Chapter 3 #4
“I need your help,” Lyla told her. “I’m going to Scotland for a few months, and I need someone I can trust to live here in my apartment and keep an eye on the building.
You know, passing on word about any repairs that Arthur needs to know about and take care of.
Manage the rent coming in…or when it doesn’t.
You know my policy on that: everyone pays as soon as they can.
They always have. All the tenants know you and like you.
They trust you and Jakey just like I do.
Would you and he be able to move in here for a while?
” She couldn’t resist a grin. “I know Jakey will take good care of my piano.”
“But I owe you back rent and utilities,” Sara said, cringing as she confessed her problems in front of Keeva.
Lyla shrugged. “You’re still getting back on your feet, and food for you and Jake comes first. If you don’t eat, you can’t work.
” She tapped the edge of the business card on the table.
“And if you live in my place while I’m gone, there’d be no rent or utilities.
I know you haven’t been in the other place very long.
Would it be too much of a pain for you to move down here for a couple of months?
Of course, we’d hold your apartment for when I came back.
You and Jakey are here to stay as long as you want. ”
“We didn’t bring anything with us but a few clothes,” Sara said, seeming dazed. “The furniture in our place upstairs belongs to you. You said it came furnished.”
“It did, but I didn’t know if you’d be willing to uproot yourself again.
It would still be a change and moving your stuff down here.
” Lyla didn’t want the woman to feel like this was a handout, because it wasn’t.
“I really need your help if you’d be okay with doing this, but if you don’t feel like you can, I understand and won’t hold it against you.
I’ll be in Scotland, two, maybe three months tops, then I’ll be back. ”
“Unless she decides to stay permanently,” Keeva said with a knowing look. “Scotland tends to take hold of ye and never let go.”
Lyla ignored that comment as the broken-chord strains of Bach’s Prelude No.
1 in C Major, BWV 846 came to them through the open patio door.
Her heart swelled with pride, and she nodded.
“Listen to his confidence. He’s feeling the music.
” She pressed a hand to her chest and tried not to give in to tears.
“I’m going to miss Jakey so much. You have no idea how much your son has helped me get through this difficult time. ”
For the first time since her arrival, Sara shyly tucked her head and smiled. “He is beyond precious. Jake makes the world a better place.” But then her smile faded. “He’s going to be so heartbroken when I tell him you’re leaving, and his lessons will have to be put on hold till you return.”
“About that—I have something that might help.” Lyla slid the business card over to Sara.
“My friend, a musical virtuoso who retired a few years ago, said she would love to take over Jake’s lessons.
She lives across town but has no problem coming over here every Tuesday so Jake can continue taking his lessons here.
He’s entirely too young to cross town while you’re at work, and you can trust Sylvia.
She’s a grandmama type who adopts everyone.
I wrote her name and number on the back of my card here, but I’d be happy to give her a call and get things started if that’s okay with you. ”
Sara stared down at the card, then looked back up at Lyla. “Will Jake like her? You know how…well…sometimes, he has trouble coming out of his shell around people he doesn’t know. Remember how he was when you first showed him the piano. It took him a while to trust you.”
“Sylvia has three grandkids,” Lyla said.
“All three are on the spectrum. She knows about giving people the time they need to adjust. And of course we’ll ask Jake if he’s comfortable meeting her.
If he’s not, he can simply continue to work on his own while I’m in Scotland.
I’d be happy to FaceTime him so I can hear how he’s doing, but he’d be so much better off with Sylvia here to teach him.
Actually, she can take him much farther with music than I can.
She’s amazing. I can show him a few videos of when she still performed. ”
Sara’s eyes filled with tears. She ducked her head and hurried to swipe them away.
“Words can’t begin to describe how much you’ve helped us, how you made us feel like we mattered, that we weren’t…
disposable. I don’t know what we would’ve done without you, Lyla.
Jake and I will gladly help you any way we can. You can always count on us.”
“You and Jakey showed up in my life just when I needed you most.” Lyla sniffed, fighting not to cry.
“You’ve already helped me so much, and I really appreciate your helping me with this.
” Unable to restrain herself, she pulled Sara into a hug.
“Thank you so much. Now, let’s go see if Jake wants to go to the next level in music with Sylvia. ”
Sara gave her a tearful smile and nodded.
Keeva blew her nose loudly. “Wonderful. Just wonderful.”