Always You

Chapter 3

{Meg}

I had a horrible day in work. What was it about retail jobs that makes people think they can talk to you like shit? Today I had an elder gentleman yell at me because I wouldn't accept his voucher. It was out of date to start with and for a different shop altogether. This was my mistake apparently. When I informed him, he was in the wrong shop he actually asked what shop we were. The name of the shop is only written on my shirt, my name badge and appears repeatedly throughout the store.

And it just seemed to be a day of people like that.

Now I'm bracing myself before heading into Gracie's to sooth my daughter.

Heading in the door I'm surprised to see Abby cuddled into Josh watching a film. A bottle in her mouth, already going through her bedtime routine. Gracie pops her head out the kitchen door and motions for me to sneak past.

Very confused I tiptoe past the living room.

"Who is that child? It looks like my daughter but she's too quiet." I ask in a lowered voice.

"I know right. She was crying at first like normal but then Layla worked some magic on her. I swear one minute she was crying the next she was laughing. She's been as good as gold all day."

"Wait, Layla? What's she got to do with anything?"

She gets a mischievous look on her face that makes me think a groan is going to be forming soon. "Well after you left, I invited her to join us for a drink."

"Gracie, why were you having a drink with my ex?"

"Ha, so she is your high school girlfriend. She refused to answer without you."

Sneaky bitch. "Fine, yes, she was my high school girlfriend, my first girlfriend. You happy now."

"A little bit yeah." She smiles. Why is this happening? I've spent all day trying to forget about running into Layla this afternoon and now Gracie is making me confront the matter whether I want to or not.

"What do you mean Layla worked some magic on my child?" I say with a sigh, sitting down heavily at the dining table.

"I'm not really sure what it is she did differently but after pulling a few funny faces Abby was laughing hysterically. She really is great with the kids. She told Abby to make sure the boys behave themselves and has played with them all day."

Huh. "She just pulled a funny face?" I ask.

"Yeah. And trust me it's something I've tried doing in the past to no avail. But Layla crosses her eyes and sticks out her tongue and suddenly laughing baby."

Crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out, I remember that face. A smile forms on my face. "I know the pose." I say fondly. She was always doing that to cheer me up. Looking up I see Gracie grinning at me. "Don't look at me like that."

"What?" she protests her innocence.

"You know what. I'm not looking to date right now so get any of those little plots you have cooking out of your head."

"You wound me."

"No, I know what you're like."

"Okay, I'm sorry, I just care about you. You deserve to find someone who will treat you right and from what I know of Layla, from what I saw today, she would be good to the two of you."

"I know she would but we're not eighteen anymore. It's been ten years since I've seen her, I don't know this, Layla. Plus, it's not just me I have to think about. Abby is my priority. She's still struggling after the fire and I can't live on your sofa forever."