Baggage Claim

Sunday Mass

Chapter Six: Sunday Mass

"Yes, I understand, but if you could just... oh, well I was unaware." Layla gripped the phone close to her ear, her knuckles whitening as she murmured responses into the phone.

Hana walked up behind Layla's seated body; her long ebony hair swept into a loose bun that contrasted with her conservative attire.

She walked around the kitchen quietly, pouring herself a mug of coffee while she listened to Layla groan into the phone.

"Yes, okay, well if that is how it has to be, thank you for your help." Layla stiffly returned the phone to its receiver, her face etched in disappointment.

"What happened with the insurance company?" Hana asked, cupping the steaming mug in both hands as her lips grazed the edge.

Layla slowly stood up from the kitchen stool, her hand automatically going to the small of her back. She could feel the pain in each step now as the length of relief the pills provided became shorter and shorter.

"They told me the same thing he did, that there are no female therapists in town. The nearest one is Lackawanna and they won't pay for her to travel here." Layla reached up for a mug, stopping just short of its reach as the pain resonated down her side.

"Is he as bad as you described?" Hana asked, reaching up easily and snatching a mug for Layla. "You can barely walk Layla, perhaps it would be wise to just consider him..."

"I don't want a male therapist, I just don't feel comfortable being touched in that manner, you know, by someone I don't even know." Layla could feel her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"He is not touching you, he is providing physical therapy." Hana answered slowly.

The coffee swished back and forth inside the pot as Layla slowly lifted it carefully to pour her self a glass. "I know, I know."

"Are there other reasons you are not sharing with me?"

Layla resumed her spot on the stool with her coffee, stirring the cup slowly in order to avoid eye contact with her aunt.

 "No." Layla finally answered

"Then you will have to accept it. I do not think this AJ character is that bad; from what you have described he sounds quite patient." Hana said slyly, poking Layla to emphasize the point.

"He will be back on Monday at noon. Will you be here?" The question was as aloof as Layla could present it, but she held her breath for Hana's response.

"Monday?" Her aunt tapped her forehead before turning to a calendar hanging on the wall. "Monday at noon? No, I have my first day of court on some small civil case. I probably won't be home till late."

Layla held her mug up to her mouth to hide her slow exhale before answering. "No problem, just seeing if I should make dinner for one or two."

"No, no cooking. I already told you I'm hiring a cook." Hana waived her hands in front of the stove to block Layla's sight from the appliance.

"Well we don't have one yet and I kind of have to eat at least once a day."

Hana's eyebrow peaked as Layla chuckled into her cup, folding her arms in front of her chest in mock annoyance. "I am working on it thank you. You try finding an available cook in a town of a handful of people. It's hard enough finding anyone that is willing to make house calls, if you would just stop insulting everyone..."

Hana shook a mocking finger at Layla, who smiled in response while her aunt laughed.

Layla knew she had over reacted to the therapist, and secretly she had admired how he had contained himself, but there was more, so much more that she could not share with anyone, not even her wonderful aunt.