“Then you’ll try and dial it back, or you’ll find someone who can appreciate the kind of woman you are,” Sophia replied, pausing to reach across the table and pat Zoe’s hand. “Either way, it’s going to be okay.”
Zoe lifted tear-filled eyes up to her mother’s. “How do you know?”
“Because moms know these things,” Sophia murmured, her eyes never leaving Zoe’s face. “It comes with the territory.”
“Does the Mom handbook also tell you how to handle your last semester of college?”
Sophia’s lips lifted into a half smile. “I could tell you, but what do I get in exchange for passing down trade secrets?”
Zoe blew out her breath and leaned back against her chair. “What happened to telling me things because you’re my mom?”
“Honey, if I tell you everything, how are you ever going to learn?”
Zoe offered her mother a bright smile. “I’m going to learn to appreciate you a lot more. That’s got to count for something, right?”
Sophia reached across the table and patted Zoe’s hand. “Nice try, sweetheart, but that’s not how this works.”
Zoe widened her eyes, and her lower lip jutted out. “Not even if I give you the Zoe puppy dog eyes?”
Sophia threw her head back and laughed. “You know how hard it is to resist them, but I stand by what I said. The only way you learn is by making mistakes.”
Zoe muttered something under her breath.
Sophia licked her spoon and cleared her throat. “So, other than this mysterious guy you keep telling me about, how is everything else? You ready for your last semester?”
Zoe glanced around the semi-full food court, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I thought it would feel different. I thought I would have all this experience and all these plans, but I only feel slightly less clueless than when I first started college.”
Sophia gave her daughter a comforting smile. “That’s normal. I felt that way too. College doesn’t prepare you as much as you think it will. It’s rare to find someone who actually feels ready when it’s over, and even then, it’s not a one-size-fits-all.”
Zoe swung her gaze back to her mom’s and sat up straighter. “You figured everything out, though, and you’re doing pretty well for yourself.”
Sophia set her spoon down and shrugged. “Honey, I’m nowhere close to figuring things out. Even then, I wasn’t. You just kind of muddle through and do your best. Do you know what the most important thing is?”
Zoe tossed her hair back and gave her mom a winning smile. “Looking great while you muddle through?”
Sophia’s lips twitched. “If it makes you feel better about yourself. You do whatever you have to do in order to get up in themorning and face the day. In time, everything else just falls into place.”
Zoe’s expression turned serious. “Is that what’s happening with you and Nora’s Delights? I overheard Grandma Jen talking about it the other day.”
“Your mom isn’t as put together as you think,” Sophia teased with a shake of her head. “But I’ll figure it out; don’t worry.”
Zoe drummed her fingers against the table. “I know you will, and in the meantime, just give Zac some space. He’ll come around.”
Sophia frowned. “Is he really that mad at me?”
“He’ll get over it,” Zoe assured her with a smile. “You know how Zac gets all in his feelings and stuff. Give it a few days, and it’ll blow over.”
“I wish I had waited to call in those favors.” Sophia reached for her purse and rummaged through it. When she pulled out her phone and saw the messages from her boss, her brows furrowed together. She sent a few responses before tucking her phone away. “So, you wanted to show me a cute outfit. Lead the way.”
A few hours later, when their feet ached and Sophia’s stomach hurt from laughing, the two of them made their way to Zoe’s car. After dropping her off at Nora’s, Zoe drove off, and Sophia watched her until the car turned into a speck in the distance. Then she pushed her hair out of her eyes and fished the keys out of her pocket. Once she stepped in through the back door, the smell of cinnamon and cloves hit her first. She kicked off her shoes, left them by the backdoor, and set her purse down on the empty table.
Sophia was muttering to herself as she put the finishing touches on some of the wedding cupcakes when Nora arrived, hair piled on top of her head and a pair of glasses perched onher nose. Nora smiled when she saw Sophia and lowered the notebook in her hand.
“I had no idea you were coming in today. It’s the weekend.”
Sophia gathered her hair up into a ponytail and gave Nora a small smile. “I thought I’d make sure everything was in order before the wedding. I hope it’s okay.”
Nora waved her comment away. “It’s more than okay. Your dedication and hard work are one of the many reasons I hired you for the job.”
