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Before The Lily Falls
Chapter Twenty - The Grandfather

Chapter Twenty - The Grandfather

Jodi Beckingham decided to spend time with her sister, it was the least she could do to get her mind off of the fact that her husband had broken her heart yet again. Lily wanted to tell her the good news first but for that to happen, she needed to wait until Mrs. Beckingham came back. Not knowing when that would be, she went about her October days per normal, unaware that Isobel was sneaking in and out of the manor.

Lily focused on her family, finding her mother. She talked with Jacob for long hours, explaining how much she wanted to meet her mother and that side of the family so one day, he made plans to leave work early and go see this mysterious Peter Fisher with his fiancé.

He wanted the best for her. "I didn't get to find my father." He said. "I hope it doesn't end the same for you."

"I heard he got the name from being a fisherman." She said, almost as if it was a fact. "And I hear he lives in a boat."

"Sounds like he comes straight from a pirate book." He chuckled.

"He might be." She said, almost sad. "I think maybe, Mrs. Beckingham was trying to scare me when she said those things."

"Since we're on the topic." He walked slower, head down. "I think you should stop working for them."

"Stay home? Why do you want me to stay home?"

"Oh, no. I didn't mean it that way, Lily. You can work, surely~" He dreaded saying the name. "but not for the Beckinghams."

"There really isn't an assortment of other things I could do in Hope. It's a small town and finding a well-paying job is going to be hard. With the Beckinghams I've earned three years' worth of money I would've made at a bar or one of those speakeasies." She gripped his arms, leaning on it. "You have to understand."

"I do... but I have to ask." He looked at her. "How do you feel about moving? Nothing drastic like to another country, unfortunately. A cottage, maybe. On the river bank, with our five children... Something like the shoe house." He lit up as he spoke, Lily knew this was something he dreamed of long before she met him. It was a dream yet to be fulfilled.

"Five?" She said. "That's..."

"It bit much, isn't it?"

"No, that's perfect." She laughed. "Two boys and three girls." She thought about it and gleamed.

"Exactly." He kissed her forehead. "Two boys and three girls, Lovely too." He grinned.

"She'll be lonely. We'll have to get another." She fantasized then stopped in dismay. "What about my home? I don't want to sell it."

"Tammy could keep it, she'll have a home for the rest of her life and when the kids get older they can have their grandfather's land."

"Yes." She touched her lip. "It's a big property... You have it all figured out."

"You don't?" He said. "Always wanted a big family, being alone was quite depressing. Especially when all they made me do was pick up books, too caught up to play with the kids from the town. I always ran from the governess, she was a haughty woman." He shivered.

"Wait, aren't you suppose to inherit something from your parents?"

"Money?" He sighed. "It would make things easier, wouldn't it? But no, my mother's dead and I don't know where my father is. The Bank wouldn't let me touch it because my father was alive. Whatever my mother had was left to him and that's where it stays until he shows up again... dead."

"Dead?" She asked.

"I don't want him dead, I'm just explaining the process. I hope he shows up soon, though." He glared out to the line on the horizon. "We're here." He says, pointing towards an old shack on the left side of the beach. "I think that's it."

It was high tide hours and Lily didn't want to go beyond the inevitable waters, she didn't even want them to splash on her feet. She closed her eyes but opened them when she felt a small peck on her forehead then a whisper. "I'm right here," Jacob said calmly. "Just, just think about it as trees, yes." He was sure now. "Trees, rustling from the wind." She opened her eyes, gazing up at him. He chuckled. "Hey look you are imagining them, your eyes turned green." He rubbed her shoulders, slipping his hand down into hers. "Are you okay?"

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Lily turned to him and held his face. She watched all the features it held, she loved the feeling of the winds blowing away everything that flowed on her. She tilted her head and looked back to the old boat just up ahead. She turned back to Jacob. "I really want you to be there for me but I think, no, I know I need to do this alone." She smiled, almost holding her lips between her teeth.

"I'll wait for you, I'll be right here." His hands had slowly left hers and she felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. It wasn't that her husband was a burden, it was what he said. He'd be there for her, she felt like she could do anything. She wanted to retaliate from the beach it self but she also wanted to find her mother. She prayed for months that her mother wasn't like Isobel's. Lily had faith in her mother, she wanted her to have a good reason for staying away and she hoped that this man had the answers she needed. She wasn't going to marry Jacob without finding out about her mother. She wanted her to be at the wedding, wanted her to be proud of her daughter, he long-lost daughter.

She pressed her shoe on the first step only to hear a creaking sound almost similar to a rusty swing. She gazed back to make sure Jacob was still there and he was. He waved to her and she smiled, before taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes and gave a single knock, then another but the more she knocked the more nervous it made her. She stopped for a second and listened to see if beneath the rustling trees, she could hear the man inside. She was fortunate enough to catch the faintest sound of a chip, it sound like he was cutting wood, it was a continuous sound and she followed it around the house. She came to a little gate, which she unbolted and walked in.

"Who's there?" He turned around, Lily gasped as she tried to say something. He quickly marched up to her and she looked him straight in the eyes as he did her. He looked miserable and grumpy. Lily thought he was about to strike her with the hoe at his side. "You." It was stern and sounded like a real sailor. She felt like she was held captive on a pirate ship, the way he talked, with this jargon. He limped along the path towards the back, Lily followed unsure of his intentions.

"You know me? How do you know me?" She watched him work, he chipped and chipped. Grunting as he went along.

"My eye never forgets a face, lass. Especially one like hers." He stood up and looked into the kitchen for a second then turned back to toil the dirt.

Lily was skeptical, she didn't want to intrude but she needed to know who he was referring to so she slowly made her way to the door, she took a look inside, and on a shelf, there was a picture laying against the wall by itself. "I don't look like her." She mouthed, taking one step inside the vessel.

"You used to." He slammed the tool down as he walked towards Lily, he passed the girl leaning by the door. He took the picture down, taking a step then a hop towards her. He watched it one last time before handing it to her. "I was there the night you were born, I held you in my arms. I saw how round your face was, I touched you. I didn't know what to do with myself, I loved you. Louise, she despised you and Danielle. She hated her for running away, the only time she came back was to have you. Everyone used her and now she had no place to go. " He went back outside, on his knees pulling out weeds one by one, the other faster than the last. "My love for my wife blinded me I too hated my daughter, I never regretted being so selfish in my life. She loved your father but Louise and I told her only one of them could stay so Danielle had to choose. She agreed to come back home and give the child away, so I followed her up the hill. Fullin was only twenty, he didn't know a thing about children let alone keeping one but she trusted him more than anyone else. She looked at you one last time before she gave you away. It was the last time she saw you and that was the last time I saw her~" He reminisced. "Alive."

"Where is she?"

"Not here, that's for sure." He stopped. "She's up there."

Lily didn't have it in her to cry, it was heartbreaking to hear but she felt so defeated by all the other episodes that she just didn't have it in her. "What happened?" She watched the picture, the woman had a beautiful smile, radiant and electric. Her eyes were filled with youth and adventure. It would've been great to have her as a mother- Lily smiled a bit.

"She killed herself. Saw her sleeping peacefully in her bed." He nodded, ruffling his hair. "Danielle was the best thing that ever happened to me... It's a shame it took her dying to fish that out."

"Louise, is it? Where is she?" She said, fixing an upturned bucket to have a seat.

"Right beside her daughter." He said with a smut.

She gripped the picture tight, it had bruised worn-out folds on it. She turned to leave before saying. "I'm getting married. I'd appreciate your presence." She smiled.

"No, I." He struggled to sit up. "I can't. I fought death so I could see you one more time, Lily Fisher. Danielle would want you to know the truth." All they could hear now was the rustling trees, that's all. It broke her heart when he said her name. He walked her to the front of the house. "Lily." He said with a chuckle that grew to a slight cough. She was still speechless, how did he know her name? She wanted to ask but it felt too sudden, maybe he was looking out for her, like a guardian angel. "Those people aren't to be trusted." He said with a quiver then turned to leave.

"Think about it. Danielle would want you to." She called out. When Peter Fisher looked up to watch her, stuffing her hand in her coat and smiling. It was identical to the photograph. His hair flowed in her face, swimming one side, the way she shined with youth and adventure. Peter saw her potential, he hoped she got out alive. With the things he knew, it was safe for her at all, not there.

The day seemed to lead nowhere, it only led to undistinguished memories and a sentimental picture of a woman she never had the chance to meet.

"I'm sorry." He felt miserable for her but she wasn't as hurt about it.

"Do you think she looks like me?" She stared at the photo, mesmerized by the genuine emotions portrayed.

"I think she just wanted the best for you."

"I agree." She whispered then nudged him with a smirk. "So two boys and three girls."