Forever Layla: A Time Travel Romance (18 page)

“You know, I love you more than he does.”

I said nothing at first, slowly digesting his words. “That’s because true love only grows with time. You’ve loved me longer.”

I tried to sit up straighter and pushed David away. “You need to go before your mom gets here.” I turned my head to avoid looking at him directly. My heart couldn’t take it.

“I won’t say goodbye to you.” A tremble overtook his voice. “Until we meet again, either here on earth, or up in heaven.”

I rolled over in the bed and faced
the wall, fighting back the tears. I ate my pain just like normal and was thankful for the drugs as I gave into the sleepiness from the medication and my own weariness.
 

Chapter 16

Layla

I SETTLED INTO THE
bed Mrs. Foster had made up for me and looked around the room. I remembered it from the tour on David’s birthday two years before. The room was still decorated in Star Trek posters and a shelf of metal lunchboxes with titles like, Quantum Leap, Doctor Who, and Star Wars. It had never occurred to me what he had left behind when he left home. I wondered if he had left those things in some show of leaving his childhood behind. Then I wondered if his mother had left it as it was in hopes that her little boy would one day come back to it.

I cradled my tummy instinctively as I considered what it would be like to have a ch
ild walk out and not return. It created a new sympathy for my mother-in-law.

There was a knock at the door
, and I sat up. “Come in.”

Mrs. Foster stood at the door holding a tray. “I made you some chicken broth. I put some saltines on the side and some natural ginger ale. The kind with real ginger is supposed to help with nausea.”

I adjusted my position on the bed so she could place the tray over my lap. I didn’t really feel like eating, but I knew I had to try—if not for this fledgling relationship between us, then for my son. “Thank you. I’m sorry I had to call you. I didn’t mean for you to bring me to your house. Just maybe check on me at mine or be on call if I needed someone.”

“Non
sense. The doctor said you got seriously dehydrated very rapidly. We can’t risk it until you are doing better.” My mother-in-law pulled a chair from underneath the desk in the room and pulled it beside the bed and took a seat. “The doctor said your husband was there earlier? But you said you didn’t want to pull David from his studies.”

I bit my lip
, hating to lie, but knowing I had no other choice. “It was Mr. Duke. He had sent me home sick and came by to check on me and saw I was in really bad shape. I must have blacked out on the ride to the hospital, and they needed a family member to sign for my treatment He pretended to be David.”

“I still don’t understand why you don’t want David to know. We can tell him you’re here with us and being well taken care of
, so he won’t worry about you.”

“But what if he does worry and doesn’t pay attention in class or what if he does rush back? I can’t risk that he’d come home and not finish this semester.”

“Why not? There will be other semesters.”

“Not with the professors he has right now. They are visiting for the summer
, and David has been studying their work for some time now.”

“I still don’t get what David plans to do with his future. What he’s studying isn’t practical. The most he can do is become a dusty old professor. I remember my science professors from college. The
y all had crazy hair and seemed out of touch with the rest of the world outside of academia”

“If t
hat’s his dream… most people don’t think dentistry is glamorous either.” I didn’t want to disagree with her, but I had to defend David’s choices.

“I suppose. I guess I’ve always been a bit of a micromanager. I can see the kind of life joining his father’s practice would provide. I can’t picture where this other path will take him.” She pointed all around his room. “I’ve never been a fan of David’s science fiction obsession. Did you know that’s why he started tutoring and ended up best friends with Michael? I gave him an allowance each week, but made him save it up to buy practical things
, like school clothes and such. I found out after the fact that he had started tutoring kids in the school’s library, so that it was his money clear and free of me telling him how to spend it. I guess he has always had his own interests, and I’ve always tried to bend him to mine. In the end, I pushed him out of my life.”

I chewed on a bit of cracker and sipped the ginger ale as I thought of a reply. “It isn’t too late for the two of you. All those years you had to be his mom and try to lead him to become a wise and responsible adult
, and you did it. He is, and you should be so proud. Now you can relax and get to know him as a person—as a grown man and just enjoy him.”

“I don’t know if I can switch to that so easily.”

“I think you both can learn this new relationship if you try.”

Mrs. Foster stood. “I’ll send Mandy up in a minute to get the tray.” She blinked and considered her words. “I’m sorry for the way I acted when David brought you home. It wasn’t my plan for him and
, since I’m a bit of a planner, changes throw me, and it takes me a while to readjust.”

“I can understand that. I sort of make my choices based on set plans too.”

“You aren’t what I had in mind for my son, but I think he did a wonderful job choosing on his own.”

I had to dab at my eyes. “I swear I’m not a crier. It’s these stupid hormones.”

“I look forward to getting to know both you and my adult son.”

*

I SPENT THE NEXT TWO weeks getting to know my in-laws. Grammy Taylor came by, and I finally got to meet her. She brought me some lady’s magazines and crossword puzzles. Mandy liked to come to my room and play Barbies with me. At ten, she told me she was the last of her friends who still played with them. That’s why she didn’t keep them in her room anymore but under David’s old bed, so that visiting friends wouldn’t know. I sat in the bed, brushing the doll’s hair, while listening to her chat about which girl in class wasn’t talking to whom at the moment. It made me glad I was going to have a boy.

Once it looked like my condition was manageable, I asked to go home.
I was still having moments of debilitating sickness, but mostly it was manageable with the medication, and I didn’t want David to make a surprise trip home and discover I wasn’t at the house. So the Fosters packed me up and helped me move back home. But they bought me a cell phone to keep with me in case I was to get sick while out and about.

David came home at the end of the first month of summer session. He walked in the house
, and I ran up to hug him, so glad to hold him. His lips came down on mine, and I breathed in his musky scent. I’d missed him more than I’d realized until he was there with me. I wondered if that was how David 2016 felt when he saw me.

I pulled away to catch my breath. “Wow
, you are an amazing kisser. I hope you weren’t practicing while you were away.”

“No practicing, just longing to do that…and more.” His lips curled up in a sly grin as he took hold of my arm and pulled me toward our room.

I dug my heels into the floor and stopped us from moving forward. “Not until you put your clothes away.”

David spun around, his brow furrowed
, looking at me like I was crazy. “What?”

“Not until you put all your clothes away.” I pointed at his bags by the door.

“Since when are you OCD?”

“Since I’ve spent a month ke
eping the house just like I want it. Now put your clothes away, and I promise you, after...” I bit my lip and tried to look seductive, “your obedience will be rewarded.”

He tossed up his hands and let out a growl in frustration and returned to the door to collect all his bags. He trudged to the bedroom where I heard the bags being unzipped. I heard drawers opening and closing
, and then I heard nothing and smiled as I waited. A few moments later, David came down the hall holding up a baby blue diaper shirt in his right hand.

“This was in my t-shirt drawer.” Then he lifted his left hand
, holding a pair of baby denim shorts. “And these were in my shorts drawer.” He stared at me waiting for an explanation.

“And there are blue baby shoes in the closet next to your shoes in case you had started there and a baby outfit hanging with your clothes just in case you started there.” I made my way to him and put my arms around his neck.

His eyes lit up. “Does this mean?”

I nodded and
smiled at him, tears gathering in the corners of my eyes.

He pulled me to him in a quick motion and held me. “Really?”

“Really.”

He pushed away from me and looked down at my tummy. “I didn’t crush it
, did I?”

I
laughed. “No, he’s fine.”

“He? It’s a boy? You know that already?”

“The doctors can’t say yet, but I can. Dr. David Foster and Layla had the most amazing son who will change the world.”

David got down on his knees and put his face in front of my tummy. “Hey
, there, I’m your dad, or daddy, since that’s what little kids say. We are going to have so much fun together. I’ll teach you all about comic books and Star Wars.” Then he glanced up at me and grinned. “I’ll teach you to be a geek because that’s how you get the really pretty girls.”

I couldn’t control my laughter at that part.

David stood and placed both hands in my hair, cradling my jaws with his thumbs. “Do we really have to wait until I put the clothes away?”

“Nope, that was just to tell you the good news.” I pulled him down the hall.

“So I still get my reward?”

“And then some.”

*

THE NEXT MORNING WAS SUNDAY
. I jumped up when the alarm went off and hit the button to make it stop.

“Why did you set the alarm for the weekend?” David growled and grabbed my pillow to cover his eyes.

“I’ve been going to church with your family.”

David sat up and stared at me, confusion all over his face. “What?”

“Well, with the baby coming, it was time to mend fences with your folks. I told your mom about the baby when I found out, and I’ve been hanging out over there some too.”

“How can you just forgive them like that? They insulted you. I can’t let it go.” He plopped back on his pillow and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Didn’t you like growing up with a loving grandma? I finally met Grammy Taylor, and she is a dear sweet woman. What about your collections in your old room? Don’t you think DJ would like them in his room someday?”

“DJ?”

“David Jr. My grandma took me to church every Sunday. She said Jesus changed her, and based on the stories she told me about how she raised my mom, I believe her. I know you grew up in church. Don’t you want that for our son?”

David didn’t answer
, but I could see he was listening.

“This whole parenting thing, it’s going to require us to grow up…to get over ourselves and do what is best for this child.”

David nodded in agreement.

“We are going to have a newborn baby. Have you ever had one before
? Because I haven’t. But your mom has, and she did a really great job. And you’ve got a sister almost old enough to babysit. We might want to go on dates. We might need some help in this.”

David sat up and threw his legs over the edge of the bed. “I guess this is the end of sleeping in on Sundays.”

“Don’t worry. It will just be practice for January when we say goodbye to sleeping in permanently.”

Suddenly I felt a little nauseous. I made my way to the bathroom and closed the door. I turned on the blower and the shower
, so he wouldn’t hear me throwing up. He might think a little morning sickness was normal, but I couldn’t risk it. Besides, he would worry about me, and there wasn’t any reason for us both to suffer. I got in the already running shower after and cleaned up before heading to the kitchen for some dry toast and a dose of Phenergan.

Chapter 17

Layla

DAVID WENT TO SCHOOL THE
next week with the confidence that his family was available to me if needed. We’d had a do-over cookout in their backyard the night before he left and started the healing process. I’d looked at all those people who loved David and would be there for him and DJ when I was no longer there. I cradled my tummy which had become a constant habit for me and watched Mrs. Foster brushing David’s hair from his eyes and fussing over him. It made me think about the bond I already had with my own son. If there was anyone on the planet who might possibly love David more than I did, it was her. Because as much as I loved David, I’d sacrifice both him and me for our son, and I already knew that’s exactly what we’d have to do for him.

I saw David off to school on Tuesday morning. He was taking as many summer and fall classes he could pack in so taking off the spring semester for the baby’s arrival wouldn’t put him too far behind. I headed back for my first full day of work. I walked in to see Trina already frazzled
, and the day hadn’t started yet.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s him.” She pointed to Drake’s office, and I saw him passed out on his desk with an empty bottle beside him. “He left yesterday for an appointment and came back with that giant bottle, sat down at his desk, and started pouring himself drinks. I’ve had to answer all the calls and take all the payments. I locked up yesterday with him passed out already with half a bottle left. Looks like he drank the rest during the night.” Trina spun to face me. “I didn’t choose nursing as a profession for a reason. I come to work to be business professional and do my job. I don’t have any interest in taking care of others. If this is how it’s going to be from now on, I’m going to look for another office.”

The office was too busy these days to run it alone. “Don’t quit just yet, please. I’m here today
, and I’ll go see what’s going on with Drake.”

I poured a cup of black coffee and crept into Drake’s office, closing the door as quietly as I could before I sat down the cup and tried to shake him awake. He groaned and grunted as I shook him again. “Drake, wake up.”

He leaned back, and I saw the overgrowth of stubble on his gaunt face. He’d lost a lot of weight lately.

“Mr. Duke, why are you drinking again?”

His bloodshot eyes strained to focus on me. “Layla, you’re back.”

“Yes
, and now Trina is about to quit. Why?” I sat down in one of the chairs facing his desk.

“Yesterday was my first drink since my slip up over a year ago.”

I blinked as I thought about that. “Then why are you so gaunt and why did you drink all night?”

“I’ve been sick for some
time, but I just ignored it. Yesterday I went to the doctor and found out it’s my liver.”

I sat up as my eyes widened. “What?”

“My liver’s destroyed. I only have a few months left. I figured there was no point in quitting now if I’m going to die anyway.”

I reached across the desk and took his frail hand. It was cold and clammy. “There’s got to be something…a transplant maybe?”

“Not for people who do this to themselves. They don’t waste a good liver on someone likely to abuse it.” He sat up, staring at me with bloodshot eyes. “There’s no saving me this time, young lady.”

I bit back the tears as I watched my boss accept defeat. “I’m sorry.” Such pitiful words that offered nothing
, really.

“Thank you. You saved me once. I guess people only get one of those in a lifetime. But you should know, I changed my will. I’m leaving you everything.”

“What… the office…to me?” I felt my eyes widen as I glanced around and then back at him. “I couldn’t. I’m just an employee, not family.”

“I don’t have any kids. I was an only child so no brothers or sisters or nieces and nephews. Besides, you are the one really running the show here
, and I know it.” He stood up and then slumped back in his chair. “This wasn’t as fun as I remembered.”

“Then don’t do this again. Don’t bring it any faster.”

“I won’t. I promise. You need to hire someone else to help Ms. Compassion out there and have her trained. I will probably keep getting sick, and you could have to go on bed rest again. Even if you don’t, you will be taking some time off in a few months.”

I stood. “I’ll place an ad today.” I turned to go and took a few steps before looking back. “If you need anything, let me know.”

*

DRAKE MADE IT TWO MORE
months. I was shocked when I found out he hadn’t just left me the office. He left me everything. I sold his house and invested the money without telling David. There were other uses for that money coming up, and David didn’t need to know about it yet.

On January 3
rd
, 1997, twenty-five days before I turned twenty-seven, I gave birth to the most handsome little boy in the world. They cleaned him up and handed him to David first. I sat up, eager to hold him. David presented him to me. “He looks like me. He even has my eyes.”

I accepted the warm softness of my newborn son and stared into his little familiar face with complete awe. “Yes
, he does, for now, but they will turn dark like mine.” DJ’s dark eyes were wide circles as he watched my face with complete mesmerizing interest. I brushed his cheek which triggered his instinct to move his mouth in that direction.

“I think he’s hungry.
” David knelt beside the bed watching us.

I glanced between my two guys
, and all I could think was
there isn’t enough time.
And tears burst forth. I made it my goal that moment to make each day precious and to always be present for them because there
wasn’t
enough time—I had to treasure the days I had with them.