Part 10
*Eli's POV*
As Grace left the room, I suddenly realized that I had no idea what to say to Lily. I knew that she didn't approve of my relationship with Grace, and I wasn't quite sure what to say to convince her that Grace and I were in love and happy. Lily looked at me as if she was awaiting something, so I came to a quick conclusion.
"The first thing I should tell you," I said. "Is that nothing happened between Grace and me last night."
"And you expect me to believe that?" Lily exclaimed. "I saw you two in bed together!"
I worked very hard to not lose my temper. "Grace came to me last night hurt and confused, and I probably could have gotten her to do whatever I wanted." This caused a sigh to escape from Lily. "But I didn't!" I finally said. "I love your daughter, and I wouldn't ever dream of taking advantage of her. However, I couldn't let her go to bed feeling so angry, so I let her sleep here."
"Don't you realize that you probably shouldn't have done that?" Lily said. "It's illegal for you to have sex with my daughter, and while I believe you now that nothing happened, if I hadn't given you time to explain I could have called the police and had you arrested for statutory rape."
"But you wouldn't do that!" I pointed out.
"What makes you think that I wouldn't?"
"Because somewhere deep down I know that you realize how much your daughter loves me," I started. "Even if you wanted to get back at me, you would never hurt her that way."
"I just can't condone this relationship, Eli!" Lily looked down, and I saw tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "Grace is so young, and so vulnerable, and she doesn't realize that falling for you will have an impact on her family as well as herself."
"If you can't condone it," I said, trying to rationalize things, "At least try and understand that trying to separate us won't do anything but make Grace resent you."
"See, I know you're right," she said. "And because I know you're right, I'm going to allow you and Grace to see each other. However, there will be some ground rules that Rick and I will have to set up for you, please realize that."
"I do," I said, working hard to try and hide my excitement. As Lily left the room, it was everything I could do not to jump up and dance around. Instead, I sat down and waited for Grace to come back so that I could tell her the wonderful news.
Needless to say, I was not expecting that phone call.
As Grace left the room, I suddenly realized that I had no idea what to say to Lily. I knew that she didn't approve of my relationship with Grace, and I wasn't quite sure what to say to convince her that Grace and I were in love and happy. Lily looked at me as if she was awaiting something, so I came to a quick conclusion.
"The first thing I should tell you," I said. "Is that nothing happened between Grace and me last night."
"And you expect me to believe that?" Lily exclaimed. "I saw you two in bed together!"
I worked very hard to not lose my temper. "Grace came to me last night hurt and confused, and I probably could have gotten her to do whatever I wanted." This caused a sigh to escape from Lily. "But I didn't!" I finally said. "I love your daughter, and I wouldn't ever dream of taking advantage of her. However, I couldn't let her go to bed feeling so angry, so I let her sleep here."
"Don't you realize that you probably shouldn't have done that?" Lily said. "It's illegal for you to have sex with my daughter, and while I believe you now that nothing happened, if I hadn't given you time to explain I could have called the police and had you arrested for statutory rape."
"But you wouldn't do that!" I pointed out.
"What makes you think that I wouldn't?"
"Because somewhere deep down I know that you realize how much your daughter loves me," I started. "Even if you wanted to get back at me, you would never hurt her that way."
"I just can't condone this relationship, Eli!" Lily looked down, and I saw tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "Grace is so young, and so vulnerable, and she doesn't realize that falling for you will have an impact on her family as well as herself."
"If you can't condone it," I said, trying to rationalize things, "At least try and understand that trying to separate us won't do anything but make Grace resent you."
"See, I know you're right," she said. "And because I know you're right, I'm going to allow you and Grace to see each other. However, there will be some ground rules that Rick and I will have to set up for you, please realize that."
"I do," I said, working hard to try and hide my excitement. As Lily left the room, it was everything I could do not to jump up and dance around. Instead, I sat down and waited for Grace to come back so that I could tell her the wonderful news.
Needless to say, I was not expecting that phone call.