Free Redemption by Lindsey Gray

her by having anything disrupted.
    He made his way to what he thought was her bedroom, but as he opened the door, he found it was so much more. Not just simply a bed, nightstand, and dresser, it was her. He grabbed her pillow, taking in her scent. Slightly fruity, surely her fragrant shampoo.
    On her dresser was a jewelry box. Curious, he looked inside to find a diamond pendant, several pairs of jeweled earrings, and a locket. He opened the locket to find a picture of Lily and a little auburn haired girl. The tiny inscription on the back read “World’s most unconventional mom. Love, Becca.”
    Lily, a mother? That couldn’t be right. This sent him snooping further, pulling the trays out of the box to find a small black box tucked in the corner.
    He opened the box to reveal a delicate gold wedding band. He had never suspected after so many years, she would still have the ring he gave her that day. His had been lost, he was sure, or handed down to another relative. This gave him an idea.
    He went back to the kitchen with the ring securely on his pinky. He found a piece of paper and a pen and wrote a simple note. He placed the note with her wedding ring beside the candle he had just blown out before leaving the house with a smile.

The bell above the bar’s front door dinged softly as it opened and closed quickly.
    “Sorry, we’re still closed,” Lily called out from behind the bar.
    “Even for an old friend?”
    Lily looked up to see Peter dressed in a huge parka with fresh fallen snow weighing down his russet colored hair.
    “It had to be Iceland again? You and cold weather...”
    She immediately jumped over the counter and met him at the door.
    In his best girly voice he gushed, “I know, I know. It’s like, oh my God!”
    The most elegant smile crossed her face as her arms surrounded him in a tight embrace. His hands went up to either side of her cheeks, stoking his fingertips across one side.
    “I’ve missed you so much,” she admitted.
    He bent her head down to kiss her forehead. “I’ve missed you too,” he replied, wrapping his arms around her waist, taking her in with his warmth.
    “I love how you do that,” she sighed, as her core started to slowly melt in his embrace.
    “One of my many talents.”
    Renee came barreling down the back stairs to catch the two of them in their embrace.
    “Oh, sorry. I thought…”
    Lily and Peter walked over towards the bar where Renee had taken a seat.
    “How about a drink?” Lily inquired.
    “I could use something to warm me up a little more. How do you stand this weather? It’s brutal.” Peter stated, as took off his parka and set it across the bar.
    “This is Peter, by the way. Peter, Renee. Renee, Peter.” Peter stuck out his hand, which Renee accepted and shook.
    “I heard about your loss. I’m deeply sorry.”
    “Thanks.” Renee sat quietly as Lily poured three cups of coffee. Only a splash made it into Lily’s cup, the rest was filled with Irish Cream. She topped the other two off and offered them to Renee and Peter.
    “Still hate coffee, do ya?”
    “Never quite got the taste for it.” Lily grinned as she took a sip from her cup.
    “So, are you two friends or something?” Renee asked after a sip, looking back and forth between them.
    “Lily never told you about me?” Peter asked, raising his brow at Lily.
    Lily just shrugged as she held her mug up to her lips. “It never came up.”
    “Oh, Lil…you never told your best friend about your only brother?”
    “Brother? No, she didn’t. I thought she only had a sister.”
    “I’m kinda the black sheep,” Peter chimed. “I don’t come around much, so she doesn’t really claim me that often.”
    “So, you were just in the neighborhood and thought you’d stop by?” Renee asked.
    “I’d heard what happened and I know how Lily is. She takes everything upon herself, so no one else has to. I thought I might give her a hand.”
    “That’s sweet.” Renee replied, blushing under the