Lily’s POV.
A month passes by after Ryan’s birthday and I still feel like we are still in the beginning phase of our relationship. In this month many things happened like Teddy is growing up way too fast.
He is still a bit chubby because of all the pampering he gets from everyone and all the sleep he gets. He is so adorable that even if he ruins some of my cushions, I can not stay angry with him.
My one month in my new job was also very great. I got many compliments from my colleagues for handling every situation tactfully. And Vance was happy to have me as his assistant as he would get more time for Kathy who has become more dangerous according to him because she is pregnant with a boy.
They came to know about this in the second week of June. Now Kathy is seven month pregnant and too bossy for Vance. I make sure that Vance gets as much time as he needs to calm his wife when she throws a hormonal tantrum.
On the fourth weekend, Ryan has to go out for some business purpose so Teddy stays with and we both miss him terribly as we both have gotten used to him very much. It would have been boring if not for Teddy as we played in the park and slept through most of the day.
Today is Thursday and Ryan has yet to come home. When I am at my job Teddy is under the care of Ryan’s staff and dog walker but when I am at home I take Teddy to my apartment. I give him his food and start to make dinner when Teddy starts barking at the door and does a little happy dance and I know Ryan is here.
As soon as the door opens Teddy attacks Ryan with kisses and sniffles. I too welcome him with kisses and grins in kisses.
“Looks like I was missed way too much.” Ryan asks as he takes Teddy in his arms who is going crazy.
“Yes you were.” I say and kiss his cheek.
“Why don’t I go and freshen up then we can all have dinner together?” He asks.
“Okay. What do you want to eat?” I ask as I go towards the kitchen.
“Something light please, my lady.” He says and I nod.
He goes upstairs in my room with Teddy accompanying him who totally forgot his food. I shake my head and make some oven baked french bread pizza of different types and pasta salad with ice cream as dessert.
“Hey, honey. Do you need any help?” Ryan asks as he comes into the kitchen and kisses my cheeks.
“Just take out wine and arrange this to coffee table. I would be there in a minute.” I say and gesture at pasta salad.
“Okay. Come Teddy.” He says.
This all feels so normal and homely and I love every bit of it. I take out the container from the oven as Ryan watches the news and I place the bread in a new container and take it out with two plates. I put it on the table and sat in the circle of Ryan’s arms.
We have a peaceful dinner with Teddy and after cleaning we go straight to bed as Ryan and I are too exhausted to do anything. Lately I have been feeling very sleepy and tired too. Maybe it is because of my hectic schedule.
Next day, I get a call from Richard during lunch time as I am eating my sandwich, “Hey, Richard.”
“Hey, yourself. I called you to ask if you would like to come this weekend with us to the farms?” Richard comes straight to the point.
“This weekend?” I ask.
“Yes. It is the 4th of July and we thought we would spend it on farms. And don’t worry about how we will get there. We are going to carpool there and it will be fun. So are you in?” He asks.
“Yes. I am. When are we going?” I ask.
“Tomorrow morning. And don’t worry about where we are meeting because it is going to be your apartment building.” He says.
“Okay.” I say.
After I hang up, I tell Ryan about it and he says he was the one who made this plan. He also told me not to worry as Freya would not be joining us as she has some work around that time. I became even more happy by that news.
That day after coming from work, I packed up an overnight bag with two sets of clothes and my personal stuff. Then I pack my backpack with snacks and a sling bag and I am ready for everything. I help Ryan pack Teddy’s stuff and his too. Then we have pizza for dinner and go to sleep.
Next day, I wake up early and go to my apartment and get ready in a red and white floral romper jumpsuit dress and white sneakers. I keep my hair open and wear a matching headband. I got a text from Richard to come down around 8. I lock up and see Ryan holding the lift for me with Teddy who barks for me to come faster.
“Good Morning.” He says and gives me a sound kiss.
“Now there is a good morning that I like.” I say.
“I have made sure that Noah gives me room next to you but him agreeing so easily makes me suspicious about it.” Ryan says as he is totally confused about his brother’s agreement in helping him.
“Don’t worry. Noah is very good. He won’t play tricks on you.” I say and when we hear the elevator ding and I get away from him.
“Good Morning, Lily.” Richard says and hugs me.
Ryan and Theo take my bag and put it in the trunk along with others and Ryan’s while I hold Teddy in my arms and talk with Heather. Richard has brought a seven seater suv for us all in which Richard and Wyatt sit at the front while Heather and Viola take two seats behind them on my insistence. While I sit in the back near window with Ryan between me and Theo.
The journey from Manhattan to Greenwich is for an hour. So after talking for some time, I took a small nap and when I woke up, I saw I was sleeping on Ryan’s shoulder. I backed away immediately and saw that no one was actually looking at us.
But Ryan smiles at me while looking beside him to see Theo napping on Ryan’s other shoulder. I hold my chuckle as I look at his cute sleeping form. Teddy is at the front with Richard and relaxing.
Around a quarter past nine we reach a land where I can see green and golden lands. I look out of the window to see miles and miles of farms and then when Wyatt takes a turn around a corner, I see a modern house with small houses beside it.
I see dogs herding sheeps and cattles then I see chickens in one area. I also see horses in a fenced training space. As we get out of the car, I see an old couple standing on the front porch. And Noah comes out from the barn and meets us.
As I look at the old man, I think that is Richard’s parents as he looks exactly like his father. But as I go near, I change my decision and think that he got his eyes from his mother. They hug Richard and Heather and he in turn kisses his mother on cheek lovingly. The boys tease their grandparents for still being together.
“Well I am too tired to find a new girl right now. But you all are young I don’t see any girls around you. At least I have one with me.” The old man says.
“Greg is still flirting with me. Do you want me to go with him, Robert?” The old lady asks.
“Anna, you know I was just joking.” Robert says to her wife who is laying in Theo’s arm, “And I am going to beat this Greg’s arse for flirting around. Just because he is young doesn’t mean he could just… Who is this girl by the way? She looks pretty. Is she your girlfriend, Ryan?”
At his sudden question, I was shocked. I try to hide my reaction at how close to the truth he is and smile at him. Richard comes towards and puts his arm on my shoulder and moves towards his father.
“She is not Ryan’s girlfriend.” Richard says and I see Ryan rolling his eyes with a smirk as he continues, “But she is my goddaughter, Lily. She is Prim’s daughter.”
“Oh My God! She is our Prim’s child. Come here dear.” Anna says and I go near and she hugs me.
“I should have known. She looks just like her. How are you dear?” Robert asks.
“I am fine.” I say.
Then we go inside to have breakfast as we didn’t have one while Noah puts our bag in our rooms. We talk for a while then Richard tells me to get freshen up to meet them on the front porch. So I could see the farm with them.
Noah takes me to the first floor where the Anderson brothers and I will stay. As Noah takes me towards the right side of the floor, Ryan follows me and Noah stops him.
“Where are you going?” He asks.
“I thought my room was this way?” Ryan asks, confused.
“Theo, yours and my room is on the left side while Lily will stay at the right side. You can restrain yourself for two days, I think.” Noah says as Ryan looks at him in shock while Theo laughs at him.
Noah opens the door for me and I wave at Ryan teasingly. The room is moderate and has a rustic look to it. It has wooden floors with white walls and white iron bed with light grey and brown bedsheet.
The window gives light to the room with blue curtains and one door goes to the ensuite bathroom of white color. I wash my face and start setting up my things in the wardrobe. I hear scraping at my door and open to see it is Teddy.
“Hey, buddy. What are you doing here? What is this?” I ask as I see a small paper around his belt. I take out and read.
‘I am coming to your room tonight. So go to sleep early.’ Ryan has written and I giggle as I read this.
I kiss Teddy’s head then stash the note in my bag and go down with him. I meet others on the porch and they take me around to look. First, they take me to see the fields and it is like a sea of green.
Then I see the cattles and chicken and also feed some of them. Then we went to the stable and I saw many varieties of horses. I met the most beautiful horses and the mildest mare too and would have gone for a ride but then it started raining suddenly.
As Noah, Theo, Ryan and I stand inside for the rain to stop somewhat, I hear a whine coming from one corner and go to look into it. I see a Great Pyrenees pup which might be more than three months up.
And as soon as I put a small blanket around him, she sniffs my hand then puts her hand on it as if ordering me to pat her. I smiled and did so and she fell asleep.
“She is so beautiful.” I say.
“Yes she is.” Ryan says as he looks at me.
“Stop being so corny.” Theo says.
“Where is her mother or other siblings?” I ask.
“Well her siblings got adopted and she being lazy doesn’t join once that is here. Her mother is active and very busy.” Noah says.
“Well there is nothing wrong wanting to get treated well.” I say.
“Well I call her Lady as it fits her. She is fiercely loyal but wants to just enjoy sleeping rather than working or anything else.” Noah says.
“I love the name.” I say.
“There comes her mother.” Noah says as he points at the giant dog as she shakes the water off.
“That is one giant dog.” I say.
“Or more like a mushy bear. Hey Luna!” Theo says as he hugs her and she in turn gets him all dirty by licking and pawing him.
We laugh at his condition and come back to the main house when the rain turns into light drizzle. The rain continues and we get changed then come down for lunch. We have farm fresh quiche, cordon bleu soup and ziggy egg salad and for dessert we have classic apple pie. The apple is from their farms only.
After lunch when we sit outside, I look at Noah who is looking at the distance with an open mouth. I look at the direction he is looking at and see Lady trotting towards the main house like all these lands belong to her.
She climbs the stairs then climbs my lap and dozes off. I caress her mane as she breathes lightly and I talk with Richard about my new job and how great I am doing right now.
At night, Lady follows me to my room after dinner and so does Ryan. She barks when she sees Ryan and Teddy and Noah comes running in my room. They take Ryan back to his room saying that he does not want to risk his life right now. That night instead of Ryan, Lady sleeps on the bed beside me.
The next day I got ready in a blue floaty dress with white stars on it and a red jacket on it. We have a fun day and after fireworks in the evening we start to leave when Lady keeps whining at my feet. She has been with me the whole day keeping Ryan away from me. I still chuckle about it.
“You can keep her.” Noah says.
“What?” I ask.
“Yes you can. I have one more adoption paper left. You can take her in and she just got checked the day before yesterday by the vet. She is good to go.” Noah says.
“I like her too but I work for eight hours straight, I don’t want to make her feel alone.” I say as I hug Lady.
“Don’t worry we can share the dog walker. She would be fine as she always either sleeps or eats.” Ryan says as he looks at Lady and gives me a look that he would rather be in her place.
“It is like you both made for each other. She likes you. You like her. Just take her in.” Robert says.
“Okay.” I say and Noah gives me the authority of Lady.
She sits in the back with me and it looks like she is smiling at her previous family and saying goodbye to working days as at my home she could do whatever she likes but she also has to do some exercise. We sleep for most of the time and Ryan makes sure to be friendly with Lady as he wants excess to me.
When we reach our apartment building, Richard, Heather and Theo decide to stay with Ryan. We take the lift to my floor and I say goodbye to them and enter my haven. I crash on the couch as Lady looks around the apartment.
Then after having shower and making Lady’s bed ready on the floor beside me, we both go to sleep.