Page 99 of Rebound

Layla

Things are quiet. Way too quiet. They are so quiet that the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up. They’ve been like that for the past three weeks. Since Pete left. He had a great visit and stayed for five days. The only time he went outside was when he stepped out on the patio, but he said his next goal is to go for a walk through Central Park soon.

He did let us throw him a dinner party and he met my mother, the Chastains, and the Walshes. He had a good time playing with Jasmine and Johnny, and when Jeannie and Aiden arrived with the babies, he asked to hold one. My husband proudly introduced his father to our friends during the dinner that he and I prepared. Pete took to June Bug the most and they spent part of the night talking about an old television show they both watch. Throughout the dinner, there were two clouds hanging over our heads. One was Barbara, and the other was Gaga and how her health continues to decline. She spends most of her time in bed staring off into the distance. She no longer speaks to anyone. The more she regresses, the more upset my mother becomes. She cries after each visit.

“I’ve already lost her,” Mom cried on my shoulder last night. “And I’m going to lose her again.” She wept after speaking those words, and my heart broke.

The good news is we’ve filled out all the necessary paperwork for Jasmine’s adoption, and Vickie has volunteered to throw us the party of the decade once it’s final. Pete promises he will be there, and I hope he comes through for his son. I think he will. He’s working hard and is progressing every day.

That’s why the hairs on the back of my neck remain standing up. Other than Gaga, things are too good. I’ve even gotten a raise at work, and when I told Seth, he took me out for dinner to celebrate.

Just as I’m getting up from my desk to get lunch, my phone vibrates with an incoming text. It’s a photo of Seth and he’s lying in bed. He has a game tonight, and after that, he’ll be gone for three days. On the days he has games, he always takes a nap.

Instead of texting back, I call him.

“Must be nice,” I say smiling into the phone.

“It is. You know you can quit your job. You can nap with me,” he teases. I think he means it. He would be happy if I was at home, but I’ve always wanted a career. In my family, women work, and I love what I do.

“Don’t tempt me,” I lie. “I’m going to lunch, and I’m going to guilt trip Jeannie for not making us godparents.”

“Good. They deserve it.”

Jeannie and Aiden picked Aiden’s sister and husband to be the godparents of their son and Colt and Vickie for their daughter.

After talking for a few more minutes, he blows me a kiss, and we end the call.

The Mischiefs win the game against Boston that night with Seth scoring thirty-eight points. Vickie and I sat together and cheered our men the entire game. Afterward, my driver takes me home. I never could have anticipated that this would be my life and that I would be living it with Seth Wakowski of all people, but it is, and there is nothing about my life now that I would change.

Well, maybe two things. First, I would want my grandmother to be healthy and regain her faculties. The second is I would want this issue with Jasmine’s maternal grandmother resolved. In a perfect world, I’d want her to be healthy so that Jasmine could have a relationship with that side of her family, but that doesn’t appear to be a realistic wish. At least she has my family and Pete.

That night, I go to bed alone, and the entire time, something feels off. When Seth texts hours later to let me know he’s arrived in Orlando safely, I’m still awake. I don’t text him back. If I do, he’ll get concerned, and he needs to focus on work.

Jasmine wakes up before I do, and when I open my eyes, she’s in my bed and looking down at me. She climbs out of the crib with ease now, and I’ve already started looking for big girl beds for her.

“Mama,” she says while she bounces on the bed. “Dada. Call.” She points at my phone on the bedside table. I pick it up and we FaceTime with Seth.

“Dada!” Jasmine says while she waves furiously at the screen. “Nom nom.” She jumps off the bed and lies on the carpet.

“I miss my girls,” Seth says.

“We miss you too,” I say. “I’ve never missed someone as much as I miss your dumb ass.”

“Who are you calling dumb? Please refer to my transcripts. I should also mention that I’ve never seen your grades,” he throws in. And he never will. I was just an okay student, nowhere near as good as him.

“Just hurry up and win these games so you can come home. And guess what? I talked to your dad last night and he promises to come here for Thanksgiving. I told him he should just stay until after the holidays.”

He gives me the side-eye, and I wait for him to say that he doesn’t want his father around for that long.

“Are you sure? I’ll be gone a lot, and you’ll have to deal with him and Jasmine on your own.”

“So, I’ll make a few more chicken salad sandwiches. He doesn’t bother me, and he’s so lonely. I like having him here.”

“Okay, your call,” he says, but I can tell he’s happy about it.

“It will be great. We can host, and my mom and Donna can cook while I drink.”

“Lush,” he says with a snort.

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