Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Sophie
I offer William a hug before moving on to Patty. We hold each other a little longer, as she whispers a thanks for what I’m not quite sure.
“Come in,” she says, taking my hand and leading me into the living room before we all three take a seat.
This is my first visit with them since they received the wonderful news. I didn’t want to overwhelm them, knowing more than half the town would come rushing over to give their congratulations.
“I wanted to give it a few days before I popped in,” I tell them, offering the biggest smile. “I’m so happy that you all got good news.” My eyes fill with tears. “So happy.”
Patty reaches out and places her hand over mine, offering a squeeze.
“So I was talking to the girls and we were thinking about a celebration, everyone in town is so glad the treatment worked and everyone wants to visit with you and share their joy.” Patricia shares a look with William and he shrugs, smiling at her.
“But I don’t want to upset anyone. I know how Finn can be and I don’t want to overstep. ”
“Oh, honey,” Patty says, sliding forward.
“You really have no idea what you did for our son do you?” William says surprising me.
We’ve talked he and I, but not much. When I first started coming by he was always resting or popping into the room for a short time, before quickly disappearing.
He’s been a quiet man, and I’ll admit a little intimidating.
“You gave him a light at the end of the tunnel. We were both beginning to worry about him. But just like that, there was this change. A happiness in him that had disappeared for a long time but reappeared.” His father smiles and glances over at his wife.
“Then when he mentioned you and he were dating,” he shifts his attention back to me, “well, we knew then what the change was. It was you.” My chest tightens at his words.
“We heard about this fake dating thing, but I don’t think our son was ever faking a thing.
I think you were exactly what he needed at the very moment he needed it.
For that, we will both be forever grateful that you stumbled into his life. ”
I try to hold back my emotions. I never imagined showing up here today would lead to this conversation, but it has.
“We think a celebration is a great idea,” Patricia adds and I offer her a smile. Because quite frankly I wasn’t sure yet if I was ready to attempt words. I felt so raw from their words. “But not just because of William’s good news, but also because we’ve got ourselves a daughter.”
And that’s all it takes. I slide off the chair and walk on my knees toward her and she hugs me close.
“You Sophie, have become a true joy. And my son isn’t the only one that is over the moon that you’ve come into our lives.”
“Finn,” Lulu hollers out as she walks in the back door from the porch.
I assume it’s because she heard his laughter and she has developed this radar whenever he is near.
I am starting to realize that he is her new favorite person.
“I’ve missed you, boy.” She is smiling from ear to ear and it’s contagious.
“Well, sweetheart you just saw me yesterday,” he tells her.
Of course she is immediately swooning at his endearment. I know he knows what he is doing and that he says these things to her on purpose. He loves to get a rise out of her, he feeds her energy.
Finn enjoys getting her all wound up triggering the ongoing banter that seems to kickstart every time the two of them are in the room together.
I am beginning to believe that the two of them were cut from the same cloth.
It’s magical to watch them together and I know my parents love it too.
Knowing that she loves him and he loves her the way they do is perfection.
I love seeing them together.
“Yesterday was such a long time ago.” She laughs as she places her hand in his and he pulls her in for a hug. “You shouldn’t keep a lady my age waiting, hun. I do bad things when I have time on my hands. Boredom always gets me into trouble.”
“Uh oh.” Finn chuckles. “What chaos have you caused since the last time we chatted, darlin’?”
“For staters the ladies at bridge have told me I need to skip the next session. None of them have a sense of humor anymore. They are all jealous.” She leans in a little closer to Finn as if her voice will not carry.
“Hector is what you’d call a ladies’ man at the center.
Or so he thinks, I’m not feeling it but apparently I’ve caught his eye. ”
“Smart man.” Finn gives her a little wink.
She winks right back and I giggle covering my mouth with my hand.
“Ole’ Brenda got mad, thought he was going to ask her for brunch, Margo, she huffed and stormed off, and now I’m the hussy.”
“Momma.” My mother laughs at her.
“Oh please, hussy is nothing compared to what they called me. You’d think I flashed him and gave him a little lap dance right there in the middle of the room.”
This triggers a laugh from Finn.
“A girl’s got to keep some secrets. You know the whole milk and cow thing.” Lulu waves her hand out in front of her while rolling her eyes. “But Hector isn’t my type. I like my men a little more rugged, more manly.” She wags her brows suggestively at Finn.
“It would definitely take a strong confident man to hold you down, Ms. Lulu.”
“A man like you, my boy.” She pinches his side.
He glances over at me, offering a wink. “Unfortunately, sweetheart, I’ve already got me a diamond.”
“That granddaughter of mine,” she huffs playfully and gives me a fake glare.
“If I wasn’t in love with her you might have had a chance.” He surprises the hell out of me speaking so freely in front of my family like that. “But she’s got my heart and I don’t want it back.”
My mother is wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen as she stares at the man that just declared his love for me in their presence. I think she may have fallen a little in love with him too. My father, he seems very pleased. Standing up he walks to the fridge and pulls out two beers.
Walking back he passes one to Finn. “Why don’t we go see what game is playing on the big screen?”
Finn gives him a nod, taking the beer. But before leaving the room he leans down and kisses the top of my head.
He walks out and into the other room, following close behind my father.
“That man is a good one, Sophie,” my mother adds and Lulu whistles in agreement.
“He sure is.” All I can do is laugh. Finn Armstrong has managed to woo both my mother and my grandmother.
Lord help me!
Chapter Thirty Nine
Finn
“Where do you want it?” the movers ask and I point to the wall opposite the fireplace.
“What’s that?” Sophie steps into the doorway from the kitchen and points to the couch the movers lower to the floor.
“A couch,” I say, keeping my back to her to hide my smile. “There are also two matching chairs, which both recline.”
What she doesn’t know is that Jillian helped narrow down the choices to the one Sophie would like the most.
“I like the color.” I look back over my shoulder as she walks into the room further.
Dragging her hand over the arm of the couch, I notice the way the two men eye her.
“Soft too,” she adds and the taller of them notices me looking.
He hits the other guy; they both look at me as I stand.
Quickly they regroup and hurry off to get the chairs.
“You said my couch was ugly.”
“Yes, now so more than when I originally made the statement.” She glares at me and I ignore her words, not wanting to scratch at old wounds. “This one is definitely much better.”
“I agree.” She turns around and I cup the side of her jaw, leaning in to kiss her lips. “This couch made me think of all of the ways you and I could break it in.”
“Oh it did, did it?”
I nod, kissing her once again.
“I want to ask you something.”
“Okay,” she says with caution and I continue to hold her close.
“I want you to move in with me.” Her eyes grow wide and as I thought she attempts to step back.
“Before you try to take off on me thinking that I’m crazy and this is too fast, let me tell you that it’s not.
I bought this house with you in mind, from the beginning it was you that I wanted to share it with.
Build a life with, and that may seem crazy to you but not for a second have I thought it was crazy. ”
“It’s just that.” She pauses as if she is unsure of how to say what is running through her mind.
“You think that I’m gonna change my mind.
Like somehow us moving in together is going to ruin what we have but Sophie it’s just the opposite.
I don’t like waking up without you. I don’t like laying in an empty bed knowing you are across town.
I want to feel you at my side, I want to be able to reach out and hold you in the middle of the night.
I also think the part about showering together is pretty great too. ”
She pokes at my side and I grab her hand.
“I also know that you’re thinking of Jillian, and you should know that I already told her the apartment downstairs is hers.
It has its own entrance, and everything she could need.
It also allows the two of you to still hang out and do all the same things you love doing now.
I’m not asking you to leave her, I’m asking that you share this home with me. ”
Sophie nibbles on her lip. “You already talked to Jillian?”
“I did,” I tell her, rubbing my free hand up and down her back.
“I know how close all you girls are. I know that you and Jillian have lived together since you were eighteen. I also know that her parents are supportive and that she leans on you a lot, and I’d never want to come between that.
But I do want you Sophie, and I want to build a life with you.
I was hoping that you’d be ready to start doing that now. ”
“I don’t cook well,” she blurts out and it makes me laugh. “I’m serious, without Jilly I’d probably starve or survive strictly on canned soups. I somehow burn toast. Even though it has a setting I still burn it. I’m awful!”
“I’m not asking for a chef, babe.”
“No?”
“No,” I repeat, kissing her. God this woman makes my heart race. “I know how to cook.”
She nods, and I’m unsure if she is agreeing or just simply registering it all in her mind going over some imaginary checklist.
“Is that a yes?” I ask, feeling as though I am holding my breath, praying for the answer I want.
“Okay,” she says and relief washes over me.
“Great,” I say. “Because the couch is as far as I got in the whole decorating scheme of things.” She laughs, like I am joking around with her. “Babe, I’m not kidding. I bought a couch and chairs, that’s all.”
Her eyes widen as she looks around the space, taking it all in. The now blank walls, the emptiness it holds. It’s much different from when she and I first took a tour of the house before the previous owners moved out.
“The rest, it’s up to you. You’re going to be super busy.” I kiss her cheek. “Build us a home, baby.”