Layers(72)

“Hayley.” She turns to look at me, my name is a soft melodic tune in her voice. “I’m Iris.”

“Hello, nice to meet you.” I smile and she hugs me tight in return, not a light hug but a full-hearted embrace that leaves me somewhat surprised. Stepping back she puts her hands on my cheeks, studying me carefully for a few lengthy moments. I can’t help but blush at the extensive attention. From the corner of my eye I can see Daniel’s lips lift up.

“You were right, my boy,” she says. “She is beautiful. Such delicate features,” she adds. “You have an angelic face,” she murmurs, keeping her grip and her stare on me for too long to feel comfortable.

“That’s my Hayley,” Daniel says, pride linking his voice.

My Hayley … I can’t get enough of the sound of that.

“Now, let go of her before she runs for the door,” Daniel jokes, sending a hand toward the small of my back, reassuring.

She smiles at him, then at me, and finally lets go. If I could think of the one person unlikely to be my beloved psycho’s mom she would be the one.

“Sit by the table, I’ll bring the food,” she offers, her expression full of tender joy. Before turning on her heels she says, looking at Daniel, “Already in love, aren’t you, my boy?” She doesn’t wait for an answer but heads to where I suppose the kitchen would be. A flawless, tender smile crosses Daniel’s face as he stares fondly at her back, which is decorated by a long, thick, blond braid, till she disappears in the hallway.




“Scared yet?” he teases, nudging my shoulder.

I chuckle. “The last word I would use to describe your mother is scary. She’s different, I must say. Well, from you,” I add.

“Different? You mean all this spiritual, hippie mumbo-jumbo crap?”

“I mean calm and serene as opposed to wild and impulsive.” I grin at him when he pulls me closer, smacking my behind while planting a steamy kiss on my lips. I try to pull back for the sake of appropriate conduct. He doesn’t let go, but stays me with his tight grip on my waist. He kisses me yet more absorbedly; this time his hand finds its way under my white cotton dress.

“Daniel!” I scold to his mouth.

A jingling sound approaches. “Don’t worry, Hayley, I’m more than fine with some show of affection. As far as I’m concerned you kids can go to the next room and make sweet love,” Iris comments, coming back into the room holding a ceramic pot.

Oh my god. Daniel releases me from his grip, biting his lip, subduing a broader smirk at my shock and my flushed cheeks.

“Hales, do you want to step into the next room to make sweet love to me?” He chuckles.

I choose to disregard him completely. I can literally feel the deepening of my blush.

“Maybe later, the food will get cold,” Iris mutters.

Please for the love of all that’s good in this world, let this be her sense of humor speaking. Daniel laughs, taking pleasure at my discomfort, a little too much.

There is a tagine at the center of the table along with several savory-looking side dishes; the smell is of middle-eastern spices and herbs, with cumin and cinnamon scents dominating the air.

“Moroccan lamb tagine, I hope you like spicy,” Iris says to me. I nod in confirmation and she responds with a curve of her lips and a kind stare.

“Looks delicious, Iris.”

“You can eat it with your hands or with pita bread,” she suggests.

“Maybe next time at our annual tribal dinner,” Daniel jabs, slightly shaking his head.

Iris rewards him with a fond smile. I can’t help but notice the deep connection they have between them. She holds the power to set him in a peaceful mood.

“So, Hayley,” she addresses me as I put a spoonful of some tomatoes, parsley and onion salad on my plate. I turn to look at her, waiting for her to continue. “I feel like I already know everything there is to know about you.”

“How’s that?” I question, not so sure if I should be delighted or concerned.

“My boy usually doesn’t share too much information, I usually have to force it out of him, but lately he can’t stop talking about one subject: you.” Her kind smile widens. I turn my head to look at Daniel and he shrugs, highly engaged with his food.

“How is your new job?”

Oh, she did get a full briefing about me. “I’m actually very pleased with it. It’s given me the opportunity to learn so many new things I’ve been keen to work on for a long time and I’m thrilled at the chance.”

“That’s priceless, to get to do something you’re passionate about.”

“I understand you are an artist. What kind of medium do you create?”

“I sketch and paint, everything from landscapes to portraits to abstract. I mostly use charcoal, though from time to time I go for oil,” she explains, her face illuminated; her love for what she does is clearly reflected by her deep smile and gleaming eyes. I can relate to the feeling; this is exactly how I feel about my illustrations.

“It would be nice to sketch you; you have such even, delicate features.”

I send her a timid smile, feeling slightly self-conscious.

“You should, I’ll buy it,” Daniel says casually, raising another forkful to his mouth.