I lower my phone, drop my head back, and exhale at the sky. Then count to ten. When I lift the phone and listen again, my mom has jumped in.
“Laiyla, you have a very important role here, and we can’t just give you time off without filling your position. And when you’re done, there’s no telling where you’ll fit into the corporation. You’ll lose all the momentum you’ve made…”
I lower my phone, drop my head back and exhale at the sky. Again.
I count to ten. Again.
Then to twenty.
My gut aches like I’ve had a vicious flu.
I take a deep breath and put the phone back to my ear, then raise my voice to cut them both off. “Guys, I totally understand your reservations and I understand that I can’t keep my job at Saxon. I’m fine with that. Please trust in all you’ve taught me. I’m going to make this a success, just like every other project I’ve taken on. I’ve got to go, but I want you to know that I love you both, and I hope you can find a way to accept my decision.”
I tell them I love them one more time and disconnect as my mother is sputtering again.
“Ah, God, that was so awful.” I feel emotionally and physically sick. I bang my forehead with my phone until I reach the car, but I can’t bring myself to get in just yet. The thought of going back to the property to face an indifferent Levi and the stress of cutting ties with my parents leaves me hollow, and I sit on a street bench instead.
It’s quiet with an occasional car but no foot traffic, so I close my eyes and tip my face to the sun and use one of Chloe’s prayers. Yeah, I’m that desperate.
Under my breath, I murmur, “Okay all you angels up there, Archangel Michael or Gabriel or whoever the heck is in charge, I need a miracle here. A real miracle. Please give me a sign that I’m headed in the right direction.”
I open my eyes and draw a deep breath. My lungs fill completely, and it’s a delicious sensation. Did the prayer work? Did quitting release me? Or did I just pull myself out of a funk by letting go of stress? I don’t know, and I don’t care. I’m just happy to have some tension out of my body. I still feel bruised and battered, but at least I can drag myself back to the lake.
I pull my keys from my purse and stand.
“Laiyla?”
I glance toward the woman’s voice, and I find myself looking at Brianna, Levi’s youngest sister and three years my junior.
Fuuuuuuck.
I feel like one more hit will take me out at the knees, but I work up a tired smile. “Hi, Bri.” I scan her big belly. “You look amazing. Congratulations.”
She rushes toward me, and for a split second, I wonder if she’s going to attack me. I may have even flinched, but she pulls me into a bear hug, which I’m not prepared for. I’m so relieved she’s glad to see me that I hug her back, despite the awkwardness of her belly between us.
She pulls back and grips my biceps, her smile electric. “It’s so good to see you. I’m so glad you’re back in town. I’ve missed you.”
And she hugs me again.
“Do you have a minute to chat?” she asks, pulling away.
My next smile is effortless. “Sure.”
We sit back down on the bench, and I chuckle at her belly. “Your second, right?”
“Yes. I have a two-year-old boy at home.”
“Pictures?”
“Of course.” She pulls her phone from her purse, and we flip through a dozen photos of her husband and son, then her extended family, and Levi’s face flips in and out of the photos.
“What a beautiful boy.”
“Thanks.” She pockets her phone and refocuses on me. “Are you married? Kids?”
“No and no.”
Something flits through her gaze and she nods. “Levi either.”