Chapter Thirty
Sophie was getting tired by the time they got into the lift to leave the Empire State Building. It had been a long, wonderful, exhausting day.
As they stood in the lobby, Tom handed her the final note. ‘If you decide to follow this one, you’re on your own.’
Sophie didn’t hesitate to take it from him, but she didn’t open it, either. She looked at all of them. She knew what she wanted to do, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to hear what they had to say. She trusted herself more than she had when she’d arrived in this city, but what was the point of any of it if she didn’t ask for help from the people she loved best? ‘What do you think?’
It was Amaya who spoke first, her expression thoughtful. ‘I’m in the unique position here of knowing Michael Tremblay better than anyone and you barely at all.’ She frowned. ‘Except, I feel like I know you. My dad doesn’t talk about anyone, Sophie. Not really. He’s created this safe little bubble for himself, focusing on me and my brother to the exclusion of everyone else.’ She huffed out a frustrated breath. ‘It’s maddening. And adorable. But you? He talks about you. I don’t think he even realizes how much. I’ll be honest and say that he’s not perfect. I mean, who is?’ She smirked. ‘Even I’m not perfect, and I’m pretty great.’ Her smirk became a full grin. ‘My dad has been very clear that I’m not to try and sway, bully or convince you into any sort of decision.’ She rolled her eyes at this. ‘Which, okay, accurate, so I’ll just say this: I have never, in my entire life, seen him do anything like this. He lights up for you, the way he used to light up for my mum.’
She hugged Sophie then, squeezing her tight. ‘It’s been great to meet you, Sophie Swann, and if you decide to take a chance, I’d like to be the first one to welcome you into our family.’ She stepped back, her grin wicked. ‘I’m well aware that’s getting a bit ahead of things, but this way when I get home I can tell Rahul I got here first.’
Edie hugged her next. ‘I was going to remind you to trust yourself, but honestly, I think I want you to date him just so I can be an honorary aunty to Amaya. I adore her.’
Sophie laughed. ‘Thank you for coming all this way. I love you.’
‘I know,’ Edie said, ‘but what else would you expect? I would cross the world for you, my friend, several times over.’ And with that she stepped away, looping her arm through Amaya’s and escorting her outside to wait.
Marisa hugged her and kissed her cheek. ‘Whatever you choose, I support you.’
‘Thank you,’ Sophie said. ‘That means the world.’
Marisa didn’t go outside, but made room for Tom, who hugged her tightest of all. ‘What are you going to do?’
She looked up at her son and voiced the last lingering sliver of fear that had been hiding in her all this time. ‘What if it’s a mistake? What if he’s like your father and I just didn’t realize?’
Tom snorted a laugh, shaking his head. ‘Mum, do you really think any one of us would have helped if we thought that was the case? Edie would literally murder for you and Marisa would hide the body.’ He held her shoulders and squeezed. ‘And I love you. So much. I know you feel guilty about Dad, but I also know you did your best. You never once made me feel like I wasn’t loved. Like my fiancée said, we support you whatever choice you make.’ He gave her another little squeeze and dropped his voice. ‘And for what it’s worth, cock-ups aside, this man has fallen all over himself for you.’
Sophie sniffed, hugging him again. ‘I love you too, you know.’
‘I know,’ he said. ‘You got on a plane for me.’
‘I think,’ Sophie said, ‘that it’s time I did something for myself.’ And with that, she took the final envelope and wished her loved ones on their way.
Inside the envelope was an address with the note, ‘ Message me when you get here ’. When she typed it into her phone, she saw it was only about a fifteen-minute walk from where she was. Though she was tired, she decided she needed that time to settle herself.
The address led her to a giant glass building and following Mike’s instructions, she texted him as soon as she arrived. In response she was messaged a virtual ticket for the Summit Experience, whatever that might be. Her heart in her throat, she found an attendant and was directed to Air: Transcendence One.
Sophie stepped out into a world of air and reflection. Every side of the room was clear glass, revealing New York in all its glory. Above and below her were mirrors, reflecting the sky, the buildings and herself. She moved carefully, her shoes covered by the little disposable booties they’d given her on arrival.
In the centre of all of this, looking handsome and anxious, stood Mike. She stopped in front of him, not saying a word.
He stared back, wrecked in a way she had never seen before, his pupils so wide she could only see the thinnest line of colour around them. Mike cleared his throat. ‘There are over 30,375 feet of mirrors in this space, which is about nine and a quarter kilometres. I’m still not sure why Americans don’t use the metric system. The imperial system is nonsense.’
Her mouth twitched. ‘Did you bring me all the way here to talk to me about the metric system?’
Mike seemed to collapse in on himself. ‘No, Sophie, god, no. I—’ He closed his eyes, letting out a breath. ‘That wasn’t what I wanted to talk about at all. ‘The day they told me I could go back to London, I should have gone straight from work to your flat, got down on my fucking knees and told you that I loved you. Told you that I didn’t care how long you needed to stay here – I didn’t want to wait and see. I wanted you to know that no matter where you go, whatever adventures you have, you’ll either take me with you or come back to me when they’re over.’
Sophie sucked in a breath, but didn’t get a chance to respond.
Mike took one of her hands in his. ‘I love you, Sophie Swann.’ He blew out a long, unsteady breath. ‘I think I’ve loved you since the moment you started talking to me at the airport, and I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to figure it out.’ He tugged at her hand, pulling her towards one of the windows. ‘But I thought maybe, if I brought you here, you could understand.’
He took a deep breath and then let it out. ‘The Summit building is the tallest building in Midtown Manhattan, and while the Empire State Building feels like the past, like a bedrock, Summit blends art, technology and architecture into something uniquely wonderful.’ He looked around the room, and there was an expression of wonder on his face. ‘You stand in here, and you see the future. You feel small and gigantic all at once. It’s like staring into infinity.’
He looked down at her. ‘That’s how I feel when I’m with you.’
Sophie’s eyes filled with tears as she threw her arms around him. She didn’t have words, not yet. But she would. She knew she would.
He rested his cheek on the top of her head. ‘I am so, so sorry that I didn’t talk to you when I should have. That I ran. Please give me a chance to make that up to you. I don’t deserve it, but I want it anyway.’
‘Okay,’ Sophie said, staring up at him. ‘But I need you to do one more thing for me first.’
‘When you said “anything”, I’ll admit this option never occurred to me.’ Mike stared down at the dishes Sophie had put in front of him at Xi’an Famous Foods. ‘This seems like a trap. Why would my path to forgiveness be paved with good food?’
‘Because,’ Sophie said, ‘I wanted noodles. Lunch was hours ago. You also promised you’d come back here after you shamed your family name.’ She sighed happily. ‘I’ve been dreaming about these dumplings.’
Mike sighed too, but it was slightly less happy. ‘This is far better than I deserve. Bring it on.’
Thirty minutes later, Sophie was carrying several takeaway boxes and Mike was sweating through his shirt.
‘I think it was especially cruel to film it,’ Mike said. ‘And to send it to my children.’
‘Why?’ Sophie asked. ‘You didn’t throw up this time. Aren’t you proud?’
He fished another ice cube out of a plastic cup and put it into his mouth. ‘I’m feeling a lot of things right now, but pride isn’t one of them.’
Sophie laughed as she slid an arm around his waist.
‘Are you sure you want to do that?’ Mike asked, even though he was already putting his free arm around her. ‘I’m pretty disgusting right now.’
‘Maybe,’ Sophie said. ‘But you’re my disgusting.’
Mike pressed a kiss to her forehead. ‘I cannot feel my lips right now, which is a shame.’
She laughed.
‘Thank you,’ Mike said softly.
‘For what?’
‘For giving me another shot,’ Mike said. ‘For taking a chance on me.’
Sophie squeezed him, and he was momentarily grateful he had clothes back at Tom’s flat. He really was sweaty.
‘That’s what you do for the ones you love,’ Sophie said.
‘And do you love me, Sophie Swann?’ His tone was light, but he meant the question all the same. ‘I almost blacked out from anxiety earlier, but I’m pretty sure I’d remember a declaration of love.’
His tone was playful, but Sophie knew it had been eating away at him, waiting for her response. She was grateful, though, because she felt like she had finally figured out the words she wanted to say. They walked quietly for a moment before she pulled him away from the foot traffic until they were under a large tree jutting out of the pavement. ‘How about this – I love you, Mike Tremblay. I love the way you’re there for me, even if it takes you a second. I love how thoughtful you are and how you talk about your kids. I can think of nothing I want more than to have you by my side for the rest of my life. I’m not sure what that’s going to look like or how that’s going to work, but I’m willing to figure it out.’
Mike took her in his arms and kissed her. What else are you supposed to do when the person you love says something like that?
When he finally pulled back, Sophie was smiling at him. ‘Liked that, did you?’
‘Yes,’ he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her back into the middle of the pavement, manoeuvring her until she was on the inside part away from the road. ‘Not as poetic as mine, but it will do.’
She jabbed him in the side with a finger and laughed.
Mike sighed. ‘I’ll have to go back to London in two weeks, but I can come back soon. One of my children helpfully pointed out that I have a lot of annual leave saved up, and it’s about time I took it.’
Sophie shook her head. ‘Don’t you want to save some of that for an actual holiday?’
He pulled her close and gave her another kiss. ‘Sophie Swann, you are my holiday. One I’m hoping I can keep around for the rest of my life.’
‘I think,’ she said, ‘that I’d like that very much.’
‘Me too,’ he said. ‘Because I love you, I need you, and I’m not letting you go.’ Then he leaned over and gave her another kiss, just because he could, and because he wanted to, and because he thought that no matter how much time they had, he’d never be able to kiss her enough.
But he was certainly going to try .