FATHER ALWAYS SMILING

Chapter 56 ~~~~~

Then, slowly, Layla moved back, her hands falling to her sides, a faint smile resting on her lips as she looked at her friend.

"I know you'll be great out there." Layla then placed her hands into her trench coat pockets, hands that Gina noticed were faintly shaking. "I guess... this is where we should say goodbye."

Gina found herself hesitating. "You make it sound... like I'll never see you again."

Layla just smiled. "I'm not going anywhere, at least not anytime soon. I still need to finish some things well before that. so don't worry about it. Okay?"

"Okay..." but she still felt unsure. "When... when I get settled, I'll call, and I'll start working on a new piece, one for you and Darcy, how does that sound?"

Layla gave her a grin. "I think we'd love that. Later G." she then walked past Gina and back the way they came, casting one last look before giving a wave and going on her way. Gina only could hope for the best for her friend in the future. But unbeknownst to Gina, Layla's smile had vanished as a far more serious expression took its place. For things to come would be an unspoken battle from here on out.

Gina hadn't moved from her spot, even when her friend had long since vanished from sight. Things were going to be different now, her parents were still trying to contact her, but she hadn't blocked them. She would, on the day of the move when she would be out of Toronto, the reason for doing that is that they wouldn't bother trying to talk to her face to face unless she blocked them. it happened once before, in her old apartment, and while they knew where she lived, thanks to nosey coworkers, they hadn't once tried to get to her apartment, no they'd just show up at the school and humiliate her.

They knew where she lived now, but what a shock they'd be in for when they'd find only an empty apartment waiting for them.

Some might find it cowardly, but this was her way of fighting back. She'd be prepared for what was to come, but she'd at least intended to have a head start before sharpening the pitchforks and refresh the torch oil for this quagmire of ridiculous bullshit.

Strangely, she wasn't on edge thinking about it, she almost found it comical.

Maybe that showed just how much she changed.

"Are you leaving?" Gina jumped slightly when hearing a familiar voice, she turned around to see the woman from before, dressed in the same clothes when they first met, an off-white turtleneck, the long pleated red skirt and the same tanned heeled shoes with that same bohemian black shawl.

The only difference was that her hair was left down as she smiled at Gina.

Gina was about to ask what brought the woman out this time of night but then noticed a rather large suite case beside her.

"I am, I take it, you are too?"

The woman glanced at her suitcase. "I've been asked by a client to review one of their paintings they wish to put up for auction." The woman replied. "Though I didn't expect to see you out so late."

"My friend took me out, wanted me to have at least one good time before I say goodbye to this city."

"Then you finally know what it is that you want?"

"Not completely." Gina smiled at the woman. "But I'm okay with that, not everything in the future can be known ahead of time."

"I see," was all that the woman said. Sounding neither happy nor sad, merely factual.

Then Gina recalled something, something that she had been meaning to ask this woman for a while now. "I meant to ask, but I never got your name. I know it's a little late now but would it be all right to ask?"