Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
J eremy didn't stay long at Sophie's house. Despite how kind and welcoming Sophie pretended to act, despite how big she forced her smile, he could sense he wasn't wanted there. He handed Sophie the bouquet and said, "The director's right. I have a lot to prepare for tomorrow, too."
After he left, Cindy said, "Isn't he just the traffic control guy? What does he have to prepare for? Does he have to iron his bright yellow vest?" She had an ornament in her hand, and she was attaching it to one of the top branches of the Christmas tree.
Joe sat on the sofa with his head in his hands. "I'm so sorry, Sophie. To be honest, I ran into him at the gym this morning, and we got to talking. I could tell he really missed you." He raised his chin to look Sophie in the eye. "You know I always loved Jeremy."
"He broke her heart, Dad," Cindy reminded him.
"People make mistakes, don't they?" Joe offered. "He made the mistake of a lifetime! But he wants to make up for it."
Sophie's stomach curdled. She loved her father. She needed his love so badly. But she'd never imagined he'd meddle this much with her love life.
They're really worried about my happiness , she realized. They'll do anything to make sure I'm safe. And married.
"I had no idea you were seeing that man," Joe offered. "Last I heard, you hated him."
"Hate is a strong word," Sophie replied, picking up an ornament and hanging it on a lower branch. "But I didn't invite him over. He was on a walk and got too cold to continue."
"How convenient," Mary said, her eyes glistening.
"Mom..." Sophie sighed. "Not everything has to be a big, romantic story."
"I just think we need to be realistic about who that guy is," Cindy continued. "He's a big-shot Hollywood director. He's a lonely shark. He'll swallow you up and go back West."
Sophie took another ornament from the box. For the first time in her life, she considered asking her family to head home.
But Mary sensed it. She clapped her hands, ready to save the day.
"No more conversation about Sophie's love life," she ordered. "And you," she said to Joe, pressing her fingers into his shoulder, "no more inviting Jeremy around. I'm going to order Chinese food. Enough for everyone. And we're going to stay and have a beautiful night as a family. Okay?" She looked Sophie in the eye.
"Sounds good," Sophie agreed.
What kept Sophie awake that night was fear of what was going through Derek's mind. From his side of things, her ex-fiancé had shown up at Sophie's house with a bouquet. He'd run away. Maybe Sophie would have done the same.
It was a shame. They'd had such a beautiful few hours together. It had been a dream.
The following morning on set began with yet another disaster. Sophie couldn't believe it.
They were filming another downtown scene. Brent's and Natalie's characters walked side by side through glinting snow, talking and fighting in turn. It was a part of the script meant to show just how exhilarating their attraction was—how much they couldn't resist each other, even though they fought like crazy.
Sophie was finishing up the breakfast rush and preparing for lunch. Randy was there, telling her in whispers what he'd done yesterday to prepare for the Christmas Festival, and also that they had a few other orders from "out of town."
"How did people hear about us?" Sophie rasped.
"I put up an advertisement," Randy said with a big smile.
Sophie's heart seized. They hadn't talked about that.
"We can handle it!" Randy assured her.
But Sophie wasn't so sure. With the stress of Silver Bells and the Christmas Festival and the baby shower and Derek and everything else, she wasn't sure how to keep her business afloat here in Willow Creek, let alone anywhere else.
"I made a to-do list," Randy assured her.
But Sophie wasn't assured. She found herself regretting giving Randy any power at all. He was hungry to grow the business, to extend himself and Culinary Tastings beyond the boundaries of Willow Creek.
It was a business-minded hunger she didn't fully understand.
But haven't I wanted this? she asked herself. Shouldn't I throw myself into the business as much as I can?
It's not like I have a family!
Just then, Brent fell.
But he didn't just fall. He slipped on a patch of black ice and dropped like a bag of potatoes. Everyone behind the camera gasped. Natalie fell to her knees and wailed, "Brent!"
Sophie peered around the cameras to watch. Brent didn't pop up; he remained on the ground, sprawled out. It didn't look good.
"Cut, cut, cut!" Derek called, walking toward his actor. He knelt and spoke to him. Sophie couldn't hear what was said.
"We need an ambulance!" Derek called then.
Sophie's heart sank. When Derek turned around, she saw how upset he was. Without thinking first, she abandoned her catering stand and hurried over to Derek. He didn't notice her until she touched his shoulder.
"Derek?"
Derek flinched and looked down at her. Light didn't come to his eyes. "We're already behind," he said. He sounded gruff.
Sophie balked. "Does it seem like he broke something?"
"I don't know." Derek tugged his hair again and took a step back. It felt as though he wanted to ask her to leave him alone but didn't know how.
At the far edge of the set, Sophie could see Jeremy milling around in his stupid traffic vest.
"I wanted to explain about yesterday," Sophie stammered.
"Look, Sophie," Derek said. "Can this wait? My lead actor just fell hard. There's a small chance he won't be able to film the rest of the movie. What are we going to do? CGI him in?"
Sophie stepped farther away from Derek. He suddenly felt like a stranger.
"I just wanted to tell you..." Sophie breathed.
"Later," Derek shot. He then waved down the assistant director and said, "Let's chat in my trailer."
Sophie remained by herself in the middle of the set, listening to the sound of the ambulance siren as it came closer and closer.
She remembered what her family had said. Derek is just some Hollywood type. He's going to use you and leave you behind.
They were right. Probably.
But what if he was just upset about Jeremy?
Maybe she would never know.
"Sophie?" Randy's voice found her in the midst of the chaos.
Sophie jump-started back to the catering table to serve the cast and crew, who were on a sudden and uncertain break now that Brent was on the ground and not getting back up. Natalie could be heard crying over everything else. Sophie busied herself with coffee and crepes and tried to shove the image of Derek's dark eyes from her mind.
As she brewed another big pot of coffee, she found Randy's eyes. His smile was ever-present. He genuinely loved this work.
"I think we should go for it!" Sophie heard herself cry spontaneously. "Let's expand the company as much as we can."
Randy's eyes were illuminated. "Really?"
"What do we have to lose?" Sophie called. "Maybe I was always thinking too small. Maybe Culinary Tastings should expand throughout the entire state! Maybe we'll have an empire!"
Randy raised his hands. "Let's do it, boss!"
They high-fived. Sophie allowed herself a momentary spike of joy and tried her hardest not to look over at Derek's trailer as she worked and worked.
She knew for sure that whatever he was saying in there had nothing to do with her.
It probably never would again.