Chapter 4
By the time Layla's parents arrived at the hospital, it was almost six in the evening.
Her mom rushed in first, eyes red and swollen. Before she could even steady herself, she smacked Layla hard on the shoulder, not holding back at all.
She shouted, "You've got some nerve just sitting here.
"Camryn's in there fighting for her life, and you're just out here doing nothing.
"If something happens to you, I'll never forgive you!"
Every hit was heavy and solid.
Layla hunched her shoulders, not even trying to dodge.
Her dad followed behind, silent.
He stopped by the window in the hallway, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, shook one out, and lit it.
He took drag after drag.
The smoke curled up, hiding his face.
That was when Moises showed up.
At the far end of the hallway, he strolled in with a fruit basket in hand, dressed in casual clothes, not a hair out of place.
When Layla spotted him, her stomach clenched.
He said as he walked over, handing the fruit basket to Layla's mom, "Mrs. Porter, Mr. Porter.
"I'm really sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have asked Layla out. No one could've predicted Camryn would suddenly..."
Layla's mom didn't take the gifts.
She stared at Moises for a moment, then turned to look at Layla, who was hunched over in her chair.
Her lips twitched, but she didn't say a word.
She knew Moises.
Layla had been spending time with him even before she got married, and she kept seeing him after the wedding.
Not long after Layla finished her postpartum recovery, she was already dressing up to go out and "catch up" with him.
She'd tried to talk Layla out of it.
But Layla always gave the same excuse. "Mom, you just don't get it. We're just friends."
"Take the gifts back with you," Layla's mom said, pushing them away without even glancing up. "Camryn's not allowed to eat, doctor's orders."
Moises's hand hung awkwardly in the air for a moment, then he just left the basket on a bench in the hallway.
He turned to Layla, his voice softening. "Layla, I'm going now. If you need anything, just let me know."
He paused, fidgeting with the seam of his pants.
"Camryn will be fine. Try not to worry," he said gently.
His footsteps slowly faded away down the hall.
Layla's dad just stared out at the bare ginkgo tree outside the window.
The ash piled up until it finally dropped to the floor. He didn't bother to put it out, just snuffed the cigarette on the windowsill, leaving a burnt mark.
"Layla," Layla's dad rasped, his voice rough as sandpaper on rusted metal. "What's really going on between you and Moises?"
Layla said, "Dad, Moises and I have known each other for ten years. If there was anything between us, "
"Cut the crap!"
Her dad suddenly shouted, jabbing his finger toward the hospital room door.
"Your husband's been in there for three days, and you're out messing around! How can you be so shameless?"
Some heads turned in the hallway, watching the scene unfold.
Layla bowed her head, her nails biting into her palm.
Her phone buzzed.
The screen lit up with a name: Jaylene.
She took a deep breath and answered.
Jaylene said, her voice so flat it was like she'd ironed out every bit of emotion, "Layla, Alfie said you're back, that's good. Don't stress about Camryn. Kids heal quickly."
There was a pause.
"But there's something I want to talk to you about, honey," Jaylene said.
Layla gripped her phone, not saying a word.
"Once Camryn's out of the hospital, I'm thinking of taking her back to Aglaroos for a while. Are you okay with that?" Jaylene asked.
Layla got the message.
This wasn't a discussion.
It was a notice.
"Mom, can Camryn stay in Karondadim? I promise I'll..." Layla started.
"Layla," Jaylene cut her off, her voice going hard, like a stone that hadn't been smoothed down yet.
"Let me be honest with you. We used to trust you with Camryn at home. But after this, I just can't relax about it anymore.
"You shut your phone off for five days just so you could go out and have a good time.
"Camryn had a fever in the ICU, and nobody could reach you."
She left her sentence hanging.
But the message hit Layla like a punch to the gut.
The busy tone droned on.
Layla set her phone down and leaned back in her chair.
It felt like everyone in the hallway was telling her that she was not worth being a mother.