This is the story of a man who found the woman of his dreams. The woman who he planned to spend the rest of his life with.
But he found out that life usually has other plans.
Authors note;
All characters, who engaged in sexual activity, are over the age of 18.
At no time was there any underage sexual activity.
Pedophilia is a crime.
Lily - My savior
I sat in my recliner, drink in hand, staring blankly out the window. It has now been 3 years since I lost my wife of 17 years. First came the accident which took part of her sight. Then came the cancer, which claimed the rest of her.
I downed what was left in my glass and poured another. In my semi-drunk state, my mind wandered back to the first day I saw my Mai Ling and her sweet, little daughter, Lily.
*****************
'Alright John,
either you mow the lawn today, or you don't go to the summer dance'.
I heard my father's voice boom out.
So here I am at 8 am pushing a very stubborn lawn mower. Then again, it could be due to my own procrastination of not mowing when it was due. I even procrastinated to the point that I had to repeat a grade in high school. That bad trait has now allowed the grass to grow several inches too high, for the mower to accomplish the job properly.
I have already made several trips back and forth from the front yard to the back. Sweat was running down my shirtless torso, soaking my jeans. It must already be in the 90's. I take the towel from around my neck and wipe my face. I shake the sweat from my hair sending a shower of water all over.
As I am about to turn to make another pass to the back, a car pulls up to the house next door, followed by a moving van. At first, I pay little attention, then a total vision of beauty exits the car. I am mesmerized.
She walks around the car and opens the back door. After a minute the cutest little girl steps out and waves to me. I wave back. She takes the woman's hand and they walk up to the front door and, after unlocking it, walks inside. The movers start their work immediately.
It takes me another 2 hours to finish my sentence of mowing. After putting the mower away, I enter the house, go straight to my room and enjoy a long shower.
It was 3 days later that I was finally able to meet my new neighbors. We introduced ourselves, and when I shake her hand, rockets went off in my brain. I could see that something similar happened with her.
"Hi, I'm John." My voice cracked out with a higher pitch than normal.
"Hi yourself. I'm Mai Ling. My daughter's name is Lily." Her brown eyes were intense and her smile was warm.
"I don't mean any disrespect, but those are very beautiful names." I raised my hands to show that I was not a threat.
"None taken. That is very kind of you to say so." She did a small bow of respect.
Just then, a very small hand took mine. I looked down into the most beautiful brown eyes that I have ever seen. "Hi, my name is Lily. What is yours?" Her small voice sung like a lullaby.
"Hi, my name is John." She reached her arms up and I picked her up. She wrapped her little arms around my neck and placed a soft kiss on my cheek. I noticed that Mai Ling had put her hand over her mouth in surprise.
"She has never done that with anyone before. She is usually friendly, but not like that." Mai Ling laughed and small tears fell from those beautiful eyes. "Since her father was killed over a year ago, in the war, she has been somewhat reserved in her actions towards other people."
"Then I am truly honored to have received such a gift." I gave Lily a kiss on her cheek and a gentle hug as well. I felt that our meeting was kismet.
Such began our relationship. I would sit for Lily when Mai Ling needed to work. Lily would have me playing the games that little girls play. Mostly with her serving tea to a big stuffed bear and a home made doll. It was during times like this, that I began to have the love of a father for this little girl.
We all went out together to the park or the lake. I would mow her lawn, as well as my own, without being told. My father said that it almost gave him a heart attack the first time that I did it.
During the next 2 years, Mai Ling and I were nearly inseparable. We never engaged in any sexual activity.
My parents just thought at first it was a phase. But then, they came to realize that what we had was very real.
Lily started to refer to me as daddy, and my parents as grandma and grandpa.
I even arrived late to class one day because I took her to the first day of kindergarten. I taught her how to ride a bike and how to swim. I did those and all of the other things that dads do for their children.
Mai Ling and I went out to the movies and such alone. We never engaged in any sexual activity. But the love we shared was as real as any couple in love. We knew that our marriage was not far off.
Because I wanted to do right by this woman and little girl, my school work improved such that I graduated from high school, with honors, and received a full ride scholarship.
For my 19
th
birthday she wanted to give me a gift that will forever be cherished. She wanted to take my virginity.
It was June and I had just received my diploma from high school. We just put Lily to bed for the 3
rd
time. She was still wound up from the graduation party for me. We had taken her and my parents to the lake for the day.
"I am only 19 but that little 5 year old has more energy then I ever hope to have." I laughed as Mai Ling and I hugged.
"You better have more energy left. Because I intend to keep you up for the rest of the night." Mai Ling put her arms around my neck and gave me a kiss that curled my toes. Her tongue slid across my lips, then slid into my mouth. I was french kissing the woman of my dreams.
Our hips ground together. My erection was unmistakable, as it sought entrance into her womanhood.
"Let's go upstairs and get more comfortable." She took my hand and led me up the stairs. I peeked into Lily's room to make sure that she was asleep. From the looks of her, I don't believe a bomb going off in her room would have awakened her.
We entered Mai Ling's bedroom and stood by the bed. We undressed each other. When I was naked, Mai Ling went to her knees, took my cock in hand and gently kissed it. She ran her tongue along the shaft.
Then we heard the little angel. "Mommy, I'm thirsty." Oh well. That is life when you have a little one. So much for that bomb, it must have been a dud. I dressed and went home.
All during my college years the only woman I dated was Mai Ling. During spring break, just before I graduated from college, we were married. Mai Ling was 27 and I was 22.
I had completed my Bachelor's degree in Architecture in 3 years. Upon graduation, we moved into the same house next door to my parents.
Mai Ling and I started a business designing homes for a custom home builder, she was already doing there interior designing. We were a good team. Our business flourished from the very beginning.
Lily would run over to grandpa and grandma's house for milk and cookies after school while Mai Ling and I would still be working in our home office. Life was great for the first 5 years, until the accident.
While an associate was hanging a picture, it slipped out of their hands and fell, the glass shattering as it hit the floor. Mai Ling was standing at the bottom of the ladder. A piece went flying, the glass shard penetrated her left eye, blinding her.
That, though, did not stop her. She still did her interior designing as always. But it was shortly after our 14
th
wedding anniversary that our world fell apart.
Mai Ling was diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer. The doctor said that she needed to have surgery. So on a September morning, one of the loves of my life was wheeled into an operating room to have, what was hoped to be, life saving surgery.
But 3 years after the surgery, and various chemo and radiation treatments, Mai Ling lay dying. I sat by her bedside holding her hand. I prayed to every God there was to save my love. Lily and her new husband were there constantly. Then that moment came that I feared most.
"John my love, I am sorry for not bearing any children of your own. I wanted a large family. You are the perfect father and husband. It has been my honor to be called your wife." Her breathing became more labored.
"It has been my honor to be your husband and a father to Lily. I have all that I ever needed in the 2 of you." I kissed her hand and she felt the tears running down my face. She called Lily to her side.
"Lily, take care of your father always. Remember our talks. He is still very important in your life." She reached up and brushed some hair out of Lily's face. Lily fell across Mai Ling, sobbing. She was only able to choke out an I love you before Mai Ling closed her eyes for the final time.
Late that night, the woman at the center of my dream world, was gone. So was my dream.