Page 19 of Is It Casual Now?

“Are you sure you’re Harley?” Siena spoke into Harley’s ear. “MyHarley?”

“Of course, I am.” Harley giggled, and no matter what else was going on in Siena’s life, everything now settled inside of her, all right once more.

“Really?” Siena adjusted Harley in her arms and lowered her back to the ground. “Because you look far too big and grown up to be my baby.”

“‘Cause I’m not a baby.” Harley stuck out her lip in indignation.

“Oh no?” Siena tilted her head, fighting to hide the smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.

“Nope.” Harley shook her head adamantly. “I’m Batman!”

“Well, of course you are.” Siena couldn’t hold back the smile anymore and gently brushed her short nails over Harley’s soft hair on her head. “Now before we go, I’d love to meet your teacher.”

“Ms. K is the bestest teacher ever!” Harley grabbed Siena’s hand and pulled her over toward a small crowd of parents and children.

Looking around the room at the other parents, Siena felt the weight of her years press a little on her shoulders. Some of the other parents were so young, and instantly she regretted the decision to look closer.

“Ms. K,” Harley’s voice loudly announced as the crowd of parents parted with goodbyes.

Siena stopped in her tracks. Not even Harley’s yank on her arm got her feet moving again.

Had she thought so much about the woman that she had actually manifested her in real life?

“Jamie?” Siena choked out over a lump that had formed instantly in her throat—dry and painful. The panic that had hit her earlier in the day when she’d been on the phone with this very woman came right back into her chest and multiplied exponentially.

“I’m sorry?” The woman tilted her head and looked at Siena like she was crazy.

“Harley, why don’t you run and grab your things and get ready to head home?”

“Okay, Mommy.”

As soon as Harley was out of hearing range, Siena turned back, fire in her veins and poison in her words.

“What the hell are you doing here, Jamie? Here to write some fabrication about my daughter? Is nothing sacred to you?”

“Oh.” The woman’s face fell. “You know my sister.”

“Your…sister.” The words fell hard from Siena’s mouth, the bile taste on the top of her tongue and the back of her throat intensifying.

“Yes.”

Siena studied the woman closer. It was Jamie, but it wasn’t. There was something a little bit off about her, although the features were basically identical. This woman was softer, warmer—easier and less hard edged. Maybe jaded? Was that it?

“Your twin sister is Jamie Kettlehouse?”

“Yes. I’m Jessie Kettlehouse, and I’m Harley’s teacher this year. The kids call me Ms. K because my name is too long and hard for kindergarteners to pronounce sometimes.” Jessie stuck out her hand. Siena noticed the slight tremble in the woman’s fingers.

“Like hell you are.” Siena stepped back from the offending appendage and turned away, pulling her phone out of her pocket as she did.

Harley stood beside her, looking up with wide eyes filled with confusion and a little sadness.

“Mommy,” Harley whispered. “You said the H word.”

H word? Siena knitted her eyebrows together, trying to remember what she’d said. But all she could hear in her brain was the buzz of anger, and it took everything in her to focus.

“Oh, I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“That’s okay.” Harley instantly beamed a smile, the naughty word already forgotten about.

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