I was already excited merely for the fact that I would be having a second date with Dr. Dreamy as Em and I started to call him. Emma had agreed that after I picked Aria up from school today, she would watch her for the night.

She couldn’t believe the shock when she came from her lunch meeting to find a large two dozen rose bouquet on her desk.

“Someone must have an admirer,” Julie, my secretary said. “Was it the hunk that came by yesterday?”

“Maybe,” I said blushing profusely.

“It’s about time you got some action.”

Lilly thought to tell her she got plenty of that on her desk yesterday. Instead she shut her door to read over the small note in privacy.

“Thinking about you all night. Can’t wait to see you again. I’m all yours, baby.”

She smiled as she read over the note again. He had been nothing but perfect to her. Naturally she knew that no one was actually perfect, but right now he seemed about as close as someone could get. She looked down to the framed picture of Aria on her desk and wave of guilt hit her again.

I needed to tell Barrett the truth. I needed to give him that option to stay or not. I would be sure that today would be the day that I told him.

After work I waited in the same school line to pick up Aria. When she slipped into the back seat I couldn’t help but look at her more loving than ever before. She did have so much of her father in her.

“Aunt Em is going to come over tonight and watch you again. Is that okay?”

“But I have my show tomorrow?” Aria retorted.

“I know. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget.”

“Are you going on a date with that same guy?” Aria asked tentatively.

“Yes. His name is Barrett.” I paused for a beat before adding, “Are you okay with that?”

For a girl whose mother never went on dates two in two weeks time probably seemed excessive.

“I guess, it’s just that…”

“Just what, honey?” I asked stealing a glance in the rear view mirror as we started to head home.

“Do you ever think about my dad?”

“What do you mean?” I asked as my heart hit the pit of my stomach. Was she on to the truth maybe? Or was she afraid that I was forgetting about a father she thought she had but didn’t really exist.

“I just mean most kids, even if their parents are divorced or whatever they still know about their dad.”

“But that wasn’t the case, honey. You know that,” I said piling another brick on top of the long wall of lies.

“Yeah, but how come you don’t ever talk about him? Or why have I never seen a picture of him? I mean he had to have parents right. Why don’t I at least know my grandparents?”

It was a lot of questions that I couldn’t answer. I knew the day would come when all the dots would start to come together for her and she would realize how much it didn’t add up.

“It’s really complicated. But, I don’t want you to think that going out with Barrett diminishes your father to me. He gave me the greatest gift in the world, you. And no matter what, I will always love him for that.”

It was completely honest but also the closest I could come to telling her the truth right now. She slumped back in her chair not entirely happy with it.

"I don’t have to go tonight,” I said realizing the needs of my child came before mine.

“No, I don’t mind if you want to go out. I’ll have fun with Aunt Em anyway,” she added in a more upbeat tone.

I figured if she wasn’t happy with the answers I made up about her father, at least she was satisfied with knowing she was in for a junk food filled night of fun with Emma.

After dropping off Aria at home under the care of Em I headed back out. I decided this time I would meet Barrett at his work and just get it out before I was too chicken to tell him. I looked down at my dashboard clock, it was almost four thirty now, so he was sure to be on his last few patients. I hoped I wouldn’t be barging in on him.

I got up to the front desk and was surprised to see several people still in the waiting room.

“What’s your name sweetheart,” the middle aged woman with ridiculously long nails said from behind the plexiglass.

“Actually, i don’t have an appointment but I was hoping to see B- Dr. Harris.”

“Sorry, sweetheart we are all booked for the rest of the day. I can make you an appointment for Monday if you would like.”

“No, it’s not that. He is kind of expecting me,” I tried my best to explain. “I mean not really. He doesn’t know I’m here but…”

“Sweetheart,” she said again and it was getting really irritating. “We only have time for booked clients. If it’s an emergency.”

“Yes, that. I have an emergency,” I said latching onto the word. “I need to see him right away.”

“What’s the emergency?”

“I uh…my IUD has fallen out.”

“That’s not really an e-“

“And I’m bleeding…profusely. In fact I already feel a little faint.”

She looked me up and down like she didn’t believe me. Either way I was pretty sure that I claimed a serious enough problem that she would have to let me see him.

“You should have gone to the ER, or called ahead at the very least. I’ll have Helen show you back right away.”

The nurse from the last visit was the one to show me back. She asked me about my symptoms and worst of all if I could show her the IUD.

“Uh, I left it at home,” I stuttered. “I was just so frazzled I didn’t think to bring it.”

Finally after taking copious notes and asking me far more than I had the creativity to make up she left to get the doctor.

It took less then two minutes before Barrett burst through the door face full of worry.

“Lilly, are you alright?” He asked coming over to me. The nurse still hovered in the background.

“Yes, I’m fine. I just needed to see you and they wouldn’t let me back,” I did my best to explain.

I felt bad that I had cause such a scare but it was the only way to see him. If I waited a few hours till tonight there was no way I was going to still have the courage to say what I needed to say.

“It’s alright Helen. You can go. Please tell my next patient I will be just a minute.”

The nurse huffed. Apparently she wasn’t happy to hear that I was fine and had lied my way in. None the less she left the room.

Barrett closed the distance between us in three full steps. Cupping my face he kissed me with urgency.

“I thought something was really wrong. What you described, that is a really big deal.”

“I’m sorry,” I said with all my heart. “I just needed to see you and that receptionist wouldn’t let me past.”

He smiled down at me with humor in his dark eyes.

“Nancy can be a tough cookie,” he agreed. "But next time just call me first and I’ll make sure they let you through.”

“Okay,” I said a little shyly.

He leaned down and kissed me again, this time softly. I was beginning to already melt in my resolve.

“You couldn’t wait for tonight, huh?” Barrett whispered his lips against mine.