“You’re right, but why?” I raise my arms to her and gesture for her to look at me. “What about me would be attractive to a basketball superstar like the Landon Prince?”
“You don’t see it, do you?” She stares at me thoughtfully. I just stare back without answering. “You have such a great personality. It draws people in, and you don’t even realize it. You’re such a real person and that is probably what attracted him to you in the first place. You’re beautiful on multiple levels, not just your appearance. You’re caring and considerate. You’re one badass mom. What more is there not to love? I’ve told you this a million times, when will it finally sink in?” I take in my sister’s words and repeat them to myself in my head. The afternoon bell rings, signaling the children will be coming in shortly from their recess break, cranky, exhausted, and sweaty from playing with their friends. “Just promise me you’ll try to let loose and let him in a little.” She stands and pushes the chair she was sitting in back to the correct table and turns to look at me, waiting for my reply.
“I promise.” She smiles a smile that reaches her eyes before winking and heading toward the door. I grab my phone to text Landon back. I’ve decided to give this a real shot and not hold back so much, though I still need to be somewhat guarded for Carson’s sake.
Me: Hi there. What’s your question?
Landon: I have a red-carpet event tomorrow that I just found out about and I have to attend. It’s for charity and I really would like to take you.
Me: I’d love to, but I’ll have to figure out a sitter for Carson and I’ll need time to find something to wear.
Landon: Don’t worry about the dress. I’ll take care of it, just find a sitter for the entire night.
Me: Okay. I’ll text my parents now.
Landon: Alright babe, I’m heading into practice. Come by the house when you get off, we can grill and swim.
My students shuffle in one by one and I turn my focus back on their education, and move onto a math quiz we’ve been planning all week.
Chapter Fourteen
When school releases I wait for Carson to make his way to my room like he does every afternoon. He doesn’t know that we are going to Landon’s so he will be excited; I just need to stop by my house first and get our swimsuits.
“Hi, Momma,” Carson says as he steps into the room. His backpack is the first thing he drops, right in the center of the doorway.
“Carson.” I roll my eyes as I’m gathering my papers up to take home for the night. “Pick that up, we aren’t staying late today.”
He stomps back over to his back and throws it over his shoulder.
“Where we going?”
“Landon’s house. He has practice but we are going to swim and grill tonight.”
“YES!” he shouts and darts out of the room as I make my way to the door.
Landon gave me the garage opener for my visor and told me to pull into the first bay door when I arrived. There’s a black car parked in the front of the house, but I don’t think much about it as I hit the garage door opener button and watch the door slowly rise. Carson is bouncing up and down in the backseat and has the door open before I’m fully in park.
I enter through the side door of the garage and notice that his laundry area is now clean. His bags that were scattered everywhere are neatly stacked in the corner and a fresh pile of laundry sits on top of the washer. He must have found a new cleaning service, and thank goodness he did.
We step into the kitchen and I place my bags on the island countertop before grabbing the towels and sunscreen that Landon set out. When I turn, I scream; my hand clutches my chest and I grab ahold of the counter. A woman is sitting at the couch, a glass of wine in her hand.
“I’m so sorry I scared you. I thought you saw me when you walked in.” She stands. She’s tall, and undeniably beautiful. I stare at her closely and realize this is Landon’s mother, the woman from the photograph in the bedroom with his sister.
“I am sorry. I shouldn’t have screamed like that.” I laugh as I walk toward her to meet her halfway.
“I’m Laura. It’s nice to meet the young woman who has my son so smitten.” She smiles before turning her attention to Carson. “And you must be Carson. I’ve heard very good things about you.”
“I’m Kelsi, this is my son.” I gesture to Carson, who has already started walking away to look out the back doors at the pool. “I didn’t realize you were coming in or I’d have let you have the night with Landon.”
“Oh nonsense. Landon doesn’t know I’m here, hell I’m not even sure Layla knows I’m here. I have the garage code so I let myself in. She wasn’t in her guest house when I arrived, so I’ve been sitting here sipping wine waiting on one of them to get home.” She gestures toward the backyard, so I follow.
Carson wastes no time jumping into the pool. Landon has a box of pool toys sitting near the pool full of floaties, goggles, diving toys, and water guns.
“Mom?” Laura and I both turn at the name. “What are you doing here?” Layla asks as she walks the sidewalk from her pool house to where we are standing. “I didn’t know you were coming in.”
She raises her arms when she gets close, wrapping her mother in a hug. They squeeze each other tightly before releasing one another.
“Darling, you are too thin.” She holds Layla at arms’ length and stares her up and down. “Are you eating?”
“Yes, Mom.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m always eating.”
“Well, let me go get the wine,” Laura says as she enters the house.
“I had no clue she was coming in,” Layla comments to me. “I would have warned you. Landon text and mentioned you and Carson would be coming by.”
“It’s really fine. She seems lovely,” I reply truthfully. His mom reminds me of my own, very loving.
“So, what time will Landon be home?” Laura enters the backyard with three wine classes, a bottle of wine, and a juice box for Carson. My heart swells at the simple gesture.
“I believe he said about seven, but I could be wrong,” Layla answers before I have the chance to. She sits in one of the lounge chairs closest to the pool; a large umbrella hangs over the top. I follow suit and sit beside her and Laura collapses on my other side. The backyard is a dream.
The pool is a large square, the bottom painted a dark blue so the water always appears the gorgeous color. The tile surrounding the pool is a light tan color with a gray trim that lights the outside of the pool. A hot tub sits off near one side of the pool where water overlaps into the pool. A fire pit filled with rock is next to the pergola and emits a cozy and warm feel for cooler nights.
“Kelsi?” I hear Landon’s voice from behind.
“Landon,” Carson squeals and swims to the edge. He throws himself up and over onto the tile and runs toward Landon. As I turn, I catch Landon bending down and tossing him over his shoulder as he walks toward us.
“Mom?” Landon’s eyes finally settle on the two women beside me. “What are you doing here? I didn’t know you were coming.” He’s shocked to see her.