Counting Sheep

Chapter 25

Also, this was the first 'holiday' that she would be spending with people again. She couldn't deny that after what happened with Mason, she had locked herself away from any and all human-contact for fear of getting hurt again whether it be mentally or physically and she couldn't begin to explain the elation that filled her knowing that she would be spending this night with the two people who had stolen her heart, completely and utterly.

Hopping out of the truck, Layla carried a plate of chewy, gooey, chocolate chip cookies that she and Hazel had made before coming earlier in the day.

It had been almost impossible to get Julian to stop sneaking the batter, but they came out perfect anyways. Julian held Hazel in his arms and Layla looked towards him with a questioning look.

He nodded towards the side fence. "Through the white gate and back." He instructed her.

Dave and Charlene's house was exactly what she had imagined. Two-stories with a beautiful wrap-around porch, multiple stunning rose bushes beneath the windows and Julian had also told her that they owned at least two acres of land on their property.

Opening the gate so the three of them could step in together, the sounds of everyone talking and laughing got louder and louder, but as they finally stepped out it was as if the entire party went silent.

All eyes slowly came to fix on them.

It was a bit of a staring contest between all of them and the newcomers before a woman's voice bellowed out on the patio door. "Oh my goodness gracious, me oh my!" A woman wearing a bright yellow dress and a frilly white apron came down the steps.

Her brown hair speckled with gray was pulled back into a tight bun. She looked beautiful and Layla immediately found herself embraced in a giant bear hug.

At first, the show of affection was so shocking that she could only stand frozen before she hugged the woman back. "Oh, it is so nice to meet you! Look at how gorgeous you are!" The woman, Charlene, said.

Layla blushed, smiled and watched as the woman's eyes turned to Hazel. Julian had set her down so now all of her fingers were wrapped tightly around one giant finger of Julian's.

She watched the woman wearily. "Aren't you such a sweet thing!" She said, kneeling down.

The crackle in her knee joints was audible, but the woman gave no sign of any uncomfortableness. Layla laid a gentle, reassuring hand on Hazel's head. "This is Hazel."

Charlene's sparkling gaze broke away from the little girl for just a moment so that she could say, "Dave has told me all about her and you, as well. I can't even tell you how happy I am to finally meet you guys!"

Dave stepped up at hearing his name, smiling while holding a beer in his hand. Before anyone else could speak, though, Charlene narrowed her eyes into a dangerous and deadly scowl that made Layla wince with sympathy as it was focused straight on Julian.

Charlene walked up and slapped him upside the head. "Why haven't you brought them to come see me sooner?" She demanded.

The woman, no matter how little she was, was a spitfire.

Layla instantly liked her and Hazel did, too, by the giggle she made.

Julian sighed, looking like a child caught doing something wrong. "I'm sorry, Charlene." He bent down and hugged her and Layla could see the woman instantly melt as her anger faded away.

The woman knew how to throw a wonderful party and she could tell this BBQ had been something been going on for many years. Three large different oak trees speckled corners of the fields, wrapped in white fairy lights, while picnic tables were set up draped with white table clothes and sprinkled with red, blue and silver sparkling silver-star confetti. Music played, not too loud, but just perfect.