Dare to Dream

41

(41)

Gina was tidying up the kitchen when she heard the doorbell ring.

She called to Melissa in the living room.

“Can you get that, honey?”

“K, Mom,” she yelled back.

Gina was putting the last plate in the cupboard when she heard a scream. She quickly went to the living room and looked down the hall that led to the front door.

She could see Melissa hugging someone.

Melissa turned and saw her mother.

“Mommy, look,” she screamed as she dragged the other young girl into the apartment.

“Tyla?”, Gina questioned.

“Hi, Gina,” the young girl said as she went to Gina and hugged her.

Gina’s heart started to pound.

Was Dylan in the hall?

“Who are you here with?” Gina asked, praying for the answer she wanted to hear.

“I’m here with my Nanny Lambert. She is on the phone in the hall.”

Gina’s heart sank a little.

A woman appeared in the doorway.

“Hello?”

Gina kissed Tyla on top of the head and went to the door.

She extended her hand to the woman.

“Hi, I’m Gina.”

The woman took Gina’s hand and held it.

“Dylan said you were beautiful. He certainly was right.”

Gina stood in awkward silence for a second.

“I am not interrupting anything, am I?” the woman asked. 

Gina shook her head and smiled.

“Please, come in.”

“Only if I am not intruding or keeping you from something,” the woman repeated.

Gina smiled.

“Just housework.”

“My name is Katherine, by the way,” she said apologetically.

“Please call me Kat.”

“Well come in Kat,” Gina said, sweetly.

“Are you sure?”

Gina could hear the girls giggling.

“Please do. I don't think you could pull the girls apart at this point anyway.”

Kat smiled as she walked down the hall.

“I was going to come alone, but when Tyla heard I was coming to see you, she insisted on coming. She misses Melissa. I just felt I had to talk to you.”

As they entered the living room, they saw the girls go into Melissa’s room.

“I think Melissa really missed Tyla too.”

She turned to Kat.

“Please have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”

“Only if you join me,” Kat said as she sat on the couch.

“Well I was just going to have a beer. I think I have some wine here somewhere,” Gina said as she walked to the kitchen.

“Beer is fine, Gina.”

“Glass?” Gina asked.

“No, that is not necessary.”

Gina came from the kitchen with two cans of beer. She passed one to Kat.

“Sorry its not to fancy, but I am not a fancy type of gal.”

She looked at the can.

“It’s cheap, but it has alcohol in it.

She smiled as she sat in an arm chair across from Kat.

Both women took a drink of beer.

Gina looked at Kat.

“So, why did you travel all the way here? I know it wasn't just so Tyla could see Melissa.”

“Like I said earlier, I wanted to speak to you.”

“Okay,” Gina said, wondering what Kat had on her mind.

“I know you and Dylan have …”

She hesitated, looking for the right words.

“Broke up,” Gina added.

“I am so sorry,” Kat said, sincerely.

Gina sipped her beer and sat forward in the arm chair.

“That is all in the past now Kat. What can I do for you, Kat?”

“We, I mean my daughters and I, are worried about Dylan.”