Falmouth Echoes (A Cape Cod Series Book 2)

Chapter 20

“Shouldn’t you be trying to prove yourself to the rest of the staff? I’m sure Valerie is in there, buttering them up.”

Sophia tilted her head back and enjoyed the sun’s warmth on her face. “You know that’s not how I do things, honey. Valerie likes to schmooze. I let my hard work speak for itself.”

“How are you ever going to become manager with her around?”

“I don’t even know that I want to,” Sophia pointed out with a quick look over her shoulders through the glass windows of Nora’s Delights. “And stop trying to change the subject. When’s your plane supposed to be coming in?”

Zac paused, and she heard something muffled in the background. When his voice came back on, he was winded and hoarse. “It’s been delayed again. I’m sorry, Mom.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’m just glad you were finally able to take the time off and visit. It feels like it’s been forever.”

Zac exhaled. “Way to lay the guilt on, Mom.”

“If it gets you to come and visit more often, I’m not above doing it,” Sophia teased. “My baby boy is finally coming home.”

“I’m too old for that, Mom,” Zac pointed out. “Anyway, I should let you get back to enjoying your break.”

“I like talking to you,” Sophia protested. “I’ve still got thirty minutes left in my break.”

“I’d love to stay and chat, but I just saw someone I know, so I should go and say hi.”

Disappointment settled in the pit of Sophia’s stomach. “Oh, okay.”

“She looks happy, which is good,” Zac continued in a strange voice. “Maybe this’ll go well.”

“Is she someone you like?”

“I’ve always loved her.”

“You should definitely—” Sophia trailed off when the crowd across the street parted, and she saw Zac standing there in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, dragging a suitcase behind him. He grinned when he saw her and hung up. Then he shoved his phone into his pocket, glanced down both sides of the street, and hurried over.

Sophia still had her phone pressed to her ear when he hoisted her up and swept her off her feet.

She was breathless and grinning from ear to ear as she clung to him. “What are you doing here?”

“My flight got in early, and I wanted to surprise you.” Zac gave her another hug before setting her down on her feet. “You look great, Mom.”

Sophia tucked her phone into her pocket and slapped his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming in? I would’ve come to pick you up.”

Zac gave her a sheepish smile and rubbed his arm. “Zoe had a free class, so she came to get me and dropped me off a few blocks away.”

“So, you’re all in on it?” Sophia threw her arms around him for another hug and inhaled, catching the faint scent of aftershave and spicy cologne. “Sweetheart, you’re all skin and bones. Don’t they feed you at all?”

Zac drew back and waved her comment away. “Of course, they do, but I am on my feet most of the day, so it’s part of the job.”

Sophia peered at him, taking in the way his clothes hung off of his frame and the gauntness of his face. “It’s part of your job to look emaciated? That doesn’t make sense.”

Zac smiled at her. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“What’s later?”

“Dad called everyone, and we’re all meeting at the Bahamas Mamas at four. Should give you some time to change after work. Here.” Zac reached into his bag and pulled out another smaller bag. “Dad packed some clothes for you and handed them to Zoe.”

Sophia’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s so good to have you back. I’ve really missed you.”

And she loved that they’d all gone through a lot of effort to make sure it was a surprise.

After another quick hug, Zac looped his arm through his and dragged her back into the bakery. He waved at everyone in greeting before pressing a kiss to her cheek and disappearing. In a daze, she returned to work, the smile never leaving her face. Not even Valerie’s snooty and snarky comments could bring her down from her high.

At least until she was reminded that the big influencer wedding was in two days.

She spent the rest of the day making a list of things to do with Zac and trying to avoid thinking about the influencer. A few hours later, when she pulled up a few blocks away from the strip of restaurants running through the center of Falmouth, she was humming to herself. She ran into Zoe on her walk there, and the two of them walked in with their arms looped around each other.

Aunt Ashley and Uncle Jude were already perusing the menu when they walked in. Jeff and Tay walked in later with their kids, Jason and Maria, in tow. Then Emily swept in, loudly exclaiming over Zac’s appearance before she stepped aside, allowing Savannah and Charlotte to greet their cousin. Tara materialized as a few more tables were being propped together, red-faced and out of breath. Ruby trailed behind her in baggy clothes, never once looking up from her phone.

Uncle Frankie, his family, and Grandpa Frank and Grandma Jen were the last to arrive when a slew of appetizers had already been set out on the table. Several plates of nachos, quesadillas, and tacos were spread throughout the tables. Sophia was nibbling on her chili cheese fries as she half listened to the conversation around her while she kept sneaking glances at her son.

Zac looked uncomfortable with all of the attention, his bright green eyes even more pronounced because of the dark circles underneath. He kept pushing his shaggy blonde hair out of his eyes, and Sophia kept finding excuses to pat his hand underneath the table. Even though it had been two years since she’d last set eyes on him in person, everything about Zac looked the same.

Underneath the scruff, the redness of his skin, and his lanky but lean frame was the little boy she’d carried around for nine months. And she couldn’t have been more thrilled that he’d finally decided to come back, especially when Darren rushed in, still in his firefighter’s uniform, and picked Zac up for a hug. The two of them embraced for a long time before Darren sat him back down on his feet and pulled out a chair next to Sophia.

Dinner was full of laughter and easy conversation.

During the walk home, the four of them walked back together, just like old times.

A day later, Sophia was organizing trays in the kitchen at the wedding when Zac and Zoe appeared in the black and white waiter’s uniform.

“We thought we’d volunteer since this is a big event, and you can’t miss it.” Zac dropped a kiss on top of her forehead and smiled. “So, what do you want us to do first?”

All through the preparations, Sophia and her kids exchanged giggles and stories. By the time the wedding was in full swing, the three of them were lingering near the backdoor of the inn, nibbling on finger foods and sipping on wine. All of the people in attendance were in the shortest dresses possible, with pounds of makeup on their faces. All of the men looked like they’d rather be anywhere else.

In the middle of the makeshift dance floor set up in the backyard of the hotel, the wife was swaying to the music with her husband. He had his arms around her waist and a pained expression on his face. Sophia kept sneaking glances at them, but it wasn’t until she peered closer that she realized why the whole thing looked off.

Suddenly, she scrambled forward with Zac and Zoe hot on her heels.

Maddison was screaming and trying to yank her flammable wig off. When she succeeded in throwing it onto the floor, all of the wedding guests jumped back, and a murmur of horror rose through the crowd. In the distance, Sophia could make out the familiar sounds of the firetruck, the colors lighting up the starless night sky. Sophia was swatting at the fire and trying to put it out to no avail. It wasn’t long before they arrived, with Darren leading the charge.

The smell of smoke and sweat rose through the air.

It didn’t take long before the fire was contained, making a charred mess of Maddison’s wig. Her bottom lip was trembling till her eyes landed on Darren, and she perked up. Maddison went over to him, placed her long, manicured nails against his chest, and batted her eyes at him. In the background, her husband was bent over his phone, a furrow between his brows.

“Ma’am, you need to be careful of how much hair spray you use on materials like this,” Darren warned Maddison with a frown. “You could’ve been seriously hurt.”

Maddison pouted. “It’s a good thing you were around to save me. Is someone livestreaming this?”

A few of her guests tripped over themselves and held up their phones.

Sophia rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest. On either side of her, Zac and Zoe did the same. Maddison kept coming up with excuses to touch Darren, who kept trying to get away from her. Once the situation was finally contained, Darren sprinted back into the firetruck and left without so much as a nod of greeting. Sophia and the rest of the staff left shortly after.

All of them were in Stu’s kitchen, making dinner, when Darren came in, dropped his hat and shoes by the door, and stripped down to the boxers and shirt he had on underneath his uniform. Zoe pulled him in for a hug first before giving him a pointed look.

“What?”

“That woman was all over you today, and it was her wedding.”

Darren brushed past Zoe and paused to ruffle Zac’s hair. “I was just doing my job, ladybug. What was I supposed to do, throw her off?”

“For starters.” Zoe leaned over the counter and gave him a meaningful look. “Come on, Dad. You can’t be parading other women around Mom like that.”

Darren stopped rummaging through the fridge and looked over at her. “Parading women? Sweetheart, it was the woman’s wedding.”

Zac was at the stove, stirring the sauce. “You’d never know it because of the way she was acting. I don’t even know how her husband managed to stand there and not do a thing.”

Darren swung the refrigerator door shut and spun around to face them. “Some people are like that. Not all relationships are the same.”

Zac and Zoe exchanged a quick look.

Sophia looked up from chopping the salad. “Your dad didn’t do anything wrong. Zoe, why don’t you and Dad set up the table while Zac and I finish making dinner? I don’t want to be too late, so you can drive back.”

“Actually, I was thinking that I could spend the night tonight. Zac and I can stay in Uncle Ian’s old room since Dad is staying in yours.”

“I thought you hated sharing a room with your brother?”

Zoe shrugged. “I do, but it’s been a while since all of the Cheffs were under one roof, so I’m not missing out on this.”

Sophia lowered her head to hide her smile. “It’s a good thing Uncle Ian has two beds in there then. It’ll be a little cramped, but I’m sure the two of you can manage.”

The front door clicked open, and Stu stepped in, hair matted to his forehead and a bright smile on his face. “I heard I missed quite the show at the wedding today. Is it true the bride tried to set herself on fire?”

Zoe grimaced and pulled a face. “It was her wig, Grandpa, but I mean, how much hair spray do you have to use to reach that point?”

“Enough to summon a firetruck to your wedding,” Zac added in between loads of laughter. “Did you see the look on her face, though?”

“You two should be nicer about this,” Sophia scolded, pausing to push away the vegetable bowl. “How would you like it if either of you had their wedding stopped because of a fire?”

All through dinner, the five of them swapped stories and laughed. By the end of the night, when everyone had retired, Sophia found herself on the pullout couch in her father’s living room, uncomfortable but happier than she’d ever been.

It had been too long since she’d felt this close to her family.