Layla giggled too. Mark watched as Heath stood, using the plant for support, and continued to race his tiny fingers up and down the plant and its vine. “What should we take care of next, little man?” Layla asked Heath, and he responded with gurgles and nonsense words. “The carrots?” Layla questioned. “Why, I think you’re right, Heath. The carrots do need our attention.” She stood from her seated position in one fluid motion to walk over to the next row of plants. “Are you coming, Heath?” she asked casually.
She held out her hands close to the baby, and he grasped her forefingers with his tiny hands. Layla took one step backward, leading Heath gently; the baby lifted his leg and took a step, using her assistance.
Mark inhaled sharply, and Layla’s head popped up reflexively. She never let go of Heath’s hands, but she twisted her neck so she could see him. “Mark! I didn’t know you were standing there,” she squeaked, clearly startled by his presence. A slow smile spread across her face, and Mark hoped she was also happy to see him.
Mark did not reply but walked closer to the two of them. Heath’s little face looked determined. He held tightly to Layla’s fingers, and as she moved backward one more pace, he followed.
“He’s walking,” Mark said, awe tinging his voice.
Layla chuckled. “Not exactly, but he is making progress.” She and Heath kept up their slow movements until they reached the end of the row of peppers, and then they turned toward the carrots.
“I can’t believe it,” Mark whispered.
“Really?” Layla questioned, her forehead wrinkling a little. “What can’t you believe?”
“It seems soon. It seemstoo soonfor him to be taking steps like this. I mean …” Mark was flustered. “Is it too early?” Mark worried endlessly about Heath’s progress. When his son was born blind, Mark knew that everything was going to be more challenging for Heath, and so he had just always figured things like crawling and walking would not come until much later. Even though Layla was still assisting, seeing him walk now made Mark’s heart soar with joy.
Layla shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not an expert on babies, but Heath is just over a year old. He can stand and crawl. I see no reason why he shouldn’t be able to walk, too.”
Mark considered this. “But is it safe?”
Layla must have heard how perplexed he was because she soothed, “I assure you that I stay with him at all times, Mark. I let him hold my fingers the whole time, and we take nice slow steps. He’s not ready to run about the place yet but give him time. He’ll get there eventually.”
Mark was shocked, and his expression must have shown it because Layla laughed broadly. “What?” Mark asked.
“It’s nothing. I was just watching your face. You must be so proud of your son. Heath is doing extremely well.” She smiled down at the baby. “All right now, Heath. We’re very close to the carrots. Maybe we’ll even eat a few today. What do you think?”
Heath burbled in response. Even though the baby was not using actual words, Mark noticed that he seemed to answer Layla in his own unique language. Layla moved smoothly. In a rapid but delicate set of motions, she knelt, eased Heath to the ground, and then swung her legs quickly so that she could sit on them.
Mark stood there, not realizing his mouth hung open in astonishment. He thought it was a miracle how Heath interacted so easily with Layla. He had taken to her so quickly, and the two of them seemed to operate as a cohesive team. Mark observed their interactions plenty over the last couple of weeks, but this was the first time he noticed how the pair had come to fit together seamlessly. The way the baby moved so steadily under Layla’s hand seemed so practiced. He would have thought they had been together for months rather than weeks if he had not known better.
Layla took a moment to look at Mark and laughed once more. “Come join us, Mark. It’ll be fun. Heath does love learning about all the plants in the garden. I think he may want to get into the family business someday.”
Mark stammered, “I … uh …” Feeling rather uncomfortable, his palms began to sweat, and a bit of moisture crept onto his upper lip. Mark had to admit that playing with Heath on his own was fine and rather nice. Watching his son interact with Layla was also a treat. But joining them now would feel like a familiar thing, almost like a family. While Mark didn’t entirely reject the idea, it did make him exceptionally nervous.
“You could talk to him all about the plants. You probably know more about them than I do, and he would like to hear your voice, I suspect. Right, Heath?” she asked the baby, and Heath made a sound that seemed like an affirmation.
Mark looked between the pair and reached into his front vest pocket to remove his handkerchief. He rubbed the red fabric between his fingers and used it to towel off his upper lip. “Forgive me,” Mark said at last. “I have more business to attend to. I must take Felix to the stables and then will need to head inside to my office.”
“That’s fine,” Layla said nonchalantly. “Heath and I will just continue with our own business while you go and do yours. We will see you for supper.” Even though she was speaking in a bright tone, Mark could see the disappointment on her face.
He felt unbelievably guilty as he walked away with Felix in tow. After handing the horse off to Jack, he walked back toward the house and its cool confines, reasoning through the situation.ItisSunday,he thought to himself.I probably should try to rest a little.But the reminder of his bank meeting that morning got under his skin, and he wanted to check some documents. “I’ll just look over those few figures, and then I’ll be done for the day.”
When he got to his office, instead of moving straight for his desk or for the stack of papers heaped into neat piles at the corners, Mark strode to the small window. Pushing back one of the hunter-green curtains, he leaned against the wall. The view from his study afforded him a glimpse of the backyard, and he could see Heath and Layla sitting together. Layla was still talking, and Heath was standing and running his hands over the plants.
It made Mark proud to watch his son play in the garden, but he also felt something odd. He focused on Layla and the way she held herself. She was so comfortable here, with Heath, which made Mark appreciate her even more.
As if she could sense him watching them from the window, Layla lifted her head. Her eyes were visible underneath that broad straw sun hat, but Mark could tell that she was looking at him, too. They lingered in the moment, and Mark felt a tug of attraction as he realized how beautiful Layla was. Her blue eyes and slightly pink skin looked healthy, and she appeared happy. He thought she was radiant.
Mark was loath to pull away from gazing at Layla as she played with Heath, but the baby reached just a touch too far, stumbling and plopping down on his behind. Layla laughed at Heath’s folly and picked him right back up. Dusting off his backside with a quick pat, she repositioned him so that he could touch the leaves of the plant once more. The moment they shared was broken, and Mark was chagrined by that fact, but he figured it was for the best.
Time to get to work.Mark moved toward his desk and sat heavily in the large, specially carved wooden chair. Pulling one stack of papers into the center of the desktop, he read them carefully. While he worked, Mark could not focus, as his mind kept floating back to Layla and her piercing blue eyes.No,Mark thought, shaking his head vigorously.I won’t allow myself to fall in love again. Not with Layla … Not with anyone.
Chapter Nine
“This is where I used to live, Heath,” Layla said as she and the baby walked around the corner and onto Main Street.
Even from a distance, Layla could see the red front door of Fitzpatrick’s General Store, and the sight made her heart sing. She had been carrying Heath in a sling, and even though he wasn’t a heavy baby, he wasn’t light either, and she shifted uncomfortably. She did her best to tip the large straw hat she wore out of her eyes so she could see down the street a little better, but she was able to do little more than shrug while balancing Heath properly. She nodded at a woman who was walking toward them on the sidewalk. Though it was difficult to make out the woman, as Layla’s hat was blocking out the early morning sun and shadowed everything else as well, Layla tried her best to be polite.
