Falmouth Echoes (A Cape Cod Series Book 2)

Chapter 13

“Mom, I hate to be the one to point this out, but yoga doesn’t work if you’re sweating buckets and muttering to yourself the whole time. The point is to empty your mind.”

Sophia’s eyes flew open, and she pinned her daughter with a meaningful look. “I’m trying, but you need to stop looking at me.”

Zoe threw her hands up in the air. “I’m just trying to help. What if you do one of those do-it-yourself projects? You love those.”

Sophia sighed and pushed herself up to her feet. Then she rolled up her yoga mat and let it fall against the wall behind a glass display that boasted her mother’s mug collection. Using one hand, she gathered her hair into a bun at the nape of her neck, and, using her other hand, she used a towel to wipe the sweat off of her face.

As much as she hated to admit it, Zoe was right.

She’d spent the night tossing and turning, alternating between videos that showed her how to 3D print her own cake designs and videos that showed her how to set up motion detection cameras all over the house. When it didn’t work, she’d spent hours in the kitchen, making a few different kinds of cake and cupcakes until the kitchen smelled like a pastry shop and her arms were sore.

Still, it had done little to unravel the knots in her stomach.

When it came to entertaining people, Sophia knew she was completely out of her depth, but since this was their first Labor Day with Lily and Ben, she’d thrown herself at the opportunity a little too enthusiastically. Months ago, it had seemed like a good idea, and she’d even been excited about the prospect of hosting the entire family and making her mother proud.

Now, it felt like she wanted to find the nearest bathroom and hurl.

It’s just nerves. You can do this. You’ve seen your cousins and aunts do this a million times. You’ve even helped. You’ve got this, Soph.

Zoe leaned over the counter and waved a hand in front of her mother’s face. “Hello? Mom, are you okay?”

Sophia let her hands fall to her sides and cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m fine. I was just thinking about what else I can make.”

Zoe raised an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure you’ve baked enough treats to feed an entire village. It’ll be more than enough for everyone.”

Sophia glanced around the kitchen and frowned. “What if it isn’t?”

“You do realize there’s going to be more food, right?” Zoe stepped out from behind the counter and made a beeline for her mom. “You’ve got this.”

Sophia gave her a small smile. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, sweetheart.”

“I know how anxious you get when you want things to go right. As much as I love your anxiety-fueled cakes and cupcakes, you do need to take a breath. Have you slept at all?”

“I thought I was the mom,” Sophia teased, pausing to squeeze her daughter’s hand. “I’m fine, honey.”

Zoe searched her face. “Why don’t you go lie down for a couple of hours? We’ve still got a while to go before everyone shows up.”

“But the house—”

“I’ve got plenty of help.” Zoe looped her arm through Sophia’s and dragged her in the direction of the backdoor leading into the hallway that connected her apartment to the main house. “I’ll wake you up if I need you, okay?”

Sophia gave her daughter a quick peck on the cheek and disappeared into her own apartment. There, she spent an entire hour trying to get a hold of Zac, only to receive a busy signal. When she came out of the shower and was towel-drying her hair, her phone lit up, indicating an incoming message.

Zac sent her a brief Labor Day message, and it wasn’t long before her phone went dark again.

Sophia sniffed, the tight ball of emotion in her chest making her throat close up. Tears burned the back of her eyes, but she blinked them away, changed into a knee-length dress, and laced up her sandals. Then she hurried back into the main house in time to greet Lily and Ben at the door, followed closely by a sweaty-faced Aunt Rebecca, who had wisps of dark hair stuck to her face and a strange glint in her bright eyes.

Sophia stood by the door and lifted a hand up to her face.

In the sun-soaked distance, she made out her uncle’s car pulling up next to the curb. He stepped out and went around to the trunk. Together with his wife Paula, the two of them brought out bags and bags of food and drinks. Sophia gave them both a quick hug on their way past and paused to wave at their kids, Jonathan and Suzie, Jonathan’s family in tow.

Jaxon and Reese gave her quick smiles before they disappeared into the backyard. Sophia retreated into the kitchen and was moving some of the trays around when Aunt Heather materialized, with Uncle Ed bringing in enough meat and chicken to feed the whole country. In silence, the two of them helped unwrap the food and passed it to Uncle Frankie, who had his thinning hair slicked back and a kiss the chef apron tied around his waist.

It wasn’t long before the smell of barbeque filled the air.

Sophia was rearranging platters when Tammy and Luke appeared, sporting identical apologetic smiles and making their apologies for being a few minutes late. Immediately, they got to work setting up the tables and roped their kids, Abby, Tania, Josh, and Emma, into making sure the backyard was in order. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted her Aunt Ashley and her husband, Uncle Jude, passing out drinks and keeping the conversation going.

Jeff, Emily, and Tara came in a short while later to help carry out the rest of the food. All of them paused to shove and yell at each other before they disappeared, leaving Sophia alone in the kitchen with Angie. When Rob and Terry came in to try and sample some of the desert, Angie chased them out with a spatula, leaving Sophia in stitches.

She was still laughing when Lily came into the kitchen, dressed in a knee-length, patterned dress with long, auburn hair plaited to one side. “What’s so funny?”

“You’d think I’d get sick of watching Angie kick out anyone who tries to steal food, but it never gets old,” Sophia replied without looking up from the tray of cheeses. “It’s very satisfying.”

“And I keep finding creative ways to do it, too,” Angie added from her spot at the stove. She was stirring a pot of sauce, a smile hovering on the edge of her lips. “Secretly, I think they enjoy being kicked out.”

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?