Lily snorted and swung her gaze back to Sophia’s. “Are you sure you’ve never hosted before? Because you’re a natural.”
Color crept up Sophia’s cheeks. “Not really. You definitely do it a lot better than I do.”
Lily patted Sophia’s back. “I had a lot of help when I was in the city, so don’t sell yourself short. Besides, Zoe told me all about the cakes and cupcakes. I can’t wait to try them out.”
“Her stress-baked treats are really good,” Angie said over her shoulder. “I’d suggest you sneak some away right now because after everyone’s done eating, they’re going to be licking the pots and pans clean.”
Sophia burst into laughter. “I think you’re overselling my baking.”
Angie craned her neck over her shoulders and gave her a pointed look. “I think you’re selling yourself short, cous. Give yourself credit.”
Sophia returned her attention to the cheese tray. “Yeah, I don’t think I’m built to handle stuff like this.”
Angie exhaled and shook her head. “I’m going to check on the plates of food outside. I don’t trust them not to eat it all. Lily, can you keep an eye on the sauce? All you have to do is keep stirring.”
Lily took Angie’s place at the stove and closed her fingers around the wooden spoon. “Like this?”
Angie threw the apron over the back of a chair. “Yup, that’s great. Ruby Hamilton, you put that quiche down right now!”
As soon as Angie shut the glass door behind her, the two of them were plunged into silence. Sophia finished the cheese tray and turned her attention to the bowl of pasta bubbling on the stove. She sniffed, and her stomach grumbled in response.
“Don’t go getting yourself kicked out of your own kitchen,” Lily teased with a wag of her finger. “You know how Angie gets.”
Sophia took a step back. “You’re right. I can’t be tempted.”
“I’m sorry Zac isn’t coming, by the way,” Lily offered with a gentle smile. “I ran into Darren at the liquor store on the way over. He told me that Zac is still giving you both a hard time.”
A lump rose in the back of Sophia’s throat. “I don’t know how to make things better.”
“Right now, the only thing you can do is give him space to realize that you two are just trying to look out for him. Sure, you’ll go overboard sometimes, but it’s what parents do.”
Sophia sighed. “I know you’re right, but I hate it when he’s mad at me. I hate it when either of my kids are mad at me. It makes me feel like I haven’t done anything right.”
Lily raised her eyebrow. “You’ve done plenty right.”
Sophia gave Lily a tight smile and said nothing. While they tended to the food in the kitchen, everyone else was in the backyard, talking and laughing. Sophia kept sneaking glances at them through the glass doors, some of her earlier fears and insecurities abating. By the time everyone sat down to eat, with several tables being set up in the backyard, a few in the living room, and a large spread on the dining room table, Sophia was feeling better than she had that morning.
Suddenly, taking on the task of hosting the Labor Day celebrations for the entire Wilson clan didn’t seem so daunting. Especially when her dad and Ian pulled her in for a hug and sang her praises. During dinner, she sat wedged between her father on one side and Darren on the other.
She was a little too aware of the fact that her hand kept brushing against Darren’s. It wasn’t until they were halfway through dinner that she realized that Lucy sat far away from Ian and seemed quieter than usual. Sophia kept trying to catch her brother’s gaze, but he studiously avoided it until Dana, Dean, and Kelli drew him away for a game of Monopoly.
All through dinner, Sophia kept looking around and smiling to herself.
The only thing that would’ve made her happiness complete was having Zac there, but she knew Lily was right. Her son was a proud and stubborn man, and pushing him harder was only going to make him withdraw from her. The only thing she could do was hope that, with enough time and space, Zac would come to his senses and forgive them.
By the end of the night, Sophia had succeeded in convincing herself that she wasn’t such a screw-up after all. The warm feeling stayed with her as the Wilson clan trickled out the front door, leaving Lily and Ben in her old room and her Aunt Heather and Uncle Ed in Ian’s old room. When everyone else was gone for the night, Darren lingered to help her put away the leftovers.
The two of them ended up on the couch, sifting through old family photos of her mom. Then, they were indulging in some wine and watching home videos of their kids’ antics. When Sophia drifted off to sleep, Darren draped a blanket over her and sipped on his beer. A short while later, when Sophia jolted awake, the blanket was tucked around her, and Darren was gone.
She stayed up on her father’s couch, listening to the rustle of the wind outside and inhaling the smell of Darren’s cologne, a mixture of old spice and sandalwood.
Why couldn’t you get your life together, Soph?
Chapter Fourteen
“When I said that we should do more things together to bond, I was thinking more like yoga or getting our nails done.”
Lily twisted her arms over her head and pushed herself up to the tips of her toes. “Running is a lot more fun, and it releases a lot of feel-good endorphins.”
