Maya Banks - Colters’ Lady

Tears gathered and pooled in Callie’s eyes. Her hands shook, making the paper jump and wobble in her grasp. Then she raised her gaze to Lily.

“How did you do this?” she asked in wonder. “It looks just like it. It’s perfect.” The dads and Holly and Seth gathered around, looking to see what Callie held. Only Dillon and Michael remained back. Dillon slung and arm around her shoulders while Michael slid his arm around her waist.

“Told you,” Michael whispered in her ear.

Lily fidgeted between them while the others looked on with stunned amazement.

“Oh Callie,” Holly whispered. “It’s your meadow.” She looked up at Lily. “Did you draw this? Is this why you wanted the paper and colored pencils?”

“Yes,” Lily murmured. “It would be better with oils or even more vivid pencils. I had to mix some of the colors to get the right shade. It’s not my best effort.”

“It’s perfect,” Adam said so bluntly that Lily jumped.

Emotion glimmered in the older Colters’ eyes as they stared at the drawing in their daughter’s hands.

“That’s where our baby was born,” Ethan said.

“I just thought that since Callie loved it so much that she could take it with her wherever she goes so she can feel close to home,” Lily said.

Callie carefully handed her mom the drawing and then she walked over to Lily and pulled her into a hug.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “You have no idea how much this means to me. I’ll treasure this always.”

Lily’s entire face warmed under the open and frank praise of the Colters. She smiled back at Callie.

“I’m so happy you like it. It’s been so long since I’ve drawn something. I miss it,” she said wistfully.

“You’ll have whatever supplies you need tomorrow,” Dillon said fiercely. “Even if I have to drive to Denver to get them. I want you to make a list of everything down to what kinds of brushes, pencils and paints. You have an amazing talent, Lily. And it obviously makes you happy.”

“It does,” she said softly. “I didn’t remember how much until now.”

“Let’s eat,” Holly said, breaking the awkward silence. “Then you guys can take Lily home. She looks like she’s about to fall over.”

True to Dillon’s word, by the next afternoon, there were so many art supplies piled into his office at the house that Lily was at a loss as to where to start sorting.

“We need the extra bedroom, however, the office would make a perfect studio for you,” Dillon said as he carried in the last box. “Lots of natural light with the windows and skylights. As soon as we get Michael squared away with converting his house to the new clinic, we’re going to tackle the addition to this house.”

“I can totally take the couch,” Lily said. Then she blushed. “That is on the nights that I’m not with one of you.”

Dillon grinned. “Like that’s going to happen. We have enough bedrooms until we can add on.

Someone will be the odd man out, and when you want us all out of your hair, then one of us can take the couch.”

“I’ll always want to be with y’all,” she said softly. “I don’t want to be alone. I’ve been alone for so long. I know what it’s like. I’m tired of being lonely.” Dillon’s smile faded and his eyes dimmed as he pulled her into his arms. “You’ll never have to be alone again, Lily. You get to call the shots here. You can have as much or as little of us as you want. We’re never going to push you beyond your limits.”

She kissed him hungrily, snuggling further into his embrace. She loved the feel of the solid wall of muscle. He made her feel so protected and cherished. Loved.

“I’m going to leave you to it,” Dillon said. “Have fun with all your stuff and use as much of my space as you need. I need to run out to meet the dads at Michael’s right quick. They want me to eyeball their plans.”

“I’ll be fine. I tend to lose all sense of time when I’m messing with my art stuff. I’ll probably still be here when you get back.”

Dillon gave her a quick kiss, patted her on the ass and then walked out of the office.

With a satisfied smile, she turned in a circle. She really didn’t know where to start, but she was ready to dive in and immerse herself in the joy of putting to canvas the images that had sustained her during the long weeks and months on the streets.

“Dad, you got a minute?” Dillon asked Adam.

Adam put down his measuring tape and glanced at the doorway. “I assume since you waited until your brothers left the room to talk, this is a private matter?”

“Got it in one.”

“Take a walk with me,” Adam said.

The two went to the other side of the house and out the side door and into the yard that overlooked a small valley to the left.

“Everything going okay with Lily and your brothers?” Adam asked.

Dillon sighed. “Yeah. Really better than I’d imagined. To be honest, I gave this a snowball’s chance in hell of working, and if I’m being even more honest, there was a small part of me that didn’t want it to work out because I wanted her to myself. But it’s good. Bizarre good, but I can honestly say that I’m happy with the arrangement.”

“As long as you and your brothers…and Lily…are happy, son.” Dillon fidgeted uncomfortably. “It’s not that. God, I sound like a first class wuss. I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with my dad, for God’s sake.” Adam chuckled. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“Back when you and the other dads met Mom. I know you’ve all said she was it. You knew she was the one. You never looked back, blah blah.”

“Well I wouldn’t call it blah blah,” Adam said dryly.

“But when did you know you loved her? Was it instantaneous? When did you tell her?” Pain creased his dad’s face, and Dillon regretted bringing it up.

“No, I didn’t tell her right away,” Adam said quietly. “I waited until it was almost too late. I loved her. I knew I loved her but a part of me thought if I said it too soon that it somehow devalued it. Like it needed time to mean more.”

“Yeah, that’s the way I feel,” Dillon said. “I feel a little stupid thinking it, much less saying it. I’ve never believed it, falling in love so fast and hard. I know you and the other dads have talked about it, but to be honest, I always thought it was a bunch of mushy horseshit.” Adam shook his head. “I swear son, I don’t know whose kid you are, but I’d lay odds you must be mine. Well, except for the tattoos and that goddamn earring. Still baffles me where the hell you came from.

I used to swear your mother found you somewhere. But you think like me and you’re as thick headed and as stubborn as me.

“Let me give you a little piece of advice, and you can do with it what you will. Don’t wait until you feel like the time is more legitimate. I held back because I worried it would cheapen the moment if I said it too soon. And maybe I had convinced myself that it wasn’t really love yet. All I know is that I almost lost your mother without ever telling her how much I loved her. I still regret to this day that I was too damn stubborn to give her the words until it was almost too late.”

“I feel a little ridiculous. I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. Not so hard and fast and deep. I feel like I’m in way over my head.”

Adam smiled. “Yeah, I know that feeling. But Dillon, what are you waiting for, anyway? Approval?

From whom? You’ve never given a rat’s ass what anyone thinks in your life, including me and your mother and your other dads. You’ve always gone your own way, marched to the beat of your own drum and fuck anyone who tries to tell you different. I can’t imagine you holding back because you’re worried about timing or something equally absurd.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right,” Dillon grumbled. “And yeah. I’ve never cared what anyone else thinks.

Until now. I care what Lily thinks. I don’t want to fuck this up, Dad.” Adam put his hand on Dillon’s shoulder. “You won’t, son. Lily seems like such a sweet girl. It’s obvious she cares a lot about you and Seth and Michael. She has a heart of gold, but she’s been beaten down by life. It’s up to you to bring her back up and get her back on her feet. How better to do that than to offer her something she needs more than anything else in the world? Your love.” Dillon blew out his breath. “I really hate it when you’re right. It’s even worse when you make so goddamn much sense.”

Adam chuckled. “It infuriates your mother too. Not that I get to be right too often around her, mind you.”

“You and the dads taught me a lot growing up,” Dillon said quietly. “If I can be half the man you and the dads are, I know we can make this work. I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood. I don’t know if I’ve told you lately, but I love you, Dad. I wouldn’t change a thing about our family.” Adam swallowed, and his eyes glittered suspiciously as he hauled Dillon into a huge bear hug. He slapped Dillon on the back.

“We better stop this mushy shit before the others find us. You know they’d never let us live it down.” Dillon cracked a grin. “Thanks, Dad. For giving me perspective, I guess. And you’re right. There’s not a damn good reason in the world to wait when I know what’s in my heart.” He started to turn to head back to find the others when his dad reached out to grab his arm.

“Dillon, I know me and Ryan and Ethan give you a hard time about what a little shit you were when you were young, but I want you to know something. I knew you were special from the day you were born.

You scared the ever-loving crap out of us and gave your mother all kinds of trouble during the delivery.

And from that day forward, you were never easy.