Lily's diangonsis was something we had expected but we had all hoped against. Roger and Mimi took it hard, who wouldn't...knowing something like that. But what was surprising, to me at least, was that Mimi took it worse than Roger. Roger took it more in stride, talked about it and pulled Mimi out of her own blame to focus on their daughter. Actually, the bigger picture was: he had changed. It might have been something during the time after that Christmas, and it could have been Lily herself. Lily had an effect on all of us, but Roger more than any one.
I could hear the laughter and music as I climbed the stairs.
I pull my camera out of the bag before I slowly open the door.
Close on Roger playing to his favorite audience.
He sits on top of the metal table looking down on the three year old twirling in a dress that Mimi had sewn together from the stuff in her own closet. Lily stops and stares at her father.
"What's the matter Lily-bug?"
"Dance, Daddy."
"With you? Then who will play the music."
She just laughs, "Dance, Daddy."
He smiles sets the guitar aside, hops off the table and offers his hand. She puts her smaller one is his. He pulls her up a little so that she has foot on each of his feet and after taking both of her hands are in each of his they twirl about without noticing me. The only music is the song Rogers singing and the sound of Lily's giggles.
"Daddy, you tall."
"Yeah, Lily-bug," Roger laughs, "It's what happens when people get older."
"Okay."
The camera runs out of film as Roger finally spots me.
"Look, Lily."
"Uncle Mark!"
She comes running at me like she hasn't seen me in ages. In the background Roger puts the guitar in his case, getting ready for the gig tonight.
"Lily-bug, daddy's got to go...be good for Mark, Okay?"
"Okay."
"And no sugar."
"Aw" She turns and pouts at him, a trick she learned from her mother.
He smiles and comes to tosses her in the air, "Okay, just a little."
"Okay." She smiles, realizing she got her way.
As if on cue when he close the door on his way out minutes later, Lily plops in front of the door: he's forgetting something. Seconds later he flies back in, bends down, and kisses the top her head.
"Love you, Baby girl."
"Love you too."
And he's gone again.
She looks back at me and smiles. We both know.
She climbs on the couch and leans against me as I sit down. She falls asleep waiting for Alison to bring Thomas up. I look at the little girl sitting next to me for a few moments.
I've known Roger for, well, awhile. And I don't how, but after all the years of trying to get him to listen, among other things...all it took was this little girl.
The door slides open and Mimi walks in with Alison and Thomas, bearing food.
"Where's Lily?" Mimi ask.
I point to the sleeping child next to me.
Later that night, I heard the door shut..signaling that Roger was home, which was confirmed as I heard Mimi in the room across from mine.
"Hey, how'd it go..."
"Not my favorite audience."
All because of one little girl.
Until next time, this is me...signing out.