OLIVIA
I’ve spent the last two days wondering if I made a huge mistake sleeping with him again. He consumes my every waking moment, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t get him out of my head. I’ve resorted to avoiding him again because it’s easier than facing the fact that I’m headed right down the same path that I’ve tried so hard to avoid.
I grip the steering wheel tighter and take a deep breath before exhaling slowly, hoping to release this tension in my body. At least for today, I can set everything aside and focus on having a good time. Lord knows, I need a distraction.
I glance in the rear-view mirror and smile. Bee’s legs swing in excitement as she looks out the window. She’s been talking nonstop about Charlie’s birthday party, and I’m looking forward to finally meeting Lyla’s family.
A few minutes later, we pull up to the grey house with white shutters. It’s a quaint little neighborhood sitting right on a canal. Their house is at the end, and you can see the wide-open waters of the Atlantic off in the distance.
“We’re here!” Bee excitedly unbuckles her seatbelt and clutches her worn-out puppy to her chest. She’s had that stuffedanimal since birth, and it’s seen better days. I’ve had to patch it up more than once, but she refuses to replace it and insists on taking it everywhere with her. I hold my breath every time I wash it, praying it won’t fall apart on me.
“Charlie says there will be lots of kids because she has a huge family, so I’m gonna meet so many friends today. And it’s a pool party! And her mom made her a pink mermaid cake that I just know is going to be so good because Miss Lyla’s desserts are the best!”
I laugh at her enthusiasm as I grab the birthday present and the bottle of wine I brought to donate to the drinks.
“It sounds like you are going to have so much fun,” I grin, opening the door for her and helping her out of the jeep. She looks so sweet in her two cute braids and mermaid coverup over her matching swimsuit.
Taking her hand in mine, we walk up the front porch steps, and I knock on the door. Seconds later, Lyla appears and excitedly pulls me in for a hug when she sees us.
“You’re here!” She looks adorable in a pink sundress that hugs her round belly. We must have had the same idea to match with the mermaid theme because my strapless jersey dress is the same color. “Charlie has been asking me every five minutes when Bee is getting here,” she laughs and lovingly runs her hand over Bee’s hair. “The kids just got in the pool, so let’s go introduce you to everyone.”
I follow her into the entryway and admire her beautiful home. The natural wood floors flow throughout as we pass a staircase leading up to a second level before it opens up into a huge kitchen and living room area. A huge light grey sectional faces a stone fireplace with a TV hung above it. Various green plants are scattered about, giving it a warm, cozy feel. The kitchen is a mixture of modern and rustic, with open woodshelving and white cabinets. A large white granite island sits in the middle with several bar stools lined up.
“You have a beautiful home,” I say, setting the gift with the others on the wooden dining room table in a little alcove. Windows line the back wall, giving us a view of the water, and I can see several people outside by the pool and the outdoor kitchen.
“Thank you,” she smiles. “When we bought the place, it needed a lot of updates, but it’s been fun creating a home together piece by piece.”
“Well, you guys did an amazing job.”
“I’ll be sure to tell Jake and my brothers-in-law you think so. They did a lot of the labor, and I got the easy part of decorating,” she grins. “Speaking of my brothers-in-law, everyone is out back and there are a lot of us,” she laughs, walking to the wall of slider doors. “Especially at birthdays because all our family and close friends use the kids' parties as an excuse for us all to get together. It can be a zoo, but the kids have a blast, and it’s nice seeing them grow up so close together.”
“We love zoos, don’t we, Bee?” I look at my daughter, who grins up at me and nods.
“Then you both should fit in nicely,” she smiles and slides the door open.
“It looks just like Puppy!” Bee drops to her knees to pet what appears to be a dog. Hair is sticking out on its head in all directions as it wags its stump of a tail. I glance at the stuffed animal in her arms and back at the dog again, blinking in disbelief.
“They do look alike,” Lyla laughs. “That’s Gizmo. My brother-in-law has been fostering him. Savi, Jake’s sister, is a vet and volunteers at the animal shelter, and she brought him home one day after feeling sorry for him. She talked her brother into keeping him for the night, and that night has turned into several.I’m pretty sure he has a soft spot for the dog now, and it’s turned into more than fostering.”
“They are even missing the same eye,” I whisper, looking at Puppy in her arms, where I had to sew the missing eye shut.
“What are the odds?” Lyla laughs softly.
“Bee!” Charlie comes running over in a pink swimsuit, her dark, wet hair hanging down her back.
“Charlie!” Bee quickly hugs the dog one last time before getting up, and I swear he smiled…or at least attempted to with that underbite and tongue lopped to the side.
“Can Bee go swimming?” Charlie asks as they bounce up and down.
“I have all the dads in the pool on lifeguard duty watching them like a hawk,” Lyla assures me. “We can sit over there with the girls and still keep an eye on them, too.”
“Perfect,” I smile, helping Bee out of her coverup and taking her shoes. I set them next to a chair and put my purse and wine on a table. Bee had swim lessons and is a good swimmer, but I’m glad the guys are in the pool with them.
“There you are, Char. You disappeared on me.” My body freezes when I hear the voice behind me. I would recognize that deep, sultry sound anywhere, and it hits me like a ton of bricks. I place a hand on my chest as I struggle to find the air that has suddenly vanished from my lungs. “Who’s your new friend?”
“This is Bee, Uncle Miles. She’s my very best friend.”
Uncle Miles?
