Page 63 of And Then There Was Us
“I’LL GET IT!” Layla pulled the door open. “It’s Prince Hugh!” She jumped up and down in her new pink dress. Her brown hair tumbled past her shoulders.
Brianna smoothed her black knee-length dress over her hips, and when she looked up, her breath caught in her throat. Hugh stood before them wearing a black tuxedo, looking as if he’d just walked out ofEsquiremagazine. She’d been nervous before he showed up; now she breathed a little harder, her legs became wobbly, and her heart beat a little faster. Definitely more nervous than on their first date and maybe even more nervous than the morning she’d seduced him before work. Would the butterflies in her stomach ever get used to him? Brianna wasn’t sure if she hoped they did or didn’t.
“I’ve missed you.” Hugh kissed her cheek. “You look gorgeous.” Before she could respond, he bent down and said to Layla, “And I’ve never seen a more beautiful almost-six-year old than you.”
Layla’s eyes widened, and her smile spread even farther across her pink cheeks. She put her hands behind her back and twisted from side to side, swinging the skirt of the pink dress Hugh had given her. Brianna’s hand settled on Layla’s shoulder, more for her own stability than for Layla’s benefit.
“I brought you something.” Hugh brought one hand out from behind his back and presented Layla with a wrist corsage.
“What a beautiful corsage,” Brianna said.
“Mommy, put it on me!” Layla jumped up and down.
“May I do the honors?” Hugh asked.
“Yes!”
Hugh put the wrist corsage on Layla’s wiry arm. Then he reached inside his jacket and pulled out a small, flat box. “And this is for you.” He handed it to Brianna. His dimples appeared when his smile reached his eyes, stealing nearly all of the remaining strength from Brianna’s legs.
“Hugh, you didn’t have to do this.” Her voice was just above a whisper, and as he came into the apartment with Layla holding his hand, she realized her hands were trembling. She lifted the top of the box and sucked in a breath.
“Show me, Mommy! Show me!” Layla stood on her tiptoes.
Hugh lifted her into his arms so she could see. Her eyes danced with delight. “Oh, Mommy. That’s beautiful!”
Brianna lifted the necklace from the box and ran her fingers around the diamonds that framed the round pendant, which was about a quarter of an inch thick with tiny charms between the glass front and the gold-plated back.
“It’s a locket,” Hugh said.
“Lemme see!” Layla pleaded.
Brianna read a tag that hung from the gold chain beside the locket. “Loved.”
“Because you are,” Hugh said softly.
She inhaled deeply and read the inscription on the gold plate inside the glass locket.Strength. Truth. Courage.She looked up at Hugh.
“You’re the strongest and bravest woman I know. You’re my truth, Bree, and you’re Layla’s truth, too.” He drew his dark eyebrows together, and she touched his cleanly shaven cheek.
Thank you, she mouthed. Her voice was trapped by her swollen heart.
Layla wiggled in Hugh’s arms. “What are those things floating in it?”
Brianna drew her eyes back to the little charms inside the locket.
“The heart that says family is for you and your mommy and your grandma.” He leaned forward and kissed Brianna’s cheek.
Brianna inhaled his scent, lost in the feel of his freshly shaven cheek and the thoughtfulness of his gift.
He whispered for only her to hear, “And I hope one day, for us.”
Don’t cry. Don’t cry.Brianna tried to force her trembling lips into a smile, but she knew she failed miserably. Her chin was shaking too much.
Hugh looked down at Layla and continued. “The tiny camera—can you see that, Layla?” He held her closer to the locket.
“Mm-hmm.”
“That’s for your mom’s passion for photography. And do you see the little heart that has the pink baby feet?”
