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No, she’s your sister.
That wasn’t something Charli was ready to reveal to her yet, however.
“I also feel sorry for her. She doesn’t have a mom. I mean, I don’t have a dad, but since I’m a girl, it’s better that I have a mom. Peyton had a dad, and now he has a mom. I’m just trying to be a girl friend in her life.” Charli looked at the mirror in time to catch another of Layla’s shrugs. “Kinda like an older sister, even though we’re not related.”
Charli’s stomach knotted at Layla’s words.
Over the years, she’d gotten to where she’d rarely thought about Blake being Layla’s father. Her family had, for the most part, stopped asking her about it, and it was rare that Layla would bring it up. But now… it was in her thoughts so much, and even when she wasn’t thinking about it, something would inevitably happen to bring it to her mind.
The secret felt toxic in a way it never had before.
In the past, it had felt necessary to keep that information from everyone. If Blake had been someone no one had known, perhaps she would’ve shared his identity as Layla’s father. However, his connection to Jackson and his family had made her feel like she couldn’t reveal who he was.
When they got home, Layla followed her into the kitchen. “Would you let Auntie Nessa braid your hair?”
“What?” Charli turned to face her. “Why?”
“I want to learn to French braid,” she said. “But I need someone to show me how to do it.”
“I suppose if Janessa agrees, I’m fine with it.”
“Thanks!” Layla ran out of the kitchen and then up the stairs.
She wasn’t sure what Will and Janessa were up to, but usually Sunday afternoons were pretty low-key. Sometimes they sat on the landing on the second floor, where there were a couple of couches and a fireplace. Since Aria had moved out, the second floor was basically Will and Janessa’s space.
Charli poured herself a glass of water, then grabbed a cookie from the container on the counter. As she ate it, she stared out the window that overlooked the backyard and its plethora of trees, many of which had only a few leaves left clinging to their branches.
It was hard to believe they were almost at the end of October. She needed to put up her fall decorations. Maybe she’d dig out a few after she got her hair braided.
Layla had always enjoyed decorating for Christmas, especially the tree. However, she usually left the fall decorating to Charli. Maybe this year she’d be more interested in helping.
She heard steps on the stairs, and soon Janessa and Layla joined her, with Will following behind them.
“I hear that I’m going to be braiding your hair,” Janessa said.
“That seems to be what Layla wants.”
“Let’s do it in the living room,” Janessa said. “You can sit on the floor in front of the couch, then Layla can sit next to me and see what I’m doing.”
It took them a couple of minutes to get situated, but soon Charli was seated with the coffee table pulled close so she could reach her water and the second cookie she’d picked up before leaving the kitchen. Janessa’s legs pressed against Charli’s arms, with Layla perched beside her.
“So first, we’ll brush through her hair to make sure there aren’t any tangles.”
Charli found it soothing to have her hair brushed, so she had no trouble sitting there while Janessa fussed with it. Layla had learned how to do a simple braid earlier that year, but Charli still had to do French braids for her.
As Janessa braided her hair, Charli flicked through her social media apps on her phone. After a brief hesitation, she looked up Blake on one of them, then sent him a friend request.
“That’s so pretty,” Layla said, and Charli felt her run her fingers down the braid. “How old were you when you learned to braid like this?”
“I can’t even remember.” Janessa laughed. “Probably around your age, though. Kayleigh taught me how, though I never really did it on myself. I got most of my practice on your mom, Kayleigh, and Skylar. Oh, and you.”
“Can I try now?” Layla asked.
“Sure. Let me take this out.”
Janessa worked quickly, and soon the braid was out, and Charli’s hair was ready for round two. After Janessa shifted over, Layla took her place behind Charli.
“Learning how to do this on someone else is easier than on yourself,” Janessa said. “It will take you longer to do it on yourself.”
