Authors: E. D. Brady
“Happy Thanksgiving,”
she said, staring into his dark eyes.
“Um, yes, it is,” he
replied. “The happiest one I can remember, and I can remember
all
of
them.”
“Old man,” Layla
teased quietly.
“Un anciano que ama,” he
answered, gazing deep into her eyes. Layla melted on the spot, causing Jay to
laugh; delighted by the effect he had on her. He turned to look at Issy. “How’s
my beautiful sister this morning?” he questioned.
“Wow, someone’s a
happy camper,” Issy replied, throwing her arms around his back.
Ben walked into the
kitchen next. He walked over to Issy, picked her up by the hips and spun her
around. “Happy Thanksgiving, beautiful,” he said, beaming. He carried her over
to Jay and Layla and held out his fist for them to tap, one at a time.
“I should go get
dressed,” Layla said to no one in particular.
“NO!” three people
exclaimed in unison.
Layla raised her
eyebrows.
“In this family, we
eat Thanksgiving dinner in our jammies,” Ben stated.
“Oh,” Layla huffed.
“And Christmas
dinner also,” Joey added, walking into the kitchen.
“But I’m wearing
the same clothes from yesterday,” Layla said.
“Then I’ll give you
a clean pair of p.j’s to change into,” Issy stated.
By two o’clock,
they were seated at the dining room table and ready to tuck into the feast that
Issy had prepared.
Layla was uneasy
all morning and afternoon, dreading the unpleasant phone call she was expecting
from her mother that didn’t come until four o’clock.
“How is she?” Issy
asked when Layla hung up.
“She’s pretty upset
and shaken up. I told her I’d take the seven o’clock flight to New York to be
with her.”
They spent the
remainder of the day lounged out on the various couches watching a
Star Wars
marathon.
Layla bided her
time until she had to leave for the city, sprawled out on one couch with Jay,
wrapped in his arms.
“Can I get the keys
to your apartment?” Jay asked Joey when it was almost time for Layla to leave.
“Sure, but for what?”
Joey asked.
“I’m going to stay
in Manhattan with Layla,” Jay explained. “To be there for her and her mother,
help out any way I can.”
“Thank you,” Layla
whispered. She turned her attention to Joey. “You have an apartment in
Manhattan? Where?” she questioned.
“Park Avenue,” Joey
answered.
Layla rolled her
eyes. “Of course it is. Where else would it be?”
At eight thirty,
Jay’s phone rang: a call from Rick to let him know that he had arrived with
Lucia and was waiting for them at the large field.
“I’ll drive you
over,” Joey offered.
Issy threw her arms
around Layla once more. “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. We’ll be down for
Christmas,” she said.
“I can’t wait,”
Layla replied honestly. “We’ll have a sleepover at my house—a girly night.”
Issy’s eyes lit up.
“Really?” she gushed.
Layla nodded. “I’ll
call you in the meantime.”
As Jay said good-bye
to Issy, Ben hugged Layla tight. “Take care of my brother, okay?” he said.
“I will,” Layla
promised.
“So, Jay, what are
you going to do in North Carolina without us?” Ben asked.
“I have an English
project to work on,” Jay replied with a smirk.
“How many college degrees
do you have, and you’re willingly going to high school?” Ben questioned.
Jay shrugged his
shoulders.
“What are you doing
the report on?” Issy asked.
Layla said, “
Dante’s
Inferno
,” just as Jay answered, “
Harry Potter
.”
“No way,” Layla
laughed.
“We’ll see,” Jay
replied confidently.
Joey was already
waiting in the driver’s seat with the car revving as Layla and Jay entered.
“Are you sure you won’t come with me?” Jay asked.
“Nah, it’s six to
one, half a dozen to the other, at this point,” Joey answered, driving slowly
down the driveway.
“What do you mean?”
Layla questioned.
“I can stay here
and watch my sister and Ben make kissy faces at each other constantly, or head
south and watch the two of you,” he replied.
“We have to find
you a girl,” Layla stated.
“I like your friend
Julie,” Joey exclaimed, smirking at Layla through the rear-view mirror.
As Lucia came into view,
Jay told Joey to stop the car.
“I’ll drive you
right over,” Joey said, confused.
“No, stop here,”
Jay requested.
They took turns
hugging Joey good-bye, then he got back in the car and drove off, leaving Jay
and Layla waving after him.
“What are you up
to?” Layla asked, looking straight ahead.
“I have an idea, mi
amor,” Jay stated.
Layla turned and raised
her eyebrows questioningly.
“I’ve figured out
the perfect way to end the debate about the English assignment.”
“What is it?” she
queried.
Jay took her arm
and coaxed her toward the green fence that surrounded the field, then, facing
her, he put both hands on the tops of her arms and pushed her back up against
it gently. “I’ll race you to Lucia,” he answered. “Whoever wins…” he trailed
off, looking at her expectantly.
“Oh, you’re on!”
she blurted out.
He stood shoulder
to shoulder with her. “Are you ready?” he asked.
She nodded
enthusiastically.
“Okay then,” he said.
“On your mark…get set…go!”
About
the Author
Originally
from Forest Hills, New York, E. D. Brady is a wife and mother of two, living in
a small town outside Raleigh, NC. Since childhood, she dreamt of writing
stories and spent countless hours entertaining her friends by making up
romantic tales for them. Giving up the Manhattan business world has allowed her
the time to finally put pen to paper.
E.
D. Brady is also the author of the New Adult, Romantic Fantasy ‘The Vistira
Trilogy.’
Visit
her at
http://www.edbrady.net
Remembered (The Vistira Trilogy: Book 1)
Emily's past is
a mystery. Left abandoned on the steps of a police precinct as a young girl,
she is unaware of the love she left behind in another world. When she seeks
hypnotherapy to deal with haunting dreams of a handsome stranger, she is thrown
into memories of being kidnapped and almost murdered.
Kellus's heart
is torn apart by the strange and devastating disappearance of the only woman he
would ever love. A secret kept from him as a child turns out to be the catalyst
in a devious plot to control the world of Vistira. But first, the power-hungry
Dinora, aided by the traitorous Lionel, needed to eliminate the one woman who
could prevent them from bending Kellus to their will.
With the help of
their family, the young couple must find a way back to one another and end the
threat posed by their enemies, not only for their own sakes, but also for the
safety of their entire world.
Remembered (The Vistira Trilogy: Book 1)
In the UK
Reclaimed (the Vistira Trilogy: Book 2)
With Lionel gone,
Dinora's ambitions escalate towards a bloody war that only Annie may have the
power to prevent.
Annie and Kellus
set out to find the one object that may thwart Dinora's schemes. Along the
way, they are reunited with an old friend, but Annie worries that they
will not make it home in time to take on the forces that threaten the lives
of their family and everyone they know. As the danger builds, only one
element can save them, but will their love be strong enough to endure the
ultimate test?
Reclaimed (The Vistira Trilogy: Book 2)
In the UK
Returned (The Vistira Trilogy: Book 3)
Brooke Bradcore is
unaware that she is part of a catastrophic chain of events that have been set
in motion.
With
her recent engagement leaving her less than thrilled, she becomes involved in a
steamy affair with a handsome man she meets on the subway. But when this man
and his friends kidnap her, she realizes that her whole life has been a lie.
She is forced to rely on her captors to help her navigate the destruction
thrust upon them. Together, they must save not one, but two worlds.
Returned (The Vistira Trilogy: Book 3)
In the UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AQ9RLEI