Suddenly, Sophia had a vision of herself cradling a tiny Zoe to her chest while reading Zac a book and trying not to dwell on the horrors of the outside world.
She’d spent too much time thinking of worst-case scenarios whenever the phone blared in the dead of night or the doorbell rang unexpectedly.
Now, Sophia was determined not to give it too much thought, and she was certain Lily could do the same, if only to be able to survive the pressure of it all. It wasn’t an ideal situation by any means, but Sophia knew it could be a lot worse, and at the end of the day, she was proud to know people who were willing to put their lives on the line for others.
“I’m glad you were able to figure out a method that works for you.” Lily came to a stop outside Cousin Emily’s bakery, and the two of them peered through the window.
Giggling, they stepped inside and waved at the staff standing behind the glass display in a red and white uniform. Jazz music played through the overhead speakers, and Sophia found herselfadmiring the tile floors beneath her feet and the red vinyl booths scattered throughout.
She wondered what kind of décor she’d use if she had her own bakery.
As quickly as the thought came, she pushed it away and moved to the front of the line. After ordering two cups of coffee and cheese croissants, she and Lily stepped back outside. In silence, Sophia munched on her food and enjoyed the sun’s warmth on the back of her neck.
Sophia paused with the croissant halfway to her lips. “Can I ask you a question?”
“That counts as a question,” Lily teased in between bites of her food. “You can ask two questions. What’s up?”
Sophia took a long sip of her coffee, the liquid trickling down her throat before settling in the pit of her stomach. “How did you know it was time to end your marriage? I mean, there must’ve been a lot leading up to it, but how were you able to tell that you couldn’t do it anymore?”
Lily swallowed and cleared her throat. “I think, like you said, it was a lot of small things leading up to it, but it wasn’t a big moment or anything like that. I remember I’d done a conference call with the kids, and when I was done, Lance came into the kitchen, criticized the food I made him, and walked out the front door without a backward glance.”
“That was it? I thought it would be something a bit more…”
“Dramatic?” Lily’s lips lifted into a half smile. “Yeah, I thought so, too, but in my experience, the small things add up, and I realized I couldn’t waste one more second being unhappy.”
Sophia tore off a piece of her croissant and nibbled. “I know he was awful to you, so you’ve never considered going back, right?”
Lily’s expression turned thoughtful. “I wouldn’t saynever. There were times when I doubted my decision, mostly becauseof the amount of grief he gave the kids, but I knew that I wouldn’t be going back for the right reasons. Lance can’t change. He’s already proven that.”
“What if hehadchanged?”
Lily studied Sophia’s face. “Yeah, I guess if I felt like he’d changed, I might’ve gone back, but there’s no way to know for sure with these things. Look, walking away from a marriage is never easy, and it’s not a decision you can make lightly, and it’s okay to doubt yourself and miss the relationship you had. However, it’s also important to recognize when it’s time to let things go and walk away for good.”
Sophia sighed and said nothing.
“You’re really torn up about the Darren thing, huh?”
Sophia glanced up sharply. “What Darren thing? What are you talking about?”
Lily chuckled. “Soph, I know we haven’t known each other long, but you are an open book. I’ve seen the way you’ve been sneaking glances at him, and you two spend a lot of time together for a divorced couple.”
“We’ve got kids, and we live in the same town,” Sophia sputtered, ignoring the color rising up her cheeks. “It’s normal for us to interact.”
“Is that what you’re calling it?” Lily paused to throw away their cups and used the napkin to wipe her mouth. “Look, I’m not an expert, but as far as I can tell, you still have feelings for Darren. It’s normal since you were together for so long, but I don’t know if it means anything else.”
Sophia’s eyes darted away, and she studied the steady flow of people on either side of them. “It can’t mean anything else. Darren and I drifted apart for a reason. The thing is, I kept telling myself it wasn’t an issue when Zoe left for college, but I should’ve known then. By the time Zoe left, it was too late.”
“It’s normal for couples to drift apart once they become empty nesters,” Lily told her, pausing to give Sophia’s hand a tight squeeze. “It’s even normal to live separately for a while, but you’re the one who keeps saying that the reasons you drifted apart still stand.”
“Sometimes, I’m not sure if they do.” Sophia stretched her arms up over her head and searched her sister’s face. “Do you get what I mean?”
“I do, and I’m sure you’ll figure it out. In the meantime, we should head back. I’m sure Stu, Ben, and the others are wondering why we aren’t back yet.”
A short while later, Sophia and Lily stepped in through the front door and were greeted with a chorus of well wishes. Sophia paused to give her dad a one-armed hug before setting the table. After breakfast, she lingered, not wanting to be alone with her thoughts. In the afternoon, Lily and Ben set up a table in the backyard, and they all sat around, playing cards and drinking iced tea.
When the sun dipped below the horizon, Ben invited Lily out to lunch. Aunt Heather and Uncle Ed went out with a few of their friends and managed to persuade Stu to join them. Sophia ignored all of their attempts at luring her out and settled in for a quiet night with a glass of wine, a bowl of popcorn, and a lazy Teddy dozing at her feet.
Halfway through her movie, she heard a distinct clicking sound. Hastily, she rummaged through the table drawer and pulled out her pepper spray. Then she patted the couch for her phone, finding it wedged between two pillows. Teddy was already between her and the front door, his fur in hackles and his lips drawn back to reveal his teeth.
