Part 7

"Bye, Miss Lydia," called one of the little girls walking out of Lydia's class. Her tap shoes made a little clicking noises as she wandered over to her mother.


"Bye, Tilly. Have a good night." Lydia called after her. She sat to unlace and remove her shoes, glad that the lesson was over. She had made real progress with the kids, and their recital would be soon. Just a little more work and they would be ready. She gathered her bag and jacket, spoke to the teacher that was using the studio next and wandered out to the parking lot, speaking to several of her students and their parents. It wasn't until she was almost to her car that she noticed the tall figure leaning against her door.


"Hey," Tyler said gruffly. She could tell he wasn't really in the mood for pleasantries. "I didn't know that you taught dance class."

"There's a lot you don't know. What's up?" she asked, hoping she could use telekinetic powers to make him move from in front of her door.

"You and I are going to talk," he replied. He held up a hand when she started to protest. "Josie has given us the night off. We need to talk and you know it." She could tell he wasn't going to let it drop.

"Fine. Are you riding with me?"

It was a long fifteen minute ride back to the house. The only words were spoken by Tyler. "I stopped and picked up burgers from the diner and a six pack." They had been spoken in response to her loudly growling stomach. She walked up the stairs to her bedroom to change, trying not to remember the night before. She changed quickly because it was the only thing she could think about.

"Do you want to eat or talk first?" Tyler asked. He had gone even quieter, if that were possible.

"Talk, I guess," she replied. He gestured out back, to the swing. She nodded and headed that way. He followed her, carrying the beer with him.

"Start at why you are so fired up about me leaving. Why are you so mad at me?" Tyler had been torn up in knots all day. He'd wanted to storm into her store and rant and rave at her, but he knew that would never do with her. He wanted to spank her for being hard headed and obstinate, but that just put different pictures in his mind. Instead he had bought her beer and burgers. The rich princess had certainly changed.

"My mom left when I was twelve. No note, no goodbye, no nothing. Six months later she called and wanted my forgiveness. I was devastated. I didn't know how to handle it. I didn't talk to her for a while," she started, pausing to take a sip from the bottle he handed her. "Then my dad made me join an activity when I was a junior. The only thing left was theatre. I loved it. I participated my senior year, too. It gave me confidence again. Then you gave me a ride home."

She paused, thinking about that day. She sipped her beer, watching Tyler drink his. He had been such a good looking young man. Time had only made him better. His face had character, his body firm and chiseled. Time had changed many things.

"You made me realize that I was worthy of love, that I mattered. And then you left," she said softly. "I got over that eventually and started college the next fall. Halfway through my freshman year, Daddy had a stroke." She saw Tyler still, absorbing the news about her father.

"I didn't know," Tyler said. "I'm sorry."

She shrugged, pulling her knees up and close to her chest. She played with the label on the bottle, wishing she were anywhere but here right now. But he wouldn't leave her alone until he heard her story. Lydia took a deep breath and continued.

"I had to come home. Megan was only a sophomore. Mom certainly wasn't coming back, and daddy needed me, too," she exhaled. She remembered her strong father lying in the hospital bed, weak and struggling. It had been painful on so many levels. "Three months later, he had another stroke. That one killed him."

Tyler scooted closer on the swing, draping his arm along the back, resting his hand on her shoulder. It was meant as a comforting gesture, but Lydia was too raw for it to feel that way. She was just glad to finally get all of it off her chest. Maybe he would realize why she needed someone that would stay.

"Daddy was very good at making money, he just wasn't very good at spending it," she started. "We ended up losing the houses, cars, practically everything. The only thing that didn't get touched was Meg's trust fund. I don't understand it, it's all legalese to me. I cashed mine in for Meg and I to live on. It went quick. We had to move schools because Meg was getting harassed. We moved twice, I worked three jobs, and still had to find time to get my sister raised and out of high school."

Tyler could see that there was still hurt there. But there was also strength. She'd had to provide for what was left of her family, and herself, and take on parental responsibilities. "Why didn't you call your mother? Wouldn't she have helped?" Tyler asked. The unladylike snort that came from her was his answer.

"She had already walked out on us once. I wasn't giving her another opportunity. Good, bad, or otherwise, we got through it. Meg got a scholarship to Baylor. We moved to be closer so she could live at home and we didn't have to pay for room and board. We did that for two years, then she kicked me to the curb," she finished. The look on Tyler's face was priceless and Lydia spluttered when she saw it. "Not like that. She was able to transfer to Texas State with her scholarship and I moved here to be closer. She graduated last May and is now working on being a doctor."

There was pride in her voice when she spoke about her sister. They had been through so much together, and Lydia didn't like being far away. She wanted to be there in case her sister needed her.

"I need someone that I know won't leave me. I need someone who will stay with me. I don't need someone who will leave at the drop of a hat for no reason. I can't take the pain of that. I've been there too many times. I'm not mad at you, Tyler. I'm mad at myself for caring about you. I'm mad at myself for wanting you to stay," she whispered to him. She slowed the swing enough to stand up and walk to the house, leaving Tyler on the swing.