by Leah Atwood
The eggs were in front. She pulled them out, along with a bag of shredded cheddar. “How did Gracie do with ‘goodbye’?”
He took a seat at the table, rubbing his neck. “There were lots of tears.”
She stopped cracking eggs into a bowl and turned to him. “It won’t always be this hard.”
“I know and that keeps me hanging on. After you left last night, I had an idea. If you hate it, tell me and I won’t be offended.”
“What is it?” One hand held the bowl of eggs and the other spun a whisk through the yolks.
“I thought, if you didn’t mind, you could spend some time with Gracie while I’m gone. She really likes you and it would give my grandparents more of a break.”
Warm sensations flowed through her. Bryce’s trust in her where it concerned his daughter thrilled her. “I’d love to.”
“Are you sure? I can’t help thinking I’m asking too much.”
“Absolutely sure. Gracie is great and spending time with her will help me also—I was going to miss her.”
“Not everyone would understand she comes with me as part of the package.” The way he said it made Sophie think he’d had a bad experience with someone, but hardly anyone knew about Gracie.
She let it slide—he’d tell her eventually if it was something. “Gram gave me their phone number last night and said to call or stop by anytime.”
“She means it. Gramps and she really like you.”
“And I like them. Do you like lots of cheese or just a hint?”
“The more, the better. By the way, I stopped this morning and bought you a full-size spare.”
Turning again, she looked him in the eye. “You didn’t have to do that.”
He put his hands up, palms facing forward to stop her objection. “No, but it was purely selfish, one less thing I’d have to worry about.”
The gesture was sweet. “Thank you.”
“Where are your keys? I’ll switch it out with the donut while breakfast finishes.”
“There.” She arched her thumb toward the front door, to a small shelf with hooks.
A few minutes later he came back in. “You’re all set.”
“Just in time.” She slid two plates onto the table. “Coffee or juice?”
“Coffee. Need all the caffeine I can get.”
“How long is the drive home?”
He didn’t answer right away. Slowly, he chewed a bite then swallowed. “Oden Bridge is more my home now. Nashville is about a ten-hour drive.”
“I’ve never been. The only time I’ve been to Tennessee was when I went to Chattanooga to visit a friend going to school there.”
“Chattanooga’s pretty. So is Nashville. You really should come up one weekend.”
“Maybe,” she answered noncommittally while pushing food around on her plate. Not that she wouldn’t want to visit him, but that would be another huge leap in their relationship.
“Just an idea. You could stay with Caroline.”
Caroline? The name sounded familiar. She wracked her memory. That’s right, his manager. “I’ll think about it. A getaway before school begins would be nice.”
A lazy smile crept onto his face. “We’d have fun. If you’re feeling adventurous, I’ll even take you for a ride on the Harley.”
“Do I look like a motorcycle type of girl?” She laughed nervously, feeling again like the naïve, sheltered girl.
He regarded her with a serious expression. “Somewhere inside you there is a woman full of passion and adventure, just waiting for someone to unlock the hidden compartment.”
“And I suppose you have the key?” Now she was shamelessly flirting.
His voice dropped to a hoarse timbre. “That’s up to you, sweetheart.”
She made an instant decision. “We’re going for a ride when I come to visit. Hold me to it, don’t let me back down.”
“That’s my girl.” He leaned back in his chair with a satisfied grin.
“Say that again, please.” Not hungry, she set her fork down and pushed her plate aside.
“What?”
“What you just said.”
“That’s my girl.”
His girl. The very sound of it made her stomach flutter with excitement.
Bryce looked at his watch. “I hate to, but I need to get going. I intended to be on the road hours ago, but you know, there’s this girl I had to see.”
“That girl isn’t too sorry you’re running behind.” When he walked around the table to her, she took his hand, allowing him to pull her up from the chair.
Cocooned by his arms, she snuggled against him. The time with him this morning was exactly what she’d needed. She realized that being in separate states didn’t preclude them from getting to know each other further, and the days ahead didn’t loom anymore, rather were filled with anticipation. In a brief time, they’d managed to build a solid foundation upon which they could build while apart.
He tipped her chin upward with a single finger. “This time with you has been amazing. The best part is that I know it’s just an indicator of things to come. We have something special, Sophie, and I fully intend to see it through.”
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?” she quipped with a weak smile. “Now go before I make a fool of myself and beg you to stay in Oden Bridge.”
He swallowed hard, and she saw the temptation in his eyes to forget all his obligations that were elsewhere. “I’ll call you when I get in.”
“You better.”
“Thanks for breakfast.”
She gave him a warning look. “Go. Don’t drag this out. My achy-breaky heart can’t take it.”
“Did you really just go there?” He laughed at her reference to the cheesy, but classic song.
“Go.” She pointed to the door and flashed a wink.
After dusting a final kiss across her cheek, he left. “Stay away from the ducks while I’m gone,” he tossed back over his shoulder. “I won’t be there to warn you away from them.”
She was still laughing when he closed the door behind him. Refusing to watch him drive away, she cleaned up the dishes from breakfast, noting he’d eaten his entire omelet while most of hers still sat on the plate, cold. At ten o’clock, she grabbed her purse and keys, leaving for her parents’ house.
Traffic on the interstate caused a few-minutes delay, but at quarter past eleven she pulled into their driveway. Mrs. Wilcox, their neighbor, was outside wearing her signature straw hat with an attached floral ribbon.
“Good morning, Sophie,” she called out, pausing from weeding her flower bed.
“Good morning, Mrs. Wilcox. Your roses are looking lovely as usual this year.”
The older woman preened under the praise. “Thank you, dear. This year has been a struggle to get them just right, but I finally got them where I want them.”
“Are the peach-colored ones a new addition?”
“I added them last year, but they didn’t take too well.”
“In any case, they are beautiful.”
“You do know how to make an old lady happy. Stop by some day when you’re not busy.”
“I will do that, ma’am.”
“Take care, dear. I think your mama is waiting for you.” Mrs. Wilcox nodded to a parted curtain.
“Have a good day, Mrs. Wilcox.”
Her mom greeted her at the door, engulfing her in a mama bear hug. “You look happier than you sounded earlier.”
Sophie blushed, remembering her morning with Bryce. “I am.”
“That’s good,” her mom replied with raised eyebrows. “What brought about the abrupt change?”
“I’ll tell you in a bit. I told you it is complicated.”
“We’ll eat first then. Do you want to stay in or go somewhere?”
“Stay in. I’d rather not have an audience for what I need to tell you.”
“Hmm.” Her mom’s curiosity was roused and Sophie almost laughed at her mother’s struggle to not press for details. “What would you like for l
unch? There’s leftover chicken salad from yesterday or I can make some deli-meat sandwiches.”
A growl rumbled from her stomach, reminding her of the uneaten omelet. “Chicken salad is fine.”
They went to the kitchen and her mom selected plates from the cabinets and pulled out a covered bowl from the fridge. “How are your tutoring sessions?”
“They’re going well so far. I’m excited for the school year to begin and see the students go back with confidence. My friend, Amy, had Garret Richard in her class last year and she had a constant struggle with him to participate. She suggested to his parents that working with him one-on-one would be beneficial. She was right. During our first sessions, he was silent and withdrawn, but this last week, he’s come out of his shell and even read the entire book back to me.”
“That’s really wonderful, honey. I’m so proud of you and the heart you have for these kids.”
Sophie opened the cabinets with the cups inside and pulled out two while her mom finished putting together the plates of food. “Teaching is more rewarding than I’d thought. I’m lucky to do what I love.”
They sat down at a small table in the breakfast nook, eating in relative silence with her mom occasionally filling the air with updates of various family members. Unsure of her mother’s potential reaction, Sophie pushed her plate back when finished, bubbles of anxiety floating in her throat.
“Do you remember my sophomore year of college when I had a chance to do a semester abroad, but I turned it down?”
“Yes.” Her mom nodded with sharp eyes, seemingly trying to decipher the path of the conversation.
“I’ve always regretted not taking that opportunity. I was so scared of change and the unknown—who knows what I missed because of my fear.”
“Are you telling me you’re going overseas now?”
“No. I’m telling you I met someone.” There. That wasn’t so hard. Ha, only because she didn’t tell her who.
Her mom clapped her hands together in delight. “That makes me so happy. I was worried about you after the breakup with Ryan.”
“Trust me when I say I am over that breakup. Ryan and I are friends, but that’s all we were meant to be.”
“He was never right for you. Your daddy and I prayed every day for you to see that.”
That was news to her. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Because it was up to you and Ryan to discover that,” her mom replied calmly, reaching over to pat her hand. “If it had come to an engagement, we would have questioned your certainty, but it never came to that.”
“Oh.” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Grateful that her parents weren’t overbearing like some, she did value their wisdom and insight.
“Tell me about this new man. How did you meet him?”
She launched into their first meeting, telling her mom all about the duck but leaving out the part about Gracie. The smile on her face broadened as she told her mom about Bryce. She couldn’t help it, even talking about him made her giddy.
“I’m happy for you, Sophie. This guy seems wonderful, but I’m confused. Why were you down this morning and how does he connect to your missed semester abroad?”
“Here comes the hard part,” she muttered under her breath. “Because being with him scares me, but I don’t want to repeat the regret of letting fear rule.”
Her mother’s forehead creased. “Now you’re starting to worry me.”
“Have you heard of Bryce Landry?”
“Country music’s resident bad boy? Who hasn’t?”
“He’s not that bad, mom. At least not anymore,” she quickly defended him, a blush rising to her cheeks.
Her mom’s eyes widened. “This man you’ve been telling me about, your new boyfriend, is the Bryce Landry?”
“Yes.”
“Oh dear.” Her mom didn’t say anything further. Shock was written across her face.
“Last year, he became a Christian. He’s not the person the media make him out to be and there’s a lot of depth to him. Sometimes so much it scares me, but in a good way because it makes me feel alive. One minute he’s very intense, the next minute he’s casual and charming.” She fired off his praises, needing her mom to see him for the person she knew. “His faith is real, but he’s at a crossroads, trying to balance his career and daughter.”
“His daughter?” her mom repeated, her eyes widening again.
“He has a little girl, Gracie, who is five years old.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for this, dating a man with a child? That’s a lot to take on. What’s his relationship with his daughter’s mom?”
“Gracie’s mom passed away from cancer last year and Bryce’s grandparents take care of Gracie most of the year. The story isn’t mine to tell, and it’s sad, yet it shaped Bryce into the man he is today. Gracie means everything to Bryce. He’d do anything for her, including giving up his career if it comes to that.”
“Sophie, I know you’re all grown up now, but have you thought this through? Even if he is a Christian now, he still has experience in certain areas that I can only presume you have none in.”
She felt her cheeks warm and knew what her mom was hinting at. “I can’t change who he was. Does it bother me some? Yes, but if you knew him now, you’d see what a different man he is.”
“You really like him, don’t you?” Her mom’s eyes shifted and Sophie saw her looking at her as a woman, not just a daughter.
“I do, mom. I really do. Did I tell you we prayed together last night? In three years, Ryan and I never prayed together. And earlier this week, my car broke down. He came right to my rescue and fixed it for me. This morning before he left, he stopped by and replaced my spare tire with a full-sized spare. He doesn’t have a selfish bone in his body.”
Her mom started laughing, taking Sophie by surprise. “I’m sorry,” she said, trying to cover the laugh with a hand in front of her mouth.
“What’s so funny? You think I’m completely crazy don’t you?” Her defenses started to rise.
“No, Sophie, not at all.” Her mom stopped laughing, but retained an amused grin. “I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that my daughter, who has always played it safe in everything she’s done, who never had boy-band or celebrity crushes in high school, has fallen in love with one of the biggest music stars out there.”
“I never said I loved him. Goodness, I’ve only known him two weeks.”
“You didn’t have to, my dear. Love has no timetable. The first time I went out with your father, I knew that I would marry him. And I see in you what I saw in the mirror twenty-seven years ago. He’s reached your soul, Sophie. That’s not something to discredit lightly.”
“I’m scared, Mom. This is entirely out of my element—all I know is that I want to be with him.”
“Any relationship is hard but the one you’ll have with Bryce will face challenges unlike others. The question is, how dedicated are both of you to making it work?”
“We’ll do whatever it takes. We have to.”
“Then that is all that matters.” Her mom reached over the table and patted her hand.
“So you approve of him, even with his past?” Sophie held her breath, waiting for an answer.
“Who am I to judge? As a mother, I have natural concerns, especially since his reputation precedes him, but I also have faith in you and your judgment. If he shares your faith, respects you and makes you happy then that is good enough for me.”
Deliberately exhaling, she paused before asking the dreaded next question. “What do you think Dad will say?”
Her mom bit into her lower lip, giving thought before answering. “Your father will be a harder sell. You’re his daughter, his little girl.”
Sophie buried her head in her hands, groaning. “After three years, he barely warmed up to Ryan, the poster child for the all-American boy. He’ll never accept Bryce.”
“Leave your dad to me, honey. I’ll talk to him—he’s more understandin
g than he appears at times. When can we meet Bryce?”
“I hadn’t thought that far, to be honest. In a few weeks, he’ll be coming back for a few days. If you’d like, I’ll ask him what he thinks of having a dinner together.”
“That would be very nice. I’ll make us a big family dinner so we can get to know him.”
“Actually, having dinner at my house would probably be better. He’ll only have a short time with his daughter. The drive here and back would take too much time away.”
Her mom nodded with understanding and a hint of approval. “Let me know once you do and we’ll get everything arranged. Now I have some news as well. Your dad received a promotion.”
“That’s awesome,” Sophie exclaimed. “Congratulations.”
“I’m very proud of him, but it will mean a lot of changes.”
A pill of unease dissolved in her stomach. “What kind of changes?” she asked, her brows furrowed.
“We’ll be moving to Arkansas the first week of August.”
“What? You can’t just up and move. We’ve lived here our entire lives! What about Mia? You can’t rip her away from everything she knows in her senior year.” Her astonishment was real, her words in harsher tones than she meant.
“This is a shock, dear, but it’s for the best. Your dad wanted this position for some time and the promotion’s a real honor.”
“But all our family is here. How can you just leave them?” Too much change was coming at her at once.
“When you love someone, you support them.” Her words were pointed, and Sophie didn’t miss their meaning. “Arkansas isn’t so far that we can’t come back for frequent visits and we’ll make new friends.”
“And Mia?”
Her mother sighed, her eyes becoming etched with pain. “Mia could use a change. She’s not like you, Sophie—she hasn’t always known who she was, what she believed. She’s trying to discover who she is, and I’m afraid she’s looking in all the wrong places. There have been several times she’s come home smelling of tobacco and once even alcohol. We’ve grounded her, talked to her, prayed for her, but she’s lost right now.”
“I had no idea.” Sophie frowned. The news of her sister upset her. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Just keep praying for her. Today she’s with a friend from church. Your dad and I are hoping this could be a turning point.”