''How come you didn't tell mention this to me sooner?'' states Thomas curiously on why he is just finding out now instead of last year? Feeling he is this baby who can't handle the truth, he wonders if he is the last one to know of his family?
''You were just so broken after everything with losing mommy; I didn't want to make you more upset. Then you already were ''tells Liam. Thinking at that moment, it was the right decision, now not so much. ''I'm not a little kid anymore, dad; I could have handled the truth, ''says Thomas. Not getting why it took his dad so long to tell this shocking news? Here he thinks that his dad was just upset over losing his mom, but it was so much more than that?''Buddy, I thought I was doing what was right, as your father and I don't want to discuss this anymore ''states Liam pulling the truck over as he turns his head at his boy, making it clear to not ask any more questions than he already has.
''Alright, daddy ''sighs Thomas, not understanding; why they can't talk about this new information? About the new addition to their family who they lost & never got a chance to meet officially? The suspense was making him to where he almost jumps out of his seat & wanted to know more about why his dad has kept this to himself for so long?
''Thank you, I will wanna talk about it eventually, but I can't right now; it hurts me too much to say the words, ''says Liam. Talking about another addition of the second person he lost on the same day as his beloved Zoey. Who cannot be replaced even if he moves on again? It will have to be stable & permanent before he absorbs this new possibility of a relationship and commitment to this side of his personal life?
No one can take her place & Liam is not looking for that because no one can take his wife's place; it's more of feeling closure with someone who gives him the same feelings that Zoey did. It doesn't make sense why Hazel would leave the way she did by leaving a note? Yes, he did walk away from her after telling him about the grief counseling, but it wasn't even Hazel's idea. In the first place, he can't be mad at her for not knowing that bit of information. If he had known the truth & found that out before Hazel talked to him, maybe she would still be in Peppermint?
They wouldn't be going on this get away from the town, which caused all of Liam's doubt & having trouble trusting the people he deeply cares about, which is hard to believe is his family. Are involved for the reason of what he is running away from? It's insane to think that an overgrown thirty-eight-year-old man is avoiding the problems that are going on in his life? To where everything unwinds, it all connects & clicks; the reason for all of this is Zoey. His personality & wisdom faded away the same day he found out that Zoey was dead.
A few days have passed,'' daddy ''says Thomas in the backseat of the truck.''Yes, buddy?'' asks Liam looking through his rearview mirror at his little boy, curious about what Tom will say? As he lives curiously through his son and every aspect of his life. These last couple of days have been exactly what he has needed. Unfortunately, when the two of them arrive back in Peppermint, reality will sink right back in for Liam. This means he will need to face the music and talk to his family about everything. ''Are you ready to talk about Lily?'' asks Thomas as he has been waiting anxiously the last few days by being very patient and not mention it once while they were in New Hampshire & Maine. Showing Thomas places that he has never been to, and explores new places. They climb the slippery rocks at Diana's Bath, in North Conway while putting their feet in the freezing icy water. Exploring Acadia National Park in Maine, walking through the sand & rocks smelling the ocean breeze. While looking up at the trees, It was a priceless experience & great memories for the Brown men, that will both have that for a lifetime.
''Um, sure bud, what would you like to know?'' asks Liam curiously, even though the thought of talking about his baby girl. It is very hard on him to talk about the daughter he never met.''Well, I know that you & mommy never got to meet my little sister. What & how was your guy's reaction when the two of you found out Lily was a girl?'' asks Thomas wanting to know every detail on this precious moment of the start to their growing family. ''We actually didn't find out the gender before the car accident; however your mom always had this gut sense on whether we were having a boy or a girl. Which it all started with you, bud'' states Liam.
''How did she know what Lily or I was? When we were both inside of her, was mommy a psychic or something?'' asks Thomas curiously, wanting to know more deeply about this? Your mom somehow had this magical sense of knowing things that nobody else could figure out, including me? Yet I never truly asked her how she knew, because I thought it would take away her pride of being the only one to know what we were expecting'' tells Liam, and was amazed at how his wife was always right even when she wasn't with them?
''I miss her so much'' sniffles Thomas as he picks up his blanket to wipe his tears, and his dad pulls over and reaches his arm over the seat to hand his little boy a tissue to wipe his tears in replace of the blanket.''Thank you, daddy ''says Thomas as he takes the tissue from Liam and wipes his tears.
''Your welcome, and just know that you are allowed to talk about mommy whenever you want to me, don't ever feel afraid to for any reason. To avoid me feeling sad when we talk about her, that is the last thing I would ever want as your dad. Is for you to feel ashamed or weirded out to talk about her after all; she is your mom at the end of the day. Even if she isn't with us ''tells Liam. Being open to his boy about Zoey and it feels good to talk about his feelings, which is the last thing Liam would ever say.