stay."
"Ah, my little Nyla has finally fallen in love!" Brynn teased.
"Oh hush! Don't even bother saying that 'L' word around me. You know I don't believe in it."
"Well, stick around, because you just might realize it actually does exist. And you might realize it sooner than you think," Brynn laughed.
The two women sat talking for a while longer, then Brynn let Nyla get back to entertaining her house guest. Nyla and Brynn were like night and day, but they got along so well. Brynn was forever a romantic, or at least she was before Nico came along, and Nyla was forever the hook-up artist. She didn't believe in love, only lust. She used guys for what she wanted, then got rid of them. But she never lied to the guys she was with, or gave them false hope. She was straight up with them when she told them they had no future with her, that she was only looking for a good time.
Nyla looked at the world of men in a different way than most. She always told Brynn that her motto was "Play or be played." She had been really hurt by a guy who played her in high school and took her virginity. He promised Nyla the moon and stars, only to leave her alone and broken hearted. Nyla vowed to never let that happen again, and from that point on, she never let another man come beyond the barrier that she built up.
Brynn had always been a firm believer in love, which is why she stayed with Nico for so long. She always thought that love could conquer all, and that love would be enough to keep her marriage going. Unfortunately, it was lust that tore them apart, Nico's lust for other women. Even though she was hurt by Nico's exploits, she still felt that love was an important part of life, and someday she would find it again. Brynn knew that not all men were like Nico, and there were some decent men out there who wouldn't hurt the woman they loved.
A few days later, Chandler was still silent. She hadn't seen him or heard from him since that Saturday night. Willow still came around and played with Barrett, but they didn't share any dinners, and Chandler didn't come over to visit while Willow and Barrett played in the back yard. Brynn felt really alone, and missed the time she usually spent with Chandler.
Thursday night, Willow was over playing with Barrett, and was getting ready to go home for the night. Brynn stopped her before she got out the door, and handed a gift bag to Willow. "When you get home, would give this to your daddy for me?"
"Sure. Good night, Brynn. Night, Barrett!" Willow said, and disappeared out the door.
When she walked into her house, Willow gave the gift bag to her father. "Daddy, Brynn wanted me to give this to you."
"Thanks, pumpkin," Chandler said, as she walked up the stairs to her bedroom.
Chandler sat looking at the bag. After pondering for a few minutes about whether or not to open the bag, he finally looked inside. He pulled out a Yankees hat and smiled. Brynn knew that Chandler didn't have any Yankees stuff, and she vowed that she was going to turn him into a fan.
Attached to the brim of the hat was an envelope. Chandler opened the seal of the envelope and found a letter with four tickets to the Yankees game that Saturday. He slowly unfolded the note and read it.
Dear Chandler,
I got you this hat when we were shopping last weekend. You didn't even notice, did you? I promised I'd make a Yankees fan out of you yet. I bought the tickets to the game a while ago, and I wanted to take you and Willow for Willow's birthday. I know that you don't want to see me right now, so take the two extra tickets and give them to someone who deserves them.
Have fun and wish Willow a Happy Birthday for me when you get there. Make sure she looks at the big screen during the 7th inning stretch. There'll be a special message for her up there.
I miss you.
Love,
Brynn
Chandler closed his eyes and fought back the tears. Not only was Brynn good to him, but she was good to Willow too. Chandler knew that he had to make things better
C. J. Cherryh
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