"You need to get something off your mind?" Sylvan's gentle tone broke through the barrier of Lela's consciousness.

Lela blinked the fog of confusion away. Pulling her pupils away from the dramedy on the fifty-inch screen in the Russell family room. It was her day off and they'd been bingeing Desperate Housewives all evening.

Sylvan loved it but it wasn't the type of show Lela took a liking too. She was a freshman in high school when it premiered, watched the pilot on the couch with a bowl of popcorn in the living room of the very same house. She knew from the first eight minutes that she wasn't going to be a repeat watcher but committed to the full hour, enduring commercials since there wasn't anything better to do—it was past Nick and CJ's bedtime, Sylvan was at the hospital, and Carter was grading papers at the office.

The writing, cinematography, or acting wasn't the problem. It was the themes. Just too realistic for her. She already had enough drama in her life than she know how to deal with. She didn't need to watch Lynette's, Susan's, Bree's, and Gabrielle's. She wasn't interested in cheating husbands, lonely housewives, or ADHD kids. She wanted to escape from the issues of her life which she did with Smallville, Heroes, Lost and The 4400. But this evening she was watching it because Sylvan wanted to since CJ was on a Father-Son trip to Pedernales Falls State Park; Nick declined the offer—Lela wasn't surprised. She hadn't seen much of him lately which actually hurted a little.

"Just thinking." Lela dazedly smiled Sylvan's way before focusing on the hummus and pita chips. She didn't know who liked the stuff. A bread-like chip and a bland creamy dip. It made her mouth contort as she dove the chip into the creamy chickpeas and her tastebuds didn't do the hustle. She dropped the chip in the on the platter and pushed herself off the floor.

Sylvan watched her attentively as she plopped on the other end of the worn couch, the only decor or furniture in the house not from Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn or Ethan Allen. Lela always wondered why but never asked. She was a little threadbare emotionally when she arrived to the Russell household so it made her comfortable, not being the only imperfect thing in that zip code.

"Hmm." Syvan hummed, the contemplative sonance she always made during sessions. She leaned over sitting her scooped cleaned bowl on the coffee table and Lela noted that a fondness for Carter wasn't the only thing that she and Safiya shared. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

Lela felt the warmth from Sylvan's gaze upon her flesh underneath the collegiate hoodie, a tenderness that she wished she could earn from her own mother. "No, not really." She stuffed her frosty fingers in her pockets setting her eyes on the television. "Just planning stuff."

"What kind of stuff," Sylvan turned her body towards her and she knew that they were about to have a talk.

Lela really didn't want to talk about this particular thing with her. It touched a delicate spot and the last thing that she wanted to do was make the woman she cared for dearly remember her the things in her life that brought her pain.

"This is your favorite part." Lela gestured to the television.

"Easy fix." She fished the remote out of the space between the couch cushions, pointed it and the scene froze. "Now, elaborate."

Lela groaned, tilting her head. "We're not in the office." The homey ambiance emitting from the candid familiar black and white photography adoring the sisal walls was miles from the professional motif of Sylvan's office.

"We don't have to be in my office to have a conversation." She let the fleece shawl clip from her shoulder. "If something's bothering you, you can always talk to me. You know that."

"I do." Lela sighed to herself, pulling the sleeves down to cover her hands. The house was always cold at night, when the sun went down and the air-condition stayed at a frigid seventy-five. It felt good during the day but after seven p.m. it took her back to a place she didn't want to visit, back to winters in Chicago and stays in the institution. A uncertain, vulnerable, and hesitant place.

"Then what is it?" Sylvan dropped the remote on the cushion between them as orange rays from the fading sun streamed in the picture windows.

"Nothing." She pulled a pillow on her lap trying to give her therapist the most believable expression she could. "Really."

Sylvan cocked her head to the side with a squint to her eyes, "I'm not just your therapist and I'm your guardian."

"Nope. You're not by guardian anymore. I ain't been seventeen in a long time."

"What I'm trying to say is...I'm always concerned about you...just like Nick and CJ and if you need to talk about something, you don't have to have an appointment or be in my office. We can just talk...share."

Lela stroked the back of her neck and let her fingertips run over the uniform parts of her braids. "It's just...it's a delicate subject matter." The sleeve slipped down her hand as she toyed with her engagement ring.

"I see." Sylvan glimpsed at the diamond. "That's what this is about. The wedding."

"I know how things are around here. Between you and Uncle Carter and I don't want to bring up those things and people that...you know." Lela interlocked her fingers and dropped them in her lap letting her silence fill in the blank."

"You can say the name Safiya and talk about her. I'm not made of glass." She tucked a clump of her frizzy brunnette mane behind her ear. Free of makeup and jewelry, her beauty was understated and simple; not looks that would catch the eye but won't make anyone turn away either. "She's a close friend of yours and as long as she's good to you...I can tolerate her."

Lela studied her face and couldn't find any lies painted upon her. The only thing that stood out was the trace of anguish swimming in her eyes. She nodded and Sylvan gestured for her to continue.

"It's silly, really." Lella drew her braids to one shoulder, shifting on the couch turning completely towards her. "I have three best friends and have to pick one matron of honor. Well, I'm sure Alyssa will gladly decline but Harmony and Fiya...they love this type of stuff." She knew Harmony was good with planning and loved to be in charge but Safiya had a knack for decorating and making the moment into something special. If should could put the two of them together they'd be the perfect choice. "I love 'em both and I know one would get hurt, regardless."

"Bridesmaids." Sylvan plain uttered with a slow nod of her head. "That's the big decision."

Wrinkles of confusion formed in Lela's forehead, "Yeah." The word came out slow and drawn out. "Should I be worried about something else."

"You're graduating next year so..."Sylvan gesticulated, sitting up away from the pillow. "I was assuming that this had something to do with that. Do you even know what you're doing after commencement....something that doesn't have to do with that boy."

"That boy." Lela's eyebrows drew together from the sour tone in which Sylvan spoke the words. "You mean Trevor. What's your problem with him?"

"I just don't want you to get caught up. You're latching onto him so quick. Talking about moving in. Getting married. What's next kids?'

"Not for a while." Lela blinked taken aback. She thought Sylvan understand her life plans already. They talked about them all the time. Marriage and kids was something she always saw for herself, maybe not this soon but the right guy came along sooner than she expected. "But I'm not latching onto him like some virus that needs a host."

"I'd be the other way around."

"Come again."

The fire in Lela's eyes prompted Sylvan to backtrack, "I'm not implying that you're naive." She clasped her hands together sincerely. "You guys have just been dating for a year." Lela's mouth opened to speak but she continued. "I know you've know him for some time now but he's only know the real you...the you that the both of us know."

Lela rolled her eyes with an indignant huff, "My illness will not run my life. He even helps me relax on bad days."

"But you're not the same girl you were when you guys met. You have different means now."

"Is this about the money 'cause Trey's not that type of person. He has his own. He'd never take anything from me. He has my best interest at heart. I trust him."

"Be careful with your trust."

The words 'he's not Uncle Carter' sat on her tongue but instead of a statement it felt like a bullet and Lela didn't want to fire that into existence so instead she folded her arms and said, "You don't know him like I do."

Sylvan sat back with concern splayed over her face. "I want you to be happy, you know that. You deserve all the happiness and blessings God has to give but..." She stopped letting the silence swell around them as she breathed in deeply. "You have to go at your pace. No the pace of your friends or every other twenty-something. Or Trevor's pace. Your's and your's only."

Lela popped off the couch, "I don't need my hand held." She started pacing in front of the television. "I'm an adult. I know how to take care of myself. You're acting like I'm handicapped."

"But you have a condition." Sylvan's features went from motherly to concerned as she dropped her legs off the couch and faced her, "You have to take on big life issue at a time. Right now, it's securing your future. Making it stable. Get a job. Not tying yourself down to some boy."

"I know what I'm doing with my life." She exasperatedly grumbled in mid-stride. "Opening a bakery."

"Good...but take it slow." Sylvan scooted to the edge of the couch. "One big life issue at a time."

"I'm still marrying Trevor." Lela held her waist, her bare feet flat on the Persian rug. "I love him and he's a good person."

Sylvan stood and advanced over to her. "I'm still not sure about this Lela." She took hold of Lela's wrist. "Marriage is stress and unpredictable."

"So, is life."

Sylvan hummed with a fond smile. "I need to met this man that has you so...committed to change."

"You do." A smile brimmed on Lela's face bringing a spark to her midnight eyes. She didn't have a mom in her life but her mom's best friend was doing well at filling in the spot. "Come have dinner with us. I'm make something special."

"Sure." Sylvan cupped her cheek. "You're Uncle Carter and I will be there. Just tell us when."

"Yeah." Lela joined her back on the couch thinking of the perfect day, the proper menu and how things will go with she and Trevor entertaining Sylvan and Carter for an evening—a young couple on the verge of a new adventure and a married couple trying hard to keep it all together.

Lela took a breath and reminded herself she only could control not burning the cake. If anything else went up in flames, it was out of her hands.

How do you think the dinner will go?

Why do you think Sylvan isn't fond of Trevor?

Who do you think will be Lela's Maid of Honor?