Counting Sheep

Chapter 26

Layla took in a shuddering breath and rubbed her arms up and down her arms. Just then the kettle began to whistle, so she stood and walked over to the stove. "Sit down, please." She asked Charlene again and with a laugh the woman finally did so.

Layla poured the hot water into the cups before dipping the tea-bag into the cup, draping the small string along the side before squeezing the lemon and adding the sugar. "Thank you, my dear." Charlene said as she took the small teacup from Layla's hands.

Layla nodded and got herself her own cup before she came to sit beside her and the two women sat in silence for a long time after that. "How...How do you stay sane knowing the man you love is out there...in danger?" Layla asked and Charlene sighed as she took a sip.

"You never get used to it, I'm afraid."

Layla's stomach dropped as her tongue dried in her mouth, despite the wash of tea that she soon swallowed. "But," Charlene said. "It does get easier. You learn to trust that they can take care of themselves. The world of the mafia is a very dangerous one and it is also very unpredictable, but no-matter what they take their honor very seriously in their deeds...at least they did before the newest boss began."

Layla's eyebrow's furrowed. "Newest boss?" She asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, the head lieutenants or capo, takes the place as boss once the one before gets too old in age or if he were to die. The last boss was killed in his office and the head lieutenant who had been in position then was raised to boss. Dave and I were around when both came and went. The boss that reigns here and now is a selfish, evil man who doesn't care about honor." Charlene said with a scowl.

Layla contemplated that as she sipped her tea alongside Charlene.

That was why Antonio was so adamant on going against this man's wishes and why he was helping. His father must have been the previous boss. "That little girl, she is...different...isn't she?" Charlene asked and slowly, Layla met her gaze.

Her lips thinned. "Very."

She turned forward, tracing small patterns onto the side of the cup as she thought about the little girl who had stolen her heart and made her a better person. "She has been through something that no little child should know of—let alone witness."

Her jaw tightened. "And the scariest part is that I don't know what to do to help her...how to help with the demons she faces." Layla's eyes began to sting, much to her annoyance and Charlene instantly went into 'mother' mode, setting down her halfway empty cup to take Layla's hand in her own, patting the back of her hand.

"Oh, sweetheart. I know that you know of those demons of well. When someone is in pain like that...when someone is dealing with something as atrocious as what you and Hazel have dealt with...the only way you can help that person is offering to be there when they are scared. To be there when they are afraid of whatever darkness lurks inside their heart. You know this, my dear girl, because you are doing it for Julian." Charlene smiled, softly and happily, full of love and joy. Layla could only stare at her.

Was that really what she was doing for him?

The women smiled at each other and finished off their tea while chatting and Layla was silently blooming with delight at the interaction. It had been so long since she had a motherly figure to simply sit and talk to and Charlene was all that and more.

When they finished, Layla stood, stretching with a groan. "I am going to go check on Hazel." She said and Charlene nodded as she grabbed the cups.

Layla walked back and cracked open the door to peek in, finding the girl now laying on her side with the cat curled under her arm. Layla smiled and closed the door again before going back into the kitchen. She stopped at the entrance, finding Charlene staring out the window above the sink with a furrow between her brow as her eyes darted around the darkness outside, the line of trees in the backyard.