“I’ve been working at the roller rink and helping Joanie and Dave out with the baby.”
“Oh, cool. So you’re at Joanie and Dave’s house on Elm Street?”
“Yeah.”
“Would you mind some company?”
“I guess that would be okay.” How ungracious. “I mean, I’m sure Joanie won’t mind. What time were you thinking of coming?”
“I’m not doing anything now.”
His parents’ house was only a few blocks away. “Can you give me fifteen minutes? I just got up.”
“Oh, sure. See you in a few.” He disconnected.
She dashed upstairs to change her clothes. What to wear? Nothing dressy, of course. But nothing too ratty or old. Sweater, fairly new. Jeans, worn but not torn. Hair up in ponytail. Socks and slippers. No, not the scruffy ones.
Joanie called up the stairs, “Sophie, you’ve got company.”
Time was up. “Okay, I’ll be right down.”
Deep breath. It was show time. Only a few years ago she would have rushed downstairs. But she was older and wiser. Now, she needed to make him wait for her.
He sat on the sofa in the den. Joanie was nowhere to be seen. Of course, when Nate had disappeared, Sophie’s older sister had been extremely vocal about her disgust. Maybe it was better she’d left before she inflicted bodily harm.
Sophie stepped into the room. “Hi, Nate.” There. Her voice didn’t break and it didn’t sound too much higher than usual.
Nate looked up and stood. “Hey, Sophie.”
“Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, orange juice?”
“Coffee would be great, thanks.” He followed her into the kitchen.
Her hands shook as she poured another mug, but only a little. She got it to the table and set it beside hers, and Nate sat.
“So how—” he began.
“How is—” she said at the same time.
They laughed, awkward with each other, with the situation. She took a deep breath and decided to ask the question she’d wanted to ask for seven years.
“Why did you leave without me?” she blurted.
Nate reared back as if struck. His mouth gaped open and he said nothing for a moment. Finally he nodded and sighed. “I suppose you’ve wanted to ask that since the day you found out I’d gone.”
“Yes. Do you have an answer?”
“Yes and no. I went because I had a lead on a part. There was a casting call for a role I would have been great in. I had to get out there right away.”
“Would have been great? I take it you didn’t get the part.”
He seemed to shrink even more. “No. When I showed up, they weren’t even taking people anymore. Said the part had already been cast.”
“Why didn’t you come back?”
“I was embarrassed for one. I didn’t want to come back until I’d at least done some acting. And money, for another. I couldn’t afford a return plane ticket.”
“You had a one-way ticket? So you didn’t plan to return for me.”
“It wasn’t like that, Sophie, I—”
“You never even hinted that you were leaving. We went out for dinner the night before you left, and you never said a word.”
“I wasn’t totally sure I was going at that point.”
“You had my phone number.”
“I know, but I—”
“Did your parents even know you were leaving?”
Nate lowered his gaze and shook his head.
“I can believe that. They didn’t show up at church for a month afterwards. The beauty shop was closed because your mom couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed. We were all worried for her.”
“I never meant to hurt her.”
“Well, you did. If it had been just me you hurt, I would have been devastated. But you hurt other people I love, and that made me mad. After I made sure your mom was okay, I went to New York for a couple of years. I didn’t think about it at the time, but I probably wanted to be as far away from you as I could. And I went to culinary school. I’d always liked to cook, so I thought maybe I could make a living at it.”
“That’s cool. You’re a great cook.”
“Thanks. But I realized it’s not what I want to do all the time. I mean, I like to cook for my friends and family, but I don’t want to cook for people who are going to complain about what they get. So I quit and came home. I thought maybe I was right the first time, and I need to be a playwright. So I went to Grand Valley State and got a degree in theater, with a minor in creative writing. I’ve been working on scripts and screenplays ever since. Now all I need to do is relocate so that I can start working.”
“So you’re going to make a go of it?”
“That’s my plan.”
“When are you leaving?”
“As soon as my agent gets back to me.”
“You’ve got an agent? Who?”
“It’s an agency called Scribes Limited. They’re in North Hollywood. I got a letter from one of their agents who said he’d read my script and wanted to represent me.”
“I’ve never heard of that agency. Who’s the agent?”
“Jonas Something-or-other.”
Nate sat up, his eyes widening. “Not Jonas Mack, I hope.”
“Could be. Do you know him?”
“Yes, I do. Sophie, trust me. He’s bad news. I know I’m the last person you want to believe, but promise me you won’t send him any money or go out there until you check him out. If you don’t trust me, I’ll put you in contact with a dozen other would-be actors and screenwriters who’ve been burned by him. He takes your money and spins you a line about shopping you or your work around. The only contacts he’s got are with the police department.”
Sophie stared, not sure what to say. Mitch had warned her about this, but she didn’t want to believe it.
“I don’t believe you.”
Nate held his palms out to her, as if to show he hid nothing. “Soph, I’m telling you the truth. I haven’t dealt with the guy directly—”
“Then how do you know for sure? How do I know you’re not just telling me this to discourage me from going? For all I know you might just want to keep me here in Zutphen because you’re afraid I’ll have more success than you did.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted them. If his dreams of an acting career hadn’t worked out, he was probably devastated enough. She sighed. “I’m sorry, Nate, that was uncalled for. But I’m getting tired of everyone thinking I’m not capable of looking out for myself.” She got up and paced a few steps, trying to gain her composure, then turned back to him. “Look, I promise I’ll do some research on the guy before I pack up and leave. Will that satisfy you?”
Nate’s face cleared and he nodded. “Sure, that works. Well, I guess I’ll go. This elf job ends in a few weeks, and I’ve got to look into a real job. There’s not much call nearby for an out-of-work actor, and I wasn’t smart enough to get training in anything else.”
“Maybe you could go to school to learn something else.”
“Me, go to school?” He laughed. “I barely made it through high school.”
“But if you’re studying something you’re interested in, it’s different. I spent six years in college — not because I loved it so much, but because I kept changing my mind about what I wanted to study. I didn’t mind, because I was interested in what I was learning.”
“I doubt it would be that way for me, but it’s something to think about.” He hesitated before adding, “So, can I call you sometime?”
She had to think about that. Did she really want to spend time with him? “I suppose. It’s not going to be like it was. Just coffee and conversation. And I’m tied up with the Christmas Pageant, so I’ll be pretty busy for another few weeks.”
“Fair enough. I messed up, so it’s up to me to prove I’m a changed man.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. For some reason, Sophie felt — nothing. No excitement, no pounding heartbeat, no feeling of anticipation. Just a br
otherly kiss.
As she stood at the window watching him trudge back to his car, it hit her. A nudge, a feeling, a realization. Everything became clear. The whole screenwriting thing and going to California. It had never really been her dream. It had been Nate’s idea. Since she wasn’t into acting, he’d suggested it as a way they could work together. It had been her way to stay connected to Nate, even after he’d left. Later, she’d thought she could get back at him by gaining greater fame and recognition than he’d managed to get, but that no longer mattered.
Those childhood dreams had been replaced. She had a new dream now, one that included a rugged single dad and his adorable daughter. And they were right there, in her own back yard.
It was time to work on making her new dream come true.
~~~~
Mitch sat in his office, staring at his monitor but not seeing anything on the screen.
She was going. He’d known it was going to happen and he’d tried to stay uninvolved. But his heart hadn’t cooperated and now it was going to be broken. He would be left with an emptiness in his life, larger than the one created when Sarah died. This time he wasn’t sure how he would cope.
He didn’t know how long he sat there, but a little angel’s voice pulled him out of his trance. Angela. He’d argued for that name and now he knew why. Because she was here, and right now he needed an angel.
“Daddy?”
Mitch lifted his head. He blinked, trying to focus on his daughter’s face. Why did he have so much trouble seeing? It was as if — oh good grief, it was dark! The sun had set while he was thinking of his own sorrow.
Guilt immediately replaced the sadness. What kind of father was he if he forgot about his daughter? He’d come out here determined to be there for his little girl, and now his heart had put someone else in his mind. Maybe this was a sign that he needed to forget about Sophie. Angie should be his main concern.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. You must be hungry. I’ll get something—”
“I’m okay, Daddy. I had some cereal. Do you want some, too?”
Great. His six-year-old daughter had eaten a bowl of cereal for her supper while he’d been sitting there feeling sorry for himself.
“Sweetheart, you need something more than cereal. Why don’t we go and get some burgers down at the Burger Den? You can have some ice cream for dessert.” He plastered a smile on his face, determined to put up a good front for Angie.
But even though Angie normally loved going to the Burger Den, she didn’t show any enthusiasm for his offer. Instead, she tilted her head and studied him.
“Why are you so sad, Daddy?”
There was no hiding it. How much should he share with her? “I — got some sad news today.”
“Did somebody die?”
“No, nobody died. Someone is moving away, and I’m sad I won’t see that person anymore.”
His little angel wrapped her arms around him. “I was sad when we moved here, because I wouldn’t see my friends any more. But now I’m glad I’m here, because I have new friends. We’ll have to find you some new friends.”
He laughed in spite of the knot in his stomach. Hugging her tight, he stood, carrying her on his hip as he went about turning lights on. “I guess you’re right, sweetheart. Make new friends.”
“Who’s moving away, Daddy?”
He stilled. “It’s — I don’t think I’m supposed to tell anybody.”
“I hope it’s not Miss Sophie. Because she’s the best friend you ever had. She makes you smile.”
He stared at her.
“If she goes away, we’ll have to follow her.”
“Follow her? But then you’d have to find new friends again.”
Angie’s face clouded, and she swallowed. But then she took a deep breath, looked into his eyes, and spoke with determination. “That’s okay. She’s our best friend. If we’re all together, it won’t matter.”
Mitch gave his daughter another hug and set her down. “You’re an angel, you know that? And I’ll bet you’re hungry, even after eating cereal. Go get your coat, and we’ll get some burgers to fill your angel tummy.”
Chapter Twenty-one
“And so my gift to Baby Jesus is my teddy bear,” Molly said into the microphone. She brought her teddy bear over to the manger and stepped back to her place in the chorus as the next speaker came up to the mike.
Sophie started to relax on the front pew. This Wednesday night rehearsal was the last practice before the pageant on Sunday morning, so she and the children were in the sanctuary with the sound crew. So far, so good. No one had gotten sick, nothing had been stolen, and everyone—
“AAAAAAHHHHH!” Jordan Longton streaked into the sanctuary, his shepherd costume trailing behind him like a blaze of fire—
It really IS fire! Sophie sprang from her seat and raced toward the little boy. She grabbed him and threw him down on the carpet, rolling him until the fire went out. Carefully, she pulled the head covering away from his face, revealing his wide, frightened eyes.
“Jordan, are you all right?” she asked.
The boy nodded.
She helped him stand and inspected the rest of his costume. Other than the headpiece and a tiny spot on the back of his gown, none of his clothing looked burnt. She checked the back of his head and found a few singed hairs, but his scalp was normal color. The boy was lucky.
“Jordan, what happened?”
“I went back in the room where the costumes are because I forgot my truck to give to Baby Jesus. And I found this—”
“Fire!” Sam dashed into the sanctuary, waving his hands. “Get the kids outta here. I’m calling the fire department.” He dug his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed, leaving Sophie to herd the children out, grabbing coats as they went. Thankfully, two moms had decided to stay and watch the dress rehearsal, so she had some extra help.
Once outside, she counted her charges. One was missing. Who was it? She went through the first graders… all eleven were there. Second graders… she should have had nine, but there were only eight. “I’m not finding enough second graders,” she called out. “Look around and see if you can tell who’s missing.” The children stared at each other for a moment, and then Jordan Longton called out, “My brother isn’t here. He went to the bathroom.”
Cold air filled Sophie's lungs as she gasped. “Josh is in the bathroom?”
“Yeah. Grandma took him there.”
She couldn’t let the children see her panic. “All right. Everyone stay right here with Mrs. Groendyke. I'll see if I can find Josh and Mrs. Longton."
The fire department arrived with sirens blaring and quickly got to work. Spotting Chief Zondervan, she dashed over to him and relayed what Jordan had told her. He nodded grimly and called two of his men, instructing them to check the restrooms for the missing people.
Returning to the children huddled in the church parking lot, she realized she needed to get them all someplace warm. Their parents needed to be notified…
She looked over at the other adults and realized they had already begun. One mom separated the children according to where they lived, and the other mom and Mabel Groendyke, the pianist, had their cell phones to their ears. Helen DeGroot and the older students in the drama soon joined them, and siblings were paired together. Helen and Sophie both used their cell phones to call parents.
Someone wrapped a blanket around her and she realized she’d forgotten to grab her own coat before leaving the sanctuary. She snuggled into the blanket. It smelled like Mitch, but when she turned her head to thank him, he was gone. He’d gone over to help comfort a frightened little boy. Angie and Joey stood close to her.
Dave pulled into the lot and made a beeline for Joey. “I heard the sirens and looked outside — we could see the fire from our house. Are you okay? Did everyone get out?” He gave Joey a hug then asked the other adults what he could do to help. One of the moms gave him a handful of children whose parents still needed to be contacted, and he pulled out his cell
phone to start calling them.
Around them, the parking lot buzzed with the commotion of anxious parents herding their children and their neighbor’s children into their cars.
“Sam! Did Sam get out?” Sophie looked around for the custodian.
“He’s over there, talking to the Fire Chief.” Mitch spoke into her ear, instantly calming her. She glanced over to where he pointed and, seeing the elderly man for herself, sighed with relief.
“Jordan Longton, where did you get that? I told you not to pick up things that aren’t yours. And where is your brother?” Peggy Longton’s exasperation cut through the chaos.
“He went to the bathroom with Grandma Longton. Mama, isn’t this cool? I found it in that room where the tables and big candles are. I wanted to light the candles like Grandma does. There were lots of candles in there. See, you just hold it like this and push this button—”
“Well, it’s not a toy. It’s for grownups to use—”
“Did I just hear this boy say he tried to light the candles in the store room?” Chief Zondervan asked. “Sam, didn’t you tell me the fire started in the storage area?”
The custodian nodded.
The color drained from Peggy’s face. She clutched her son tight. “Please, no,” she cried. “He couldn’t have started the fire. He’s just a baby. Please, Sam. You can’t let him be arrested.”
“I knew it was just a matter of time before something like this happened.” Sam glared at Jordan menacingly. “Both those boys are always causing trouble. They can’t keep their hands to themselves and they run around like animals.”
Martha Longton came around the side of the church, leading Josh by the hand. “The boys told me they needed to use the restroom, and while Josh was still in there, Jordan told me he had to get his truck. I didn’t know where he’d gone. I’ve been looking all over for him—” She spied the candle lighter in Jordan’s hand and gasped. “No—” Her hand went to her mouth.
“Ladies, I’m going to have to talk to this young man,” Chief Zondervan nodded at Peggy. “Ma’am, why don’t you bring your son over to my car so you’re not standing outside in the cold.” He turned to Martha. “Mrs. Longton, perhaps you’ll be good enough to see that his brother gets home.” Without waiting for an answer, he led the way toward his vehicle. Peggy followed with Jordan, looking more defeated than Sophie had ever seen her.
The Patricia Kiyono Christmas Collection Page 12