Need You Now (13 page)

“I'm sorry, Grace. I promise we will work on getting you a car very soon, but I hope you'll like your present just the same.”

“I'm sure I will, Mom.” Grace hung her head as she walked out of the kitchen.

That was Grace. She never complained. Which would make it all the more exciting to be able to see Grace's reaction to her gift.

Despite her reservations in the beginning, Layla was starting to like Darlene. She was an attractive gal, though she'd probably never spent a lot of time or money on her own upkeep. She'd just been busy raising kids. Layla found it ironic, yet admirable, that Darlene chose a job working with children. Layla would have thought she would've wanted to be around adults.

Layla was amazed that Darlene didn't seem to want or need anything from her, except maybe friendship. It was a new concept. Everyone seemed to want a part of Layla, which had kept her out of reach for the one person who had needed her the most. Marissa. Layla dreaded going to the Hendersons' for the birthday bash. What a birthday celebration Layla would have had for Marissa for her sixteenth birthday if she'd lived that long.

Layla shivered. Maybe if she'd been more like Darlene, stayed home more, been with Marissa . . .

She buttoned her blouse, then checked her lipstick. For a woman forty-five years old, she knew she'd held up well. Physically. Although she couldn't take all the credit. Money could buy looks. But she did give credit to herself for working hard. Taking care of her land and horses kept her mind from wandering to bad places. She struggled in the evenings, after the sun went down, the house dark, everything quiet. That's when she missed Marissa the most. And Tom.

She thought about Tom sometimes. It was for the best and easier this way. But, oh, how she'd loved him. Not a man before or since made her swoon the way he did.

She grabbed the card she'd picked up yesterday, slipped a check inside, then tucked the gift in her purse. Hopefully she wouldn't be there very long. The memories of Marissa were bound to overwhelm her. She had a bottle of wine ready for when she got home.

As six o'clock rolled around, Darlene and Ansley finished setting the table. Chad had gone to pick up Cindy, and Brad had gone to pick up the car. As was the rule, the birthday girl or boy didn't have to do any chores on their special day, so Grace was upstairs.

Darlene was surprised when someone knocked on the door early. They'd told everyone six thirty.

“Ansley, go get the door.” Darlene laid out the last few napkins around her good china as Ansley skipped to the door.

A minute later, Ansley walked into the dining room with Skylar. “Sorry, I'm early.”

Darlene waited for her to explain why she was early, but when she didn't, Darlene just said, “Oh, that's fine, Skylar. Glad you could come. Grace is upstairs if you want to go on up.” Then Darlene turned to Ansley. “Honey, go feed your chickens before everyone gets here.” She smiled as she thought about Cara.

Skylar walked up to Darlene, her black boots shuffling beneath her. She pushed back a long strand of black hair. “Can I ask you something?”

Darlene tucked her own hair behind her ears. She noticed the small piercing on Skylar's nose for the first time. She was going to pray that her girls never pierced anything besides their ears. “Sure. What's up?”

Skylar pulled a small box out of the pocket of her black jeans, the size of a ring box. She opened it up. “Do you think Grace will like this?”

Darlene leaned closer, then picked up the silver ring with a small angel in the middle. She held the ring up and looked at Skylar. “This is a beautiful ring. I'm sure Grace will love it.” Darlene paused as she put the ring back in the box, squinting. “This looks like an expensive gift, Skylar. Are you sure you want to give this to Grace?”

“Yeah, I'm sure.” Skylar snapped the lid closed. “It was my mother's.”

Darlene brought a hand to her chest. “Skylar . . .” She stared into the girl's dark eyes, unsure what to say, except for the obvious. “You can't give Skylar a ring your mother gave you.”

“Why?”

Darlene's jaw dropped. “Because . . . your mother gave it to you.” Grace had already told Darlene that Skylar's mother died of cancer when she was two. She couldn't bear the thought of Skylar giving up such a treasured gift.

Skylar locked eyes with Darlene. “I'd really like for Grace to have it if you think she'd like it.”

Darlene wondered if Skylar was trying to buy Grace's friendship, but when Skylar smiled, such hope in her eyes, Darlene said, “Yes, I think she'll love it.”

“Great.” Skylar stuffed it back in her pocket and turned to leave.

“Skylar, there's some wrapping paper on my bed.” Darlene pointed to her bedroom. “If you want to wrap it.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Brad hurried into the den, breathless. “The car is behind the barn, so don't let Grace go out there.”

“Okay, okay.” Darlene leaned up and kissed Brad, then cradled his cheek in her hand. “Go get some tea. Rest. Everything is under control.”

Brad walked across the dining room toward the kitchen, but made an about-face when someone knocked at the door. “I'll get it.”

Darlene met him in the den, but Brad beat her to the door. He pulled the door open and just stared at Layla through the screen. He didn't open the door, he didn't speak . . . nothing. Darlene looked up at him and wanted to slam his dropped jaw shut. Layla was beautiful, no doubt.
But really, Brad!
She nudged him out of the way and opened the screen door.

“Hi, Layla, come in.” She turned to Brad, his jaw still hung low. “Layla, this is my husband, Brad.”

Brad smiled but didn't say anything. Then he nodded and abruptly left the room. Darlene would deal with him later.

“It's not much, but we call it home,” Darlene said as she motioned for Layla to have a seat in the den.

“It's lovely,” Layla said, almost as if she meant it.

“Can I get you something to drink? A glass of tea, lemonade?”

“Tea would be good.”

“Be right back.” She hurried to the kitchen. Brad was leaning against the counter rubbing his forehead, shaking his head.

“What is wrong with you?” Darlene spoke in a whisper. “I mean, I know Layla is attractive, but that was embarrassing, your mouth hung open and all . . .” She folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes. “I mean, really, Brad. You could have been a little more discreet.”

Brad moved toward her, grinning like a schoolboy. “You have
no
idea who that is in our living room, do you?”

“It's our neighbor. I told you I was inviting her. It's Layla.”

“Layla Jager. That's who it is!” Brad's voice started to rise, but he quickly whispered again. “Doesn't that name ring a bell for you?”

Darlene frowned. “No. What are you talking about?”

Brad chuckled, shrugged. Almost like a crazy man. “Oh, no biggie. We just have an Academy Award winner in our living room. That's all,
Darlene
. How can you not know who she is?”

Darlene didn't move as she tried to absorb what her husband was saying.

“Let me refresh your memory, my dear.” Brad scratched his chin. “
Legacy of a Cowgirl
,
Free Rider
,
Leaving You on Tuesday
. . . Uh . . . ring any bells yet?”

Darlene didn't move, and her heart was beating out of her chest. Brad was a collector of old westerns, but the light had just clicked on for Darlene. “Oh my. Oh my. Oh my.” She put her hand over her mouth.

“She was in her early twenties when she made those movies, but
Legacy of a Cowgirl
won her an Academy Award.” Brad lowered his voice. “She kept making movies well into her thirties, even though I don't think they were as successful as those first ones. Then she just sort of fell off the face of the earth . . .” Brad laughed. “And landed in Round Top, Texas, right next door to us.”

“I have to take her some tea.” Darlene grimaced. “Okay, so she's famous.” She pointed a finger at her husband. “Brad, don't you embarrass me. Don't say anything.”

Brad held his palms up. “I won't say a word.” He dropped his hands, then rubbed his chin for a moment. “Do you know that she's a real cowgirl? I mean, I think she did all her own stunts in the movies, rode the horses, everything. Her father was a huge rancher, and she grew up on a ranch. I never knew where.” He snapped his fingers. “I wonder if she's originally from Round Top.”

“I don't know.” Darlene filled up a glass of tea for Layla. “But that explains a lot.” She grinned as she shook her head, thinking of the snake encounter. She walked to the den.

“Here you go.” She handed Layla the glass, and now she definitely recognized her from her movies.
Unbelievable
.

Layla took the tea, then stood up when Grace and Skylar came downstairs. At the same time, Chad and Cindy walked in. After introductions were made, they all moved into the dining room. Brad offered the prayer, but Darlene caught him with one eye open, looking at Layla. She shook her head. At least everyone else was too young to know who Layla was.

“Amen.”

Brad was practically swooning. Darlene kicked him under the table.

“Ow.”

“You pick lasagna every year,” Ansley said to Grace as the lasagna was passed to her. She scooped out a small portion as she frowned. “Does this have eggs in it?”

“Are you allergic to eggs?” Cindy asked.

Chad grunted. “No. She's not allergic. She's collecting them.”

Darlene cut her eyes at Chad. He just shrugged, shoveling a generous amount of lasagna onto his plate.

After everyone had served themselves, the room went quiet. Darlene glanced around the table, trying to keep her eyes from straying toward Layla, especially since Brad couldn't seem to get his eyes off her. The guests were all eating, except maybe Skylar, who was dissecting her lasagna, peeling the noodles away from the meat and stacking them to the side of the meat sauce and cheese. Darlene kept watching as Skylar forked out mushrooms and other vegetables, also pushing them to the side. When she was done, she had three piles, and Darlene wondered which one she would eat.

“What are you doing?” Chad asked Skylar, smirking.

Skylar shrugged, her cheeks blushing. “I—I just like to eat it this way.”

Chad elbowed Cindy, and both of them grinned. Darlene wished Chad was sitting beside her so she could kick him under the table too.

Layla cleared her throat. “I hear it's healthier to eat your food that way.” She smiled at Skylar, then began to pick her own lasagna apart.

Darlene had never heard of such a thing. But it was a kind gesture, and Skylar seemed to relax.

From there, the conversation drifted to a girl at school who was pregnant, the math teacher who was having an affair with the PE teacher, and then lastly, Ansley's English teacher who picked her nose all the time. Darlene didn't think she'd ever heard a worse display of improper talk at the table. Layla probably thought they were all a bunch of bumpkins. And Brad was laughing.