There was one stipulation, though. Maggie's parents didn't want her knowing anything about how she came into the world. Wyatt didn't want to confuse the poor girl by telling her that Caroline wasn't the one that gave birth to her. Lily didn't mind sticking to that one rule, though. In fact, she agreed with it completely. She didn't mind that she was “Aunt Lily” in Maggie's mind, as long as she got to spend time with her once in a while.
Lily pulled her old Toyota Corolla up to the guard's gate at the bottom of the winding driveway that led toward Wyatt's mansion.
“Good evening, Ms. Thompson.” The security guard stepped up to window of the guard's house and leaned against the sill.
“Hi, John,” Lily said, rolling her driver's side window down the rest of the way. “How's your day going so far?”
“So far so good,” he replied, with a wide smile. “I'm sure you're here to see Mr. Montgomery. Does he know you're coming?”
She nodded. “Yes, but I didn't tell him what time I'd be here.”
“No problem,” John said. “I'll send a message to him and let him know that you're on your way up. Have a good day.”
“Thanks, John,” she said. “You, too.”
The yellow gate in front of her lifted and she pulled her car through. Wyatt's house was at the very top of the hill and when she got there, she parked in front of the fifth bay of his massive garage.
She stepped out of her car and glanced at herself in the reflection of the driver's side window. The white summer dress that she'd decided to wear looked nice and make her fair skin seem like it actually had some color in comparison. She'd even taken the time to straighten her hair and put one some makeup, something that she never had time to do before work.
With everything in order, she approached the front door. She only had to ring the doorbell one time before she heard Maggie shouting in excitement from inside the house.
“Aunt Wiwee is here!” she called out and Lily could hear her feet as they pitter-pattered across the wood floors. “Mrs. Mildred! Aunt Wiwee is here!”
A moment later, Maggie pulled the door open. Lily smiled wide as soon as she laid eyes on her.
“Wiwee!” Maggie called out, as she jumped forward and wrapped both of her arms around Lily's legs.
“Awe, hi, Maggie,” Lily said, squatting down and pulling Maggie close. “I think that's the sweetest greeting I've ever had.”
“I missed you,” Maggie said, holding her as tightly as possible.
Lily's heart melted to the words.
“I missed you, too, sweetheart,” she said. “I'm glad I came over to surprise you. What are you up to? Coloring? Swimming?”
“No,” Maggie said. “Just building Legos. Do you want to help?”
“Of course I do,” Lily replied.
Maggie took her hand and led her into the house. Lily glanced around. She had been there a hundred times and it never ceased to amaze her just how beautiful that home was. It wasn't just because it was a giant mansion, though. It was also perfectly decorated and well-maintained. Caroline had done all of the interior decorating herself. It had been a skill of hers that Lily admired very much. Everything in the home had a place. Every color had been painstakingly picked out so that it matched exactly how Caroline had wanted it.
Caroline sure did a good job of making this house a home, she thought. In a way, I'm kind of glad Wyatt hasn't changed anything in here since she passed. It just wouldn't be the same without the woman's touch that Caroline had on it.
“My Legos are over here,” Maggie said, speaking loudly. “This one is of a princess and her castle. Daddy bought it for me because he knows that I love princesses and he said that I'm a princess, too. So I needed a castle of my own.”
“Well your Daddy is a very smart man,” Lily said, playing along. “I also think you deserve a castle of your own. Have you finished building it, or is there still work to do?”
“It's almost done,” she said. “Just a few more pieces.”
The two made their way toward the living room, where Lily's work of art was situated on the coffee table in the center.
“You did this all by yourself, Maggie?” Lily asked.
“Yep,” she replied proudly.
It was a fairly complex Lego set and Lily was impressed that Maggie had been able to put it together by herself.
“That's so good,” Lily said. “You're so smart, Maggie.”