like me who hasn't known you but a day can see that. And you love him, so … so what makes you not want it? You can be with him for – well for a really long time, I guess."
"Will I? What if he falls out of love with me? What if we don't work out or he meets someone else or –"
Nevaeh gave her arm a squeeze. "Or what if you're one of the lucky ones and you get the happily ever after?"
Layla nodded and looked up. "I hope we are."
"Well, if you want it bad enough you'll do what it takes to make it happen. At least that's what my dad taught me."
Layla smiled. "I do want it."
"Then make it happen – one day at a time."
"How'd you get so smart, Nevaeh?"
Nevaeh chuckled. "I don't know that I am, but I do know that if it's important enough we'll do whatever we have to in order to try and make it happen."
"Thanks, Nev. I think that's exactly what I needed to hear."
"Good. So, what's happening today? Is the event cancelled? Do I need to make travel arrangements?"
"Yes, it's been cancelled and no you don't have to make travel arrangements. Augustus will have his pilot take you back to Florida whenever you're ready. And I have your check ready as well."
Suddenly Nevaeh felt ashamed for worrying about being paid. People had lost their lives and Layla's life had been unalterably changed.
"Oh, I can't take the pay."
"Why not?"
"Because I didn't do anything."
"You gave your time and came all the way up here."
"Still, it doesn’t seem right."
"It is and I insist."
"Well thank you. I'm not going to lie. I could definitely use it."
"I don't want to pry but Ellie told me that your dad is in a home in Florida. Do you have to pay for that?"
"Yes."
"That has to be hard."
"But worth it. I wanted him to be close and I couldn't find work in the Carolinas where we're from, so I scraped enough together to have him moved. It's a nice place and they take good care of him and I can visit with him."
"Does he know you?"
"No. But I know him."
"You're pretty remarkable, Nev. Would you mind terribly if I helped you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean would you mind if I paid for your dad's care?"
"Why in the world would you do that?"
"Because you're my friend and because I can. Money isn't worth anything if you can't help the people you care about."
Nevaeh didn't know what to say and couldn't have spoken if she'd could. Layla's kindness completely overwhelmed her. So much that she broke down.
She'd been making her way in life since she was twenty, trying to survive and to help provide for her father. There'd never been anyone to turn to, no shoulders to lean on, and certainly no one to offer help. For the longest time she'd felt as if it were her against the world, struggling day in and day out and always one step behind.
There had been times when it had seemed too much, when she wanted to quit. But then she'd visit her father and remember all he'd done for her and how much she loved him and she'd find the strength to take on another part time job or as many as she could find to make sure he was cared for.
Layla leaned over and put her arms around Nevaeh, holding her until the tears faded. "I'm sorry Layla. I didn't mean to – I just – I just never had anyone want to do something this huge for me and – and god, I don't even know how to start saying thank you."
"You don't have to."
"There has to be something I can do. Some way to repay—"
"Your friendship will be more than enough."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. And maybe one more thing."
"Name it."
"Be careful with Gabriel."
"Oh, the bliss thing. It doesn’t happen to me."
"I know, and that's why I want you to be careful."
"Because you think I'm going to get hurt?"
"No, because I think you might hurt him."
Nevaeh gawked at her as if she'd just lost her mind. "Are you kidding? He's … he's an Angel and – and probably the most perfect man I've ever met. He could have anyone. Anyone."
"Yes, that may be true, but you're the first woman he's met who isn't affected by
"Will I? What if he falls out of love with me? What if we don't work out or he meets someone else or –"
Nevaeh gave her arm a squeeze. "Or what if you're one of the lucky ones and you get the happily ever after?"
Layla nodded and looked up. "I hope we are."
"Well, if you want it bad enough you'll do what it takes to make it happen. At least that's what my dad taught me."
Layla smiled. "I do want it."
"Then make it happen – one day at a time."
"How'd you get so smart, Nevaeh?"
Nevaeh chuckled. "I don't know that I am, but I do know that if it's important enough we'll do whatever we have to in order to try and make it happen."
"Thanks, Nev. I think that's exactly what I needed to hear."
"Good. So, what's happening today? Is the event cancelled? Do I need to make travel arrangements?"
"Yes, it's been cancelled and no you don't have to make travel arrangements. Augustus will have his pilot take you back to Florida whenever you're ready. And I have your check ready as well."
Suddenly Nevaeh felt ashamed for worrying about being paid. People had lost their lives and Layla's life had been unalterably changed.
"Oh, I can't take the pay."
"Why not?"
"Because I didn't do anything."
"You gave your time and came all the way up here."
"Still, it doesn’t seem right."
"It is and I insist."
"Well thank you. I'm not going to lie. I could definitely use it."
"I don't want to pry but Ellie told me that your dad is in a home in Florida. Do you have to pay for that?"
"Yes."
"That has to be hard."
"But worth it. I wanted him to be close and I couldn't find work in the Carolinas where we're from, so I scraped enough together to have him moved. It's a nice place and they take good care of him and I can visit with him."
"Does he know you?"
"No. But I know him."
"You're pretty remarkable, Nev. Would you mind terribly if I helped you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean would you mind if I paid for your dad's care?"
"Why in the world would you do that?"
"Because you're my friend and because I can. Money isn't worth anything if you can't help the people you care about."
Nevaeh didn't know what to say and couldn't have spoken if she'd could. Layla's kindness completely overwhelmed her. So much that she broke down.
She'd been making her way in life since she was twenty, trying to survive and to help provide for her father. There'd never been anyone to turn to, no shoulders to lean on, and certainly no one to offer help. For the longest time she'd felt as if it were her against the world, struggling day in and day out and always one step behind.
There had been times when it had seemed too much, when she wanted to quit. But then she'd visit her father and remember all he'd done for her and how much she loved him and she'd find the strength to take on another part time job or as many as she could find to make sure he was cared for.
Layla leaned over and put her arms around Nevaeh, holding her until the tears faded. "I'm sorry Layla. I didn't mean to – I just – I just never had anyone want to do something this huge for me and – and god, I don't even know how to start saying thank you."
"You don't have to."
"There has to be something I can do. Some way to repay—"
"Your friendship will be more than enough."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. And maybe one more thing."
"Name it."
"Be careful with Gabriel."
"Oh, the bliss thing. It doesn’t happen to me."
"I know, and that's why I want you to be careful."
"Because you think I'm going to get hurt?"
"No, because I think you might hurt him."
Nevaeh gawked at her as if she'd just lost her mind. "Are you kidding? He's … he's an Angel and – and probably the most perfect man I've ever met. He could have anyone. Anyone."
"Yes, that may be true, but you're the first woman he's met who isn't affected by
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