“What’s wrong, babe?” I asked.

“I don’t know, Jim, but it’s just that Mama’s got something going on here that I don’t really understand, and it’s like her whole family is in on it. Like they all have these ideas about Layla, and it’s kind of bugging me!”

“Yes, I know. Like at the party, it’s almost like they all know something that we don’t. It’s bugging me too. I really want to talk to Mama about all this tomorrow if we can, the sooner the better,” I said.

Maggie was holding Layla in her arms. As I folded up the stroller and opened the apartment door that led up the stairs, Maggie said, “Yes, Jim, let’s go see Mama at the flower shop first thing in the morning. If we get there early we can chat with her before all the customers come in.”

Making our way up the stairs, I said to Maggie, “I’m still trying to figure out why Mama thinks Layla is so special. I mean, I know that Layla is amazing, but what’s all this fuss about?”