Speak To Me

(Tilly)

I stepped towards the bedroom door and was about to walk through when Rylan gripped my hand tightly before pulling me back to his chest.

I was still all sticky and wet..but he didn't even seem to care.

"Tilly, you don't have to do this." He whispered, prompting me to glance over my shoulder as I eyed Rylan's mom staring at us from across the room.

Of course she just smiled warmly and turned away, acting like seeing us together didn't affect her in the slightest. I could tell it did though..

"It's okay..like you spoke with my papa..I want to speak with your mom too..I want her to see how much I love you Rylan..and if she still doesn't accept me, then that's fine. But then she can't say I didn't try, right mi amor?" I explained quietly, my words causing Rylan to close his eyes and swallow hard.

"God..why did you have to call me that..you know what it does to me." He mumbled, making me hold in a laugh as I lifted on my toes before kissing his lips gently.

"It's true though, you are my love..my one and only love." I let my words fan against his skin as a visible shiver trembled through him.

"I love you too..so much..that's why I'm giving you five minutes...and if I hear any yelling then I'm kicking the damn door down." He added playfully before nipping at my bottom lip and pulling.

Ugh..how could this man be so perfect? And how the hell is that horrible woman in there the one that raised him?

"Matilda dear, I think I found something. I can take it from here sweetheart." Caroline rushed before prying me away from Rylan and practically slamming the door in his face.

"That boy, I swear he always finds some new way to annoy me. You should've seen him with his last girlfriend...I swear he was attached to her at the hip. Come, I think this should fit you. It was one of Jolie's dresses when she used to do pageants..of course she was a lot thinner back then.." Caroline began to ramble out, making me blink rapidly as I tried to process all of that.

It was a lot..

Especially since she was now holding the poofiest yellow dress I had ever seen..it was not even a soft yellow, I am talking bright neon yellow that could probably be seen from space.

"I think Jolie looks beautiful." I managed to mumble as she lifted the dress and held it to my body.

"Oh, of course my daughter is beautiful..but her figure is all she has left..I mean, she isn't getting younger and men these days have certain..tastes." She began, looking down at me before smiling widely. "Alder seems to love her exactly how she is."

Suddenly Caroline froze as that fake smile faltered.

"Love..is that what you think it is? Oh bless your heart..men like Alder King only want one thing..and when they get it, they are onto the next." She began..and honestly what she said made me laugh. I didn't mean to..it just came out and Caroline did not expect it. "Sorry, it's just..you sound just like mama. In fact, she said the same exact thing about Rylan." I said, making Caroline falter as her hand pulled the dress away from me.

"About my Rylan?! He would never!"

Don't you mean my Rylan?

I wanted to say it so badly..but I decided against it...even if I meant it with all my heart.

I looked at Caroline in her wide green eyes, the words I spoke seeming to catch her off guard as I stepped around her and headed for the open closet.

"That's what I told Mama. Rylan would never..in fact, I knew Rylan was different even all those years ago. But after my real mother told me about my father.." I began, glancing back to see Caroline watching me carefully.

I knew she was aware that Shaina was my mother, that's what she was talking about the first time I came here. So when I said it, I didn't see an ounce of surprise.

"I told them Rylan wasn't like other guys..I could tell just by the way he looked at me..how he didn't see me any differently for wearing a uniform when we first spoke. He only saw me..the real me..and I will tell you, Mrs. Walters, I saw him too, even when I was a young girl."

I reached for a long silver dress, the color sparkling beneath the light as I couldn't help but admire it. This was something I could never afford before..in fact, it's a dress I wouldn't even bother looking at because those types of things never mattered. But suddenly, looking at it, I felt like I needed to prove a point. Even if I don't belong in this world..I'm here, and there is nothing Caroline can do about it.

"I know you don't think I'm good enough for your son. I know you want someone who is more on your level. But how can you know that when you haven't even seen our love? If you haven't taken a single moment to truly look at him and realize that for the first time in his life he is happy..truly happy..and that's not something money can buy." I whispered, taking the silver dress out fully now and holding it against me.

"Isn't that what a loving mother would wish for their child? No..for their children..to find true happiness? If not..then what more do they need?"

"What more? You can't possibly believe love can buy you food or pay for your rent when it's due..that is a naive way of thinking." She snapped, making my smile falter slightly as I almost felt bad for this woman.

"No, you are right..but that love is what gets you through those times..it's what pushes you to want more..I know about sacrifice Mrs. Walters...and I also know that I wouldn't trade a single second of it after what it taught me. Luckily you have raised Rylan in a home where he will never know what it's like to go hungry..or to feel so hopeless that you don't even know if you will have a home tomorrow. But I wouldn't trade one second of it because it brought me to him..and now those lonely nights don't seem so bad..in fact..they make this love that much sweeter." I said softly, feeling a stray tear fall down my cheek as I swiftly wiped it away before forcing a smile and turning around.

"So I understand if you're not willing to accept Rylan and me being married..but just know I will spend every day of my life cherishing that man. After all, he is what I wished for all of those lonely nights..and to have that wish come true..I will never take it for granted." I ended my speech, not sure if Caroline even knew about the wedding..but I suspected since Madeline did.

"Now if you will excuse me, I think this is more my color." I said, turning away from her as I walked to the bathroom and tried my hardest to keep it together.

I had never been so open and honest with someone before..well, other than Rylan. But I hope she saw it..and maybe she might actually see just how much I love her son.

But when I opened the door and saw Rylan standing there instead of Caroline..I won't lie..my heart dropped.

"Wow..you look incredible Angel." He breathed, eyeing me up and down as he admired the dress I now wore.

"Where is your mom?" I asked quietly as Rylan stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me.

"She said she had to go take care of something." He explained, and I could hear the disappointment in his voice.

"Well..I tried." I said, making Rylan nod his head up and down.

"I know baby, I know you did..and it's okay. I love you so much..and we are our own little family now right?" He asked, pulling away as he peered down at me.

All I could do was cry..I don't know why I let it affect me this much..but a deep part of me just wanted to be accepted. That's all I ever wanted..

"Hey, it's okay..come here. Nothing else matters but you and me..as long as we are together, we are unstoppable baby." Rylan said sweetly before bending down and kissing all my tears away. "You're right mi amor." I sniffled, making Rylan growl before attacking my neck now.

"Now you've done it.."

I couldn't help but giggle as Rylan began tickling and kissing me all over..he knows just what to do to make me feel better.

I just hope Jolie has better luck with her mom than I did..