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“Does anybody live there? Up in that cabin beyond the tree line?”
“Yes, that’s P.J.’s place. I know what you’re thinking, the views are so much better up on that hill. But if you’re looking for a quiet place…a soft place to land. This is it.”
“A soft place to land?”
“Yeah, you know a place to gather your wits, calm your spirit, free your soul. Your do-over place.”
“Do-over?” Juliet’s response was at once hopeful, yet dubious. “Thought those things were like… uh…urban legends.”
“Oh no.” Layla shook her head. “They are real, for sure. Never underestimate the power of the all mighty do-over. In fact, you’re looking at one.”
“One what?”
“A do-over. I’m a classic case.”
“How so?” Juliet leaned in, curious now.
Layla sat down on the settee and pointed to the chair opposite her. Once Juliet had sat down, Layla began her story.
“I was born and raised right here in this town. But, by the time I graduated high school I couldn’t wait to get away. I know it sounds all corny and cliched, but I wanted to see the world, have adventures, fall in love with some dark mysterious stranger who I met on a train. I had a spark lit inside of me that grew and grew until it raged like an inferno. So, I left. I made some bad decisions feeding that fire, then I made a few more. Finally, I had had enough. It was about a year later that I hitched a ride home on a Greyhound bus and arrived in town around midnight. I walked from the station to my parents’ house and slept on the front porch waiting for them to wake up. I was so excited to see them, but my father took one look at me, grabbed the morning newspaper, and shut the door.”
“That’s a little harsh.” Juliet mumbled.
“Harsh? Oh, I didn’t blame him one bit. The heartache I caused those two! They had been loving, generous, patient parents and I was their oldest daughter. Me running away tofind myselfhad broken their hearts.” Then Layla added with a wink, “And we won’t even talk about the small matter of the court fees that I owed.”
“What did you do?”
“Oh, there was this little incident that may or may not have involved nudity on the beach… but it was midnight and we had been drinking.” Layla said brightly.
“No, I mean what did you do when your dad shut the door?”
“Oh, that! Well, nothing for a while. I didn’t know if I should get my stuff and go or swallow my pride and wait on that porch. But then I heard my mom and dad argue, my mom had started to cry. My dad could be a pain in the ass. He had been a cop, but he got shot on the job, and that was the end of that. However, that part of him never totally went away. So, yeah, he drew a hard line with my two brothers, my younger sister and me. But my mom was sweet as sugar, and on the rare occasion that she put her foot down my dad listened. I knew that I’d get in that house sooner or later. Then, before I could finish the warm diet coke I had in my backpack, my grandfather pulled into the driveway with his Ford Falcon convertible. In his hands were two coffees and a bagful of my absolute favorite donuts in the world... chocolate coconut.”
“Did your parents come out too?” Juliet asked, totally caught up in the story and hoping for a happy ending. “Did you have a big, tearful reconciliation?”
“No, not then.” Layla shook her head. “But I could hear my father pacing the floor inside, and mom opened the curtain and blew me a kiss from the window. My grandpa and I sat together on the steps of that porch, eating donuts, drinking coffee and just talking. I came back here with him, to the family cabin. I stayed here until I got my act together. I took my time to collect my thoughts and reflect on the life lessons I had learned. I meditated, read, painted, and walked in the woods. It wasn’t long before my parents came around because they did truly love me… and love at its very best… forgives.”
“What happened then?” Juliet asked.
“When the job at the coffee shop came up, I took it. It was there that I saw Reggie again.” Layla continued. “He had been two years ahead of me in school and used to hang out with my brothers. I had always thought he was cute, but being the little sister and all, he didn’t really look at me that way. When I ran into him, he had just returned from the army…medical discharge. Anyway, we had both been through some tough times. Reggie much more than I, of course. But I guess we acted as sort of a balm to each other. One thing led to another, and here we are. Married nearly ten years, and I’m more in love with him today than ever before. Life has been good. Do-overs are a good thing if you are willing to take the chance.”
Juliet sighed and smiled slightly. She remained hopeful but unconvinced.
“You just wait and see.” Layla’s voice was kind and reassuring.
“I’d like to try to make this my do-over, I think.” Juliet said even as she fought the panic at the thought of settling down.
“Then the house is yours, Juliet, if you want it.”
Did she want it? Yeah, she sure as hell wanted it, but it was a feeling that was so much more than want.
It was need.
Juliet needed this do-over, this soft place to land.
Juliet needed this chance. Desperately.
Once the decision had been made Juliet had gone about the task of settling in. The cabin appeared to be a study in contrast. Sturdy and solid, yet warm and welcoming. The dark, velvety night sky was deep and endless and made her feel small. But the stars formed age old pictures and twinkled at each other with their boundless light. Juliet had never seen so many stars in a night sky before. Maybe she would start a new hobby and buy herself a telescope and book on constellations. The thought made her smile.
