Page 73 of Forever and Other Lies

“How is she doing?” Piper took a hard lemonade from the cooler beside her and handed it to Jayna.

“Thanks,” Jayna accepted it with a smile. “She is doing so well. Amazing, in fact.”

Talia was excelling at her barista job. The woman had put on weight and was regaining her self-confidence. Working and attending addiction counseling was doing wonders for her. Add in hope, and the sky was the limit.

“Talia’s mother has agreed to a visit with her son on her next day off. She is so excited.”

“That is such a wonderful thing you did for her,” Leighton squeezed her knee.

“I think I have benefited just as much, if not more, from helping Talia.” It had been one of the most rewarding things she’d ever done. The obscene amount of money sitting untouched in her bank account accruing interest had never been put to better use. Jayna had been paying for the two-bedroom apartment and the counseling sessions for Talia out of that account. It was a sight to behold, watching the woman transform from one who had given up to one now filled with purpose.

Her thoughts drifted to the week before. “Do you think he’ll like this color?” Talia had asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked around the room.

“He will love it,” Jayna answered, smoothing out the spiderman comforter on the bed. Talia had said her son loved spiderman and Jayna had purchased bedding and pictures for the wall along with toys for the large toy box she’d also bought.

“Jayna, I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for me. You have changed my life.” Talia’s big brown eyes had shone with happy tears and hope. There was actual confidence starting to emerge. Hope was such an amazing thing when it surfaced.

“Oh look, Shamus just came out.” Jamie pointed as the redhead stepped out on his front porch.

For the past few Sunday afternoons, Shamus had taken to playing his bagpipes while his hound dogs howled back up. And every Sunday afternoon, Ophelia complained equally as loud. Shamus’s concerts always ended with the police showing up. It had become a bit of a sideshow that the neighbors enjoyed watching.

“I just saw the curtain move at Ophelia’s.” Piper sat up straighter.

“When you’re done hogging the baby, hand him over.” Jayna grinned at Leighton, reaching beneath her to pat the puppy’s head. Albert, the lab mix Tommy had found in the ditch as a teenager had passed away, leaving a huge void. She’d gone with Leighton to pick out a puppy to surprise Tommy with.

Jayna was thrilled that she’d formed such a wonderful friendship with Leighton over the past year. She was even more thrilled to see Leighton and Tommy reunited. They were meant to be together.

“It’ll be a while. I had to wrestle him out of Tommy’s arms.” Leighton held the baby tighter.

“The boys are here?” She didn’t mean to crank her head around, but her neck had a mind of its own.

“Derek isn’t here, if that’s what you’re asking?” Jamie chuckled.

“It isn’t. It would totally ruin my entire day to see that jerk.”

“Yeah, okay!” Jamie rolled her eyes. “So, how are things with Lance?”

“Just dandy!” She grabbed the popcorn bowl off Jamie’s knee, shoveling a handful into her mouth.

“Oh, no!” Jamie let out a long sigh.

“What does, oh no, mean?” Jayna spoke around the mouthful of popcorn, turning a questioning stare in Jamie’s direction.

“What does ‘just dandy’ mean? I sense a big BUT to follow,” Jamie held her stare.

“Lance is great,” she answered and smiled brightly.

“But?” Jamie drew out the word.

“There’s no but,” Jayna raised her voice.

“I hear a but,” Jamie persisted.

“You’re the butt,” Jayna blew out her cheeks. “He is perfect, Jamie.”

“Just not perfect for you?” Jamie refused to give up.

“I never said that!”

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