24. Ayla

24

AYLA

T he gravel crunches beneath my sandals as I step out of the truck. The cool breeze has little effect on me because of all the skin covered up by the sweater dress I have on. There’s more people than I would have imagined, and I can feel myself getting nervous.

As we make our way across the sprawling yard, the savory scent of barbecue mingles with cheerful laughter and upbeat music. People mill about, lounging in lawn chairs and tossing footballs. Children race by, their giggles carried on the breeze.

I hug Piper a little tighter to my chest, feeling her wiggle with excitement at the festive scene.

A blur of movement catches my eye, and I look up to see a figure hurrying towards us, waving enthusiastically. It’s a woman with a curly pixie cut that fits her round face extremely well, a kind smile, and a pregnant stomach so round that it looks like she’s about to pop any day now.

“You must be Ayla!” She exclaims breathlessly as she reaches us, eyes sparkling with warmth. “I’ve heard so much about you! I’m Jamie.”

Her energy is infectious, and I find myself smiling back, some of the tension easing from my shoulders. “All good things, I hope,” I joke, shifting Piper in my arms.

Jamie laughs, a bright, musical sound. “Good things, good things. You’ve got these boys wrapped around your finger from what I can tell.” At that, the boys start excusing themselves, clearly not wanting to engage in all of the girl talk.

Heat rushes to my cheeks. “I wouldn’t have guessed.”

Jamie waves a dismissive hand. “Let me see this little angel.”

She steps towards me, bringing her face level with Piper’s. Piper, usually shy around strangers, leans forward in my arms, giggling as Jamie coos and makes silly faces.

“Oh my gosh, she’s adorable!” Jamie reaches out to gently pinch Piper’s cheek, her eyes soft with adoration. “Look at those chubby little cheeks. I could just eat her up! It’s exciting to know I’m about to have one of these.”

“When are you due?”

“A couple of weeks.” She rubs her stomach affectionately. “Here, come on, I can’t stand for too long.”

Jamie leads me towards a weathered wooden bench nestled beneath a sprawling oak tree, its gnarled branches casting intricate shadows across the ground.

“I’ve known those boys since they were knee-high to a grasshopper,” Jamie chuckles, settling onto the bench and patting the space beside her. “You wouldn’t believe the mischief they used to get up to.”

Intrigued, I ease myself down next to Jamie, adjusting Piper on my lap. “Oh, do tell,” I grin, eager to learn more about the men who have so quickly become a part of my life.

Jamie’s eyes twinkle with mirth as they launch into a story. “There was this one time, when Teller and Clay were about seven or eight, they decided they were going to build a treehouse in the woods behind the farmhouse...”

As Jamie weaves the tale, I find myself transported back in time, picturing a young Teller and Clay, all scraped knees and gap-toothed grins, as they scramble up a rickety ladder with armfuls of scavenged lumber. I can almost hear their laughter ringing through the trees, followed by the inevitable crash as their haphazard construction comes tumbling down.

“...and there they were, covered head to toe in mud, splinters sticking out every which way, but grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats,” Jamie finishes, shaking her head fondly at the memory.

I clutch my stomach, tears of laughter streaming down my face as I imagine the scene. “Oh, my goodness, they sound like quite the handful,” I gasp, trying to catch my breath.

“You have no idea,” Jamie smirks, leaning back against the rough bark of the tree. “But you know, even with all the chaos and the mischief, those boys have always had the biggest hearts. They’d do anything for the people they care about. That’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about.”

I notice how serious her face gets and can feel my heart pounding faster. “Yeah?”

“Are you just working for the boys?” She asks, cocking her head to the side. “Or is there something going on?”

Her question catches me off guard, and I start bouncing Piper unconsciously, my mouth suddenly going dry. “I…um…”

“I ask because…they’re good men, all of them, and when they love, they love with everything they’ve got, and from what I can see, they may not love you yet but they’re getting there…all of them… so what are you doing?”

All of them? I think about the moments I’ve shared with each of them…what would they do if they found out? What would Jamie do? If I told her, would she tell them? I think she would.

“I... I care about them too,” I admit, the words feeling both terrifying and exhilarating as they leave my lips. “But, I…” I trail off, not really having a clue what I want to say.

“Can’t be with all of them?” Jamie finishes, with a small shrug. “Maybe, maybe not.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

She must see the confusion on my face because she keeps talking. “You’re a good impact on them, but don’t be the reason that they get into a war with each other. Don’t tear them apart, and don’t hurt them because you seem like a good girl, but if you did…you don’t know how scary I can become.”

I feel goosebumps on my arm. Somehow despite how sweet she seems, I believe her. “I don’t want to hurt them.”

Jamie studies me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she nods, seeming to accept my words. But I can still sense a protective edge to her demeanor, like a mama bear watching over her cubs.

“Good,” she says firmly. “Because they’re my family.”

“I understand.” And I really do. In the short time I’ve been with them, they’ve started to feel like my family. The last thing I want to do is break them apart.

Jamie’s face softens and she pats my hand. “Come on, let’s grab a drink and I’ll fill you in on all the embarrassing childhood stories about those knuckleheads.” She winks conspiratorially.

I laugh, the tension dissipating as we meander over to the coolers. Jamie hands me a lemonade and we talk and swap stories, warmth spreads through me.

Watching the men joke and roughhouse across the yard, I’m struck by the realization that I’m not just stepping into a new job here. I’m being welcomed into a tight-knit community. A family.