I tried to rewrite my previous (and only) story "Layla Solves a Problem for Her Son". Maybe I improved it, maybe not, but in the meantime it has grown, becoming the first part of a trilogy.
Hope you like it.
Of course, all the characters are in the legal age.
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Layla turned off the television, catching a glimpse of her reflection in the black screen. She couldn't help but see the image of her grandmother Rosa forming in her mind.
It wasn't uncommon, Layla sometimes found herself thinking and talking just like her. They shared the same curvy figure and soft features, as well as deep, loving eyes. Now, sitting on the couch with one leg bent and her robe slipping off her shoulder and chest, she couldn't deny the resemblance between them. At forty-eight, Layla didn't mind being compared to her beloved grandmother at all. In fact, she was honored of it and she felt really lucky.
The bond between Layla and her beloved grandmother, affectionately known as "Nonna Rosa," was unbreakable. Although grandma preferred to be called by her american name, "Rose," she always reminded them that she was no longer in Italy. She had come to live with them after her husband passed away, when Layla was only thirteen. Her presence brought a warm and welcoming energy, unlike her daughter Maria, Layla's mother, who always seemed reserved. Grandma Rosa taught Layla the importance of accepting herself and her sexuality, without shame or hesitation.
"Never be ashamed of what makes you a woman," she would tell Layla with a wise smile. "Your body is your power, not a flaw. Use it."
Layla admired the way her grandmother lived confidently, embracing her desires and femininity as gifts rather than burdens. She didn't show herself, but she never tried to hide who she was. It took Layla a while to understand this lesson, this way of living. Gradually she enjoyed what life had to offer to her, knowing more men than she cared to remember.
But now she an adult and, with this sweet thought in mind, rose from the couch. "I love you, Nonna" she whispered to herself, taking comfort in the warmth of that feeling as she headed to the kitchen to make a herbal tea.
As the water boiled, Layla couldn't help but think about how true it was that sometimes traits were skipped over a generation. If she was a mirror image of her grandmother Rosa, in body and character, then Ted was just like her mother. He had inherited her slender frame (blessed genetics, Layla thought with a small smile), but also that slight sadness that always carried with him. It was as if the world had wronged him and he couldn't find peace.
At nineteen, he should have been out enjoying life and living carefree, just like Layla had done at his age. Instead, he always carried this heaviness inside him, an invisible weight that weighed him down. Layla's heart ached, she loved him deeply but she didn't know how to help. The feeling of being useless, the inability to brighten his days, caused her immense pain.
The kettle whistled, tearing her from her thoughts. Layla sighed and poured hot water into her favorite mug, feeling the heat of the steam on her face. With her herbal tea in hand, she headed for the bedroom. After a long day of cleaning other people's houses in the morning and her own in the afternoon, all she wanted to do was crawl into bed next to Mark.