Finding a New Life

PROLOGUE

"Momma?" a young girl looked around frantically, tears streaming down her face when she realized her mother was nowhere to be found. "Momma, where are you!" she screamed, pushing her dark, dingy hair out of her face, her green eyes shimmering with the tears she had yet to shed. "Momma, Eli's hungry!" The young girl crashed into something hard and tall.

She looked up and gasped. "I'm sorry mister!" she apologized

"Don't worry about it. Are you looking for your mother?" the man asked. She nodded.

"Eli's hungry," she repeated.

"Who's Eli?"

"My brother," the girl answered. She backed away slightly as the man knelt down in front of her.

"Take me to him," he murmured, reaching for her hand.

Reluctantly, she took his hand and led him to the filthy apartment that she shared with her mother and brother.

"Where the hell have you been?" an angry man snarled.

"Looking for momma. Eli was crying, he's hungry," the girl answered, unable to hide her fear.

"You know better than to leave this apartment," the man growled.

"I needed to find momma," the girl said stubbornly.

"Your mother isn't coming back," the man said harshly.

"What do you mean Miguel?"

"Lily!" a small boy launched himself at the girl; she wrapped her arms around the boy and held him close.

"Your whore of a mother is dead Lily. She's never coming back!" Miguel said without a hint of remorse. Miguel looked back to the man that Lily had brought home.

"Start earning your keep ... use him. Fifty bucks since she's a virgin," Miguel told the man. He looked at Miguel with a disgusted look on his face.

"First of all, I don't rape little girls. Second, if Eve is dead, then Lily and Eli should come with me," the man said.

"And you are?" Miguel asked.

"Greg Billings," the man answered.

Miguel's eyes widened and he smiled greedily.

"Then you can afford to pay me two hundred dollars for this little delicate flower," Miguel said laughing.

"Again, I don't rape little girls," Greg said, pulling out his cell phone out of his pocket. "Dave, it's Greg. I'm at 650 North Elm, apartment 225. I found Eve's kids, but Eve's boyfriend is saying Eve is dead. Her boyfriend is trying to sell Lily to me," Greg said into his phone.

"Who are you?" Miguel asked, his eyes narrowing.

"My name is Greg Billings. I went to school with Dave and Lily Evans," Greg answered. Miguel's eyes widened when he recognized the names and he tried to leave the apartment. "Don't even think about it," Greg snarled.

CHAPTER ONE

"Hello Lily, do you remember me?" Greg asked, walking into the hospital room. Lily turned to look at him and Greg was glad to see Lily's once awfully dirty hair was now a shinny blond.

"Yes, you had Miguel arrested," Lily answered. Greg nodded.

"He was not a nice person," Greg said gently.

"I know. He used to hurt momma; I heard her crying and pleading with him," Lily said, looking away. Greg was angry and he had to fight not to show it. "Did you know momma?" Lily asked, looking up at Greg with curiosity.

"I grew up with your mother and your uncle." Greg looked up as Dave walked into the room. "Lily, this is your uncle David," Greg said. David smiled kindly.

"Hello Lily. You look so much like your mother," David murmured.

"Where's Eli?" Lily wanted to know.

"He's in his own room just a few doors down. You're both being released today. Would you like to come home with me?" David asked. Lily looked at her uncle hesitantly.

"Momma said never to talk to strangers," Lily said slowly.

"Take a look at this Lily," David said, pulling out his wallet and showing a picture to Lily. "This is the last time I saw your mother. Do you remember me?" David asked as Lily studied the photograph. Lily's mother Eve was standing holding Lily's hand, her abdomen gently rounded, evidence of her second pregnancy; David's arm protectively draped over Eve's shoulder.

"This was taken almost six years ago years ago when you were four," David said.

Lily looked up at David as memories flooded her brain. "I remember you," Lily said softly. David smiled.

"That's good sweetheart," David said, tucking a strand of hair back behind Lily's ear.

"Who's he?" Lily wanted to know.

"Lily!" Eli shouted from the doorway. He ran into the room and jumped on his sister's bed, a nurse following close behind.

"This is my friend Greg. He has a son and a daughter a few months older than you; they're twins. Their names are Tyler and Grace," David answered.

"Mr. Evans, you can take Lily and Eli home now," the doctor said from the doorway.

David grinned. "Greg, do you have the clothing I asked you to bring?" David asked his friend. Greg nodded and pulled out a simple blue dress and a pair of sandals for Lily and a pair of blue jean shorts and a green teeshirt for Eli.

When Lily and Eli were dressed, they stood nervously in front of their uncle. "Let's go home," David said, leading them out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



"Lily, wake up, we're home," David said softly. Lily's eyes opened and she looked around.

"It's big," Lily whispered.

"No, not really. It's just a three bedroom ranch house," David answered. He stopped the SUV and helped his niece and nephew into their new home.

"This is nice," Eli said, walking into his new room.

"We've never had our own rooms before," Lily said with a sigh.

"Well, now you will," David promised. "I'll go order a pizza for dinner, get settled and come downstairs," he added before leaving the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Happy birthday Lily," David said with a smile as he set a wrapped box in front of Lily at the table.

"Thanks Uncle David," Lily murmured, returning the smile. She opened the box eagerly and pulled out a pink leather bound journal.

"I remember your mom used to keep a diary, and I thought you might like to as well," David said. Lily grinned and gave her uncle a hug.

"I love it," she said, running her fingers down the spine.

In the two months since Lily and Eli had come to the house, their lives had improved ten fold, and while Lily was having some issues making friends at school, she had become fast friends with Greg's daughter Grace. Tyler was friendly, but considered Lily just another annoying girl that would bother him until he wanted to throttle her. Tyler had taken Eli under his wing however, and now Eli had over ten good friends; the younger brothers of Tyler's friends.

"I want to make your tenth birthday a happy one Lily," David said. Lily looked up and smiled.

"Can I have a party?" she asked shyly.

"What kind of party?" David asked.

"Just a small one. Maybe Grace, Ty and Carrie," Lily said, naming off her few friends. David thought for a moment.

"How about this, we'll have a private dinner out with Eli tonight and this weekend, we'll invite Grace, Ty and Carrie to go either to a movie or bowling with us and then they can come spend the night," David suggested.

Lily's eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. "Good. Now go finish getting ready for school, the bus will be here soon," David said. Lily nodded and ran up stairs to get dressed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey Ty, wait up a sec!" Lily exclaimed as Tyler walked by her in the hall. Tyler and his friend Zack stopped and Tyler sighed.

"What do you want Lily?" Tyler wanted to know.

"Uncle David is letting me have a birthday party on Friday after school. We're going to go for dinner and then either go see a movie or go bowling," Lily began.

"And?" Tyler asked impatiently.

"Do you and Grace want to go?" Lily asked.

"I'm sure Grace will love to, and I'll come too. It sounds like it might be fun," Tyler said.

"Great. Uncle David will pick us all up after school," Lily said, before turning to walk away.

"Lil?" Tyler asked. Lily turned around. "Happy birthday," he said. Lily smiled before turning back around and walking away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

David and Greg sat talking while the kids were getting fitted for their bowling shoes. "How are they doing, adjusting?" Greg wanted to know.

"Eli's having an easier time. Lily seems so shy and quiet around everyone but Eli, me or Grace," David answered.

"I've noticed that. I thought I was looking at a very young Eve when I saw her in that ally," Greg said, taking a sip of his soda.

He had wanted a beer, but he promised David that he'd join him in staying sober until all the kids were sent home.

"How does Caroline feel about you rescuing your ex-girlfriend's children?" David asked softly.

"She wasn't happy about it until I showed her the pictures of where they were living and then her maternal instincts took over," Greg answered, looking up as his wife walked over to them.

"How's the party?" Caroline asked, sitting down next to them.

"Dinner was loud, and they are still picking out their shoes and balls," David answered.

"The first game is going to be boys against girls," Greg added with a grin. He leaned over and gave Caroline a kiss.

"She looks so much like Eve," Caroline said softly.

"Does that make you jealous?" David asked.

"No! Greg loves me and married me," Caroline answered. Greg smiled.

"Lily, you go first, it's your birthday!" Grace exclaimed. The adults looked over and found the kids at their lanes.

"You can do it Lily!" David cheered. Lily looked back at her uncle, smiled and let the ball go. She watched it slide down the alley and grinned when it knocked down all but two pins.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-Five Years Later-

"Lily, what are you doing?" Tyler asked, following her into a gas station.

"I want a thing of milk, why?" Lily wanted to know, putting her hands on her hips.

"I promised your uncle I'd get you straight home," Tyler answered. Lily sighed.

"I'm a big girl Ty, I don't need a baby-sitter," Lily snapped.

"Fine. Have it your way," Tyler said before walking away.

Lily shook her head and walked into the gas station. She grabbed a bottle of chocolate milk, paid for it and headed out the door. Lily stopped on the sidewalk, opened the bottle and took a long sip. When she looked up, her eyes widened when she saw a very large truck barreling towards her at full speed. A scream caught in her throat as she was pushed out of the way. Lily fell hard against a wooden fence.

Lily looked up at the person who had pushed her out of the way and was surprised to see that it was Tyler. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes wide with concern.

"I think so," Lily managed to say. Tyler began checking her over for injuries.

"I think you just have some bruises and scrapes," Tyler said, pulling Lily back into his arms. Lily blushed and pulled away.

"I should go. Thanks Ty," Lily stammered, standing up and running home.