CHAPTER ONE
LYLA
Balancing on one leg, I finish securing my black tennis shoes and step out of the bathroom stall. I didn’t have time to change clothes from my last job at the bakery and came straight here. Grimacing, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. Caramel eyes stare back at me…eyes that have seen too much and look every bit as tired as I feel. I was up all night making desserts for this wedding, and after my day shift, I’m all but dead on my feet.
Rummaging through my purse, I dab some concealer under my eyes, trying to cover the dark circles. I can’t afford to miss this shift, so sleep will have to wait. It’s not the first time I’ve had to work on no sleep, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.
This catering job pays well, but it’s not enough, so, unfortunately, I’ve been balancing two jobs. Even though the guy who runs the bakery gives me the creeps most of the time when I feel his eyes on me, he pays me in cash and doesn’t pry into my personal life. I need the money more than I need my self-dignity at this point, so I’ll suffer through whatever he dishes my way if it means I keep getting a paycheck.
I’m pulling my long brunette hair into a ponytail when thebathroom door opens. A beautiful auburn-haired woman walks in with a little girl perched on her hip.
“It never fails. You ask them if they have to go to the bathroom before you leave, and they always say no until you sit down to enjoy something, like a wedding,” she laughs, heading to the stall.
The little girl grins at me over her mother’s shoulder. She’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen with her auburn curls and grey eyes. I can’t stop the smile that stretches across my face. Her eyes never leave mine, and for the briefest moment, I get a feeling…a sliver of hope that everything is going to be okay.
They disappear into the stall, and I finish getting ready. My hands work to adjust the black bow tie on my white button-down. I always feel like a penguin in this outfit, but I know it’s standard attire at these events.
“Bow.” I look over, and the little girl is watching me in the mirror as her mom washes her hands.
“That’s right, Ryland. She has a pretty bow just like you do.” Her mom smiles at me as she grabs the paper towels.
“Except yours is way prettier. I wish I got to wear pink bows.” I point to the little pink bow on her dress and in her hair.
“I’m a pwincess,” she grins at me with a mouthful of baby teeth.
“Yes, you are, and don’t let anyone ever tell you differently,” I say softly. I swallow the lump in my throat and start stuffing my clothes back in my bag to keep my hands busy. I feel her mother’s eyes on me and purposely avoid her eye contact.
“Are you part of the catering team for the wedding?”
“I am.” I zip up my bag and put it on my shoulder.
“Maybe I’ll see you later at the reception, then. I’m Eve, by the way.”
I finally meet her blue eyes that I’ve been avoiding. Her gaze unsettles me like she knows what I’m hiding. Recognitionbriefly flashes across her eyes before pity takes its place. There must be something more to Eve than meets the eye. Only someone who has been through pain and fear can easily see through someone who is trying to hide it.
“I’m Lyla. I better get going. I need to prepare my desserts, and I’m already running late.”
The little girl named Ryland gives me another toothy grin and holds out her chubby hand. I instinctively step closer, and she places it on my cheek. My eyes close for a split second, wishing I could hold on to what this child is making me feel. I step back, feeling embarrassed that I let myself get caught up in the moment. I’ve been dealt a shitty hand in life, and no amount of wishing is going to change it. All my wishes as a little girl did nothing but get my hopes up.
“She likes you,” Eve murmurs as she tilts her head and peers at me. “Kids have a way of knowing when someone has a good heart. They also have a way of making us believe that there is a lot more good in this world than bad.” Her words hit close to home…too close for my comfort.
“That may be true for some, but when the dark is all you’ve ever known, you eventually stop asking for some light,” I whisper before walking around them and pulling open the door. My heart beats fast against my chest as I put one foot in front of the other.
Why did I reveal that?
I told her more about me in that one sentence than I have told anybody in the last five years. I should have walked away sooner when I felt my heart start to control my mind. I can’t afford to make mistakes, and I sure as hell can’t afford to let my heart take the lead. My heart lied to me once before, and it’s easier to survive without it.
I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and push open the kitchen door. The smell hits me, and my stomach growls,reminding me I haven’t eaten since breakfast—another reason why I can’t afford to lose this job. Clara always makes sure I take home any extra leftovers. I think she’s taken it upon herself to see to it that I’m eating enough. She’s never asked me about my past, but her knowing eyes give her away. Something tells me she understands me more than I realize.
She walked into the little bakery where I work and, after tasting one of my desserts, hired me on the spot to do events for her. I’ve been working with her for six months now, and this wedding is the first time one of my desserts will be on the menu, so I need to make sure everything goes smoothly. She took a chance on me, and I don’t want to let her down.
“There you are!” Clara comes running over, her blond hair tied securely in a bun at the nape of her neck. She must be around sixty but has the energy of a twenty-year-old. I can barely keep up with her on event days. I tower over her five-foot-two frame with six more inches, and that’s when I’m wearing flats.
“Sorry, I’m late. Traffic from the bakery was awful, and I had to change in the bathroom when I got here.” I put my bag under the counter so it’s out of the way.
“How long do you plan to keep doing this? I know for a fact that you were in my kitchen all night making those desserts and then went straight to your other job. You can’t keep going like this.” She gives me a stern look like she’s scolding one of her grandchildren.
“I’m fine. I’ll get some sleep tonight. I don’t go in until seven tomorrow.”
