Sequel to Watching Cars Go By
Silke has newly professed her love for Lauren, but her happiness is short-lived when Lauren’s grown daughter moves back home to recuperate after an accident. Lauren, overwhelmed with working at night and taking care of Kayla during the day, struggles to make time for Silke and their fledgling relationship. Silke hates her sudden roommate status and soon resents Kayla. Still Lauren stubbornly refuses to come out to her daughter.
Sexy Ana, who still carries a torch for Silke, is more than willing to come to the rescue. Frustrated by her home situation, Silke enjoys hanging out with the chivalrous Ana. Suddenly Alex from Germany shows up and claims she and Silke are still an item. Aware it was Silke’s life choices that broke them up and not the lack of mutual attraction, Alex manipulates her into spending time together. After all, it’s hard to ignore an ex who knows how to push all your buttons, especially if you’ve never stopped caring.
Against all odds, Lauren and Silke prevail. Lauren even accompanies Silke to Germany for a family crisis. Watching her niece reminds Silke how much she wants her own baby, and she is devastated when Lauren is perfectly fine with having been there and done that already.
Can Silke and Lauren overcome their biggest roadblock and somehow compromise? Or has Silke’s baby wish become a deal breaker?
“Lauren, hello-o?” Kicking the door shut behind her, Silke marched towards the kitchen. “I got us some tilapia -- it was on sale -- and some couscous and fresh broccoli and I also bought these cute little bell peppers and --” She stopped short when she saw Lauren kneeling on the kitchen floor, dustpan in one hand, gathering up the shards of something. “Oh, no.”
Granted, the thing was butt-ugly, but Lauren loved the misshapen hippo salt shaker that Kayla had made for her when she was younger.
“It’s okay, honey. I might be able to glue it back together.”
“Damn stupid crutches.”
Silke had been about to touch Lauren’s shoulder in order to console her when Kayla’s angry voice made her swirl around. There in the corner, the girl leaned against the wall, a crutch under one arm and one on the floor at her feet.
“They’re supposed to help me, not destroy everything around me.”
“You’re home.”
“Silke. You’re home early. Isn’t it wonderful? Kayla was discharged today. I guess I forgot to tell you. We’ve been kind of busy ...”
“Pardon me for interrupting, but do you think you could hand me my crutch, Mother? I’d prefer not to end up face first in broken glass, if it’s not too much to ask.”
“It’s not glass, actually. More like clay or something. Didn’t you make it?”
Kayla’s voice shook. “Excuse me! I prefer not to end up face first in broken pottery. Is that better? Did I earn my damned crutch back? Jesus Christ. Glass, clay, who gives a shit?”
Lauren frowned. “Kayla ...”
“Your mom does. That salt shaker thingy meant a lot to her.”
“Oh, my God. Seriously? Who do you think made it for her?”
“Silke, could you get Kayla’s crutch for her? I think I cut my hand.” A thin rivulet of blood ran down Lauren’s palm.
“Oh, for God’s sake, I’ll get it myself.” Kayla tried to collect the fallen crutch, holding onto the kitchen counter with her free hand and teetering precariously.
Lauren dropped the pottery pieces she’d collected and jumped up to help Kayla, the pieces shattering into smaller, unsalvageable ones as they made contact with the floor once more.
“I was going to get it,” Silke muttered, bending down to sweep up the shards instead after having dumped her groceries onto the kitchen table. Swiftly she deposited the broken hippo into the trash where it belonged. “Now let me see your hand.”
“I’m fine, Silke. Let me just help Kayla for a minute and then you can have the kitchen to yourself. We’ll be out of your way in a second.”
Kayla gave her a smug look over Lauren’s shoulder as she bent to retrieve the crutch.
Whatever. Her joy at being home early deflated, Silke had been about to flee the kitchen but that look stopped her dead in her tracks. That little shit! Gritting her teeth, she stared right back at Kayla.
“Yes, of course. We wouldn’t want her to overextend herself on her first day, now would we?”
