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I went back to Dad’s room one more time to make sure he was comfortable I could tell by the slackness of his jaw that he was sleeping deeply and I would have at least an hour or two before he would wake I checked my watch and noted the time I would need to be back I jotted a quick note for hirabbed my keys and headed for my car

As I stepped outside, I glanced around me, always on alert

Ever since that day, nearly four years ago, I always looked overmy shoulders back, I took a deep breath and hopped off the porch, sliding into the front seat ofthe short distance into town

As I pulled into the lot of our favorite diner –the one with the best daainst her car with her face in her phone as she waited for me

“Damn, it’s colder than a witch’s titty out here,” she cohter around her

“No shit,” I agreed, stepping forward to wrap her in a hug

Layla and I had been friends since preschool, and had been through everything together - breakups, makeups, etc And she’d been there for me in the most incredible way four years back, when I needed her the most

We linked ar at the waitress, Jamie, as we took our usual booth in the back Jamie came over and took our orders quickly and we settled in for soirl talk

“So, how are things with your dad?” Layla asked, concern furrowing her pretty brow

I shrugged and sighed “Well, his doctor thinks he’s stable now, so that’s good As long as he takes his heart meds like he’s supposed to, he should be okay The heart attack really did him in He’s still so weak”

Layla shook her head “Well, I’lad he’s at least stable”

“Me too,” I said “But he’s so dao live my life, but he’s still not able to take care of hiive hiet half the time I can’t just leave hith He says Bozeman is where he was born, and Bozeman is where he’ll die”

Layla laughed “Sounds like someone else I know You know you are just as bull-headed as he is”

I stuck ht us our food

“I really do need to find so at the coffee shop?”