Page 16

Leah

Leah removed her purse from behind the wooden stool and slid it on her shoulder. “The food should be ready. I’ll go pick it up,” she offered, hoping no one would volunteer to ride with her. She needed a few minutes of no talking.

Quinton sat on the island next to Nova. Skye walked into the kitchen holding a black book to her chest. “You were right, Gran. The yearbook was in the box.” Skye held the book up and shook it from side to side.

“Is that my old yearbook?” Nova asked.

“Yep. Skye was worrying my nerves about it. All your things are still boxed up and in the closet from when you moved out.”

“Oh my goodness. I’m almost afraid to look at these pictures.” Nova laughed.

“Can we all look at it together?” Skye asked.

“Sure.” Nova eased down from the stool and slowly made her way to Skye.

“Come on, Dad, you too.” Skye waved for him to join them in the front room.

“Alright. Alright.” Quinton tried to sound aggravated, but he wasn’t doing a good job pulling it off. There was nothing else he’d rather do than continue his walk down memory lane with Nova.

Seeing Skye and Nova bonding so fast should’ve been a good thing. No, it was a good thing, but it was also a hard thing to watch. Leah was right. As soon as Skye spent time with Nova, she’d instantly want more. Most people did. Including Leah.

“Mom, can I take your car to get the food?” Leah asked, while trying to tamp down the annoyance she wasn’t sure she should’ve been feeling.

Even though she wanted some time alone, it would’ve been nice if Quinton had at least asked if she needed him to come.

She knew why he didn’t ask, though. It was a challenge trying to remember what might seem appropriate and inappropriate to Nova.

Not that Leah and Quinton riding to the café to pick up food was inappropriate by any means, but it was still a task that one person could handle.

One thing Leah knew for sure was that they had to tell Nova soon, no matter how hard it was going to be.

She couldn’t keep up the act much longer, and it wasn’t fair that she and Quinton had to in the first place.

Leah drove downtown but passed the café.

She stopped her mom’s car at the edge of the cemetery, then sat for a moment, staring ahead at the wrought-iron gate that was wide open for visitors.

That was the last place she wanted to visit her dad, but unfortunately that was her life for now.

When she left her mom’s house, she thought she needed time alone, but what she really needed was time with her dad, away from the whirlwind her life had become in a few short days.

The cemetery, though not ideal, was at least peaceful, a big difference from how her life felt.

Leah walked down the dirt path to the grave site. She was in the middle of reading a text message from Harper, who she needed to call, when she ran straight into ... “Lance. Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”

Lance held up his hands. “It’s okay.” He flashed Leah the smile that landed him on the 50 Sexiest Men in Louisiana list.

“Guess that’s what happens when you’re reading and walking.” Leah held up her phone and then slid it into her jeans pocket. “Wow, you look very nice.” She gave Lance a corny thumbs-up on his appearance for some reason.

Lance smiled, then looked down at his attire as if he’d forgotten what he was wearing. “Yeah, well, I don’t have a reason to dress up much these days, but I’m meeting with some of my old teammates about a community project. I thought I should at least put a little effort into my attire.”

“Good choice,” she said, admiring his dark-blue jeans and tan blazer that paired very well with his rich brown-leather cowboy boots. “Listen, I’m glad I ran into you. I mean, not physically, but I’m glad you’re here because I need to talk with you.”

Lance’s brows furrowed. “Is it about Nova?”

“Nova? No. Well, yeah, but not directly about Nova.” Leah stopped rambling and composed her thoughts. “I know I agreed to help you, and you’ve made significant progress over the past six months, but ...”

“You’re dropping me?” Lance continued the words that Leah seemed to have trouble saying. “May I ask why?”

“As you know, I had my concerns from the very beginning, but I did take an oath to help those in need, and you were in need, but you and I both know how disastrous this could end for me if Quinton ever found out.”

“You know I’d never say anything to him about our sessions, right?”

“Yeah, but you did say something to Carmen, who said something to me at Quinton’s party. That showed me that we can’t continue our sessions. I only want what’s best for you, but Quinton’s my husband.”

Lance sighed. “Dammit, Carmen! I didn’t tell her, by the way. She was on my phone and saw it on my calendar. I couldn’t lie when she asked about it since it was there plain as day. But I get it. You have to do what you have to do for your marriage.”

“I knew you’d understand. Thanks for not making this harder than it already was. And listen, I have a list of therapists whom I trust wholeheartedly. I want you to consider seeing one of them.”

Leah hated the thought of him not continuing his sessions. He did make progress, but every now and then he needed someone to talk with. Leah just couldn’t be that someone anymore.

In high school, Lance was Louisiana’s golden boy.

Everyone from Bayou and beyond loved his country charm and Christian values, which he never missed an opportunity to talk about.

Lance stayed in the newspaper and on the news because of his football skills.

When he was drafted by the Saints right out of college, that sent everyone’s love level for Lance soaring to new heights.

It wasn’t until a few years ago that his name and reputation were smeared by someone he trusted.

Lance moved from New Orleans and back to Bayou where he’d been ever since, refusing to leave the comfort that Bayou offered.

When he came to Leah for help, after he felt he’d hit rock bottom, Leah couldn’t turn him away.

She’d withheld that information from Quinton and hated to think how he’d react if he ever found out that his wife was helping the man he’d blamed for ruining his football career before it ever began.

Unlike the rest of Louisiana, when Quinton thought of Lance, all he could see was the man who was living the life he should’ve been living.

“I don’t know, Leah. You know how I feel about having people I don’t know in my business. I’ve been burned by a therapist before, remember?”

“I do, and I can promise you that the people I’m recommending would never sell your information for any amount of money. They’re decent and upstanding people.”

“And thank you,” Lance said. “For getting me over one of the roughest patches I’ve ever been through. I’m eternally grateful.”

“You’re welcome.” Leah exhaled. “Well, I’d better get in there and visit with Dad before I need to get back.”

“Hey, how’s Nova?” Lance asked, his eyes filled with concern.

“She’s as good as can be expected. Give her some time to adjust and I’m sure she’d love to see you.”

Lance stared at his shoes that Leah was sure were shiny before he stopped there. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“What happened was a long time ago. And Nova and Quinton aren’t married anymore.” Leah held up her left hand. “As you already know.”

Lance eyes expanded. Apparently, that thought just hit him. “Oh wow, I didn’t even think of how that must’ve gone over.”

“It didn’t, actually. We’re waiting to tell her once she’s had some time. I don’t think I’ll breathe until we do, though.”

“I bet it works out better than you’re thinking.”

Leah crossed her fingers. “Here’s to hoping.”

“What about us? I mean, our sessions. Are you going to tell Quinton?” Lance asked.

The question alone caused her whole body to shake. “Of course not ... you know ... HIPAA.”

Lance ran his hand over his beard, then glanced at his watch. “I need to go. I don’t want to keep them waiting. Today’s my favorite girl’s birthday, so I wanted to stop by and put some flowers on her grave.”

Leah’s heart fluttered. She loved the relationship Lance had with his grandmother.

For as long as she could remember, Lance had always referred to her as his favorite girl.

If his tall frame and broad shoulders weren’t enough to make the women swoon, then the love he showed for his grandmother definitely would.

It was his grandma’s dementia that sent him spiraling.

The one person, other than his mom, who he could always depend on to have his back had no longer known who he was.

Leah and Lance said their goodbyes as Leah made her way to her father’s final resting place.

She had to admit, talking with Lance wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be.

He was so adamant that he didn’t trust anyone except Leah to help him through his dark days, which turned into months, and the next thing Leah knew, six months had passed, and they were still meeting regularly.

Leah’s visit with her dad couldn’t last long because her family would wonder what happened to her if she stayed away much longer.

Driving to the café, Leah braced herself for the switch from solitude to socializing.

Growing up in Bayou meant having to chat with everyone you passed.

When she pulled into the parking lot of the café, she was surprised to see so many cars.

Most days the café only had a few vehicles at a time.

When Leah walked in, she immediately regretted that she’d come. Most of the people who participated in Nova’s welcome-home parade had gathered at the café. Had Leah known that, she would’ve stayed at her mom’s house and cooked instead. She was barely through the doors when the questions came.

“How’s Nova doing?”

“Do you have pictures? Can we see her?”

“Is she up for company?”

“I can drop off some food. What would be a good time?”

Leah plastered a smile on her face and maneuvered through the group of people who had surrounded her before she could reach the front counter.

Among them were Mrs. Thompson, the choir director, who always had a kind word and a warm hug ready whenever Leah saw her; Mr. Peters, who owned the flower shop next door; and Elaine, one of Leah’s former classmates who always told Leah they had to make it a point to get together and catch up, even though both of them knew it wouldn’t happen.

It wasn’t like Elaine and Leah were close back then, so there was really nothing to catch up on.

“Hey! Hey! Give the lady some space.” Ms. Dot, who’d worked at Bayou Café for as long as Leah could remember, came over and moved the group away from Leah.

“Thank you,” Leah said, finally able to catch her breath.

The questions were coming so fast that Leah didn’t have a chance to answer any of them. Which was probably best since the answers to most were no. She understood how anxious everyone was to see Nova, but they had to understand that she needed time and space.

After Leah picked up her bags, she turned to the people who were now sitting at their tables, most still watching her.

She waved and smiled at Mr. Harold, the retired school librarian, and Missy, a local journalist who always had her eyes and ears open for something juicy to report.

“Everyone,” Leah said, speaking loud enough so everyone in the small space could hear.

“My family and I, especially Nova, appreciate your concern and well wishes, and I know how anxious all of you are to come and see her, but please understand that Nova’s been through a lot, and right now all she needs is time and space to recover.

As soon as she’s ready, I promise my mom will throw a huge party in her honor.

Trust me, she’s been waiting to do that for fifteen years.

” Leah smiled, then waved before leaving.