When Hidden Lanterns Glow We Find Roads Toward Peace by Ryn Arlo Dane 43

Telling Truths Part I 

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She was curled around Kaylee in the morning aware she’d slept far better than she’d anticipated. 

The quiet sound of the door to the bedroom open and footsteps approaching the bed made her tense, but she feigned sleep as felt the bed dip behind her. The sound of a something glass clattering on the nightstand was followed by the warm scent of honeyed tea. 

The tender way Gulliver gently pushed the hair off her cheek and then as if he believed she was still sleeping and was stealing something precious, he leaned over her and kissed her cheek softly. He then rested his forehead against her temple for a moment and then he was pulling away, the bed adjusting as he got up and walked out of the room with soft footsteps. 

“Daddy?” 

Kaylee’s little voice called him back. 

“Hey sweetheart. I was just bringing in a tea for your mom. I thought maybe she was awake already but she’s still asleep.” He whispered softly, “are you ready to get up and we can let Mom sleep a bit longer?” 

“/don’t want to get up,” Kaylee whined. “It’s too early is the:30 

sun even un?” 

Telling Truths Part I 

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He chuckled softly, “it is up. The sky is a pretty sunrise. Would 

like to come sit on the balcony with me and watch?” 

you 

“No.” 

January almost laughed aloud at her daughter’s words. The child was not a morning person. 

“Well, I’ll let you rest a bit longer then,” the laugh in his voice was evident. 

“Dad, can you come cuddle me?” Kaylee asked sleepily. “You can come on the other side of me and cuddle me. I’ve never got to cuddle in the morning with my dad before.” 

A pang of something January was not willing to identify hit her square in the chest, but she kept her eyes closed and her breathing even. 

“Oh, honey, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Mom is sleeping and I don’t think she’d like it if I crawled in the bed where she 

is.” 

“Please?” Kaylee begged. 

“Kaylee, I don’t want to make your mom upset with me more than she already is. She is still very angry with me for some of the things I did yesterday and the last time I saw her,” 276 

12:30 

Telling Truths Part I 

“Daddy,” Kaylee whined. 

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January turned halfway and opened one eye to look at Gulliver, “come on but stay on the other side of her. I won’t be the 

one responsible for robbing her of her first morning with her daddy.” 

Even with one eye still closed, she didn’t miss the alacrity in which Gulliver moved to race around the other side of the bed and to climb up beside his daughter. He stretched out long beside her and tucked his hands under his cheek as he nestled into her pillow, staring at Kaylee’s bright eyes. 

“Good morning, Kaylee.” 

“Good morning Daddy,” Kaylee gave a giggle which made January’s heart squeeze. “I never said that before.” 

“We’ll have lots of mornings in the future where we can say good morning.” He brushed the back of his fingers along her rosy cheeks. “You’re very beautiful.” 

Kaylee blushed at the compliment, and she turned wide eyes to her mom, “my dad thinks I’m beautiful.” 

“You are beautiful.” 

know, Mom but my dad thinks so too.” 

12:30 

Telling Truths Part I 

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January struggled not to laugh at the comment. There was no shortage of ego or self–confidence in her child, and she closed her eyes again and snuggled into the pillow but then her mind ran to the tea she knew was sitting on the nightstand. She rolled onto her back and propped herself up in the bed and reached for the cup. She inhaled the tea and knew he’d made it exactly as she liked it before she’d even taken a sip. A drop of honey and a splash of milk in a scalding hot dark tea. 

She gave him a sideways glance before putting the cup to her lips, “thank you.” 

He smiled at her, “you’re welcome.” 

Kaylee edged closer to Gulliver, “Daddy?” 

“Yes, sweetheart?” 

“What did you do that made Mom run away from you with 

me?” 

The question came way out of left field and was not anything. January was thinking would come out of her mouth and she choked on the scalding mouthful of tea. 

Gulliver took a deep breath. “I lied to your mom, Kaylee. I told her a terrible lie and then when she talked to someone else about that lie, they told her some lies too and it made your 4/6 

12:30 

Telling Truths Part I 

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mom think I was a scary, dangerous person who lies and does bad things. Your mom left me because she thought, since I lied and the people she trusted were telling her that lying was not the only bad thing I did, that I was going to cause you harm. Your mom left me to keep you safe Kaylee.” 

“What did you lie about?” 

Gulliver’s sharp inhalation made January shoot him a look and wondered how he was going to manage it. 

“Well, Kaylee, sometimes people make decisions for the people they love thinking they’re doing it for the right reasons. My grandfather is a very nice man but he’s a very demanding person. He expects an awful lot of me. He wanted me to get married to someone else.” 

“What? Did you want to marry someone else?” 

“Not at all. I didn’t even like the other lady. She’s not a good person. She’s dangerous and a bit crazy if you ask me,” Gulliver commented bluntly. 

“Then why did your grandfather want you to marry her?” 

“Because he thought she was lovely and she was the granddaughter of his best friend.” 

5/6 

“So, what did you do?” 

12:31 

Telling Truths Part I 

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“Well,” he looked at January who was eying him over the rim. of her teacup, “I told my grandfather I would marry the lady because I thought I’d be able to catch her doing something bad. Once I caught her doing something bad, I could prove to my grandfather that I was right, he was wrong.” 

“Did you get married to her?” 

“No. I said I would get married to her. I didn’t actually do it.” 

“Oh.” Kaylee frowned, “is that what you lied to my mom about?”