Layla slips her sticky hand from mine, and I think nothing of it. Then I hear, “Layla? What are you doing here?” It’s coming from behind me.
“I’m having a special night with Uncle Harry since I’m not allowed to come to ladies’ night.”
I amble over, lean against the wall, and try not to laugh as I take in my sassy little niece. She’s standing with her hands on her hips in front of the four open-mouthed grown women—Delaney, Tillie, Georgie, and Lizzie.
“Sweetheart, I told you, this isn’t ladies’ night. We’re having pizza and talking about some grown-up things,” Tillie explains.
“Like boys? I can talk about boys. Noah at school likes me even if he’s kind of yucky. I mean, he’s okay, but not like a boyfriend. I don’t love him like Aunt Delaney loves Uncle Harry.”
I watch as Delaney’s eyes grow wide, then soften, and I know it’s because she’s touched that Layla called her ‘aunt.’ I could go over and kiss both of them right now.
“Uncle Harry loves Aunt Delaney, too, Ladybug.” I walk up to the ladies and tickle Layla on her side. “And something tells me you tricked me into getting pizza here to make sure these gals weren’t having more fun than us.”
Layla giggles. “They aren’t having more fun ‘cause they aren’t with you and me, and we’re more funner.”
“That’s right. Now let me kiss my girlfriend goodbye so we can get our pizza and go meet your daddy and not-favorite uncles for an epic game ofGo Fish, okay?”
“Okey dokey, Uncle Harry.”
I bend down to kiss Delaney, and just when my lips touch Delaney’s, in the background, Layla says: “You know, Lizzie, my Uncle Holden will be at my house tonight if youhappento stop over.”
Laughter breaks out around the table, some of it nervous, and I suspect that’s coming from Lizzie.
“Uh oh,” I whisper against Delaney’s mouth, “our little matchmaker has her targets on Holden now.”
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Delaney
“Delaney?” I turn my head, and Layla is smiling at me. “Do you wanna go see my goats and my chickens?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m kind of afraid of chickens.”
The cutest chuckle erupts from her little body. “Why are you afraid? My chickens are nice.”
“Haven’t you ever seen the videos of chickens chasing people? I’m always afraid a chicken will chase me.”
Layla throws her head back with another burst of laughter, then holds her hands over her mouth to try to stop. After what I swear is a solid thirty seconds of the kid guffawing at my phobia, she finally calms down.
“Wait, let me show you.” I pull out my phone, and we spend the next ten minutes watching videos of chickens chasing people. Layla’s smile and the light in her eyes highlight her amusement. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday gift than to hear this child’s laughter.
After the last video, when Laylafinallystops laughing, her face turns serious.
“Okay, I have an idea. How about I show you the chickens through the cage, so they won’t be able to get you? But I have baby goats. Well, they’re not really babies, but they’re tiny. Do you wanna come see them? They don’t chase anybody.”
“Sure. I would love to. If it’s okay with your mom.”
I look up at Tillie, who is grinning. “Of course. Layla loves to show off June and Johnny.”
“As in?—”
“Yes, Cash. Henry’s a fan, and he talked her into the names.”
The three of us walk down to the area where they keep the chickens, and Layla spends several minutes telling me all their names and the types of chickens they are. She even climbs into the fenced area with them.
“See, they aren’t chasing me. You sure you don’t want to come in?” Layla asks.
“Um, I’m sure.”
