Free Clouded Innocence by D. Gambel Page B

us again. Conner knew I was not ready. And as he put it, he was far more experienced than me. Although we were getting braver with our touching and kissing despite the mutual decision to keep things slow. 
    We would hold hands under the dining room table, with my father sitting right there. In fact, I pulled Conner into the library one night as we walked the hallway together. We were kissing passionately, my hands tangled in his hair, and his pressed against my back, clinging to me, when my father walked in. I made some vague excuse about helping Conner find a book. My father did not even blink an eye at my lie. I was getting better at it, which I was not entirely sure was a good thing.
    Conner would walk me to my room every evening and would wait until the halls were clear then kiss me good night before heading to his room. Everything felt perfect and for those couple of weeks, it was.
    One evening after horseback riding and a picnic, which was becoming a regular occurrence for us, Conner and I were making our way up to the house when I noticed Lilly standing outside on the second level's wraparound porch.  
    “Francesca?” she called, “Will you join me, please?”  I nodded my head in reply.
    “What do you think that is about?” Conner asked curiously.  
    “I have not the slightest idea,” I mumbled mirroring his curiosity.  
    Before walking in, Conner kissed me softly on the cheek then headed to his room. I made my way to the door at the opposite end of the house that led to the outside porch. I found Lilly resting against the railing. The porch was white, like the house and unlike the lower, it wrapped around the entire home.  
    “Did you have a good time today, Francesca?” I looked at her inquisitively; I was not sure where she was going with this question and I did not want to assume anything. It was not often that Lilly would ask about my day. Maybe it was the fact that she saw only Conner and me. I would hate to have to make a lie for Steven, which would risk my father finding out that Conner and I had been out, alone. I nodded in answer.  
    “That is good,” she continued to stare out over the rail. I walked up next to her wondering what had her attention.  
    She sighed, “You and Conner seem to be getting along awfully well.”  
    A smile crossed my face before I could stop it. 'Well' was not even the half of it. Incredible. Fantastic. Even spectacular maybe. But well? She looked over at me with a large smile plastered on my face. “Ah! I know that look,” she said reciprocating my smile.  
    I looked up at her before turning my head to try and hide the blush that began to creep across my cheeks.  
    “I was young once too. I know the butterflies, the sweaty palms, and the rapid heartbeat.” She sighed, “But you need to be careful.” I looked up at her. Why was everyone telling me to be careful?  
    “What do you mean?” I asked. I was surprised at how normal my voice sounded when I was feeling so uneasy about this conversation.  
    “Francesca, it is obvious to anyone who looks close enough that you have feelings for the boy.” My heart began to race. I did not think it had been that obvious. If Lilly knew, then who else knew? My father? I almost trembled at the thought. “Luckily, your father has been too absorbed in his work to pay attention.” 
    Oh, thank goodness!  The ease I felt was quickly replaced when the thought occurred to me, if Lilly had been aware of my feelings towards Conner, what else was she aware of? Now that thought truly frightened me. I was not sure how my father would react, but I was almost certain it would be along the lines of furious if he thought there were improper things happening between Conner and myself .  
    “Listen to me though,” the joking tone subsided and was replaced by a seriousness that I had rarely heard from Lilly. “If word got out that you were spending so much ... alone time with Conner,” She looked directly at me and I could