Free Waiting For Lily Bloom by Jericha Kingston Page B

ignored it. “My automobile.” He breathed heavily. “It’s broken down.”
    Lily pulled herself away, pumped a glass of water, and brought it to him.
    Aunt Charity leapt into action. “William, come and sit. Have a bite to eat before you pass out.”
    “But my automobile—”
    “Will be fine.” Uncle Ned stood and cleared his place. “Get over here and eat.”
    Lily walked Papa to the chair. He sat and drank the water as Aunt Charity fixed a plate for him. Uncle Ned and Aunt Charity fired questions at him.
    “When did you leave?”
    “When was the last time you ate?”
    “How much damage did you pass?”
    “Why didn’t you call us?”
    “You might’ve died and no one would’ve known!”
    “Stop this ridiculous interrogation at once. It bears no import whatsoever. And I’ll not tarry a moment longer than I must, of that you can be sure.”
    “But you just arrived,” James blurted. “You can’t leave yet. Lily is thrilled to see you.”
    “Of course she is. And I’m not leaving alone. I’m taking my daughter with me.”
     
     
     
     

8
     
    James’s fists clenched. “No sir, you’re not.”
    William’s face turned red. He pushed back from the table and stood.
    Charity wrung her hands.
    Lily gaped.
    Ned frowned and stepped in front of James.
    “Will, Lily is a married woman.” He looked at Charity and motioned with his head.
    “Children, come with me. Bring your gum.” The woman gathered the girls like chicks under her arms.
    James inhaled. “Lily, why don’t you show Aunt Charity to the bedroom.”
    Lily nodded.
    “My daughter is not to be ordered about like a servant.”
    Lily froze and looked from James to her father.
    “Lily, honey, which room?” Aunt Charity grabbed her sleeve.
    Lily turned and walked down the hall with Charity. The bedroom door closed.
    James ground his teeth. “Mr. Driggers, Lily isn’t my servant. She’s my wife.”
    “A problem which will soon be rectified. I’m having the marriage annulled.”
    Ned blanched. “Will.”
    “No, sir. You’re not.” James swallowed words he hadn’t used for a very long time. He was half a second from grabbing Lily’s father by his shirt and tossing him out the door. “Lily is my wife, and I have the witnesses to prove it. Ned, you were there. Tell him.”
    Ned nodded. “It’s true. They married Monday, nearly a week ago.”
    “And has the marriage been consummated?” Red splotches appeared on William’s face, spread into James’s peripheral vision, and soon a red haze covered the entire room.
    James gripped the back of the chair, squeezing it until he heard a cracking sound.
    “Well?” The man’s tone couldn’t have been more condescending.
    “I’ll be outside.” Ned grabbed his hat and exited.
    “That’s none of your business.”
    “From your response, I surmise the answer is no . May I ask, when the nuptials were given, did Lily say ‘I do’?”
    James stepped forward, answering through clenched teeth. “You know she didn’t.”
    “There you have it. No court in a civilized state would hear my case and not annul this farce of a marriage. Now, fetch my daughter. We’re leaving.”
    His grip on the chair tightened. “You do whatever you want. But my wife isn’t goin’ anywhere.”
    A vein throbbed in William’s forehead. He inhaled deeply and approached James. “Mr. Bloom.” He glanced at his fingernails. “Perhaps you’ve noticed that my daughter is different from the ladies in this part of the country.”
    “I have.” Just one of the reasons why he loved her.
    “Lily was brought up in a more…genteel fashion than this part of the country allows.” He glanced around the room and sneered. “Do you truly think you can provide for my daughter’s welfare, much less her happiness?”
    “No, I don’t. But the Lord can. And I trust Him to take care of us.”
    William’s eye twitched. “Oh.” He stretched out the word. “A religious man. How admirable. But what about Lily’s needs?