Page 114 of Beautiful Thing

“You’re worthy of all that and more, Belle.”

She lays her cheek against my chest and I feel my heart fighting against my ribcage, begging to be released, begging for permission to beat again. My heart only wants to beat for her.

“This has been a really stressful, messy time for Sky and me,” Layla whispers. “And I’ve spent so much time worrying about whether we were being too loud and too untidy and toomuchin your house, taking up too much space. But you’ve always treated us like we’re welcome, even though we’re not the perfect house guests.”

I kiss the crown of her head. “That’s because you’re not just house guests. You’re family.”

Myfamily. At least that’s what I wish for.

“Thank you, Archer Brighton. You make me feel worthy. When you hold me like this, I feel worthy.”

44

LAYLA

Bright and early the next day, I take my son to visit his great-grandmother at the nursing home. She isn’t so great with video calls, and I just need to see for myself if she’s okay.She is the only relative who has ever given a damn about Sky and she means a lot to us.

“Grandma Dory is a little sick today,” I tell my son as I stroll through the lobby with him in my arms.

“Sick?” he asks, eyes wide like saucers.

I stroke his back to comfort him. “Remember when you slipped on that ice last week and fell down?”

He nods.

“That’s kind of what happened to Grandma Dory,” I explain.

My little boy flinches in sympathy. “Gramma, boo boo…”

I nod. “Yes. She has a boo boo just like you. So you’ll have to be gentle with her, okay? No jumping into great-grandma’s lap.”

“No jump.” My little boy bobs his head solemnly.

When we get into her private room, Grandma Dory lights up immediately from where she’s propped up in her bed. “Oh! My two favorite people.”

We give her some hugs and take a seat near her bed.After giving me the full story surrounding her fall, she assures me that she’s okay and that there’s nothing to worry about.

“Oh, I have something for you, Sky,” she gushes, and then she points at me. “Open that drawer behind you. The top one. There we go.”

I find a small set of wooden blocks that she’s been saving for my son. He immediately heads across the room and starts stacking them high on the window sill.

The elderly lady turns to me with a smile. “Thank you, Layla. It means a lot that you came to visit.”

I squeeze her weathered hand. “I’m just sorry for not coming more often. Life has been so hectic lately.”

“Oh, you sweet thing. I know you’re so busy as a single mom since my useless grandson isn’t pulling his weight. You know, I used to be a single mom, too, so I understand.”

I nod at her. “I also heard you had two jobs back in those days. I’m lucky to hold down one.”

“Well, I know you’re doing the best you can.” She winks. “I mean it though. You come to visit me more often than Ansel ever does. Did you know that I haven’t seen that boy in over a year?”

“Oh, I hadn’t realized…” I reply with a frown. “But if it makes you feel any better, Razor hasn’t been in his son’s life in quite a while either. To be honest, I prefer it that way,” I mutter bitterly.

Razor scared the daylights out of me all those weeks ago when he claimed to want to see his son. But I haven’t heard a peep out of him since then. Typical Razor.

A disturbed expression comes across the elderly woman’s face and I immediately regret my words. “I shouldn’t have said that.” I never like bad-mouthing Razor with his grandmother.

Suspicion grows in her wise eyes. “What’s going on? I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me.”

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