THE CRACKS BETWEEN US by CAITLIN MOSS

Author:CAITLIN MOSS
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: KDP
Published: 2021-01-14T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

THEN

AILA CLOSED HER EYES as she sat in a lounge chair in the backyard, feeling the sun beat down on her skin. It wasn’t usually this warm in April so when Chantelle brought her lunch, they opted to eat it on the back deck in the sunlight.

Chloe and Isaac were only three and they were covered in sand from their snotty little faces to in between their toes.

“Chloe is going to need a bath before I head to pick up Emma.” Chantelle laughed. She had taken a half-day to bring Aila and Isaac lunch and enjoy the sunshine.

“When do you need to go get her?”

Chantelle checked her phone for the time. “I think I’ll pick her up at four-thirty today but usually by six.”

“Well, thank you for taking time off work to bring us lunch. This was nice.” Aila smiled at her best friend.

“Girl, you deserve it. The work of being a stay-at-home is not lost on me.” Chantelle raised her glass filled with sparkling water.

“Thanks, Chay.” Aila was both flattered and in awe of her friend. Her and Derek’s divorce was finalized the month before and there she was, sitting in the backyard making Aila feel special.

“It’s nothing,” Chantelle said and winked. “Now. It is probably time I run to the bus stop and grab those boys, yes?”

“Oh Chantelle, you don’t have to do that. I’ll go grab them so you can run and get Emma.”

“Please. It will only take me a few minutes. Can I leave Chloe here with you?”

“Of course. If you don’t mind bringing home a sandy baby.” Aila laughed.

“For you. I will.” Chantelle held a playful hand to her heart and then walked into the kitchen. She returned a moment later with a bottle of chardonnay.

“Oh, no. I can’t drink that right now,” Aila objected as Chantelle filled her empty water glass.

“Girl, shhh. You only turn thirty-five once,” she said as she kissed Aila on the cheek, and turned on her heel to go pick up Josh and Caleb.

Aila sipped her chardonnay and smiled.

This is shaping up to be one of my favorite birthdays.

Fifteen minutes later, Josh and Caleb thundered through the house to where Aila sat watching Isaac and Chloe play in the sandbox. They latched onto their mom, nearly knocking her chair over and making her spill her wine down her arm. She didn’t care and laughed at their boisterous greeting.

“Happy birthday!” they yelled in unison.

“Thank you, sweetie pies,” she said as she kissed each of their foreheads. “How was your day at school?”

“Good,” Josh smiled.

“Fine. Mom, I made you a card during art today. Want to see?” Caleb asked.

“Yes, of course, I do.”

Caleb pulled out a piece of red construction paper folded in half with a picture of a dragon on it with a makeshift spelling of ‘happy birthday, Mom’ underneath. The inside was filled with hearts and signed, Caleb, at the bottom.

“Oh, Caleb, this is great. Thank you, buddy,” she said pulling him in for a hug.

Josh stood quietly behind his brother holding a white piece of notebook paper, smiling.

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