Of course. It was so like him to make a snide comment. She raised an eyebrow, giving him an uncaring look, "Even? Ha. Not by far." She stood up straight, her glare on him for a moment before she felt a tugging on her shirt and looked own at her daughter, "Huh? Oh, Lily. Go change back into your normal clothes. We'll get it and then head home, okay?" The little girl nodded, looking shyly at James with her bright blue eyes before moving quickly back into the dressing room.When Lily was gone and out of ear shot, Amelia turned her hard gaze to James again, "Lily's six now. In case your wondering. And my family? She's my family. The only family we need is each other.

She wasn't going to tell him straight out. No. He would have to figure out the truth for himself. Though, with all the clues she was throwing out for him, it shouldn't have been to hard to figure out. She looked like him. Her telling him her age, which lined up with their last intimate interaction. Hell, even her name, the same name as his dead mother, was a clue! If he didn't realize it soon, he was even dumber than she thought. But then again, even if he did figure it out, she didn't expect him to act on it. Clearly he was still the same spoiled and egotistical man he had always been. She didn't want her daughter subjected to life with a man like him as her father. Lily deserved better. She would rather the girl have no father than someone like him as one. She wasn't going to let him hurt Lily like he had hurt her. She was so worried if she did he would be a great father for a few months, maybe a year, and then walk out on Lily. That would cause more emotional pain for the little girl then never having him in her life at all.

She wasn't going to let him do that to her. Never. As far as she was concerned, he would never get the chance to. This little chanced meeting would be over with soon and she could just forget about James again. It would be difficult the first few days, but Amelia was stronger than she had been six years ago. She could make it. And she was sure it wouldn't be hard at all for him to forget he had seen her. After all, he had a daughter. Probably a beautiful wife at home. All the money he wanted(that damn money she hated. one of the very reasons he had changed). He probably wouldn't even think twice about seeing her here except to maybe joke with his friends about how he had seen his 'pitiful' ex girlfriend again.

She glanced over to see her daughter walk out of the dressing room and smiled at her, "Come on Lily Pad. Lets pay for that and get home." She took the little girl's hand and lead her off to the cash register. As she paid for the dress, Amelia felt her daughter tug on her sleeve and looked down at the shy little girl, "What is it sweety?"

The little looked up at her with curious and worried eyes, "Mommy? Who was that man? Why did he make you so mad?"

Amelia blinked in surprise and frowned deeply. She always hid bad emotions from her daughter that seeing Amelia so upset was something new for the little girl. It ashamed Amelia that her daughter had seen that snappy side of her. She smiled softly at her daughter, as she did when trying to comfort her, "No one honey. Don't worry about it. Just...someone from the past. And that's all he is, is the past. I doubt we'll ever see him again anyway." After the dress was all paid for, she picked it up and took her daughter's hand once more, "Now come on, when we get home I'll let you play in the front yard, alright?"

That made the little girl very excited. She bounced up and down, giggling and following her mother. As Amelia left the store, she glanced up to look at James once more before turning and leaving the store, hoping to put all of this behind her for herself, as well as her daughter.

...

Once home, Amelia went inside and started cooking dinner while little Lily played outside in the front year, inside of the white picket fence that ran around the house's property. She giggled and ran around, blowing bubbles and chasing butterflies. She was a very energetic and fun loving child, as it showed when she played. She laughed and fell back into the grass, laying there giggling all the while as a butterfly flew over her. Sitting up, she smiled brightly and grabbed her bubbles, blowing more of them, glad to just be having fun and outside.
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