Layla – Present
The warmth of the shower beats down on my skin. I push my damp hair back over my shoulders, turning the shower off. I grab a towel from the holder and wrap it around myself. My feet sink into the fluffy bath mat as I wipe my hand across the mirror fogged up with steam.
By the time I make it downstairs, it’s eight in the morning.
I get myself some coffee and cereal, then take it to the island, pulling out one of the bar stools next to Dad.
I keep checking the time on my phone. I text Mabel this morning, she just got back from Louisiana yesterday, and after last night with Jacob, I’m ready to start jumping into more than a relationship with him.
I asked her how much she wanted for the shop.
She called me immediately. We talked for about an hour, it turns out she already had a hunch I was going to buy it.
She was just waiting for me to finally go for it.
Dad flicks over a page in the morning paper. He’s three bites into a bagel when he notices I’m beside him.
“Have you got work today?”
I shake my head, taking a mouthful of cereal. “It’s my day off.” I reach for my coffee.
He sets the paper down, folding it over. “In that case, I think we should talk.”
I sigh, then turn to face him. “I don’t have anything left to say to you.” And I mean it, not after how many lines he’s crossed already.
He presses his lips together, his cheeks slightly flushed. “You got home late last night.”
I take a sip of my coffee.
“Want to tell me where you were?”
“I was working the closing shift.” I don’t know what he wants me to say.
“Not until three you weren’t.”
“What does it matter?”
His fist hits the counter. I flinch as the ceramic mug clatters against the marble.
“Enough, Layla!” The bar stool scrapes against the tiles as he pushes it out. “I’ve been trying to be more accepting—”
I scoff. “Try harder.”
He rubs his hand along the bottom of his jaw, keeping his eyes on me. “I can’t sit back and watch you make the same mistakes again. I won’t let you. I won’t let you throw away your entire future because of one thing.”
“One thing?”
“It’s a horrible thing that happened, but there comes a time where you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself and move forward.
” He stands and walks over to the opposite side of the island, then pulls out a drawer.
He shuffles through it before setting down three leaflets in front of me.
“I called LSC. They’re happy to have you back in the fall. You can graduate next summer and–”
“Stop.” I lift my bowl and walk it to the sink. I turn on the facet and run the water. “I’m not going back to college.”
“Yes, you are.”
I turn off the water and look at him. “No, I’m not.”
His eye twitches. “Maybe I’m not making myself clear. You will go back to college, and you will graduate. I should have put my foot down at the start. I shouldn’t have allowed this type of behavior.”
I laugh, then grab my phone off the counter and shove it into my back pocket. I take my keys from the dish and tug on the front door.
“I’m done with this conversation.”
“If you walk out that door, I don’t want you back in my house!” He yells.
I let the door fall closed behind me.
***
Mabel sits across the table from me while Perry the realtor goes over the paperwork.
Because the sale is in cash, it’s a straightforward process for us both.
I sign my name where Perry points on the papers, then I call Elinor in the bank across the road to go over the details to release the funds.
Once Perry has everything he needs, he shakes my hand and wishes me the best, along with a promise he’ll be back for opening day, it turns out he has a sweet tooth. At least that makes one customer.
Mabel sets a warm cup of peppermint leaf tea in front of me. She leans over and squeezes my hand. “I’m proud of you, dear.”
“Thank you for selling it to me.” I look down at the gold key on the table. I own it now. My bakery. Excitement bubbles up inside me, and I grin, lifting the cup to my lips.
“Have you told Jacob the news?”
I bite my lip. “Not yet, but I will.”
“He’s going to be so pleased.” She takes a sandwich from the plate. “You never did tell me how the wedding went?”
“It was lovely.” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Amie was beautiful, and Jacob and I had a good time.”
She cocks her head. “Did you now?”
I smile at her.
“And things between you both?”
I nod. “We’re good.” I lift a chocolate from the center of the table and pop it in my mouth. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a contractor to hire.”
I dial the number for Jacob’s company and hold the phone to my ear. A man I don’t recognize answers.
“Hi, can I speak to Jacob please?”
Mabel takes a sip of her tea and winks at me.
“He’s busy.” Static sounds down the line. “What can I do for you?”
“I have a shop I need a contractor for.”
“A shop? What kind of work are you looking to have completed?”
“I need a counter sourced and fitted, and the electric re-wired in the kitchen. I’m not sure what else.”
“Okay. We can have a look and get you a quote. How does Monday sound?”
“Monday’s perfect.”
“Great. Let me take your details, and I’ll get one of the guys out to you.” I can hear him knocking something over on his desk. “Now, what did you say your name was?”
“Layla.”
“Layla? And what’s your—” His voice trails off.
“Hello? Are you there?”
“Layla?” Jacob’s deep voice booms through the phone.
“Oh, hi.” I smile even though he can’t see me. “Are you free for lunch?”
“I can meet you in half an hour.” I swear I can hear his smile through the phone.
“See you then.”
I set my phone down on Mabel’s crocheted tablecloth as she beams at me.
“I like seeing you smile like that,” she says.
“He’s good for you.” She takes her plate to the sink.
“Make sure you get your stuff from your dads when Jacob’s with you.
I don’t like that man.” She mumbles something else I don’t catch.
I told Mabel everything that happened with Dad this morning.
She offered me to move in with her. She has a spare room I can use.
I didn’t really want to burden her, but I don’t have another option besides a hotel.
I spoke with Perry about rentals, he told me he’d get back to me before the weekend.
I’m hoping it’ll be a couple weeks and then I’ll have somewhere of my own.
I step out of the shop just as Jacob pulls up on the curb. He gets out, walking around his truck to meet me.
“Where do you want to go for lunch?” He kisses me quickly, then goes to open the passenger door.
“I might have lied,” I say, “I’m not really hungry, I just wanted to see you.”
He smirks.
“I have so much to tell you,” I tell him as I get into his truck.
“Does it have anything to do with why you called my office asking for contractors?”
“Maybe.” I kiss his cheek. “Let’s go somewhere.”
He takes my hand in his as he pulls off from the curb, taking a right at the end of the street, then turning left into the sand covered parking lot close to Harry’s.
I take my belt off, and he leans over to kiss me.
“I bought Mabel’s shop,” I blurt before his lips touch mine.
He looks surprised for a moment, then he grins.
“You did?”
I nod. “The money transferred into Mabel’s account a half hour ago.”
“Layla, that’s…” He pushes my hair back, his green eyes locked on mine, a smile on his lips. “You’re doing it,” he says.
I beam. “I’m doing it.”
He leans his head against mine, fingers stroking down my hair. I rest my hands on the back of his neck.
“So, about the contractors?”
He smiles. “When do you want them to start?”
“Is next week too much to ask?”
He grins. “I think I can make that work.” He leans into kiss me, but I put my hand on his chest, stopping him.
“I don’t want them to do everything though. I want to paint the walls myself, and when I say myself, I really mean with you. I want to paint the walls with you.”
“Okay.” He laughs. “Can I kiss you now?”
“Yes.” His lips touch mine. “Actually…” He stops. “There’s one more thing. I’m moving in with Mabel.”
I lean into kiss him, but this time he stops me.
“What do you mean you’re moving in with Mabel?”
“I had an argument with Dad this morning. He wants me to go back to LSC. He gave me an ultimatum.”
“He wants you to go back to college?”
I shake my head. “Want wasn’t a word he used. I’m pretty sure he said, You will go back to LSC, Layla.” I put on my best impression of Mitch Hart and laugh, but Jacob isn’t laughing with me. He looks out the front window, toward the beach.
“Hey.” I grab his arm. “I’m not going. Obviously. And I’m not going back to his house. That’s why I’m going to live with Mabel until I can lease somewhere myself.”
He looks at me. “That’s definitely what you want?” The moment he says it, he looks away again.
I climb across the car until I’m in his lap, grabbing hold of his face.
“Yes.” I say, “I told you before, I never would have chosen to go to LSC. I never wanted to go to college. I wanted to do exactly what I’m finally doing now.
I wanted my bakery. I’m mad at him for even suggesting it, and he’s mad at me for reasons I’m not sure even the most educated therapist in the world could begin to dissect.
I’m okay with that. I’m okay with all of it.
” I release a breath, “And I am one thousand percent certain that I’m right where I want to be.
I didn’t think I would ever feel anything again.
But I do. And I know that this, us,” I say, “is exactly what I want.”
He puts his hand on my neck, his lips are a whisper from mine. “I love you,” he says before he closes the gap and kisses me.