Anchored: A Lake Series Novella Read Free

Tyler.
    We
all exit at the same time, hugging before I split from them. I watch
the three of them file into Carol’s car as I click my seatbelt
into place.
    “Caroline
and Tyler,” I say with a sigh. It really is wonderful. Perfect,
really. I shake my head, thinking of what else awaits me today. What
isn’t perfect is the conversation I’m about to have with
Mom and Eliana.

 

Chapter 2
     
    I
pass through the second turn-about on my way to meet Mom and Eliana
for lunch. We’re meeting at Campania, the same place Will and I
had our wedding reception. Until the babies were born we tried to
meet once a week. Since then, the moms have occasionally brought
lunch or dinner over, and a couple of times they had Vinnie put
together a sampler of my and Will’s favorites.
    Walking
in, I’m greeting by the same warm atmosphere I always have, and
I’m reminded of just how much I love this place. I remember the
first time Will brought me here after our Day of Nothing. It was a
stressful time in our lives, but the journey was worth the
destination.
    Mom
and Eliana are already seated when I pass through the
velvet-curtained doorway but jump to their feet when they see me.
Their faces shine brightly with joy as they extend their arms to hug
me. They don’t even wait for me to meet them at the table. I’m
quickly accosted in the middle of the room. Fortunately there are
only four other parties dining during this non-rush hour in the
middle of the week, all of whom are seated on the other side of the
room.
    “Layla,
honey, you look wonderful!” Mom says as her arms wrap tightly
around me.
    “Yes!
Just beautiful!” Eliana agrees.
    “Bathing
will do that for you.” I laugh as I hug them both fiercely. We
sit and our server, Stacey, immediately brings me a diet cola with
limes. “Oh, I love you!” I say to all three of them. I
take a long draw through the straw and sigh.
    “Are
you all ready or do you need a few minutes?” she asks.
    “I’m
going to need a minute, if that’s okay?” I tell her.
    “Sure.
I’ll be back in a few!”
    I
peruse the menu as if I’ve never seen it before. I don’t
want to miss it if Vinnie has added something to his repertoire.
After a first run down the page, I realize it wouldn’t matter
anyway because all I want is a Caprese Panini with a spring salad.
    “That’s
what you get every time!” Mom teases.
    “I
know, but it’s just so good!” I laugh.
    Stacey
takes our orders and we adjust in our seats as we settle in to wait
for our meals to be made fresh.
    “We
have gifts!” Eliana says, dragging two gift bags from their
hiding place under the table. Each bag is identical, as I’m
anticipating the gifts inside will be.
    “You
really shouldn’t have! As if you all didn’t already go
overboard with them at Christmas, and they were only six weeks old!
The girls can’t even sit up yet and they’re already
better dressed than I ever have been! They are so spoiled!” I
pull the tissue paper out of the bag and fold it neatly. I’ve
got quite a stash of tissue paper and gift bags stored away in my
closet to use for future gifts for the girls.
    I
unwrap the tissue and find the most ridiculously adorable tights with
ruffles on the bottom and the tiniest pairs of black patent shoes. We
give a collective “aww” and I smile from ear to ear. The
next bag has two dresses that are certain to make Natalie and Claire
look like princesses. I’m pleasantly surprised to find that one
is pink and one is white. I know they don’t have a clue right
now, but I want to try and avoid matching every single outfit they
wear. It will be important for them to have their own identity.
    “You
two really are too much! Thank you!” I say with a broad smile.
    “They’re
size six months so they’ll have time to grow into them. Are
they still in zero to three months?” Eliana asks.
    As
we expected, the twins were early and therefore pretty tiny when they
were born. Natalie was five pounds, two