Before we walk into the house, the serious hostess disappears, and Layla surprises me by stepping forward and wrapping her arms around my middle in a hug. At first, my breath stutters because I’m shocked, but within a split second, I wrap my arms around her and embrace her. I glance over at the screen door that Tillie is now holding open, and the smile she wears is radiant as she focuses her attention on her daughter. It strikes me, it’s a mom smile. I recognize it because I remembermymom looking at me like that often. It isn’t until this moment that it occurs to me that, when a mom gives that smile, it’s coming from a place of pride and love. It fills my heart with warmth, remembering that Mom often wore the same expression.
God, I miss seeing my mom smile.
I swallow past the lump in my throat, and Layla and I step away from each other. Then, I follow her and Tillie into the house. For a few seconds, I’m still thinking about the hug and the fact that I went so long without physical contact with other people, and yet in the last month or so, I’ve had two wonderful hugs—one from Lydia and now one from Layla. Bothwere perfect and exactly what I needed in the moment. Then, of course, there are the touches I receive from Harrison, but this is not the place to let myself think aboutthose.
Once we’re inside the foyer, I reach into my bag and remove the white box with the classic Ella’s Bakery sticker holding it closed. You can’t miss when a box of treats is from Ella’s because the hot pink sticker with a cartoon-style—think Betty Boop—baker is unmistakable.
“I don’t have a kitchen right now, not that you need to know that, of course. But I brought some treats from Ella’s.” I extend the pastries in front of me, and Tillie takes them.
“You didn’t have to do that. We have plenty of food. But thank you, and good choice. The little munchkin next to you loves Ella’s, right, Layla?”
Layla grins and nods, then leans close to the box and takes a dramatic breath in through her nose. She closes her eyes as if enraptured by the smell of the pastries inside, then steps back, lifts her gaze to our level, and says, “There’s nothing like Ella’s.”
I smile and realize that anytime I’m around this child, she makes those around her happy—including me—and brings joy to the environment. That’s a wonderful ability to have and to share.
Layla takes my hand. “Mom, can I show Delaney my room?”
“Maybe later. I don’t think Delaney has met Aunt Georgie yet. Do you want to go introduce her, or should I?”
“I will,” Layla offers. Before I know it, she’s leading me by the hand, almost tugging in her eagerness, and it reminds me of another time she led me by the hand—the night of Tillie and Henry’s wedding, when I met this little pixie, and she dragged me over to where Harrison sat. Looking back on that night, I never, in a million years, would have thought I would run into my one-night stand, the man I hadn’t been able to forget.
When we’re in the dining room, I glance around and fall in love with the vintage style of the home. There are lovely built-incabinets in the corner with a long, gorgeous hardwood window seat between two cabinets. It’s absolutely lovely. When I focus my attention back on who is in the room, I recognize only Ruthie and Sally. There is also a stunning woman with long auburn hair resting on the top of her head in a messy bun that looks stylish and much better than I’m ever able to accomplish with my hair. She’s got a sprinkling of faint freckles across her nose and cheeks and striking bright blue eyes. Next to her sits another woman, blonde like me, with soft features and just as pretty as the first woman.
The first woman extends her hand to me. “Hi, I’m?—”
“No, Aunt Georgie! I’m the hostess, so I’m supposed to introduce you.” Georgie grins at Layla, then neutralizes her expression before addressing the little girl.
“I’m sorry. How rude of me.” She holds back a grin, clearly fighting to maintain a serious face.
“It’s okay. Sometimes we all forget proper atti cus.”
Ruthie chimes in, calling to me from across the table. She must have read the confusion on my face as I tried to decipher Layla’s comment to Georgie, because she looks over at Layla and says, “You’re right, Layla. It’s very easy to forget our properetiquette. You’re doing great and remembering more than the rest of us.”
Layla’s face glows at the praise. She nods her head, then looks between Georgie and me. “Delaney, this is my Aunt Georgie. Well, she’s my aunt, but she hasn’t married my Uncle Heath yet. It’s coming, though.”
Ruthie’s classic cackle fills the room as she laughs, and Georgie’s face is almost comical. Her eyes are so wide open they would probably fall out of their sockets if they weren’t attached, and her mouth forms an “O” as her jaw slackens. I glance at the woman next to her, who’s still quiet but wears a small smile.
Georgie takes a few seconds to get her bearings. “No, Layla. Remember, Uncle Heath and I are just best friends. I’ll still be your aunt forever, but Uncle Heath and I aren’t getting married.”
Expecting an amusing response from this darling kid, I glance down at Layla, and she doesn’t disappoint. She shrugs one shoulder and purses her lips at Georgie. “We’ll see. I know about these kinds of things, Aunt Georgie.” And as quickly as it happened, it’s over, and Layla moves on. “Georgie, this is my friend Delaney. She works with Daddy and my uncles, and her and Uncle Harry like each other. Don’t worry, they’ll probably get married, too.”
Ruthie is laughing so hard that when I glance over at her, she’s holding her stomach and bent over trying to get control of herself. Her sister, Sally, sits next to her and is chuckling as well, but it’s a more contained laugh. When I glance over at Georgie, she mouthsI’m sorryand offers me a kind smile.
I stand there with my mouth hanging open, unable to respond. I am trying to push words up and out of me, but they get stuck in my throat. After about ten seconds, I come down from the shock of Layla’s prediction. I decide it’s best to ignore it, so I reach my hand out to Georgie, and she shakes mine.
“Hi, I’m Delaney. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, as well. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Georgie says.
“Uh oh.” My tone is light, but I wonder what she’s heard.
Layla releases my hand and walks over to where the pretty blonde woman sits. “And Delaney, this is Lizzie.” Everybody waits with bated breath to see how Layla introduces her. “She’s Aunt Georgie’s friend, and she’s new to our ladies’ group. But she’s gonna be around a lot and be one of our besties, so you should get to know her.”
The woman smiles and gives me a small wave from where she sits. “Hi, I’m Lizzie, as Layla said.”
“Hi, Lizzie, it’s great to meet you.”
Tillie’s back in the room and offers me something to drink. I accept a bottle of water, not ready to sample the adult juice that Layla promised would be here. I take a seat at the table.
