Returning Home Lily's Story: EMP, #7

By Stephanie Albright

Lily and Matt were married on New Year's Eve and left for a two-week honeymoon. Lily returned to her life being tossed upside down. Matt and Lily need to learn to navigate changing family dynamics as a couple as they build their lives together. See the Shepherd family through Lily's eyes, as she faces the challenges of becoming an adult and learning some painful lessons along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephanie Albright
• Release date: Oct 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215709559

Book preview

Chapter 1

Who says you can’t go back?

I been all around the world and as a matter of fact

There’s only oneplace left I wanna go

Who says you can’t go home?

Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora

Imarried my best friend on New Year’s Eve. We spent the next two weeks camping in an old state park on the beach. We watched the sunrise every morning and walked down the driveway of the ruins of Atalaya, the Spanish-style home from the 1930s, to watch the alligators cross the road each evening. It was perfect, even the weather was perfect, it was warm and it only rained twice in the whole two weeks.

We packed up our campsite on the last day of our honeymoon and we went for one last walk on the beach. We need to come back here in the spring for your birthday, Matt said, as climbed into the truck.

Yes, please. If this wasn’t so far from the farm I would move here.

He laughed. We could bring some cows with us.

I don’t think they would like it here and the alligators would eat them all the time.

True, the horses would lose their minds if they saw an alligator.

I laughed. If you’re trying to make me homesick, it’s working. I can’t wait to see our cabin and actually live in it with you.

He kissed me, Let’s go home, Lily.

We went straight back to our cabin and Matt carried me over the threshold to begin our new life together.

What is under my foot? he yelled as his foot slipped on the freshly polished wood floor and we nearly fell.

Put me down and I’ll look, I said, laughing.

He was frozen in place, terrified to move again. He slowly lowered my legs and I stood up. There was an envelope under his flip-flop. I carefully removed it, I had a bad feeling about it as soon as I touched it. My name was on the front and it was my nana’s handwriting. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and my hand started to shake.

What is it? he asked.

It’s from Nana, it’s not good news.

He led me to the couch and we sat down. Whatever this is, we will face it together. I’m your guy.

I smiled at him, I’ve always known that. Read it to me, please.

He opened the envelope, closed his eyes for a few seconds, then opened the note.

‘Lily, don’t go see your mama or daddy until you talk to me first, nothing is wrong, I just need to talk to you before you talk to them. There is food in the fridge and a lemon cake on the counter. I love you both and I can’t wait to see you!  Love, Nana.’ 

It doesn’t sound bad, he said, kissing my cheek.

No, but it feels bad.

Do you want to go now and get it over with?

Are you sure? We just got here.

You won’t feel right until you talk to her. I’ve had you all to myself for two weeks, but I do want a piece of cake first.

I laughed. That’s what I was about to say too. Let’s have cake and go see Nana.

He went to the kitchen and cut a huge chunk of the cake and put it on a plate, then he grabbed two forks, while I started the coffee. He handed me a fork and set the plate on the bar. We each put a big bite on our forks and then touched them together. Cheers, I said. Here’s to me being wrong about the note.

‘I’ll second that, but I know you are rarely wrong, so here’s to us facing whatever it is hand in hand."

After sharing two pieces of cake which was nearly half of the cake, we set out hand in hand to see my nana.

She was sitting on the porch waiting for us. She ran out to the yard to meet us and she hugged me so hard, then she hugged Matt just as hard.

Just say it, I said, making fists with both hands and bracing for the punch to the gut.

Your daddy asked your mama to marry him at your reception.

I saw Matt’s face light up with joy, then he looked at me and Nana, and I saw his joy turn to confusion.

It won’t last. He’s gonna hurt her again, he won’t mean to, but he will, I said, in answer to the question in his eyes.

He looked at Nana and she nodded in agreement.

I love my daddy fiercely, but I don’t want him to hurt her again. I’ll go talk to her.

Don’t, Lilly. It won’t do any good and in her heart, she knows it already and she has made her choice.

Why?

Because she loves him and she has missed him. She’s going to enjoy every second she gets with him this time because she knows it won’t last.

So you already tried?

I didn’t get the first word out, she knew what I was going to say.

So, I’ll talk to Daddy.

And rob her of her chance to be happy for however long it can last this time? Do you think she would want you to do that? All that would accomplish is hurting her more quickly.

I sighed and dropped into the swing. I’m just supposed to sit back and watch it happen?

Yes, this time it’s not for us to interfere.

This sucks, I said, pushing the swing really hard with my feet.

Lily, it all depends on how you look at it. You can watch her be happy, or you can wait for her to be hurt, that’s all up to you. I intend to watch her be happy and be happy for her. Then, when the time comes, I’ll be here for her when she’s not happy anymore.

I closed my eyes and let the swing go until it was nearly stopped. Of course, you’re right. I don’t like it, but I will do my best to be happy for her too.

Nana joined me on the swing. I know you will, sweet girl. And I’ll be here for you when the time comes too. She’s not the only one that will be hurt.

I couldn’t stop the tears. I didn’t mean to be selfish.

You don’t have a selfish bone in your body, you hadn’t even thought about yourself yet. You just want to save your mama, but she doesn’t want to be saved and this time she knows how it’s going to end. She has made her choice. Our job is to celebrate with her now and to be ready when it’s over.

She wrapped her arm around my shoulders and we sat in the swing for a long time in silence. Then she whispered in my ear, She’s coming.

I quickly dried my tears.

Matt, come help me get things ready for lunch, please, she said.

He looked at me and I nodded. She’s coming.

He squeezed my hand and then followed Nana to the kitchen.

They were hand in hand as they walked into the yard. I couldn’t help myself, I smiled. They looked so happy and so in love. The future bubbled up in my head, but I pushed it down firmly and ran to meet them.

Lily, I had a feeling you were here, Mama yelled, running to meet me.

I guess you’ve been hanging out with me and Nana too long, I said, grabbing her and hugging her hard.

Nothing like that. I just knew she would want to warn you about your daddy and me. I don’t want to know, Lily. I just want to enjoy the ride while it lasts. I know when it’s over this time, it will be for good.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Okay, was all I could manage to get out.

Hey cowgirl, you got a hug for me too? The question in his voice broke my heart.

Always, Daddy, I said, running to him.

I’m going to do my best this time not to hurt her, I promise you that, he said into my ear.

I know you will, Daddy.

He pushed me away enough to be able to look into my eyes. I could tell he didn’t like what he saw, even though I made sure to smile. Sadness crossed his face for a split second, then resolve. I don’t care what you and Mama see, it can be changed and I will change it this time. He hugged me again, even harder.

Where’s Matt? Mama asked.

Helping Nana with lunch.

When did y’all get home? Daddy asked.

This morning.

Well, I’m starving, let’s go see what she has for us, Daddy said, grabbing Mama’s hand firmly.

I followed them back to the porch.

Nana and Matt were waiting on the porch with chicken salad, homemade bread, vegetable soup, a blackberry pie, and sweet tea.

Where’s Daddy? Daddy asked.

He’s out looking for a cow, Nana answered.

Should I go help him? he asked.

No, Max and Tommy are helping him.

How was your trip, Matt? Mama asked.

It was the best. I’m glad Huntington Beach Park was saved. I love that place. We watched the alligators cross the driveway every evening and saw the sunrise every morning. I’m going to miss that.

Do you regret not moving to the beach? she asked.

Not yet, he answered.

She laughed. I hadn’t heard her laugh like that in a long time. ‘Please let me be wrong this time.’

Maggie, Maddie, Johnny, and Evan arrived a few minutes later and as I looked around the porch, my heart was full. Did you miss me? I asked.

You were gone? Johnny asked, grinning.

I grabbed him and hugged him until he yelled for help.

Evan approached me shyly and I wrapped him in a big hug that he quickly returned. So are you going to stick around for a while? I asked.

Yeah, I like it here and I like being part of a family.

I’m glad you are staying and I’m really glad that you are my brother.

He grinned up at me and then ran off to play with Johnny.

How does his mama feel about him staying? I asked Daddy.

She understands why he wants to stay and just so he visits her regularly, I think she’s okay with it.

I’m glad he’s staying, I said.

I’m glad you feel that way.

I looked into his eyes. He’s my brother and I love him, he didn’t do anything wrong.

I’m the one that did all the wrong, Daddy said, sadly.

I have forgiven all that.

He relaxed a bit. Not sure I deserve it, but I’m thankful for it.

I hugged him and bit back all the rest of what I wanted to say.

It didn’t take long for the rest of the family to hear that we were back and the yard was soon overflowing with kids and dogs, and the porch was full to overflowing too. When Granddaddy came in his eyes lit up when he saw me and I ran to hug him. He looked so tired it made me want to cry.

I’m glad you’re back. You would have found that stupid cow in five minutes for me, he said, smiling.

I’m not that good.

Yes, you are. Don’t ever forget it.

Come on, I’ll fix you a plate before it’s all gone, I said, grabbing his hand.

Nana beat me to it, of course, and he was soon settled in his chair with his plate. I sat on the porch rail and looked around at all the Shepherds that filled the house, porch, and yard. Matt didn’t have any of his own family left at all and I had all this. Our family was so blessed. We lost people, good people, but we still had so much compared to so many others. We lost our home