back to you

"Looks like I might be staying over, after all." Brick's grin was as endearing as it ever way.

Lily kept smiling, thinking he was the best guy in the world.

"You think?" She winced with a smile.

"Um, its after 10." He could hardly keep his laugh in, as they set on the sofa. Homework was finished, and the news was on.

"I never thought this would happen in a million years." She told him. She thought her mom hated him and he was never to see her again. "I wonder what changed my mom's mind?" She looked over the top of the couch and saw her mom cleaning quietly in the kitchen with Barry. They looked a little cozy. Maybe they'd forgotten about them.

Barry came into the livingroom.

"I got the room ready in the basement, for Brick," he said as he stuffed his hands into his hoodie pockets.

"Does he have too? He could sleep on the couch," Lily said.

"He'll be more comfortable in the basement. Its a guestroom." Barry shrugged.

"Come on, Lily..its time for bed," her mother said, as if playtime was over.

Naturally, Brick thanked her mother and Barry for having him over.

Lily just sighed. What did they think they were going to do?

"What do you and Barry do? When you go to bed?" Lily wanted to know, after she followed her mom to the bathroom where her mom got out her toothbrush and watched her get ready to brush her teeth.

"I dunno..what do you think we do?" Her mother's mouth was straight lipped, as she hugged herself, waiting patiently for Lily to brush her teeth.

"I used to think you must do tricks in bed." She smiled.

"Quit being silly." Charlie told her. "We sleep. You need a good eight hours, you know, to get ready for the next day."

"But..its hard to sleep sometimes," Lily said. "Did you always sleep good?"

"Um, not always." Charlie sounded a little sad about it. "I didn't have a home like this when I was your age."

"Why not?" She didn't know. Why hadn't her mom told her before now?

"Parents disagree. That kind of thing," Charlie said. "I didn't know if they cared about me. I worried about them..maybe too much. But I don't want that for you. I want you to be happy."

Lily nodded.

"I want you to be happy, mom." Lily told her.

"I am." Her mother patted her back. Lily gave her a hug. She hoped she hadn't been too much trouble for her mom.