Page 45 of Sunday

“Bryan and I have been married for four years now, and we adopted a beautiful little girl. Amara is five months old and the joy of our lives.”

“Oh, my goodness, Layla! I’m so happy for you.”

I jumped out of my chair, rounded the table, and threw my arms around her. I kissed her soft, damp cheeks and squeezed her. She squeezed me back and leaned into the hug. The familiar scent of honeysuckle she’d always loved floated around me and brought back plenty of beautiful, warm memories.

When I released her, I patted my eyes because they were full of tears. The waiter chose that time to return.

“I hope my presence isn’t bringing all this on,” he stated as he served our food.

Layla and I both laughed.

“Sorry that we’re crying every time you approach, but trust that they are happy tears,” I explained, laughing.

“Y’all must’ve been awfully hungry to cry when you see your food coming,” the waiter commented and winked at us before he left the table.

We joined hands and prayed over our meal before we resumed our conversation.

“I’m so glad that you have the beauty of love and a family in your life. You deserve it, Layla.”

“Thank you. It wasn’t easy to accept that I wouldn’t be able to have children or any of the things that I couldn’t do. I’ve been in therapy for the last eight years. It was how I was finally able to forgive you. I actually forgave you a long time ago, or I thought I did. But it wasn’t until last fall that I truly knew I had done that. Not long after we adopted Amara, I decided to find you again. I missed my old friend and wanted you back in my life. Youweren’t the only one who was doing what you were back then. We all were.”

“You’re the only one who paid the penalty for it, though.”

She shook her head. “I suspect you’ve been paying it right along with me all these years.”

I nodded as I thought about the self-recriminations that I lived with daily.

“I missed you so much, Sunday.”

“I missed you too.”

My words were genuine, but my heart thudded loudly in my chest. I was ashamed that I blamed everyone except for myself and that I abandoned my friend in her time of need. Going away to college helped me put that behind me, and I hadn’t confronted it since then. It was even better when I moved to Cherokee Springs because no one knew Layla. No one would be able to associate me with the ugly deed I’d done.

But all that changed when she returned. If Layla were back in my life, I would have to tell Cedar what happened. What would he think of me? The beautiful and courageous girl he saw was not really that person. I was a fraud. How would he feel about me if he knew what I’d done? How would he judge me? What would he think about my ability to be the mother of his child and my decision-making skills for our son’s future?

All those thoughts flowed through me, and fear like a slow-burning fire grew in my belly.

“So, how far along are you?” Layla asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’m just over halfway through my pregnancy. Twenty-two weeks. He’s due in September.”

“Aww, congratulations. A little boy. It seems everyone I know has been having girls. Are you excited?”

“I am. No more than his father is, though. I swear that man is on cloud nine about this little boy, and he caters to my every need.”

“Anyone I know?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

I laughed and shook my head. “No. He’s someone who I met here.”

“Well, I can’t wait to meet him. We really should set up a date night sometime so that you can meet my husband and daughter the next time that I’m in town. I’d love to meet your . . .”

“Boyfriend,” I clarified when she glanced at my empty ring finger.

She nodded. “It would be so cool.”

“Yeah,” I replied nervously. “We should set something up sometime.”

Layla stared at me for several long moments. She knew me so well, even after all this time.

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