Page 25 of Rejected Heart (The Westwoods #5)

LAYLA

“Don’t even think about it.”

I stood in the doorway, staring at my mom. She was sitting there with her best friend, and Carmen was giving me a stern look to match my mother’s words.

“Think about what?” I questioned her, even though I had a feeling she knew what I was thinking of doing.

“You’re not staying here.”

“But…you might need me. I could stay, just to be sure.”

“Carmen’s here, and she’s not leaving for a few hours.”

My eyes slid to the side and noted the way Carmen sat up and grinned. “You’re forbidden from coming back here for at least three hours, but we’d prefer it if you were gone longer.”

Shaking my head, I muttered, “I can’t believe you’re kicking me out. ”

“You need some time to yourself, Layla. Now, take it.”

I sighed.

Arguing with the pair of them would be useless.

As it turned out, my mom had finally been discharged from the hospital. She’d been thrilled. We both had.

And for the last four days, I’d been home with my mom, helping her adjust to this temporary life she’d be leading as she healed and recovered from the accident and subsequent surgery.

The past couple of days had been nothing short of challenging. Between helping my mom manage her pain and get around, there was a lot of responsibility. But it didn’t stop there. I was also preparing meals and assisting her with things like bathing.

We were looking at four to six months of recovery time at home, so my mom and I had taken the last few days to work out the kinks and come up with a system that worked for us.

The only variable we hadn’t quite worked out yet was the store.

Leaving her alone for an extended period at this point just wasn’t possible, but I hoped she’d be in a different place within the next two or three weeks.

Unfortunately, no matter how dedicated I was to the effort of helping my mom on her road to recovery, she had other plans.

She’d called up Carmen, asked her to come over for a visit, and the two of them were kicking me out of the house .

“Where am I going to go?” I asked.

“Landing might be a small town, but there’s plenty to do,” Carmen declared proudly.

My mom didn’t hesitate to offer her input. “You can go shop, take an evening stroll, and enjoy the gorgeous summer evening.”

My eyes darted between the pair. They couldn’t have looked happier if they tried. “This is insane. I’m being forced out.”

“Be grateful we’re only making you stay out for at least three hours,” Mom declared. “If it was up to me, you’d find something to keep you occupied for longer than that.”

“That’s unlikely to happen.”

“Well, if that changes, don’t rush back.” Carmen was beaming at me. “I don’t have anywhere to be tonight. Heck, I could spend the night here if I need to.”

That was just plain ridiculous. I rolled my eyes and pushed off the wall I’d been leaning against. “Alright. Well, is there anything you need me to pick up while I’m out?” I asked.

My mom shook her head. “Nope. But even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. Tonight, you’re going out to do something for yourself.”

That was the problem. I had not a clue how I was going to keep myself busy and distracted for so long.

There was nothing left in Landing for me.

With no other option and being acutely aware of the fact that I wasn’t going to get anywhere by arguing with my mom and her best friend, I said, “I’ll be back in three hours. ”

“It’s okay if you need more time than that.”

I wouldn’t. But I didn’t tell them that. Instead, I left the house, got in my car, and sat there, wondering what the heck I was going to do now.

It wasn’t as though I could call up some friends from high school. None existed. The only people I’d spent my free time with all those years ago were the Westwoods and those close to them.

Liam was the one who’d monopolized most of my time. And even though the conversation I’d had with my mom about him days ago had left me feeling even more longing for him, I didn’t think I could bring myself to go after him.

I didn’t even know where he lived now. Was he still staying at his parents’ place? Maybe he had moved out on his own. What if he lived with a girlfriend?

My belly clenched painfully at the thought. As much as I didn’t want that to be the case, I had to recognize it was a very real possibility. I’d discarded Liam like he was nothing. It was only natural that someone else would come along and see him for the wonderful man that he was.

I dropped my head back against the headrest, considering the possibility of just sitting in my car for the next three hours. But when my eyes drifted toward the window at the front of the house, I saw Carmen looking out. No doubt she and my mom had already guessed I’d attempt a stunt like this.

Mustering the best annoyed expression I could, I shot it in Carmen’s direction. She merely grinned at me and waved in return. With no other choice, I put the car in drive and took off.

Great.

Just great.

I’d drive around Landing aimlessly for three hours. What a waste.

Sure, my mom had suggested I go shopping. It was certainly a reasonable option that would help me kill some time, but I wasn’t up for it. I was both mentally and physically drained from everything that had happened since I’d arrived in Landing.

There was one place I could go. One place I’d been invited to.

Jules had told me to stop by to see her bakery. And given how sweet she’d been to me when I didn’t necessarily deserve it after disappearing eight years ago, maybe I needed to take her up on that invite.

Like I’d never stopped doing it, I didn’t even think twice about where to go as I drove toward Westwood’s.

By the time I’d arrived on the campus, I couldn’t say I wasn’t the least bit shocked. Things had changed. I realized I’d been gone for a while, but how was it possible that there was something both so familiar and so different about the place?

It was bigger, grander.

Regardless of the size, there was something intimate about it. Maybe it was the rush of memories that had flooded my brain. The fun I’d had in the amusement park with Liam and the dancing I’d done with his sisters and Ava whenever there’d been a party in the hotel.

I pulled into a parking spot and rested my chin on my hands on top of the steering wheel as I marveled at everything around me. While I couldn’t see it all—it seemed as though they’d expanded their operations—there was still plenty at which to gaze in awe.

Not only could I see the hotel and the building that housed the offices, but I also noted some of the rides peeking up over the tops of those structures.

In addition, there was the building that Jules had mentioned I’d find her.

It was the same place that hosted chocolate-making tours, a massive gift shop, and tons of spots to eat outside of the amusement park.

If the buildings and the landscape could have changed this much since I’d last been here, I could only imagine the difference in the people.

I’d had mere minutes with Liam, and it was plain as day that he’d changed.

Jules had been nice enough, despite a few beats of awkwardness, but I wondered about the rest of the family.

Would they all hate me? Should I even be here?

There was only one way to find out. Plus, I thought it was reasonably safe to find Jules in the bakery. What were the chances that anyone else in the family would be there?

I took a deep breath, mustered up all the courage I could find, and got out of my car. With each step I took across the parking lot, my heart hammered. My instinct was to run, but something propelled me forward .

This was Jules.

Jules.

She was the sweetest girl in the world. She never would have invited me here if she had ill intentions.

I walked through the front doors, unsurprised by the number of guests inside. The place was buzzing with excitement. Westwood’s was an iconic location, so it was a hot spot for families and individuals, especially in the middle of summer.

Weaving my way through the crowd in the entryway, I waltzed through the open expanse of the gift shop and toward the area that rivaled the swankiest of food courts, if it could even be called that.

There were quite a few guests seated at tables, but given that it was after dinner time and judging by the looks on their faces, it was clear that most of the visitors to Westwood’s today had already finished their meals or desserts and were simply relaxing after what had likely been a long day in the amusement park.

My eyes scanned the area until they landed on the place I was looking for—The Mixing Bowl. Inhaling deeply once more, I plucked up the courage and allowed my feet to carry me forward to the bakery.

There was a pair of teenage girls there, paying for their treats. I came to a stop several feet away and waited.

And just as Jules had bid them farewell, her eyes met mine and widened in shock. “Layla.”

I offered a sheepish smile. “Hi, Jules.”

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said. “I didn’t think you were going to come for a visit. ”

“I didn’t either,” I admitted. I took in the bakery, noting the rows of empty trays in the glass display case.

I expected nothing less at the end of the day.

Jules had always been an excellent baker, and if anyone came here and overlooked whatever she normally had on display, they’d be missing out. “This place looks great.”

She beamed at me. “Thanks. Cooper did an excellent job with it.”

I should have guessed as much. Cooper, like Liam, loved working with his hands. It was no surprise he built this for his sister.

Jerking my chin toward the display case, I said, “It’s been busy today.”

“It’s like that every day in the summer months. It’s one reason I really need to consider hiring some additional help. I have a few part-timers, but it’s just not enough at this time of year.”

“I’m sure if you put out the word, you’ll have no trouble finding someone.”

Jules nodded. “So, how’s your mom doing? Is she still in the hospital?”