Chapter 18 The Valentine Promise
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Valentine Promise
Sophie walked down the staircase in a lust-filled daze.
Post-sex moments with Brad were some of the happiest she’d spent, and she only lamented that they couldn’t linger up in his childhood bedroom for the rest of the night, pleasing each other on and off, more the former than the latter, she knew from experience.
It wasn’t like the sex was the only thing in the relationship that worked, though, nor was it her favorite part of being with Brad.
The lovemaking got better each time they did it, and their first time had already been the best sex of her life.
But still, she loved other aspects so much more.
Like when she’d wake up to find him looking over at her, a soft smile on his face.
Or when he thought she wasn’t looking and he buried his hands in his hair in frustration at the computer, and she knew the two things that could get him out of that funk, guaranteed.
Her most cherished time with Brad, however, had been making the move to the farm.
When his mom had asked Brad what he thought about the idea at that first family dinner Sophie had been invited to, he said he thought she’d never ask.
Marge had cried, Paige had squealed with joy about being so close to one another, Sophie had laughed, and Brad had hugged his parents tightly.
Even Owen had wiped a few stray tears from his cheeks before clapping his brother-in-law on the shoulder, welcoming him as a neighbor.
In all her days, Sophie didn’t think she’d ever forget what it felt like to be part of a family like that, what it meant for her future with Brad.
The love and support was unlike anything she’d had as a kid, and she would never take it for granted.
The arrangements and sale had been made rather quickly when Sophie thought about the fact that it went from an idea to moving into the farm in a little over a week.
Marge and Alan had taken the money Brad paid for the farm—only a fraction of what he had earned with the recent sale of his novels, but still more than their asking price—and retired to town, where their only responsibility was picking what restaurant to dine in each evening, which dance lessons Marge wanted to drag Alan to next.
Though Sophie knew by the glint in his eyes at Sunday dinners that a leisurely life with his wife was Alan’s dream come true, a reward for all the hard work and sacrifice that had preceded it.
The other life-changing news was that Sophie had taken Brad up on his request for her to move in with him without giving it a second thought.
It was the easiest decision she’d ever made.
Paige flipped out again that they were going to be neighbors, that girls’ nights were going to be brought back in full force.
Sophie had to admit, Paige and Owen were the best neighbors Brad and Sophie could have asked for.
Brad hired Owen to help tend to the land, and Paige and her best friend Aurelie had offered to do some pro bono medical work for the children of the women Sophie was helping leave abusive relationships.
As different as Paige and her older brother were from each other, and her, the love she felt for them both filled the gaps in her heart that longed for a family.
Plus, now she had connections in the medical world that helped the women she’d begun serving at her firm.
Her firm. That didn’t take much getting used to, but she had to admit, every time she thought about it, or saw her name on the signs or letterheads, she wanted to scream into the pink, fluffy pillow from her youth that she’d done it—she finally had everything she ever wanted. And more.
The only snag had been giving up her apartment, and the life she’d built for herself, with Jackie.
Nostalgia hung heavy in the air as she and Jackie painted over the colors they had rolled on the walls a few years prior—and flung on each other in an epic paint fight that still made Sophie laugh to recall.
But as soon as Brad had shown up with his truck to help her move, complete with a bouquet of daisies and a new house key for her, she’d not looked back once.
Since then, they’d taken their time christening each room, only pausing briefly before making the master suite their own, neither willing to think about Alan and Marge’s time there.
Every generation of Connors had made their families in that room, though, and the ghosts kept each other busy, with very little interruption as Brad and Sophie worked on doing the same.
It had been such a special time for Sophie, watching Brad build and fix things like his writing studio to his taste, only to stop and make sure she was involved in every other room in the house, every small detail.
When she’d lived with Drew for a short time after law school—a “very temporary” move, he’d assured her—he hadn’t allowed her to move any of her things into the apartment.
She’d been able to keep only enough clothes for a single drawer, and the rest he’d made her put in storage, claiming her style didn’t match with his.
Glancing around at how she and Brad had both left their imprint on the farmhouse, she felt giddy imagining all the memories they would make there together. Maybe, someday, they’d even get to introduce another generation to the home. The idea made her woozy with desire.
“Where have you been? Though your red cheeks probably speak for themselves,” Jackie said, calling Sophie out of her daydreams. Jackie giggled. “Is it just me, or did the maid of honor get lucky before the bride?”
“I plead the Fifth,” Sophie said, her cheeks growing even hotter. She tried like hell to hide the smile that was bubbling up to the surface, but she couldn’t, and a laugh erupted as well.
“Bullshit, Sophie. I want all the details. After today I’ll be an old maid, and you two sprightly sex addicts will have to be my memories of better days.”
“Now I’m calling bullshit. You and Steve will never be an old married couple; I’d bet my next paycheck on that.”
Jackie stuck her tongue out at Sophie, a look that contrasted with her stunning, floor-length bridal gown, as well as the side-swept, half-up do that left curls cascading down over one shoulder.
As a bride, she was flawless, but as Sophie’s best friend, she was one hundred percent true to character.
“You’d better save that for the groom,” Sophie teased. “Or I’ll be forced to file a formal complaint at my firm that the new bride is wasting her talents on the maid of honor.”
“Ha-ha. How is that new job with the fabulous paycheck going, anyway?” Jackie asked, her eyes bright. Being in love suited her.
“Good, now. You know Drew,” she started, and Jackie rolled her eyes with a grunt, agreeing with Sophie.
“He tried to get me to allow him to work on some of my cases, but I politely reminded him I had carte blanche with women’s advocacy and restorative justice.
When he still didn’t listen and I threatened to quit again, he finally backed off.
I even found roses in my office the next day with an apology note. ”
“You hate roses,” Jackie said, her nose crinkled up.
“Yep. Again, you know Drew. The thought was nice though—definitely more than old-Drew would have done.”
Jackie snorted. “Do I ever. I’m so glad you kicked his ass to the curb, as a boyfriend, I mean. I love Brad.”
“So do I,” Sophie said, the heat returning not just to her cheeks, but her lower abdomen as well.
“Okay, so now that we’re back to that, where were you two, huh? I’m the bride, and you have to indulge my every whim today as my maid of honor.”
Sophie rubbed the back of her neck and grimaced.
“Brad’s old bedroom,” she said, hiding her face in her hands.
“My bridal suite?” Jackie squealed, her voice three octaves higher than before.
“Shhhh!” Sophie swatted at her friend, laughing.
“Tell me everything. Was high school Brad kinky?”
“I don’t know if young-Brad was, but today-Brad made my toes curl.”
“Eeeekkkk!” Jackie squealed. “I knew that boy had some life in him. So, you’re happy?
” Jackie asked, her eyes hopeful. Sophie wanted to be surprised at the serious turn the conversation had taken, but Jackie had been doing this a lot lately, switching between her fun-loving, neurotic self and this strong, caring persona she’d adopted when she met Steve.
Sophie didn’t mind anymore. Both sides seemed endemic to Jackie’s personality and just made her friend more well-rounded.
Gone were the days of only talking about shopping and men.
Now she could count on Jackie to be talking about the latest sale at Macy’s one minute, then gushing about how she and Steve wanted to start a family as soon as possible the next.
She’d even been stable at the same job for three months with no complaints.
Even though Jackie was perpetually curious about her happiness, Sophie knew her friend had found her own peace and just wanted her to find that, too.
“I am,” she said. She meant it, too. She’d never been so happy, not just with Brad—though that added more to her life than she ever could have imagined—but with work, her friendships, and the volunteer, pro bono work she did on the side.
Finally, every aspect of her life was falling into place.
Though she felt lucky, she also knew much of it was a result of all her hard work.
“Good answer. Come with me,” Jackie said, grabbing Sophie’s hand and pulling her in the direction of the living room, where the wedding guests gathered. She was stilted in the movements her dress allowed her to make, though, and wondered what the hell the rush was.