Chapter Fifteen
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The snow machining adventure with Caleb couldn’t have gone any better, Sophia thought as she sat down in her breakfast nook to eat her toast, blueberries, and scrambled eggs. He was such a fun person to be around. Yesterday he had peeled back his layers and shown a side of him that was vulnerable. Talking about his childhood and his relationship with Red had been a bit of a surprise. Listening to him had given her so much insight into the things that had shaped him. She had slept in this morning but had awoken thinking of Lily, only to remember she was with Donny until noon. Lily had only been away for less than twenty-four hours, yet Sophia missed her little girl like nobody’s business. Her heart and mind were all over the place. Making sure Donny was in his daughter’s life was important, but she resented the fact that she always had to be the bigger person.
When Donny brought Lily home, Sophia threw her arms around her as if she hadn’t seen her in weeks. Lily tugged Donny by the hand and brought him into the house.
“I want to show Daddy my dollhouse. Okay?” Lily asked, practically dragging Donny through the house and toward the playroom.
“Sure thing,” Sophia said, clenching her teeth. She was working overtime trying to pretend as if nothing were wrong. Lily needed to see a united front between her parents at all times. Sophia didn’t even want to make eye contact with him, knowing she might end up glaring. She was trying her best to be cordial, but all she could think about was his threat to sue for custody after doing the bare minimum with his daughter. It would never sit right with her.
Sophia sat in the den while Lily exuberantly showed off her dollhouse to Donny. She had to hand it to him. He always made their daughter feel special and loved. It was a damn shame that his presence in her life was so erratic. Lily would have benefited greatly from him being around more. She lit up with excitement every time he was around. Sophia didn’t want Lily going through life with daddy issues and searching for love in all the wrong places.
After about twenty minutes, the sound of the playroom door being shut followed by Donny’s approaching footsteps caused her to swing her gaze toward the doorway. He was standing there, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other. She had no intention of making things easy for him. If he had something to say to her, he just needed to spit it out.
“I have something for you. Here,” Donny said, stepping closer and handing her an envelope.
“What is this?” she asked, tensing up. Was he serving her custody papers in her own house?
“Open it,” he said. “It’s not what you think.” He shoved his hands in his jean pockets and watched her. With his dark hair and deep-set eyes, he looked like a brooding bad boy.
She opened the envelope and pulled out a check. She took a quick look at it, letting out a surprised sound at the large amount. She swung her gaze up to meet Donny’s. “What brought this on?”
“I want a fresh start with my daughter, and that means I have to make things right with you,” he explained, his voice quavering. “I’m trying to play catch-up.”
Sophia was so floored by Donny giving her this check for back child support that it rendered her speechless. He didn’t sound cocky or brash; he sounded sincere. Although she was happy he had finally done the right thing, she had to wonder what had really changed. Why was he making this grand gesture?
“Better late than never,” she said, deciding on the spot not to thank him for something he had been obligated to pay her for quite some time now. She already knew that he thought she was a pushover. No need to prove it by thanking him.
“Lily told me that you have a boyfriend.” Donny uttered the words as a statement and not a question.
Boyfriend? Sophia found it hard to believe her four-year-old had used that word. She had the feeling Donny was putting words in her daughter’s mouth to go on a fishing expedition. Anger rose up inside her. Was he gathering information for his custody case?
“Yes, I’m seeing someone,” she responded. “That shouldn’t be a problem.” Donny should understand, since he’d always had a partner in his life, going from one relationship to the next. She did feel better now that he was married to Zora, so Lily wouldn’t have to be subjected to a parade of girlfriends.
“So he’s watched her for you?” He made a face. “Lily told me something about a day when you were away for work.”
“Yes, that’s true. He watched her when my family couldn’t step in and I had a work commitment.”
“You could have asked me. I’m her father.”
She counted to ten. “Every time I’ve asked you, there’s been an issue with your job. Am I wrong?”
Tension crackled in the air.
“You just don’t want to give me a chance, do you?” he asked, frowning.
She threw her hands in the air. “Where is this going, Donny?” She wished that he would just get to the point. He seemed upset and was clearly probing into her private life.
“You can’t just replace me in our daughter’s life.” He spat the words out angrily. His mouth settled in a hard line.
“What are you talking about?” Sophia sputtered. “I’m not trying to replace you.”
He looked as if he might explode. “I’m still her father, and I haven’t forgotten about joint custody. My lawyer’s going to serve you with the paperwork to make things official.” His body was trembling. His eyes glistened with anger.
“Whatever, Donny. Bring it on. You have a lot to answer to if and when you take this to court. Giving me a fat check doesn’t change that.”
“You’re not the only one who has rights,” Donny muttered right before turning around and heading out of the kitchen. Moments later she heard the front door close behind him.
She let out a sound of frustration that caused Lily to come running from the playroom. Her daughter looked up at her with innocence brimming from her eyes.
“What happened?” Lily asked.
“Nothing, baby, I stubbed my toe,” she fibbed. There was no way she could justify telling a four-year-old that she was frustrated with her father. She had vowed a long time ago not to badmouth Donny to their daughter.
“Oh, no! You got a boo-boo,” Lily said, raising her hands to her cheeks. She began blowing kisses at Sophia.
“I’m okay, sweetie,” Sophia said, pulling Lily against her and holding her tight. She needed this embrace right now. Being around Donny’s negativity was exhausting, but getting a hug from Lily fed her soul.
Lily patted her back. “Okay, Mama,” she said before racing back to her playroom.
“Thanks, sweetie,” she called after her. She pressed her hand against her chest and began to take shallow breaths.
At moments like this, Sophia felt as if she were still grieving the loss of Donny. She wasn’t in love with him anymore, but it hurt to have lost someone who had been so important to her. Having a child with someone established a lifelong bond. In a perfect world she and Donny could be friends post breakup and not adversaries. She shouldn’t have to question his motives in seeking more time with Lily.
Donny used to be her friend, lover, and partner in crime and silliness. She hadn’t even seen him change, nor had she been prepared for the transformation. It had happened in the twinkle of an eye, before she’d even realized it was occurring. She barely recognized him anymore.
And, as she continued to grow closer to Caleb, the reality scared the life out of her.
Love was a frightening proposition. It was the most unpredictable force on the planet.
People didn’t always stay the same. They changed. And sometimes it wasn’t for the better. What if the rug was pulled out from underneath her again when she least expected it? What if Caleb decided not to stick around Moose Falls once Hattie was no longer alive? It was too late for her to play it cool and pretend as if his leaving wouldn’t tear her apart.
She was falling in love with Caleb, and there really wasn’t anything she could do to prevent it from happening. But she could be proactive and try to protect herself and Lily from having their hearts shattered into a hundred little pieces.
By the end of the work week, word got around Yukon Cider that test audiences were raving about the new campaign, with a particular emphasis and enthusiasm for Caleb as the spokesman. There was a palpable buzz in the air at the company. Caleb couldn’t help but get excited, even though the campaign hadn’t officially rolled out yet. Sophia was getting kudos too, especially from Hattie, which made him happy. She deserved every bit of praise, and he knew how much it meant coming from his grandmother. Like everyone else in Moose Falls, she thought Hattie was the be-all and end-all. Truthfully, he had a serious case of shero worship when it came to his grandmother.
And now, he was heading to Cosmic Bowling Alley for a boys’ night out with the Brothers Stone. Once he parked and headed inside, Caleb made a beeline to the counter to pick up his bowling shoes.
Hanging out with his brothers never got old. It didn’t matter where they were or what they were doing. Xavier and Landon were his best friends, and there weren’t two other people in the world he would rather spend time with. Sophia’s face flashed before his eyes. She was rapidly becoming one of his favorite people. She was probably a master bowler who won every single game she played. The thought of her bowling a perfect ten and jumping up in the air with excitement caused a grin to tug at his lips. He could honestly say that he wished Sophia were here tonight.
When he’d finished getting his shoes, Caleb heard Xavier calling his name. He made his way over to lane four, where his brothers were waiting.
“It seems congratulations are in order,” Xavier said, holding up a can of Yukon Cider in the air. “Raise your cups, boys.”
Landon and Caleb held their cans of hard cider in the air and clinked them together.
“To Caleb, who never met a mirror he didn’t like,” Landon quipped, earning him a jab in the ribs by Caleb.
“Hey, play nice,” Caleb protested.
Xavier chuckled and continued by saying, “To Caleb, who always thinks he’s the best-looking guy in the room.”
“Charming. Is this a surprise roast or something?” Caleb asked, fighting off feelings of annoyance. “You two are hilarious.”
“No, seriously, we’re really proud of you, and we want you to know that,” Landon said. “Wherever this takes you, we support your dreams.”
“Here, here,” Xavier said, letting out a loud whistle. “Way to represent for the Stone family, Caleb.”
Caleb’s cheeks flushed with pleasure at the sincerity in his brothers’ voices. He could hear the love and respect emanating from them. More than anyone else other than their mother, Caleb valued their praise above all. They both knew how Caleb had struggled to find a sense of purpose and pride in himself. And they knew his dreams too—the ones he’d confided in the hours after lights out when secrets had been whispered and shared.
Xavier cleared his throat dramatically. “So, I wanted to ask the two of you knuckleheads if you wanted to be my best men.” Although Xavier tried to lighten the ask by injecting a little humor, Caleb could hear the raw emotion in his voice.
Caleb and Landon shared a glance. They both knew how monumental this moment was. Xavier had been on the cusp of getting married once before, only to have his entire world crash and burn. He’d come to Moose Falls jaded about love. His journey to finding happiness and love everlasting with True had been epic. Even though it was their tendency to joke around as brothers, they both knew this wasn’t the time or the place.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Caleb quipped, reaching out and hugging Xavier.
Landon followed suit and said, “It would be an honor. We love both you and True.”
The three of them hugged it out for a moment, knowing that soon things would shift in their lives. It was inevitable, since Xavier was settling down and devoting himself to True and Jaylen. Caleb was ecstatic that his older brother had found his other half, but he couldn’t deny the tiny part of him that hated the idea of losing Xavier. Sure, they had always been close, but he’d been living in California while Xavier was in Arizona. Being in Moose Falls and living under the same roof had been a bonding experience.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” A honeyed voice rang out, causing the three of them to pull apart. True was standing there with Jaylen, a huge smile gracing her face. Xavier’s face lit up with the purest smile Caleb had ever seen. If he hadn’t known it before, he knew it now with a deep certainty. Xavier was deeply in love.
“I was wondering when you would show up,” Xavier said, reaching for True and pulling her into an embrace. True stood on tiptoes and placed her lips on Xavier’s.
“Get a room, people,” Jaylen said in a raised voice. He rolled his eyes dramatically.
Caleb and Landon burst out laughing. Jaylen was one of the coolest kids around. He was sweet and loving. Clearly, he’d seen a lot of PDA between his sister and Xavier. Whenever the newly engaged couple was together, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
Xavier and True pulled apart. Xavier’s lips were twitching with suppressed laughter. Xavier always took Jaylen’s comments in stride. Caleb knew he and Jaylen got along really well, with Xavier being the coach for Jaylen’s football team.
“Jaylen,” True said in a warning tone.
“What? I’m just keeping it real,” the young boy said. He looked over at Caleb and Landon. “Am I right?” he asked, seeking support. He held up his hand, waiting for a high-five. At the risk of True’s displeasure, Caleb slapped his hand, followed by Landon.
“Seriously?” True asked. “Ganging up on me, huh?”
“No worries,” Xavier said, encircling her waist with his arms. “I’ll always be team True.”
A chorus of groans erupted from Jaylen, Caleb, and Landon as Xavier dipped True into another kiss.
“Not again,” Jaylen griped. “We know you two are googly-eyed over one another. We get it!”
At least one of the Stone brothers had his future carved out. Caleb still felt as if his own was a big question mark.
“Look who’s here,” True called out, looking at a spot in the distance.
Pure joy shot through him at the sight of Sophia strutting toward lane four. In reality, she probably wasn’t strutting, but the way her body was moving was definitely a sashay.
Figure-hugging jeans and a navy-colored long-sleeved tee lent her a casual vibe. She was ready to bowl and hang out with them. He couldn’t be any happier.
Caleb knew he was grinning wildly at the sight of her. Keep cool , he reminded himself, knowing his brothers would laugh their butts off if he took a page from Xavier’s playbook and got handsy with Sophia. In his heart of hearts Caleb wanted to walk over and plant a big, fat kiss on her lips, but he wasn’t sure they were at that stage of public acts of affection.
What was going on with him? Hadn’t he just teased Xavier about his smooch session with True? Okay. He knew what this was. Endorphins. He was being inundated with a rush of feelings that took him back to when he’d fallen for Abby. Was that what this was? Was he falling in love with Sophia? The thought made him feel as if he were gasping for air.
“Sophia. What are you doing here?” he asked, walking to meet her halfway.
“Am I not supposed to be here?” she asked, stopping in her tracks, then making a pivoting motion as if turning around to leave.
“No,” he said quickly, reaching out and gently grasping her by the arm. “I’m just surprised.”
“True invited me. Hope that’s okay.” For a moment she appeared uncertain, looking around the bowling alley.
“It’s more than okay. It’s a happy surprise,” he said, smiling down at her. He leaned down and whispered, “Matter of fact, you made my week by showing up.”
Sophia grinned back at him. “Now that’s what I want to hear.”
“Where’s the princess?” Caleb knew getting coverage for Lily wasn’t always easy, so he was really stoked she’d made it out tonight.
“At the moment Lily is being spoiled by Aunt Patience. Tonight they’ll be painting their nails and having pizza.”
“We’re not painting any nails, but I can promise you pizza,” Caleb said.
“The way to a girl’s heart is definitely through pizza,” Sophia said, walking beside him as they headed toward the group. Xavier and Landon greeted her with enthusiasm. His brothers sent him loaded glances behind Sophia’s back, driving the point home that they were still stuck in elementary school.
True immediately gave Sophia a hug, and the two began to chat in animated fashion. Caleb loved the graceful slope of Sophia’s neck and her genuine, oversize grin.
“The two of you look good together,” Xavier said in a low voice.
Caleb let out a throaty laugh. “Sophia would look good no matter who she’s standing with, but the two of us together…” Caleb let out a low whistle. “We’re a smoke show.”
Landon shook his head. “You’re too much. Like, seriously. Way too much.”
True clapped her hands together. “Let’s divvy up into teams. Girls against guys.”
“We’re not an even number,” Landon pointed out.
“We are now,” True said triumphantly as Jaylen walked over to the group.
“Not fair,” Xavier shouted, waving his arms around.
“What’s the matter?” Jaylen asked. “I’m just a kid.”
Xavier looked around the group with his mouth hanging open. “Are you kidding me? Does no one else have a problem with this? He’s a ringer,” Xavier explained, his eyes wide. “I smell a setup.”
True went over to her fiancé and planted a kiss on his lips. “It’s going to be okay, Xavier. Stop being so competitive. This isn’t the Super Bowl or anything.”
Jaylen held his hands up. “Just a little friendly competition. Don’t sweat it, Coach. Isn’t that what you always tell us on the field?”
Xavier sputtered. “Jaylen is an amazing bowler. How about we swap him for Landon?” he asked, pointing at his baby brother.
Caleb let out a hoot of laughter at the outraged expression on Landon’s face.
“Hey,” Landon protested. “That’s pretty foul of you. I have decent bowling skills.”
“Not like the kid’s,” Xavier muttered. He turned to True. “Let’s just get the ball rolling.”
Despite a hard-fought battle, the all-men’s team lost to Sophia, Jaylen, and True’s team. Caleb loved every minute of it. Sophia cheered him on when it was his turn, eliciting groans from her teammates. He loved the way she let out a little squeal and jumped in the air every time she had a high score. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Sophia made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. She was a woman who had a lot on her plate, including the new wrinkle about her ex trying to get joint custody, but she still managed to radiate joy.
“Careful,” Landon said, “if you stare any harder, you might bore a hole straight through her.”
“I like watching her,” Caleb admitted. It made him happy, which would sound way too corny if he said it out loud. This feeling had been a long time coming. He had never imagined that he would meet anyone in Moose Falls who would evoke these strong emotions.
“That could sound creepy, but I’m just happy to see you back in the game,” Xavier said, patting Caleb on the back. “I like her for you.”
His chest tightened at Xavier’s words. The thought of things becoming serious with Sophia made him nervous. It gave him flashbacks to his disastrous relationship with Abby and how it had broken him. He’d never imagined that he would be ready to wade back into the waters with anyone this fast.
Afterward, they sat down and ate pizza and chicken wings as Jaylen cracked them up with knock-knock jokes.
“Xavier,” Jaylen said. “Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?” Xavier asked.
“A little old lady.”
“A little old lady who?”
“I didn’t know you could yodel,” Jaylen said, throwing his head back and cracking up at his own joke.
Xavier nodded approvingly. “That’s a good one.” He clapped him on the shoulder.
Seeing Jaylen and Xavier’s tight bond drove home the point that Xavier was building a life for himself in Moose Falls. He would be a father figure for young Jaylen. And considering the fact that he had helped Daisy raise him and Landon, Caleb knew Jaylen couldn’t ask for a more dependable and solid influence in his life. Xavier possessed all the qualities to make an outstanding dad.
Caleb was sitting at the end of the table next to Sophia. He had the feeling his brothers and True were sitting a discreet distance away from them in order to give them a little privacy. They hadn’t been at all subtle about it, which he thought was pretty nice of them.
“I love seeing your brothers so excited for you,” Sophia said as she filled her plate with slices of cheese and pepperoni pizza. Throughout the evening they had mentioned the campaign and Caleb’s role in it.
“I hope you know that your talent is the real star of the campaign,” Caleb told her. “You’ve got skills, girl.” From the photos he’d seen, Sophia had worked her special brand of magic and made him look rugged, suave, and a bit out of reach.
Sophia grinned. Her cheeks flushed at the compliment. “That’s sweet of you to say. We worked really well together, which I appreciate.” She let out a chuckle. “You’d be surprised how many people I photograph get swollen heads and turn into divas. I think a lot of good things are going to be coming your way, Caleb, as the campaign rolls out.” Sophia had a knowing expression on her face.
Caleb sure hoped so. Life had taught him that nothing was promised, and there was no point in counting his chickens. He wasn’t in control of any of this.
“It’s a bit premature, but I’ll take the enthusiasm and good vibes.” He made a face. “I haven’t had anything in a long time to feel proud about. Being on the reality show was supposed to be my big moment, but I think it’s safe to say I crashed and burned.” He took a big bite of his pizza slice, then washed it down with some water.
“I’m happy to see you’ve come full circle. Being the face of Yukon Cider is a big deal. Did you know they’ve never had a spokesmodel before?”
Caleb felt a warm sensation in the center of his chest.
“Hattie did tell me that, and to say I’m honored is an understatement. I’m not sure that I’ve ever led the way in anything before.” He shrugged. “Xavier was always first in every way imaginable. First kiss. First date. First to graduate.”
Sophia’s grin lit up her entire face. “Well then, even better. Your very own first.”
“Growing up, I always felt overshadowed by my brothers and their accomplishments. I wasn’t an athlete or a scholar. That made it really hard for me to figure out my place in the scheme of things.”
Being the middle child hadn’t always worked out well for him. With Xavier being a football star and Landon excelling in academics, he’d always felt that he wasn’t special. Being loved by his family had made him feel safe and secure, but he’d always wished he hadn’t felt so lost.
“This might be your time. Who knows where this might lead,” Sophia said in a spirited tone. He loved her enthusiasm and the optimistic way she viewed the world. Even though she tried to project a tough girl image, she was in actuality all tenderness and warmth.
He let out a chuckle. “I felt that way before when I went on Love Him or Leave Him . That didn’t exactly work out the way I imagined.” His experience in the world of reality television was one of the main reasons he was always careful not to set his hopes too high. If he did, it meant he had a long way to fall if things went wrong.
“In my experience, life rarely does.” She raised her soda to her mouth and took a swig. “I never imagined I would be raising a child on my own, but sometimes the things we never expected turn into our biggest blessings.” She let out a throaty chuckle. “Sounds corny, but it’s true. Life has so many twists and turns.”
“No, it doesn’t,” he said, nodding, “it sounds amazing. My mother used to say that something wonderful is always waiting for us around the corner.”
“Your mother sounds like a national treasure. I bet she misses her boys a lot. I can’t imagine ever being away from Lily even when she’s all grown up.” A thoughtful expression crossed her face.
“My mom is already planning her next trip out here,” Caleb told her. “I’d love for you to hang out with us so you can get to know Daisy. She’s a trip.”
“That would be nice,” Sophia murmured. “I love a strong woman.”
He had surprised himself by broaching the subject of his mother and Sophia spending time together. Caleb really wasn’t one to introduce the women in his life to Daisy. Matter of fact, he never had, other than a few high school girlfriends. He wasn’t sure where things were going with him and Sophia, but he hoped her feelings were growing, along with his own. Lately, he’d been picturing himself settling down in Moose Falls. He was growing more attached every day to this quaint little Alaskan town. And to Sophia.
Could he really give up a career in Hollywood to work for Yukon Cider?
Although the idea of giving up the thing he’d always thought he wanted for another shot at love terrified him, the idea of losing Sophia scared him even more.