TOGETHER

LAYLA

“Thanks again for chauffeuring us around today, Karls. You’re a lifesaver.” I lift Sky out of his carseat in the backseat of my bestie’s SUV.

Grinning, she steals my son out of my arms, propping him on her hip. “My pleasure,” she says. “Any excuse to hang out with my fave little guy.” She peppers kisses all over his face and he squeals with delight.

Together, we cross at the pedestrian crossing on Moon Trail Road and head for the farmer’s market. “Okay, one last stop before we head to the nursing home,” I promise her.

I couldn’t drive my car today. I haven’t gotten around to filling up my gas tank yet, and I feel kind of iffy about my tires, if I’m being honest. All that will need to get sorted out next week, but for today, I have a few things to do around town.

Karli’s been a good sport about driving me from place to place, but I hate monopolizing her day with my many errands. I know she has a lot going on so I really appreciate that she managed to squeeze me in.

I hurriedly purchase the cranberry muffins I came here for. I have every intention of jumping back in the car and getting outof the farmer’s market, but Sky grabs my hand and starts pulling me in the opposite direction.

Karli laughs. “You know better than to come to the market without a visit to Rainbow’s booth. Right, Sky?”

My little guy beams and pats Karli’s cheek in agreement.

Rainbow is the most popular vendor around here. She’s this mystical hippie lady with colorful hair, arms full of bangles and a heart of gold. Plus, her intuition is spookily accurate, something that probably runs in the family—Ziggy Beaumont is her niece, after all.

She lives right down the road from Arnold and me, and my son absolutely adores her.

Truth be told, I love visiting Rainbow’s booth, too. Some of us pass by for the carrots. Others pass by for the broccoli. But we all show up here for the piping hot tea. No matter the season, Rainbow is never in short supply of all the freshest gossip in town.

Strolling across the market, we catch sight of Rainbow. But instead of her usual good vibes, she seems to be nail-spitting mad today.

“Hey Rainbow,” Karli greets the woman who’s grumbling peevishly under her breath. “What’s going on?”

“Opal!” Rainbow grunts out. “The woman keeps piling her smelly garbage bags right next to my booth instead of tossing them in the dumpster. I’ve told her about it a million times but at this point I’m sure she’s doing it to get a rise out of me!”

“Well, that’s not very neighborly,” I say in sympathy.

Opal runs a competing vegetable booth on the other side of the market. Her produce is never quite as big or as fresh as Rainbow’s, and she just seems to be missing that certain ‘sparkle’ that Rainbow has.

The angry vendor huffs out loud. “She’s damn jealous. She’s just bitter that everybody passes right by her wilted-ass lettuce to come buy veggies from me.”

Karli and I snort a laugh.

Opal is a brave woman, trying to make an enemy out of Rainbow. She may be sugar and spice 99 percent of the time, but Rainbow’s voodoo powers are not to be messed with.

With a vigorous shake of her head, the woman seemingly resets her mood. It’s almost like magic. She strokes the top of Sky’s head and offers me a concerned look. “So, how’s the new living situation, moonbeam?”

I offer her a shrug and a weak smile. “It’s good. Arnold’s been really good to us. I just feel bad that we’ve overrun his house.”

“Oh, I have a feeling Arnold doesn’t mind you taking over his house one bit.” Rainbow waggles her eyebrows. “He stopped by here for grapes the other night. The man’s aura was radiating like never before. He’s happy to have you there with him.”

Karli laughs under her breath. “He’s more than happy to have you there. He’s in heaven.”

I glared at her.

She pushes forward. “My brother is clearly in love with you, Layla. I don’t know how you refuse to see it.”

For half a second, I’m tempted to entertain that idea. Then I get a painful flashback to that night I tried to kiss him, the night he turned away from me.

I scoff. “Arnold’s not in love with me. Trust me on that.”

“In time, you’ll come to see that you’re wrong.” Rainbow gives me one of her wise stares that sends a spooky shiver down my spine. “Even still, this whole situation must be so stressful for you. How are you doing, Layla?”

I shrug a shoulder. “Pretty good, all things considered.”

Rainbow doesn’t look convinced. “This is me you’re talking to. Be honest, moonbeam.”

After a pause, I emit a sigh. “I’m hurt,” I admit. “I know I should just be grateful to have a roof over my head and a safe place for my son, but it hurts, driving by the house every day, knowing that Razor has some other woman living their after he kicked out his own child. I’m angry about that.”

The older lady nods in understanding, listening intently. “You have to trust that things will turn out for the best.”

“Trust? It’s really hard to trust. Nothing feels safe. Everything feels turbulent and unsure,” I admit weakly.

“I get it, dear. But you know you weren’t happy in that house, knowing that Razor could return and upend everything at a minute’s notice.”

“Fine. I wasn’t happy,” I concede. “But at least it was home.”

Rainbow’s head bobs slowly as she assesses my words. “You were familiar with the box you were in. But it was still a box. Now, you’ve been kicked out and everything seems scary. But it’s also an opportunity to explore what life might be like outside the box.” She smiles. “That’s where the magic lies.”

I let those words simmer in my mind for a moment. Because Rainbow is right. I was miserable in that house. I felt limited and overwhelmed and afraid. Maybe there might be something better waiting for Sky and me on the other side of this mess.

She continues. “And don’t worry about Razor, honey. He will get his karma and I have a feeling it will be brutal.”

Her words offer me comfort. “Is it bad that I kind of hope that’s true?” I wince.

“It’s out of your hands,” the old mystic says confidently. “The universe will make sure of it. In order to restore balance. That man has made you cry far too many tears to just get away with it.” A mischievous grin appears on her face. “For now, just enjoy life as it unfolds, if you know what I mean.” Waggling her brows, she nudges Karli with her elbow. My bestie nods with a wide grin on her face.

I feel my cheeks start to tingle. “Sorry. I don't know what you mean.”

“Arnold,” Rainbow says pointedly. “Enjoy him. I know you’ve been single for a while, and Arnold has, too. But you should both put this new living situation to good use.”

“Arnold and I are friends.”Barely.

Rainbow huffs. “Girl, stop fighting chemistry. Don’t let your cooch wilt up like a head of lettuce at Opal’s vegetable stand.”

I gasp roughly.

Karli barks out a laugh so hard, I fear she’s going to drop my son.

“Rainbow! That’s not a nice thing to say!” I stifle my own laugh as I swoop Sky out of Karli’s arms.

A guilty look comes over Rainbow’s face. “Sorry, dear. That was a very low-vibrational thing to say. But I’ll stand by this—I’d bet Arnold is willing to water your lettuce, your whole damn garden actually. And it’s perfectly okay to let him.”

Karli is laughing hysterically, wiping tears as they stream down her cheeks.

I roll my eyes at her. “Thanks for the advice, Rainbow. But I think that would be a bad idea.”

Rainbow grows serious. “Would it really be a bad idea? Or just an idea that pushes you out of your comfort zone? There’s a difference, y’know?”

Considering that possibility gives me full-blown anxiety, so I cut the conversation short. “We really have to get going,” I tell Rainbow.

She gives me a knowing nod, but she’s nice enough not to call me out on my avoidance. She gives Sky a juicy tangerine and we all say our goodbyes, heading back across the market.

As we go, I continue thinking about what Rainbow said. I fucked up so bad when I chose Razor as a partner, and maybethis new chapter is my chance to clean up my mistake, to build afresh for Sky and me. I’d love it if this second chance could include the love of a man like Arnold Brighton. But I don’t think I’ll get that lucky. So I won’t even let my mind entertain it.

We jump into the car and Karli drives us across town. In no time, we’re pulling up at the nursing home. Karli waits in the parking lot, catching up on some schoolwork while we go inside.

Razor’s grandmother lives here, and I do my best to come visit her every few weeks. Grandma Dory practically raised him because his parents were never really in the picture. I do my best to ensure that Sky has a relationship with her. That means regular visits to the nursing home where she now lives.

Grandma Dory is delighted when I hand over her favorite cranberry muffins. She’s even more delighted when I help Sky crawl into her bed. The elderly woman showers her great-grandson with hugs and kisses, making me smile.

Razor and I may be over but that doesn’t change how I feel about his grandmother. My son and I don’t have much family so it’s important that we appreciate the few people who have been good to us.

With Sky snuggled by her side, Grandma Dory looks at me with shrewd eyes. “Is everything all right, dear? You look extra tired today.”

I’m tempted to tell her about Razor and his shenanigans, oh, I'm tempted to tell her all about it. But what good would that do? She can’t do anything to fix my problems, so it’s no use dumping my burdens into her lap.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” I lie. “Sky woke up in the middle of the night and I had trouble falling back asleep.”

The woman analyzes my face for a long moment. Then she nods in acceptance of my lie. “I know it’s hard. But you have to remember to take care of yourself, even with all the responsibilities on your plate.”

I’ve been hearing that a lot these days. But in my situation, it’s a lot easier said than done.

“I’ll try my best,” I promise her.

After a few too-short minutes, it’s time to leave. I hate that we can’t stay longer but I can’t keep Karli waiting all day. So we give the old woman a few more hugs before saying goodbye. Then Karli drives us back to Arnold’s house.

When she pulls up in the driveway, there’s a fancy sportscar in the yard. There are tools scattered all about in the snow. I see Arnold crouched beside my rust bucket of a car with a guy who looks familiar.

Karli waves out the driver’s side window. “Hey Jasper!”

I blink.Jasper? Jasper Westbrook?What the hell is going on?

I hop out of the car and hustle to where the two men are now rising to their feet. “Hey,” I say, my attention bouncing between them.

Arnold yanks the work gloves off his hands. “Layla, you remember Nicky’s brother, Jasper?”

I bob my head. “Jasper, the mechanic. The mechanic who lives in Honey Hill.Forty-five minutes away,” I say in disbelief.

“That’s me.” Jasper gives me a grin and a salute. Then he greets Karli who has now come up beside me, holding Sky’s hand.

Jasper is Mason’s cousin, meaning that he and Karli are practically family.

The mechanic’s attention comes back to me and he starts giving me a rundown of all the work he just did on my car.

Brand new winter tires, gas refill, oil change, wiper replacement. How am I supposed to pay for all that? A knot begins to form in my throat. The panic must be evident on my face.

Jasper chuckles as he gathers up his tools and drops them in his toolbox. “Um, Emma and I are considering some renovations on our, uh, back deck. And Arnold has the best prices on light fixtures around. I drove up here to check them out today.”

Why does that sound like a well-practiced lie? Did Arnold tell him to say that?

“Still doesn’t explain why there are new tires on my car,” I say, my eyes finding Arnold’s. “How much did all this cost?”

The man won’t even look at me.

“Arnold…” I hiss his name and Karli snorts.

Glad to see she thinks this is funny.

Meanwhile, I’m trying to remember the name of that website where you can sell your used underwear to make some quick cash. Because that’s my only hope at this point.

He shrugs. “Um, Jasper owed me a favor. I cashed it in.” Clearly another lie.

Wow—the two of them can’t even keep their story straight. Frustrating men!

Arnold snatches up two of my old tires, one in each arm. And that’s the end of the conversation as he heads off toward the storage shed with my old tires.

I glance at Jasper. “Any chance you’re going to tell me how much this cost?”

He smirks, tossing his toolbox into the back and getting behind the wheel of his car. “Not a chance.”

I growl.

Jasper snorts a laugh. “In any case, your car is all checked out and safe for the road.”

My shoulders heave on a sigh. Despite my annoyance, I am so grateful. “Thank you.”

Karli waves after Jasper. “Give Grammy a kiss for me! Mason and I will visit soon.”

I seethe as we watch Jasper roll out of the driveway. “Can you believe your brother? I can’t believe him!”

“Yeah. Bad, bad Arnold,” Karli says, only pretending to take my side. “Making sure your car is safe and you don’t skid off the road into a ditch. Such a bad man.”

Grrr! Karli is pretty frustrating, too!

She gives Sky a kiss goodbye. She grins at me as she slips back behind the wheel of her SUV.

“Go get that lettuce watered, bitch.” She smirks, and then she’s backing down the driveway.