really wasn't what I was expecting. David walked past a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a trailer loaded with three canoes and a pair of kayaks to the side door and held it open for Lily. The path was shovelled to the back door of the house. David opened it and they stepped into the foyer in the back hall. He helped her out of her coat and hung it up in a closet that looked as big as the cloak room at the Convention Centre.

Welcome to my place. David said with a smile. You can have your pick of the guest rooms, they're all done up.

Guest rooms?

David just smiled and led her down a hallway to the front of the house.

Walking into the foyer, Lily stared in wonderment at the formal entrance with its two grand staircases, chandelier and stained glass windows. The grandfather clock between the staircases showed that it was almost three in the morning.

David was looking pleased at her reaction. Do you like it? he asked shyly.

It's ... wow ... just ... wow.

I'll give you the grand tour tomorrow. Let me show you to your room. David almost let her go ahead of him, but checked the impulse. If he allowed her to lead, the sight of her hips swaying in his face would be way too distracting. She didn't need to be reminded of the evening's unpleasantness.

Lily followed David at a slower pace looking around once more before looking up at David again. He had obviously dressed quickly in an old faded pair of jeans with paint stains and a skin tight golf shirt that showed him to good effect. His shoulders were wider than she remembered and he obviously worked out regularly. He has a cute bum. Lily thought, surprising herself. Where did that come from? I thought I swore off men earlier tonight. And how come I never noticed David before?

The landing at the top of the stairs was bigger than her bedroom at home. Halls to the left and right led to a series of doors and a set of glass double doors ahead led to what looked like a living room area. David moved right and started to show her the guest rooms. The first one on the right was decorated in a Scandinavian style with spare lines, a birch forest theme and a queen sized bed with a navy blue duvet. The first one on the left was more traditional with white furniture and gold accents. A pair of matching Victorian armchairs upholstered in roses were placed in a sitting area by the large windows overlooking the back garden. The king sized bed had a quilt, obviously hand made, with geometric roses on it in variations of reds, yellows, pinks and whites. There are four more guest rooms if neither of these appeals.

This one is great, said Lily, pointing at the room with the rose quilt.

He moved further into the room. This is the bathroom, through here, he said walking through left hand door on the right wall. It's shared with the tulip room next door, but you won't have to worry about that. I'll go get some towels for you.

Lily sat down on the edge of the bed, her head spinning. The grandfather clock chimed three times softly as David came back with a handful of towels, soap, shampoo, a bathrobe and an extra-large T shirt.

I don't have anything in your size, but this might do, holding up the T shirt. He put the towels and toiletries in the bathroom and came back.

Will you be OK? David asked.

I think so, yes replied Lily as she stood up. She bent down and kissed his cheek. You've been wonderful, thanks.

David blushed and murmured Anytime. He moved to the door, Good night. Sleep well.

This was so much more than she had expected. Her mind was still spinning - two hours ago she was running scared from Kyle and now she was safe in David's gorgeous house. She began to get ready for bed, looked at the T-shirt and smiled. He's so thoughtful. The bathroom was very well appointed with a huge bathtub and a walk in shower as big as her bathroom at home. She began to remove her makeup - makeup she'd put on special for that jerk because he'd asked her to look extra nice.

The T shirt just covered her hips. She normally slept in a flannel gown to keep her shoulders warm, but the T-shirt was OK. I wonder what David looks like in it. She let out a big sigh to release all of the remaining tension. I'm safe here, she thought and as she snuggled under the heavy blankets and quilt, she felt like she was being hugged all over and quickly fell asleep.

Chapter 2

David, however, could not fall asleep. He was still thinking about the kiss and the smell of her perfume as she leaned down to kiss him. It had been all he could do not to turn his head into her kiss and respond in kind. She has freckles, I never noticed that before.

He looked over at the clock on his bedside table - 4:20 a.m. I should go to the early service today, so that I'm back when Lily wakes up. One of us should get a good sleep. And I should phone Jim. Now. It's 9:20 in London and he should be up by