Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Sophie
“Okay ladies, it’s time for splits,” I said. “Grab blocks if you need them.”
My students walked to the corner and each picked up two yoga blocks then returned to their mats.
“Start on your bad side.” For me, that’s the left, so I placed my right knee on the mat. “Thirty seconds. Let’s go.”
I set the timer on my phone, and we all shifted into our side splits, holding onto the blocks for stability.
Anjannette is away at spring training with Leo and Keera had a family thing, so we traded classes tonight. Although I’ve come a long way since starting pole, I’m not nearly as flexible as either of them, and in my opinion, have no business teaching a flexibility class.
But they assured me I could do it, and I’ll admit, it wasn’t a total disaster. Instead of hurting myself trying to stretch beyond my limit, I employed the do as I say, not as I do technique.
As the alarm sounded, the women groaned in relief and fell out of their splits.
“Okay relax for a minute, then we’ll do the other side.”
After another thirty seconds of splits and a minute of frog stretches, we were done.
“You were amazing tonight, ladies. Thank you for a great class,” I said. “Be sure to wipe down your mats and poles.”
Keera snuck in the door just as I finished cleaning my pole.
“How’d it go?” she asked.
“Okay, I think.” I glanced at the students, then back at her. “No one got hurt or told me I sucked, so I’ll call it a success.”
“I never had any doubt you’d be great.”
“I didn’t say great .”
“But you always are.” She nudged me playfully with her shoulder. “Thanks for switching with me tonight.”
“No worries. I would have taught both classes so you didn’t have to rush home.”
“I lugged boxes for half the day and rode in the car the other half, I need to move and stretch.”
“I still can’t believe Shannon is coming back here.”
After living in Manhattan for more than a decade, Keera’s future sister-in-law announced she was moving back to Scranton. When I first met her last year, she didn’t give any indication that she was unhappy with her life. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She seemed to be living a charmed life in the big city. But things aren’t always as they seem.
“No one can. Simon’s parents are totally shocked,” Keera said.
“Has she said why?”
“Not yet, but it’s pretty obvious something happened.”
“She’ll share her story when she’s ready.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “In the meantime, I convinced her to come to classes regularly. This studio did as much for my mental health as my therapist.”
“I agree. This place keeps me from needing a therapist.”
When students started to arrive for the next class, I took that as my cue to gather my things and go. I grabbed my bag and shoved my empty water bottle inside.
“Oh, I almost forgot to ask, are you available to work a bachelorette party a week
Saturday?”
“Sorry, I can’t. I’ll be out of town that weekend.”
“Book signing or baseball?”
I hesitated for a split second before answering.
“Neither.”
“Are you going to visit Jamie?” she asked in a sing-song voice.
“Sort of.”
Of course I would have told the girls about my plans with Jamie eventually. I haven’t yet because I wanted to get my thoughts in order before discussing it with anyone.
“Explain please.”
“Elliott’s sister is getting married and Jamie asked me to go to the wedding with him.”
Her smile widened with each word I spoke.
“Sophie Baxter, are you and Jamie making your first official public appearance?”
“Don’t remind me. Every time I think about it, I freak out a little.”
“Why?”
I took in a deep breath and let it out.
“From what I understand, Jamie’s parents were awful and he spent most of his time with
Elliott’s family. So by going to this wedding with him, I’m meeting the people he considers his family. It just seems like a big step.”
“I understand how you’d feel that way, but it doesn’t have to be a big deal,” she said. “Besides, weddings can be fun. Free food, drinks, and dancing sound like a great date.”
“I guess it feels so weird because my family doesn’t know about us yet.” I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Well, Rob does.”
“You told Rob?”
“No, a friend of his saw Jamie and me having breakfast at The Glider when he was here.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing really. He just asked if the kids know.”
“You really should write a book about how to have a healthy divorce.”
“Rob and I definitely aren’t experts, but we’re making it work.”
“That you are.”
“And I’m glad he knows. It’ll feel less like I’m sneaking around.”
“You’re not sneaking around,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll tell your family where you’re
going, just not all the details of the trip.”
“Technically it’s trips.”
“Trips?”
“Jamie’s coming to Chicago with me.”
“Shut the front door!” I chuckled at the euphemism. “You’re really jumping into this thing with Jamie.”
“It seems that way,” I said. “But as much as it freaks me out, I might as well spend time with him to see if this thing between us is going anywhere.”
“Based on the way that man looks at you, I’d say it’s going somewhere.”
“We’ll see.” I glanced at the clock then stood and hoisted my bag onto my shoulder. “I
better go so you can check everyone in and get ready for class. See you tomorrow.”
But before I could leave, Keera asked the question that’s been running through my head
since my conversation with Rob.
“When do you think you’ll tell them?”
“That’s a conversation to have over tacos and margaritas.”
Jamie
I wiped down the kitchen counter for the third time, making sure the surface was spotless.
I stepped back and admired my handiwork, inhaling the clean scent of the citrus cleaner mingled with crisp fresh air coming through the open window. It’s been a long time since someone stayed the night, never mind the weekend, so a deep clean seemed in order for Sophie’s visit.
I’ve already given the upstairs a good once-over and now the kitchen is done. I’ll admit
cleaning under the stove and refrigerator might have been overkill, but it was filthy under both appliances, so I’m happy I did it.
I grabbed a can of polish and a new rag and headed to the living room. I’d just rolled up the area rug when I heard a quick knock on the door before it opened and Elliott stepped inside.
“Mmm, it smells good in here.”
He watched me set the rug against the wall.
“When’s Sophie getting here?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.”
“What’s the plan?”
He picked up a pillow and fluffed it before setting it back on the couch. Before he did the same thing with the other three pillows, I stopped him.
“They’re just going to get messed up again when I move the couch.”
“Oh, you’re cleaning-cleaning.”
“It’s been a while, so I figured I’d do it right.”
“I don’t think Sophie is going to check under the furniture for dust.”
Maybe it is over the top, but I want everything to be perfect this weekend. Including the cleanliness of my house. Not that I’ll tell Elliott that. He’ll bust my ass forever if I do.
“What plan?” I asked.
“Huh?”
“You asked what the plan is. What plan?”
“With Sophie.”
He settled onto the couch, so I did the same. Apparently, this isn’t going to be a quick visit.
“She should be here around 3:30. We’ll hang out for a bit, then I’ll go to the church for the rehearsal. She’ll stay here and get ready, and I’ll swing by and pick her up for the rehearsal dinner.”
“Does mom know you’re not bringing her to the church?”
I nodded.
“It seemed silly to try to introduce Sophie to everyone at the church, while we’re trying to rehearse. The restaurant will be much more casual.”
“So you’re going to leave her here to search through all your things?”
“Sophie doesn’t seem like the type.”
“None of them do.”
“You tell me how boring I am all the time. What’s she gonna find?”
“I don’t know what you have hiding in the back of your closet.”
“Like you haven’t rooted through every closet, cupboard, and drawer in this house.”
“True.”
Shifting forward, I rested my elbows on my knees.
“Do you need something or did you just stop by to be nosey?”
“Mom told me to check on you.”
“Why?”
“Because of Sophie.”
“I really hope everyone isn’t going to make a big deal out of this.”
“But it is a big deal. You haven’t had a special someone in forever.”
“Please don’t refer to Sophie as my special someone. It sounds weird.”
He said it one more time in an even creepier voice.
“Seriously Jamie,” he said, once he stopped laughing. “You haven’t had anyone in your life in years ”
That’s true, but it’s not as pathetic as he always makes it sound. I ended things with Erin right before the world shut down. At that point, I felt like I needed a break from dating anyway and when things opened up again, I chose to remain single. For some reason that concerned everyone.
“Just act normal.”
He snorted.
“I’m not the one you have to worry about. Mom and Eileen are the wild cards.”
“Hopefully they’ll be too consumed with the wedding to pay attention to Sophie and me.”
“Oh Jameson, sometimes you’re so naive,” he said. “But while they’ll be probing, prying, and inquisitive, they will be nice.”
“At least there’s that.”
“And if you want my opinion, Sophie can handle anything my crazy family throws at her. She’s pretty amazing.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
He looked around the room.
“Do you need help here?”
“Thanks, but I’m good. This will only take me a few minutes.”
“Just remember, she’s coming to see you, not do a white-glove test on your house.”
“I know.”
We both stood and he headed for the door. With his hand on the knob, he glanced at me over his shoulder.
“Sophie wouldn’t be coming here if she didn’t really care about you,” he said. “So just relax and be yourself.”
I stood there staring at the closed door after he left. Sarcastic Elliott is annoying but heartfelt Elliott scares the shit out of me.