“Liam! You surprise me that your judge of character is so poor,” Ellie chides. “Sophie spent the day with us yesterday, and she is lovely. Besides, I think she could use the distraction. Give it some thought.”
“Okay, whatever. I got to go.” I turn and jog down the steps where Melanie is patiently waiting for me on the sidewalk.
“Hi.” She hands me my hat, a tattered old Phillies cap that I honestly don’t care that much about anymore.
“Thanks,” I say giving her a tight smile and a nod.
“No problem.” Melanie seems chipper this morning. “Can I see the baby?” she asks earnestly.
There it is.
“No. Absolutely not.” I am firm on this. As I have said many times before, I will not introduce Lucy to just anyone. Not that Melanie is justanyone. “Mel, you know where I stand on this. I am not letting any woman get close to Lucy right now. Poor kid is confused enough without Leah. Maybe someday but not yet.” I watch her face fall and immediately feel the need to acquiesce. I suck in a breath before adding, “But what are you doing on Friday?”
“Why?” Melanie eyes me warily and folds her arms into herself, as if to guard her feelings.
“I was thinking we could get something to eat. Maybe talk about some things,” I suggest, trying my best to sound noncommittal.
Melanie softens, chewing on her lower lip. “Okay,” she nods. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
I force a smile. “Good. I’ll touch base later this week,” I promise.
We say our goodbyes and I hop in my truck to go to work, all the while wondering why I’m forcing myself to see something that really isn’t there.
3
SOPHIE
It’s already Wednesday and I still have no idea what I am doing here or what I am doing with my life. I do know that I can’t spend another day wallowing and avoiding the inevitable. I decided to wake up early and go for a run, which is really a walk/run since the last time I ran any sort of distance was about ten years ago. I let my memory guide me, and I can already tell, the exercise is so good for me.
I run up a block to a park I visited often as a girl and I take a lap around it, watching families play together and reminiscing about my own childhood. After that, I run up a few blocks to the beach and walk barefoot along the water’s edge. As soon as the waves hit my toes, they trigger a dormant memory of childhood summers with sticky sand clinging to my feet, the salty tang of the ocean air, and bittersweet farewells to the summer days spent on a windswept beach.How did I ever leave this?I wonder. Then I put my shoes back on and run back to Ellie’s house.
I am kicking myself now, though, as I approach her front stoop. One should never put sneakers and socks back on a sandy foot. I can feel a blister popping up on my heel, making damn sure this is the only time I will run this week.
I plop down on Ellie’s front step and take off my shoe. I’m inspecting my wounds when I catch sight of Liam on the sidewalk, saying goodbye to a woman I have never seen before. She looks exactly like the type of woman a guy like him would go for.Tiny waist, big boobs, low-cut top. Check, check, and check.
I notice her but if she notices me, she doesn’t make it obvious. She clicks the key remote for the black car directly in front of me and gets in at the same time he gets into his truck. I smirk to myself.Well, clearly, he is unavailable.I scold myself for the envious feeling that catches me by surprise. In the six weeks that I’ve been single again, it has seemed to me that literallyeveryoneelse is attached. I’m going to have to get used to the feeling of loneliness, I think.
Shaking Liam out of my head, I dust off my sandy feet and head for Ellie’s front door, because naturally, I don’t have any Band-Aids in the cottage. I find her sitting at the kitchen table with a gentleman who also appears to be in his sixties. He has glasses, a balding head, and is sipping coffee while Ellie chats away.
“Oh, Sophie! I’m glad you’re here.” Ellie smiles and holds up an empty mug. “Would you like some coffee?”
I hesitate. “I, uh—I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I need a Band-Aid and of course, I didn’t bring any.” I duck my head, feeling embarrassed.
Ellie waves her hand in dismissal. “Don’t be silly, dear. They are in the medicine cabinet in my powder room. Go help yourself and then come back and join us!”
“I’ll just be right back then.” I give them a shy smile. I know there is no getting out of this coffee date with Ellie. As soon as she heard about James, the woman convinced me to hang out with her all day yesterday, saying that I shouldn’t be alone at a time like this. Ellie means well, and I will certainly enjoy her company when it’s offered to me.
When I return to the table, Ellie has poured me a steaming cup of coffee and put a cinnamon roll on my plate. “These rolls are from Sticky Ricky’s,” Ellie shares excitedly. “Robert brought them over. They’re famous here.”
“Oh, I know that place,” I say nodding. “We got them all the time when I was a little girl. My grandparents lived just a couple of blocks up on Jackson Street.” I sit down and inhale the scent of the sticky bun, immediately awakening a dormant memory.
“Sophie, this is my dear, dear friend, Dr. Robert Stevens. He’s the only psychiatrist in town and we’ve been friends for years.” She’s beaming. “I wanted you to meet him. He helped me so much when my Edward passed away,” Ellie gushes, eying Robert carefully. “Sophie is a marriage and family therapist. I think you two might have stuff in common!” Ellie looks very pleased with herself.
I blush, wondering about the reason for this visit. Is Ellie implying that I should talk to someone about my failed marriage? On the one hand, I probably should, but I’m confident I can handle it myself. I am bothered by the insinuation, but then I shrug it off. I’m sure she’s just trying to help. It doesn’t seem like Ellie has a mean bone in her body.
“Hi, Dr. Stevens. It’s so nice to meet you.” I pick up my coffee and take a big sip. Ellie is an expert with the French press, and the caffeine instantly picks me up.
“Please, call me Robert.” He smiles. “Ellie was just telling me you’re here visiting Cape May because you’re recently divorced, is that right?” His face is amiable and curious, but I feel embarrassed anyway.
