Counting Sheep

Chapter 25

On the large deck and back porch, men helped work at the barbecue while kids played around, chasing the cotton in the air as if trying to catch small shooting stars. Blankets were spread out on the grass, too, and far ahead was a small piece of concrete that had old black marks to show that was probably where they usually set off their fireworks.

She had seen the large boxes filled with all different types of them, along with sparklers, smoke bombs and more as they had been coming in and she knew the firework show would be something that you wouldn't want to miss.

"This is beautiful." She said to the older woman.

Charlene beamed. "Why thank you, darlin'! I have been working hard to try and perfect things here for years." She replied, confirming Layla's suspicions about this being a long time tradition.

She gestured for them to follow as she walked to one of the picnic tables practically piled sky-high with food. She had an egg and sausage strata along with a medium-sized glass pan stuffed full of chicken enchiladas, along with plates of different hot dogs, bratwurst, and hamburgers. "We've got turkey and chicken burgers also and those are the ones with provolone, those are the ones with cheddar and so on. If you are a vegetarian we have a whole table for that, too." She pointed out.

There was also a large bowl filled with soft doughy looking rolls along with a whole other table with strictly desserts, which is where she placed the plate of cookies down, too. "Just have fun and enjoy your time. We are all family here." Charlene said, smiling fondly as Dave wrapped his arm around her plump waist. She could tell the two were in love and she couldn't help but let her eyes wander around to the different people.

Just as she was turning, she saw that Hazel had gone up to another girl who sat against a tree with a book in her lap.

She watched closely, knowing just how mean other children could be, but Hazel seemed to be holding her own. Layla jumped as an arm wrapped around her waist, Julian's deep voice in her ear.

"She is fine, babe. She can hold her own." He kissed her temple and she allowed herself to relax slightly.

She saw the girl that Hazel plopped down next to smile and say something to which Hazel smiled back. It was almost as if the other little girl sensed something and wasn't pushing Hazel to talk in the slightest.

Seeing it, help calmed the nerves that were tight in her stomach.

The people were nice, she came to find, even if they did seem surprised that Julian had brought them. They talked about little things, things that seemed so big in their lives and Layla couldn't help but wonder what they would do if they were in the situation that she was in right now.

After about an hour, she tore herself away to use the restroom. The house on the inside was as beautiful as the outside was and she found her eyes wandering over the pictures of Charlene and Dave.

What she noticed was that there weren't any children or anybody else in the pictures except for the couple and their two dogs.

A big poodle and a golden retriever. Layla went to the bathroom and washed up, smelling the lavender and lemon soap tease her nose as she dried her hands.

Opening the door and stepping out into the hallways, she turned slightly to flip off the light. When she turned around she jumped, letting out a yelp as a man stood before her. Her eyes met his.

Julian.

For a long time, they stared at each other and it was as if she could feel sparks light up the air around them. Music played outside. He was beautiful and she felt her love for him grow with each moment they spent together.