“I really appreciate that. Any other time,I’d jump on that offer. Not right now. Too much going on here. Ineed to know someone is keeping things calm here so I can take careof things and not worry that I’ll be missed. Besides, I thinkZane’s worse off than I am.”
“Keep in touch. I’m here if you needanything.” Walking him out, she quietly closed the door behindhim.
18
T-Minus 1 Day
Sleeping restlessly for the next few hours, Sophiemanaged to make it until five before tossing back the covers. Asherhad been gone for a few short hours, and already the bed was coldand lonely. Groaning from achy muscles after tossing and turning,trying to fall back to sleep after Asher left, she managed to dragherself out of bed.
Despite the aches, she ran her normal routein record time, then hopped in the pool for a few laps. Trying toenjoy her morning coffee alone on the deck, she snapped a pictureof the sun just as it was rising and sent it to Asher. Long afterher coffee had gone cold, she sat curled up in the Adirondack inher coziest distressed jeans and an old Bob Dylan t-shirt.
Shortly after, right as his plane must betouching down, her phone chirped with a photo he’d taken of thesunrise out the airplane window during the flight. Smiling, shefelt like they’d spent their morning together after all. This was aperfect example of how she knew he didn’t see her as a convenientlay. Maybe she could show Pippa and explain why she didn’t need toworry. Not that the simple gesture would be so obviously a sign oflove to anyone else.
Slowly opening the sliding glass door, itmade its usual grinding sounds as it moved across the weatheredtrack. Armed with an oversized coffee cup and a warm blanket aroundher shoulders, Pippa wordlessly joined Sophie in the otherAdirondack. “Morning,” she greeted with a sleepy smile.
Both stared at the ever-brightening mountainsin silence for a few minutes. Finally, Pippa sighed before sayingwhat she’d been bottling up all night. “I’m sorry I’ve been socrazy. I’ve not been a very good friend since we left Seattle.”
Sophie patted her friend on the knee beforewrapping her arms around her own knees. “You’re only a littlecrazier than when you were studying for your GRE’s, finals,moving–”
Chuckling, Pippa interrupted the list, “Okay,I get it. I don’t do stress well.”
“It’s not that you don’t do stress well. Youjust feel everything so fully, that when it exceeds your usualimpressively vast comfort zone, you sort of… lose your filters.”Glancing at her friend, she saw her sheepish smile forming.
“How do you always manage to stay socalm?”
“Look at my poor stubby fingernails. Ithought I had quit the habit years ago, yet they’re already aboutchewed to nothing. Besides, once Yvette’s threats come to fruition,I doubt calm will be a word anyone uses to describe me. Is itconsidered premeditated if I’m plotting my own self-defense?”
Pippa pondered on that one for a minute.“You’ll have to ask Lincoln or Grady that one.” Voice quieting, sheappeared afraid to even say the rest out loud. “I heard some of therumors last night. I fired our minister.”
Aghast, Sophie’s head whipped around so fastshe nearly gave herself a neck cramp. “You can’t do that. Who’sgoing to officiate?”
Appreciating Sophie’s less-than-calmreaction, Pippa shook her head in amusement. “I don’t want thatgossip-happy bitch marrying us. Lincoln agreed. Aunt Janecoincidentally has one of those licenses you can get online. Shedid a wedding for a friend a few years ago. Actually, I wish I’dknown sooner, as I like her better anyway.”
“That’s a huge relief. She’s pretty great. Ican’t wait to start working with her. I’ve got education andinternships to keep me afloat, but I’m so nervous. She showed me mydesk and my schedule. For the first few weeks, she’s making me takea light load until I get a feel for things.” Stealing Pippa’smassive coffee mug, Sophie poured a few more sips into her own cupso she could have a little extra caffeine jolt. Pippa didn’t needit anyway; she was running on adrenaline.
Denise came flying out the glass door. “Dideither of you talk to Asher? Is he okay?” She pulled a chair up infront of Pippa and Sophie, disturbing their pleasant moment.
Crap. No good way to say she’d seen Asher offat oh-dark-thirty this morning. Fortunately, Pippa had seen himtoo. “I talked to him last night. He should be back before theceremony tomorrow. Poor Asher.”
Tearful, Denise nodded, already knowing someof the basics from the note Asher had left. “Jack. He has been sucha good friend to Asher. One of the guys hurt right before he gotout. My poor boy, this must be so hard on him.”
Hating being so far away and still notconvinced that her not going with him was the right decision,Sophie rose from the deep-seated Adirondack. “Why don’t I fix somebreakfast.”
Denise was such a nurturer, never admittingwhen she was hurting. It was clear she was hurting for her son now.Sophie could help, feeling a similar pain. “Asher has been throughworse. He’ll be okay,” Sophie added as she stepped inside.
In the kitchen, Sophie pulled out a largebowl and whipped up a double recipe of Dutch babies to go in theoven. She tossed some pork sausage on the stovetop griddle. Pullingout the fresh strawberries she’d picked up to share from the localfarm stand the day before, she sliced and tossed them in a smallsaucepan for a yummy summer topping.
Yep, her cooking had come a long way sincetheir first apartment. It had been top ramen and PB&J withYvette. Now, Sophie enjoyed creating delicious foods. Usuallynutritious, but today was an exception. Comfort food was verynecessary today.
It’s not like she and Asher were anestablished couple or anything. They’d been dating what, a fewweeks? Not even dating, exactly, as they were trying to keep thingson the downlow.
She’d never fussed like this over a boyfriendbefore. Stupid. You didn’t just fall in love with someone thisquickly. This easily.
A lively chirp from her phone interrupted herdistress. She juggled it out of her pocket with strawberry coveredhands before she could check the text.Doesn’t look like he’llmake it thru the night. Will call you later.
Her chest ached thinking of what he must begoing through. He’d implied a lot of his counseling was to helpwith his survivor’s guilt, and Jack was a big part of that.Hopefully he and Zane would be able to help each other through thenext few hours, both coming away unscathed when others were hurtthen and still dying now.
A minute later, her phone chirped again.Miss you.
