Chapter 28

Laylah was silent for most of the drive home. She was amused by Kattcha's strange music tastes. The sounds were interesting. Nothing like the stuff they heard in school.

"It's called rock and roll. It was popular on Earth several centuries ago," Kattcha explained. "If you don't like it, I can change it."

"No, no, it's fine. I like it." Laylah hummed along. Her thoughts were on the kiss she and Donil had shared. She felt her face heating up and, nervously, she dropped her head and tugged on her braid.

"You should wear your hair down."

"What?" Laylah turned to look at Kattcha.

"I said you should wear your hair down. It's too pretty to be kept in a braid all the time."

"Oh, uh…I'm not allowed to cut it or wear it loose. Father pitched a fit a few years ago when Naiya suggested we cut my hair. It was so long and I was burning up from the heat. Father said no, and that was the end of that. She asked if I could wear it loose then and the answer was the same. Naiya taught me how to braid it in one plait and that's the way it's been ever since."

"Pity. A shorter cut would frame your face better. Something to keep in mind," Kattcha suggested.

"Yes, Kattcha."

"And maybe some makeup. A woman feels sexier when she wears makeup."

"They do? I don't feel like that. I feel uncomfortable. Like everyone is staring at me or something."

Kattcha chuckled. "Laylah, you have no idea how beautiful you really are, do you?"

"Me? Beautiful? Ha, ha. Good one. That's funny." She scrunched down in the seat. "I'm not all that good looking. If I was, wouldn't people be nicer to me? I see the beautiful people at school. No one treats me like they treat them."

"Laylah, people see only what they want. Sometimes, they do see your true worth, but are threatened by it. Don't let them put you in a box filled with their ideals about who you are. You're how old?"

"I'm 17."

"Okay, that means you're almost an adult. Don't you think you should take the high road and worry about yourself and your future, instead of what your narrow-minded classmates think?"

"I suppose, Kattcha. Britta is the only one who doesn't treat me like that. She likes me the way I am."

"I can tell. You smiled when you said her name. True friends are rare so make sure you don't lose her."

"Turn here, please." Laylah pointed at the gates.

"My, my. This place sure has changed," Kattcha muttered.

"Did you say something?" Laylah turned from her window to look at the older woman.

"No, Dear. Reminding myself about the errands I have to run and the patients I have to visit."

"What kind of doctor are you exactly? I know you fixed my ankle."

"I'm a Were doctor. I specialize in Were physiology and ailments."

"Oh!" She gaped at Kattcha. She started to ask another question, but was distracted by the welcoming committee waiting outside on the marble steps. She slouched down. "Oh, God! The whole staff is outside. This is mortifying!"

Kattcha chuckled. "Why? Because they're showing that they care? Sit up, child. Be thankful they worried about your safety." She parked the truck and got out to get the crutches.

"Easy for you to say," She mumbled. She was grateful that Kattcha kept everyone from swarming the vehicle. She locked eyes with Kattcha and refused to look anywhere else as she was helped from the truck. She got her crutches situated and felt the silence that had fallen over everyone. She knew her face was pink and the feeling of being exposed persisted. "Please, I want to get to my room," she whispered to Kattcha.

"Whatever you want, my dear."

She managed to take a few steps, but halted when she heard her father's voice.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in."

Laylah's head snapped up and she cringed at her father's enraged expression.

"Henry Le Croix, a pleasure as always to see you." Kattcha's reply was pleasant, but Laylah heard an undertone in the woman's voice.

"I was not aware that you had found her. That is unwelcome news."

"Father!" Laylah hobbled forward, putting herself in front of Kattcha. She missed the speculative look Jacques gave her and the stunned looks of everyone else. Never had she stood up to her father in front of so many people. Her heart was beating so hard she was afraid it would explode. "Don't speak to her that way. She treated my injuries, fed me and kept me safe. She doesn't need your anger!"

Kattcha touched her shoulder. "It's all right. I got you home. Jacques will take care of you. No more runs into the forest at night for you, okay?"

Laylah turned her back to her father and hugged Kattcha. "No more runs, I promise."

"And stay off that ankle today and tomorrow. You should be okay on Monday and the cast needs to be checked by your family doctor in a week."

"I won't forget. Thank you." Laylah's eyes were filling with tears.

"Hey now, my dear, no tears. Happy thoughts. I'll see you again." Kattcha hugged her once more and then stepped back. She nodded to Jacques, gave Henry an inscrutable look, got in her truck and drove off.

Laylah watched her go and felt alone. True, she was home, but the chill from her father's gaze made her shiver. She didn't want to turn around and face him. She felt a hand on her arm and she looked sideways at Jacques.

"Jacques, you look awful!" She clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me," she whispered.

"Hey, Kid, it's the truth. I'm going to carry you inside. When Kattcha gives medical instructions, it's always a good idea to follow them."

He picked her up and handed the crutches to Bryon. He walked up the steps and went by her father, not giving him a chance to say anything to Laylah.

She lay quietly in Jacques' arms too afraid to say anything lest she draw her father's anger down on her. She didn't speak until they got to her room. "Thank you, Jacques."

"Laylah, that was a very foolish thing to do. Challenging your father like that. What were you thinking?"

"What was I thinking? You know what? I'm tired of people asking me that! You act like I can't make decisions or think things through. Father was being rude, Jacques. Rude to a person who provided aid. What kind of impression is that going to leave on Kattcha? Father is always going on about appearances and the proper way to behave in public, yet I watched him break all the rules he's constantly lecturing me on! I'm tired of it! I have feelings too and no one cares about them!" Laylah didn't realize she was screaming until she noticed Jacques' grim scowl.

"Number one, you will not raise your voice at me again, Laylah. Number two, we all know you can make decisions and reason out things. Number three, we do care about your feelings. As far as your father is concerned, he is your parent and you need to respect his authority. You don't necessarily have to like it, but you will obey it. Is that clear, Laylah?"

She glared at him, but he didn't budge. Finally she snapped, "Yes, Jacques."

"Now that we settled that, you rest. Naiya will check on you in a bit." He went to the door and turned around. "Kattcha wasn't the one who found you, was she?"

"I told you on the phone, Jacques. Her son, Donil, found me and saved me from the Weres."

"Just making sure." he left, closing the door behind him.

Laylah smacked a pillow off the bed in frustration. Once again she was being ignored and treated like a child. Would it ever end? Groaning, she rolled over and went to sleep.