Chapter 149

Aldo

Layla’s bags were packed.

I’d barely taken three sips of my coffee that morning before I was struck with the unnerving sight near the front doors. All it did was fill me with uneasiness and a brutal sense of reality.

There was always that mindful thought in the back of my head that was hoping Layla would change her mind. But I knew she needed to do this.

She’s been feeling lost ever since we rescued Eli from Vanessa.

While Layla was saying goodbye to Eli, I made my way over to Eva and Stasia. The two sounded as though they were debating about directions on how to get to wherever it was they were headed.

“Where exactly are you taking Layla this weekend?” I asked them.

“We have a property up in Maine. It borders the Canadian line,” Stasia said.

Fucking Maine?!

I hid my surprise under my usual stoic mask.

“We haven’t been able to visit it often enough in more recent years; however, I think it will suit everyone just fine.”

It wasn’t enough to ease the worry in my mind.

“I know that Layla can take care of herself,” I told them. “But promise me that you’ll look after her.”

“Of course. Layla’s well-being has always been our top priority,” Stasia stated.

“Aldo, I want you to know that neither Stasia nor myself are actively trying to split up you and Layla,” she explained. “I know it may seem that way. But you must understand, someone like her doesn’t naturally belong in a world like ours.”

My nerves proceeded to spiral even further. I knew that. Deep in the back of my mind, for years, I knew that.

It was why I’d left her in the first place. But fate had a way of ensuring that our paths would cross again. Between the both of us, Layla and I were too stubborn to refuse ourselves the future we’d always dreamed of.

But as far as it came to the truth, I knew that this wasn’t the life that Layla had envisioned for us. She desired gatherings and holidays filled with laughter and loved ones—not weapons, killings, and ongoing threats.

“She knows that she’s going to have to make a choice. Either try and find the version of herself that she lost, or learn to be someone new.”

My brows drew together in bewilderment. “How is something like that possible?” I asked.

“When it comes to someone’s mental health being jeopardized, you’d be amazed what can be possible. It’s not as though she’s going to be re-inventing herself, per se,” she went on. “If she chooses to stay in this world, then she’s going to have to figure out what her boundaries are going to be.”

I supposed that made better sense. It helped a little bit more, knowing what Layla would be doing while she was away. Still...I wish I was able to let go of the ugly feeling that was determined to cling to my insides.

It’s going to be fine. She’s going to be safe with the twins. Nothing is going to happen and before I know it, she’ll be back.

This had become my mantra from the moment I realized that this trip was truly happening.

In the end, it didn’t matter how I felt. All I could do was hope that Layla was able to get better and find her middle ground. It was just such a shame that it took so long for me to see how badly she needed this sort of help.

“Alright, I think I’m ready,” Layla said weakly.

I noticed the slight pinkish color around her eyes and the light sniffle she let out. This whole situation couldn’t have been easier on her.

I reached out to lay my hand on the small of her back, pulling her into my side. “Everything is going to be alright here,” I told her.

“I know,” she said. “I’ve never left Eli like this before—not for any length of time.”

Oh, God. I couldn’t begin to imagine what this whole thing was doing to her. I wrapped myself around her and kissed the side of her head.

“It’s all going to work out. Whatever you decide, I will support you one hundred percent,” I said firmly.

Even if it ends up destroying me in the end.

Layla nodded her head and laced her arms around me. I cupped her cheek and brought her lips to mine.

“Call me when you get there, okay?”

“I will,” she said, promisingly.

It was with a heavy heart that I had to let her go. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Layla

Somehow leaving that house had been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Leaving my son felt like purposely sawing off a limb. As usual, he was my brave and mature boy. He gave me a tight hug and promised that he and his dad would keep in touch as often as possible.

But I could see the true emotion in his eyes that he was sad to watch me go.

Aldo helped us place the bags in the trunk of the car and gave me one last hug and kiss before the three of us headed off. I tried my best not to glance out the window because I knew seeing the house grow smaller in the distance would only hurt me even more.

“Don’t worry, Layla,” Eva said with encouragement. “Aside from working on your mental health, we should treat this trip as a girl’s getaway.”

“When was the last time you had any real downtime for yourself?” Stasia asked.

I let out a snort and shook my head. “I honestly don’t remember.”

We were talking about a time long before Aldo had originally appeared in my life. While I’d given a lot of my focus to my studies, there were nights that my friends and I would go out and relax.

“Have you ever been to Maine?”

“No,” I answered. “I used to live in Alaska years ago, but there’s so much of the world, even the country, that I haven’t seen.”

Perhaps this trip wouldn't be a complete train wreck of emotions...

By the time we reached our destination, the sun was just beginning to set in the sky. We’d driven into one of Maine’s coastal towns where we were right on the water. The first thing that caught my attention was all the white fishing boats that were docked in the harbor.

The town really reminded me of something one would find in a storybook. There were small shops and restaurants all along the main road. Several places had awnings draped with decorative lights and flowers.

The place was absolutely breathtaking.

I felt a slight twinge of pain in my chest as I spotted a small family strolling down the sidewalk, enjoying the evening together. It wasn’t hard to imagine that exact scene with Aldo and Eli.

But would it ever be possible? To have something so mundane...So normal?

A few minutes later, Stasia pulled the car into the driveway of a large two-story, white colonial-style house.

“Oh my God,” I gaped. “This place is beautiful.”

Eva rested a hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile. “Ready for this?”

I let out a long breath. “I suppose so.”