Ten: Putting the pieces together

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Okay. I accidentally deleted this chapter so I have to rewrite it to the best of my ability. Please, don't freak if the chapter is different.

Lily's POV

Mom sighs sadly as she closes the book on her and Dad's love story. They were married for forty years, and they even welcomed Elias into the world on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

She's older, her hair is turning gray, and dementia settled in months ago.

She clasps his cold hand in hers and wails.

"Mom, it's okay. It'll be okay," I whisper as she lays her head on my lap.

I run my hands through her hair as she cries.

"He's gone, baby. He's gone..." she says.

Alden takes her hand and squeezes it.

"He's in a better place, Mom," he reassures her.

Elias, my youngest brother at only fifteen years old, picks her up like a baby and carries her outside.

"I'm taking Mom to get fresh air!" He calls as he walks out of the hospital doors with Alden hot on his trails.

Sam, Cody, and Piper run up to me from playing in the hospital playroom.

"Is Grandpa Bassett gone?" Sam asks. He's seven years old and looks exactly like Dad when he was his age.

"Yeah, buddy. He is," I say and run my hand through his brown curls.

"He's probably with Aunt Maya!" Cody yells. He's five years old.

"Hey, inside voice, Cody Reed," I scold.

He smiles and looks at the ground, his cheeks flushing red from embarrassment.

"Sorry, momma. I won't yell again," he apologizes.

"He's with Jesus and Dada!" Piper, the youngest at three years old, exclaims.

"Piper, don't yell so loud," I say.

She giggles and runs over to Carter.

"I'll take the kids outside. Call me if you need anything, okay?" He says as the kids and his fiancée follow him outside.

"I'm going to pick up Sadie from daycare. I love you, Lils," Matthew says as he kisses my head.

"Love you too," I say.

Annie follows him out.

I smile at that. Six years ago when Matthew surprised everyone by saying that he was dating Annie, we all thought they wouldn't last as we all grew up together.

But three years after that, Uncle Mama walked his oldest daughter down the aisle.

Along with Callie, Mallory, London, and Paris, Annie's younger sisters being the bridesmaids, I was the maid of honor.

London and Paris wore the exact same outfit. And with them being identical twins, everyone that night kept confusing them with the other twin.

And then, two years ago, Annie gave birth to Sadie Rae. The only other granddaughter besides Piper.

"Hey, dad. It's Lily," I say as I grab dad's hand.

"Remember when I was seven years old and I fell on the pavement riding my bike? You said, 'Lily girl, keep going, baby. Don't give up. You got this. You're a rockstar.' And I never fell again."

I sniffle as tears fall down my face.

"The day Maya died from ovarian cancer when she was eighteen, I held Sammy to my chest and cried. I had lost my only sister, and you, always my confidante and best friend, held us close and said everything would be okay. And you weren't upset at me when I told you that I was pregnant at fifteen from an assault. You wanted to give that boy a piece of your mind, but I stopped you and said it wasn't worth it."

I stop crying now, knowing I can't bring Dad back.

"I love you dad. If Maya is up there, tell her hi for me."

~~~~

Darlin', how I missed you, two years, not even friends
And I'm tryin' not to kiss you 'cause we've seen how this can end
And my therapist, would kill me if she knew that I was here
But no one knows me like you know me, dear
And no one holds me how you hold me, dear
I'm back in your arms, but everything's changed
Now we've been to hell and back again
My biggest regret, was walkin' away
I'm not gonna make the same mistake
I know you're afraid we'll end up the same
And the truth is we might, but if we do this thing right
Maybe this time it'll be different
Maybe this time it'll be different, different
Now I'm late to catch a red-eye, I didn't think we'd end up here
Yeah, I'm already on Cloud 9, don't wanna head back down the stairs
And I didn't think you'd kiss me, but I'm too in love to care
So kiss me slow before I go, my dear
I'm back in your arms, but everything's changed
Now we've been to hell and back again
My biggest regret was walkin' away
I'm not gonna make the same mistake
I know you're afraid we'll end up the same
And the truth is, we might, but if we do this thing right
Maybe this time it'll be different
Maybe this time it'll be different, different, mhm-mhm
Make me yours and I'm not leavin'
I know for sure you're all I needed
I can't believe I didn't see it
We took our time, the space we needed
I'm back in your arms, but everything's
(Make me yours and I'm not leavin')
Now we've been to hell and back again
(I know for sure you're all I needed)
My biggest regret was walkin' away
(Can't believe I didn't see it)
I'm not gonna make the same mistake
(We took our time, the space we needed)
I know you're afraid we'll end up the same
And the truth is we might, but if we do this thing right
Maybe this time it'll be different
Maybe this time it'll be different, different

~~~~

Hiya, author here!

The inspiration for this book came from my best friend saying at a sleepover once, "I wish Josh and Olivia had a kid to add to the drama." And then a few months ago I had a dream about Olivia having a daughter with Josh. Her name was Lily 💛

I've added a bonus chapter: eleven, but it doesn't need to be read. Only if you want to read it.

With that being said, this book is officially over. *Cue crying*

BUT! Check out my other works, message me if you want more Jolivia/Rini, whatever, and stay happy!

And if you want to see the story from Sabrina's POV, her book is out. Titled Sabrina: His girl.

😊😊😊

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