Free Troubled Waters (The Lake Trilogy, Book 2) by AnnaLisa Grant

calm me. I wish it were working but there is too much happening for me to even consider regaining my composure.
    The woman approaches slowly. The light from the porch gives me my clearest view of her yet. I stare at and study her face.
    “Hello, Layla.” She says my name and I know that I have not gone crazy. This is Eliana Meyer.
    “Now that you know this, you should know everything,” Luke says. No sooner do the words leave his mouth than the front door opens and my world stops as Will emerges.
    I’m taken back and not sure if I can hold myself up to stand. My head is spinning and everything starts to go dark. A rush of emotions floods me. I’m angry, confused, and elated all at once. How could this be? I’m staring at a ghost. But…he’s not a ghost. He’s real.
    I realize that this is one of those moments in life when the best thing to do is stop and think, but I can’t do that. I’m about to faint and I know it. I immediately wish I were standing on softer ground, but before I collapse I hear his voice…his strong, smooth voice. And as Will steps forward to catch me he simply and sweetly says, “Hey, baby.”
    *****
    I wake up but don’t open my eyes. I can hear voices, but most of them are muffled…they aren’t in the room with me. The room is dark except for the light flowing from the kitchen. I move my hand from my stomach and feel the soft chenille of the couch in the Great Room. When I open my eyes I see that I’m covered by the blanket I took after Gramps died. It’s warm and I feel comforted under it. My head hurts as I recall the strangest dream. Will is alive…and here. I feel a smile spread across my face. I don’t want to let go of this feeling.
    I hear the voices in the kitchen more clearly now that I’m a bit more awake. Luke is saying something about giving me space, followed by Claire asking someone to understand if it takes me some time to come around. There’s a third voice that makes my whole body tingle and question whether I’m dreaming or not. I get up slowly and move toward the kitchen. As the room comes into full view I am rewarded with the gift that I was not dreaming.
    Standing in the middle of the kitchen, looking just as he did the last day I saw him, is my Will. He’s here, he’s real. I feel like I might faint again and when I brace myself against the wall I catch everyone’s attention.
    “Layla, honey…come, sit,” Claire insists. “Let me get you a glass of water.” I’m having déjà vu from the night Luke told me Will was dead. I’m sitting at the kitchen table with five sets of eyes on me. I lock eyes with Furtick and think that maybe he’s not as mad at me anymore. If he is, I can count on him to tell me later.
    “Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” I say softly, staring at Will.
    “Well…there’s the obvious,” Luke says indicating to Will and his mother. “But I’m sure you’re asking for, and certainly deserve, an explanation. Will?” Luke defers to Will to explain how he and his mother are standing in front of me, alive and well. Will sits to the right of me at the head of the table and I smell the scent that I came to know only as Will .
    “Layla…” Will says my name and I start to tear up. I never thought I’d hear my name said in the way only Will Meyer can say it again. “I’m so sorry that I lied to you. There were days I thought that I might as well have really died because it killed me knowing that you were in so much pain.” He takes my hand and smoothes his thumb across the top and goose bumps raise across my body. “I’ve missed you so much.” I relish in the touch of his skin against mine. I close my eyes and let my senses take over. I feel every pass of his thumb. I hear the soft sound as it sweeps across my skin. I breathe in his scent.
    “I’ve missed you, too,” I say, finally allowing myself to look into his blue eyes. I grasp his hand, feeling the realness of him. “You’re here. You’re really