Parental Observations

"You really should take it easy." Cane tells Lily as she moves around.

"I'm fine Cane." Lily assures him. "You don't have to worry."

"I do." Cane insists. "Some whacko attacks you in a bathroom at Ana and Fen's wedding and leaves you there helpless for our daughter to find…" Cane responds angrily. "It's disgusting."

"They are still trying to figure out who did this." Lily informs him. "But unfortunately, they don't have much of anything."

"I mean Ana and I can remember someone in the stall when we were talking, but after that everything was a blur when I got attacked." Lily says still perplexed by what had happened.

"I remember some stuff falling out of my purse and I bent down to pick it up. And then the next thing I know I'm feeling very sharp pain and I'm blacking out…"

She looks at Cane and shrugs. "I don't know who did it, as I was faced away from the mirror… I don't know…." She shakes her head. "And they don't have anything from security as the cameras were turned off at that time. They were working on updating their systems and thought the wedding would be a good time to turn the security cameras off."

Cane rolls his eyes. "Yes, because having no security footage at a hotel where a famous pop star's wedding is going on, makes perfect sense."

"It's weird how things worked out like that." Lily adds. "But it did, and it makes it easier for that person to still be out there on the loose." She shivers.

Cane rubs his face and sighs. "I wonder what the motive is for this attack?" He ponders. "Was it just some random crazy hanging out in the women's restroom or… were you targeted for some reason?" He wonders.

"I don't know." Lily makes a gesture with her hands. "I'm just glad I ended up being okay…" She expresses relieved. "Uhh… I'm glad I'm still here."

"Yeah, me too." Cane says reaching out and touching her shoulder. "When Charlie called me about you, he seemed so scared. And then I talked to Mattie and she sounded even more afraid. Which makes sense because she found you…"

Lily sighs and closes her eyes. "She must have been so scared…" She sighs again. "Thank goodness that Nate and Elena were nearby, and they could help and comfort her."

Cane nods. "Yeah, the thought of her losing you, the thought of all of us losing you…that would have been terrible." He rubs her shoulder again. "I really am glad that you are okay. And I hope they catch the scumbag who did this."

"Hopefully they will. Devon says he's got some independent people on it." Lily reveals.

"Well, hopefully someone will track down who did this." Cane states firmly. "They don't need to be on the streets."

Lily nods in agreement. A thoughtful look then comes across her face. "So… how long do you plan to stick around. You can't just stay here hovering over me…" Lily teases him. "And I'm sure Traci will be missing you."

"She understands that this is very important." Cane informs her. "And she's on one of the legs of her book tour in Europe..., so she's pretty busy. She's not going to hang around waiting for me…" He tells Lily smiling.

Lily makes a face after he says that. "Okay… but uh if you don't mind me asking you guys are good right?" She asks curiously.

Cane nods. "We're good." He confirms. He then leans back on the couch. "But while I am town for a little bit, I do want to do some more stuff with the kids. I haven't seen them in a while. And now with Charlie in film school and Mattie working at Jabot, it will give me the opportunity to really catch up with them and see what's going on with their lives." He smiles again. "I miss them."

"They miss you too." Lily tells him. "No matter how busy they may act."

"Good." Cane states happily. "And I also want to catch up with Jill and you know some old friends while I'm in town." They talk for a little more in Lily's home and then Mattie shows up. She had gotten off from work a little while ago. She smiles when she enters the room and sees her parents sitting together.

"Hey mom, dad." She greets them smiling.

"How was work?" Lily asks.

"Good." Mattie tells her. "We got a lot accomplished today in preparation for tomorrow's photo shoot at the dive bar."

"Are you excited to be a part of creating this photo shoot?" Cane asks.

Mattie nods. "Yes. Monty and I decided on the theme of it, and the setting for it is great." She informs Cane. "We got our models lined up, both male and female and we feel good about it." She smiles. "I think it will end up going well." She predicts optimistically.

"I think it will too. I think you and Monty probably did a good job helping arrange for this to happen." Lily says teasingly.

"Yeah, he's got great ideas and we work well together."

"Of course, you do." Lily responds and then laughs.

Mattie makes a face. "Mom…"

Cane notices their exchange and an amused look comes across his face. "What's going on here?" He probes.

Lily looks at him. "It's just Monty is Mattie's very handsome, young-coworker at work…."

"Mom!" Mattie says again.

Cane nods understanding. "Aw you and this Monty guy, is there something going on there?" Cane questions. "And what type of guy is he, I'm not just fine with anybody being interested in my daughter…"

"Dad…"

"I know you're grown now, but you're always be my little girl, when it comes to men…no one will just do for you." Cane tells her protectively. "And you should be careful with workplace romances, those types of situations can get messy…"

Mattie shakes her head. "It's not a workplace romance, dad. He's just, he's my partner…" Mattie then clarifies as she sees Cane raising his eyebrow. "I mean my partner for this project. That's all. We get along and we do good work together."

"And he makes her blush…" Lily tells Cane. "I've seen them interact together here and there, once when I went to pick Mattie up from Jabot, another time when they saw each other at Crimson Lights. And I've seen him say stuff to her, that makes her face turns red…"

"Mom I don't…" Mattie starts to protest.

"Yeah, you do." Lily interjects. "And it's cute."

"How old is this Monty guy?" Cane questions.

"He's 22." Lily tells him. "He's a good age…"

"You guys really need to cut this out. Monty and I aren't dating or anything. We just work together, that's all." Mattie insists. "I'm focusing on my career; you guys know that." She reminds them.

"Of course." Cane says nodding. "But you're a beautiful woman Mattie, so at some point men… And you're an adult now. you know…" Cane makes a face.

"And you can focus on your career and still have time for things like friends, and romance, dating, boyfriends." Lily adds. She looks at her daughter and smiles.

"Yeah, but it's not like that with me and him…." Mattie protests.

"Un-huh." Lily says knowing better. "Okay, whatever you say. Just know your father and I love and support you and your judgement. With your career and with any men you may be interested in. We know we raised you well." Lily declares in a supportive manner. "Is that fair?"

Mattie nods. "Yeah."

Just then Mattie gets a text. It was from Monty.

"We're going to crush this photo shoot, tomorrow, lady." The text reads. Mattie looks at it and smiles.

"Yes, I think so." She texts back to him and also texts a smiley face.

He then texts something that makes her laugh. Cane and Lily share a look.

"That him?" Lily teases.

Mattie looks at her and makes a face. "Mom…"

Cane and Lily look at each other. "That's him." They say in unison. They laugh.

"I'm going to go relax for a bit." Mattie tells them.

"Okay." Cane says. She heads off to another room, glancing at her phone again as she does so.

"They get grown so fast…." Cane jokes.

"Yeah…." Cane and Lily talk for a little more and then Cane gets ready to leave.

"I told Jill, I would go and spend some time with her at the mansion this evening." He informs Lily. "I've been meaning to do some catching up with her."

"That's good." Lily tells him.

"But maybe before I leave me, you and the kids can have dinner together, too?" Cane asks. "My treat. I'll take us out. Maybe to the Top of the Tower. It's been a while since I've been able to do something like that with them."

Lily thinks and nods. "That would be fine." She agrees. Cane nods and then he bids her good-bye and goes to spend time with Jill. After he leaves, Lily leans back grateful once again that she had survived her attack and was still around to spend time with her family.