by Cassie May
“Your dad is playing with her since six this morning. We heard her scuffle around in your room and after a little bit of coaxing she came out and ever since then they’ve been looking at your old pictures and reading books. She’s already laughing a little.” Laynee’s mother whispered in Laynee’s ear and Laynee laughed quietly.
“It’s daddy. He is a big mushy teddy bear and Abby never had a real father figure in her life. I’m sure she enjoys the time with him. She seems more relaxed and happy than she was for weeks. Daddy is awesome.” Laynee hugged her mother and wiped away a few stray tears before pulling Eleanor in the kitchen.
“Can you make waffles for breakfast, mom? I haven’t had your waffles since the last time we saw each other and Abby has a sweet tooth for breakfast.”
Her mother nodded and smiled. “Of course I can do that. Should I make something else? We have to talk about food anyway. Is there something Abby is allergic to? What does she like to eat?”
Shrugging Laynee shook her head. “She hasn’t eaten very well in the last few weeks. Yesterday was the first evening she really ate something other than sandwiches or cereal. Maybe we can take her grocery shopping later today? And I have to think about what to do with kindergarten for her. My publicist gave me time off to heal for me and Abby, but I don’t think it is good for her to be away from people for too long. She needs other kids or she’ll never heal, but I don’t want her to think that I don’t want her anymore. If she wants to she can always stay with me, but I don’t think that would be healthy for her. I’m so scared that she thinks I want to ship her off, even if the kindergarten is just around the corner. I just want her to be happy.” New tears welled up in Laynee’s eyes when she talked about her fears and thoughts concerning Abby and what lay in the future for them.
“Oh sweetie, why don’t you ask Abby what she wants? I know she doesn’t talk, but I am sure she can express what she wants without talking. Explain it to her and maybe take her to the kindergarten so she can see that it’s not a horrible place. I’m sure when she sees the new teacher she will be totally on board with going there.” There was a special wink in the eyes of Eleanor and Laynee shot her a surprised look.
“What do you mean the new teacher? Since when is there a new kindergarten teacher in Peace?”
“Well, the old one, Miss Honey, she moved away and then Gavin Chance came to town. He’s great with children. Calm and always good for a joke with them. And he’s a looker. You’ll see.” While Eleanor told Laynee all this she whipped up the waffle batter and soon a delicious scent wavered through the kitchen into the living room.
Abby and Jacob came into the kitchen and Abby’s eyes lit up as soon as she saw Laynee. She wiggled out of Jacob’s arms and threw herself in Laynee’s. “Hey buttercup. You gave me a mighty scare this morning. I thought you were gone.” Laynee gave Abby a kiss on the cheek and Abby hid her face in her shoulder. “Awww, don’t be shy. It’s okay, did you have fun with my daddy?”
Abby lifted her head and nodded a smile lighting up her face again. She pointed to Jacob and then to her and then in the living room. “You want to show me?” Abby nodded again and Laynee carried her to the living room where the photo book was still laying. Abby wriggled till she was let down on the floor again. She grabbed the book and climbed on Laynee’s lap. Then she opened the book and pointed animatedly to different pictures that showed Laynee’s life as a child.
Laughing at the child’s antics Laynee chose the easy atmosphere to ask Abby about the kindergarten. “Abby, I have to talk with you about something.” Immediately the child became serious and Laynee almost chickened out. She wanted the laughing happy Abby back. “It’s nothing bad, I promise. I just wanted to ask you to think about going back in the kindergarten. We have one here in Peace just down the street and I think it would be good for you to go there and play with other children in your age. I don’t want you to think that I don’t want you here. I love it when you are with me, but we both need to get back to normal again. Well, as normal as it is possible. It doesn’t have to be now. Just think about it, okay?”
Abby looked at her, her blue eyes serious and unreadable. Finally she pointed to her mouth and then shook her head. A deep sadness emanated from the small girl and Laynee hugged her close to her chest.
“Don’t worry about that. You were fine with my dad this morning. You don’t have to talk to find new friends and there is no rush. If you feel ready we can go there and look how it is there and if you like it you can stay there for a few hours and then you can decide if you want to go there more regularly, okay?” The tension seems to seep out of Abby’s small body and she relaxed a little bit while nodding. “Good, then let’s eat my mama’s waffles. I am sure you have never eaten better waffles than these. After that we go grocery shopping. My mama wants to know what you like to eat, so she can make all your favorites.”
An excited gleam appeared in Abby’s eyes again and she raced in the kitchen to get her waffles. The laughter of Laynee’s father and mother reached her ears and she stood up to join them.
Sated from eating too many waffles they went grocery shopping after they cleaned up the breakfast dishes. Laynee was surprised how much had changed in Peace since she had left. Not only were some shops new, but the atmosphere was lighter. She mentioned it to her mother who nodded.
“Yes, people have started to loosen up since Brent is gone. We have to thank Dexie for that. She made him leave and with that life is easier and safer in Peace for all of the people here. You wouldn’t believe me how much has changed.”
“Too much, if you ask me, Mrs. Bradshaw. It is not good to listen to such a young girl if you ask me. Nothing good can come from that.” An old cranky voice sounded behind Laynee, Eleanor and Abby and all of them turned around.
Laynee looked down at old Mrs. Johnson. The cranky woman who never made a secret of her adoration for the Harrington family. The owner of the only flower shop in Peace hated everything out of the norm, and women who spoke after their own mind were an abomination for her. So were gay people, or single parents, or children. She didn’t even want to know what the old hag would think about her relationship with Abby.
Of course, it didn’t escape Mrs. Johnson’s notice that the little girl clutching at Laynee’s legs didn’t look like her at all. “And who is that? I didn’t know that you had been pregnant, Laynee.”
“I wasn’t, Mrs. Johnson. Abby is my ward. I am her legal guardian and we moved back to Peace yesterday. How is your flower shop going?” False friendliness dripped from her voice and she felt Abby turning even more into her own body as the old woman glared at her.
“Oh, is that so? And where are her parents?”
Nosy old witch. Laynee immediately knew that whatever she said now would be used against her in the gossip mill of Peace. She couldn’t answer this question right no matter how much she racked her brain and Abby deserved more than the pitying looks or the whispers behind her back.
“Laynee Bradshaw? Wow, it’s been forever since I last saw you. How have you been? What are you doing back in Peace?” A friendly voice pulled Laynee out of her thoughts and she turned around to see a face she was actually very happy to see.
“Dexie! Wow, look at you! You look great! I am here to stay. We moved back to Peace yesterday. How have you been? I heard you caused quite the tumult when you came back.” Laynee hugged Dexie McBride honest happiness radiating from her.
Dexie had graduated one year before Laynee and had vanished almost as fast as Laynee after graduation. Even though Laynee and Dexie had only been lose friends, she had missed the older girl terribly, because she had somehow managed to keep Brent in line. After Dexie had left it was as if a dark cloud had descended over the young women of Peace. Laynee’s father had forbidden her to go anywhere alone and after Brent had managed to corner her one time at school she was more than happy to follow her father’s instructions. Thankfully Brent was interrupted before he could do anything, but Laynee knew that other girls hadn’t be
en so lucky.
“And who is that?” Dexie’s curious voice pulled Laynee out of her dark thoughts once more and she saw the woman squatting down in front of Abby holding out her hand. Abby blinked shyly from her hide-out behind Laynee’s legs but finally shook Dexie’s hand.
Laynee put a hand on Abby’s head and smiled at the little girl. “This is Abby. She came with me. We’re staying at my parent’s house till we figure out what the future brings.”
Laynee felt the curious look Dexie shot at her and hoped that she wouldn’t ask further questions. When Dexie looked over Laynee’s shoulder her smile dimmed when she saw Mrs. Johnson. “Hi Mrs. Bradshaw, Mrs. Johnson, I almost didn’t see you.” Dexie smiled at the two women before turning to Laynee again. “Well, I don’t want to hold you up. Laynee, maybe you would like to come to the Ranch if you have time. Drink a coffee and just chat. I read some of your books and would love to talk about where you get your inspiration.” She winked at Laynee and nodded slightly to Mrs. Johnson.
Laynee laughed and nodded in confirmation. “I’d love to catch up with you. Can I bring Abby with me? We could come this afternoon, if that’s not too early.”
“Of course you can bring her. It won’t be a problem.” With that she said goodbye to Laynee and the others and disappeared around the corner.
Laynee, Abby and Eleanor managed to escape Mrs. Johnson shortly after that and continued their grocery shopping.
Later that day Laynee put Abby in her car and drove to the McBride ranch. She wasn’t sure if it was the right choice to take Abby with her, but the little girl had insisted that she wanted to go with her and Laynee couldn’t refuse her, not when the girl’s eyes shined brightly with happiness. Turning onto the road to the ranch Laynee exhaled. The country air was even cleaner outside of the town and she felt so much better than she felt in New York. “Are you excited to go on the ranch, buttercup?”
Abby nodded furiously, her long hair flying all around and Laynee couldn’t stop a giggle escaping her.
“I’m sure you will love the ranch. It’s so peaceful out there. And maybe Dexie still has the big swing she had when we were younger. You can play while Dexie and I talk and eat the muffins. Is that okay with you?” Laynee watched Abby’s eyes grow wide in the rearview mirror and then a frown appeared on Abby’s forehead while she shook her head with almost as much force she had before while nodding.
“What? You don’t like to swing, buttercup?”
She felt the kick in her seat and saw Abby making a gesture as If she was eating something.
“Aaah, so you want muffins and the swing? You are a greedy little thing, aren’t you?” Laynee laughed when she saw Abby’s eyes lighting up when she nodded. In front of the big ranch house Laynee stopped the car and helped Abby get out of her seat. Before they could knock or ring the bell the door opened to a smiling Dexie and her boyfriend Dray.
“Hi, you two! Abby would you like some hot chocolate to your muffins? Laynee, coffee?”
Abby nodded shyly and Laynee agreed as well. “Hot chocolate for Abby would be great. If you’ll make a coffee I’d take one, if not a water would be great.”
“Come in, of course I can make a coffee. Milk, sugar, creamer?”
“Black is fine. Thank you. Can I help with something?”
“No, just sit down. I’ll be right there with y’all. Dray, would you please get the plate with the muffins and put it on the table?” With a sweet kiss Dray took a plate overflowing with deliciously looking muffins and put them on the table in one corner of the kitchen while Dexie made coffee and chocolate.
As soon as everyone sat down Abby grabbed the first muffin and pushed it in her mouth. The grown-ups looked at her smeared mouth and burst out laughing. “Obviously someone is hungry. Don’t you get fed at the Bradshaw’s, little one?” Dexie asked chuckling and Abby’s face color changed to a deep red while she pushed the rest of the muffin away.
“Oh we do feed her, but we had trouble with eating for a few weeks now. Abby eat the muffin, it’s okay.” Laynee explained the other couple and both looked confused back and forth between Abby and Laynee. Taking a deep breath Laynee started the short explanation.
“Abby hasn’t spoken since the day her mother was murdered. I am her legal guardian since her father signed over his parental rights at her birth. Her mother was my best friend, but she died and her father tried to take her from me. He has no legal standing, but it got more and more annoying and dangerous for Abby and since she has already been traumatized, so I packed our stuff and we moved back to Peace.”
Dexie and Dray stared at her while Abby munched happily on her second muffin. “Wow, I didn’t expect that. It seems as if Peace really is a Haven for troubled souls. As it should be.” Dexie leaned back in her chair a serene smile on her face.
“Do you think he will come after you? Should we look out for Abby’s father?” Dray asked with his official deputy voice and Laynee shrugged. She didn’t know how much of her assumptions she could share with the deputy sheriff without having proof.
“Honestly? I have no idea. I haven’t heard from him in a few days, but I have also changed my phone number and came here without leaving this address with anybody other than my publisher and my lawyers. So I think we are safe.” Laynee shot Dray a look. “I wanted to talk to you anyway, do you think there is something more I could do to protect Abby?”
Dray shook his head slowly. “As long as he doesn’t follow you here, I would say you should keep it quiet. If you do something like a restraining order he would immediately know where you are as soon as it is served.”
“Oh, I already have a restraining order against him, because he started to come after Abby, harassing her whenever he could.” Laynee explained.
“Why was he coming after Abby’s mother and is now coming after you two?” Dray asked a frown marring his forehead.
“Because he is broke and Kelly had more money than she could ever spent in a lifetime. Well, now Abby has the money, but I tied it up in different trust funds to make sure that he can’t get it.”
“Okay, that explains it. I still think you are safe here and if you stay here and use the usual safety measures like don’t letting Abby go out alone, don’t let her walk to the kindergarten. Pick her up from her friends and be sure that everyone knows who she is and who is allowed to pick her up.” Dray sounded serious and Laynee shot a look at Dexie and Abby who seemed to be in deep conversation. Dexie was talking and Abby nodded and giggled at Dexie’s funny stories.
“Thank you Dray. That calms me a little. Abby won’t go to the kindergarten till she wants to, so there’s that. My parents will help me look after her and no one else would be allowed to pick her up anyway.” Laynee felt a huge stone lift from her heart after Dray’s explanation. Abby would be safe here. She couldn’t be stolen from her and everything she had done, to make sure that they could come here, was right. She bent over to Abby and hugged her shortly. The little girl looked up at her, eyes sparkling and a smile resting on her lips that had been hidden for far too long. Peace was healing both of them faster than she would have ever thought possible. “I think I promised this little one a ride on your famous swing. Is it still in the backyard?”
Dexie grinned. “Of course it is. I even checked it a few days before if it’s still safe. We can go there if you want.” She stood up and Abby skipped next to the two women as they went outside while Dray stayed behind to clean up the dishes.
While Abby rocked on the swing Laynee murmured to Dexie: “Thank you for distracting Abby. I didn’t think that Dray would be here or I would have warned you that I needed his advice. I really wanted to catch up with you. I mean, obviously Peace is a better place now and I am so sorry that you had to play bait to make it happen.”
A dark shadow flew over her face before Dexie smiled again. “Yeah, I couldn’t wait anymore and don’t be sorry. It sounds as if your life in New York was as exciting as what I experienced here. I mean, not that death is exciting, but yeah. Tel
l me about your books. How is your life as a famous writer?”
Layne sensed that Dexie didn’t want to talk about what had happened with Brent and that was okay for her. She understood not wanting to talk about some things, so she accepted Dexie’s change of topics with a smile and pushed Abby a little higher on the swing. “Well, I had always had these characters in my head that wanted me to tell their stories and after graduation I applied to the New York University and got a degree in Creative Writing and business. After that I started bringing the stories to paper and self-published my first book. It got picked up by a publisher and now I am what we call a hybrid writer. I still self-publish some of my books that don’t really fit with the publisher and the rest go through the publishing house.”
Dexie stared at Laynee with wide eyes. “I envy you. I mean, I have traveled the world, but I could never write stories like yours.”
Laynee shrugged. “People are different. At least you like reading the books and finance my lifestyle.” Laynee laughed at Dexie’s stunned face. “Just kidding. I mean, I have never traveled outside the US other than for some signings in the UK. You have seen the world while I have invented new worlds in my head, so we both have something that makes us unique.”
“Yeah, you’re right. So when do you want to send Abby to kindergarten? Is she even able to go there, yet? I mean, she doesn’t talk.” Dexie shot Abby a concerned look and Layne felt an invisible hand squeeze her heart.
“I don’t know. I want to take Abby there to get to know the new kindergarten teacher and then let her decide.”
“Ooooh, you haven’t seen Gavin, yet? He is mighty good looking.” Dexie laughed and Laynee felt herself blush while laughing.