Sophie's Path

by Catherine Lanigan

  Sophie put her teacup down without taking a sip. “That’s it? That’s the huge favor?”

  Katia’s shoulders deflated and she turned a contrite face to Sophie. “It’s just that those flowers are exactly what I’d always dreamed about having for my wedding. I didn’t think they existed except in some old Judy Garland movie. You know? And when I saw that bouquet you gave Mrs. Beabots, my jaw dropped.”

  “It did,” Sarah agreed.

  “It did,” Mrs. Beabots echoed.

  Katia rushed on. “But I don’t want to do anything that would cause you a smidge of consternation. I want to be your friend, Sophie. We all do.”

  “We do,” Sarah chimed.

  “I am,” Mrs. Beabots said soundly, folding her hands in her lap for emphasis.

  Sophie smiled, though she felt like crying. Her positive-thinking podcasts emphasized the idea that once she changed her thinking, she would attract everything into her life that she wanted. She’d wanted friends. Real ones. She’d wanted more meaning, even passion—and she’d found it.

  Sophie wasn’t the demonstrative type. She didn’t hug and gush over sentimental moments. Until now.

  “I don’t understand. You—” she gazed from Katia to Mrs. Beabots to Sarah “—barely know the real me.”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Mrs. Beabots replied. “It could be, young lady, that we know you better than you know yourself.” She winked.

  Katia searched Sophie’s face. “All three of us knew each other a little bit in high school. Sarah is younger and was just a kid to me. Then I moved away. You were younger, as well. There were a lot things rumored about me back then. The same might have been true of you.” Katia glanced at Sarah. “Sarah, not so much, but you know what I’m saying. Those girls are only slices of the women we’ve become. We got better. We can all see what you’re trying to do for this town, Sophie, and it’s admirable. And I can appreciate the guts it took to talk to Jack like you did. You were really brave to do that. I’m not sure I could have done the same in your situation, and I’ve known Jack for years.”

  Sophie stared at the painted porch floor. “Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get through to him.”

  “Keep trying,” Katia said firmly.

  Sophie had never shared personal feelings with anyone other than her mother. This conversation was groundbreaking, in her book. If she’d been more comfortable with these women, she might have told them she’d seen Jack only an hour ago. Maybe Katia had insight into his feelings, even his condemnations about her. Perhaps he’d confided in her about his anger against Sophie. Maybe Katia knew the best way to make amends to Jack. Apologies certainly hadn’t worked. Nor had reasoning with him. Yet Jack had been friendly with her tonight. Sophie was massively confused.

  This wasn’t the time for intimacies with Katia. Maybe there never would be such a time unless Sophie allowed others into her personal life—her dreams. It terrified her to even think about it.

  To make it worse, the minute Katia had brought up Jack’s name, Sophie’s heart had skipped a beat. Her breath had caught in her lungs. It was only for a second, but it had happened. What was that all about? She hadn’t been running. All she’d done was think about Jack.

  In the past when she’d gone after a guy, she’d felt a rush of adrenaline like she imagined a climber might feel when he reached a mountain peak. It was all about the conquest.

  Her reaction to Jack was completely different. She empathized with his sorrow, sensed, more deeply than she was willing to admit, his guilt about Aleah and she craved his friendship and respect. These women wanted to be Sophie’s friend. They’d told her they admired her. She realized she did want friendship from them. To be part of their warm and caring group.

  Earlier, she’d wondered if Jack had wanted to be friends. But her feelings for Jack included attraction, guilt, disappointment and respect. Actually, there wasn’t an emotion she couldn’t attach to the man. She was slowly coming to realize that Jack had taken a foothold in her mind, if not her heart.

  Her heart? What was she thinking? That wasn’t possible. Not for “love ’em and leave ’em” Sophie. There was a great deal of comfort in her bolt-and-run tactics. Suddenly, she was out of her comfort zone—way out. Yet, there it was. She did want more than friendship from Jack. And she didn’t like that one bit.

  When she’d been with Jack tonight, she’d gotten the feeling, for a few moments at least, that he wanted something more from her, too. But what exactly?

  Katia picked up her designer purse and pulled out a cream satin-covered box that had an opening down the center. It was tied with a thick black ribbon and clipped with two antique rhinestone brooches. “This is for you.”

  “It’s so elegant,” Sophie replied, staring at the gorgeous box but not taking it.

  “Go ahead. It won’t bite.” Katia chuckled.

  “What is it?”

  Sarah couldn’t contain her excitement any longer. Her knees were jumping with nervous energy. “Oh, for Pete’s sake, it’s her wedding invitation. She’s hand delivering every one of them!”

  Mrs. Beabots beamed at Sophie. “Isn’t it exciting? We got ours earlier this evening. I thought you were upstairs. That’s why I made the mint tea. To celebrate.”

  “Invitation?” Sophie didn’t want to appear stupid, but people, brides especially, did not invite Sophie Mattuchi to their weddings. Her reputation cast a long shadow of doubt and fear that she was the black widow who’d weave a spell and kidnap the groom.

  Sophie blinked several times to dispel the image in her head. Clearly, she was on a new playing field and these rules were beyond her comprehension. She inhaled and let her face show her pleasure. “It’s for your wedding. Of course.” Sophie took the box. “It’s so beautiful I don’t want to open it.”

  “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Sarah added.

  Katia grinned at Mrs. Beabots. “I had help. Just pull back on the brooches.”

  Sophie opened the invitation to reveal gold parchment, with black French Script. Sophie skimmed the invitation, but her eyes latched on to the words our family and friends. It took her a moment to move past the fact that she was being included in Katia’s special day. Sophie felt a rush of warmth that went straight to her heart and tugged at the door there that had never been opened. Her eyes stung and her throat constricted with emotions she hadn’t experienced since she was a little girl—and even then it was only with her mother and grandmother.

  Sophie tried to keep a grip on her composure. She forced herself to read the rest of the invitation, then she looked at Katia.

  “This is only a month away.”

  “I know. It’s getting here faster than I’d thought. We just picked out our rings today. There’s so much to do.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Sophie, our wedding is very small and it’s being held at home. I only want my friends there. Please say you’ll come.”

  Sophie rose and put her arms around Katia. “Thank you. I’d be honored.”

  As Sophie sat back down, she carefully closed the invitation. “I’ll keep this all my life.” And she meant it.

  “Me, too,” Sarah said.

  “And, Katia,” Sophie began, “I think my grandmother would love to help you with your wedding flowers. She’s a romantic, and when you explain how you’ve dreamed of flowers like hers, she’ll be thrilled.”

  “Do you mean it, Sophie? Because if it will cause any trouble, or jeopardize—”

  Sophie waved her hand to stop Katia’s words. “Nonsense. Besides the romance, she loves to make a profit. I’ll take you out to the farm tomorrow night after work, if that’s okay.”

  Katia’s eyes gleamed with delight. “Perfect!” Then she frowned. “Uh, I forgot. I have a late appointment at the office. Can you pick me up there?”

&
nbsp; “Sure,” Sophie replied without thinking.

  “Great. Then it’s not far for you from the hospital, either. It’s a date!” Katia clasped her hands together. “Oh, my gosh! I think I’m truly going to have my dream wedding.”

  Sophie forced a smile as the others chatted about the other arrangements. She was lost in her own thoughts.

  Would Jack be at the office when she came to pick up Katia? And if so, would his mood be as sour as it was when he left her at The Louise House tonight? Or would she sense forgiveness from him as she had earlier?

  If she were to take Katia’s advice, she should keep trying to break through the wall of ice around Jack. Something told Sophie he was the one guy who was worth it.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  JACK’S DESK WAS a blizzard of files, reports and contact sheets that he and Katia had compiled since his first negotiations with Emory Wills at the Indian Lake Hospital months ago.

  Until Frenchie came along, this company was all he cared about, and now that he’d been in Indian Lake for eight months, he was itching to take the business to the next level.

  Katia rapped on his door, then breezed in. Cheerily, she plunked a mega-sized latte on his desk with the new Italian-looking logo from Cupcakes and Coffee. “Ah, my favorite rocket fuel. I think we’ll need it today,” he said, taking a deep drink.

  “Not yet,” she replied.

  Katia handed him what appeared to be a jewelry box, all satin and rhinestone clasps. “What’s this?”

  “My invitation.”

  “This cost some bucks.”

  “Killjoy. I only had twenty-five made because there’re so few people coming to the wedding.”

  He smiled at her. “Well, then, thank you. I’m honored.” He started to hand it back. “You can save this one and give it to someone else. I already marked the day on my calendar.”

  Katia raised an eyebrow. “You were that sure you’d be invited?”

  Flashing her a sidelong glance he said, “I’m walking you down the aisle or stairs. Remember?”

  “I was just kidding! Keep the invitation. To remember my day.”

  “It’s so—” he studied the elegant box “—you.”

  She smirked. “That was the idea.” She lowered her eyes to his desk. “So, what’s all this?”

  Jack exhaled and crossed his arms behind his head. “This, Katia, is our future. At least a decade of it, I would wager.”

  Katia picked up one of the folders. “This is the policy I sold to Emory Wills.”

  “Exactly, which in twenty-four months will be obsolete.”

  “What?” She jolted back in her chair. “I researched that policy...”

  Jack held up his hands. “Things are changing for the hospital. That’s what I want to talk to you about. I’ve been in touch with several other hospitals in the Benedictine Hospital Network.”

  “Good, because I know how much you want their business, as well. What’s been their response?”

  “Positive. But here’s the news. They just put in a bid to acquire Indian Lake Hospital, which would take Indian Lake out of the independent world and into a conglomerate. Which means we would most likely lose the contract we already have and we’d have to start dealing with the powers-that-be at Benedictine, who are based in Indianapolis.”

  “No wonder you look anxious. So, when do you leave for Indy?”

  “You’re quick.” He placed his hands on the desk. “Tomorrow.”

  Katia crossed her legs and folded her arms. “What can I do?”

  “We both have to kick into a higher gear.”

  “And I’m leaving on my honeymoon in a month.”

  “Yep. So I’ve decided to bring Owen up to speed immediately. Can you give him a crash course in all this so he can take the lead while you’re gone? You’re going to hate this while you’re staring dreamily into Austin’s eyes in Venice, but I need you to keep your cell phone on and check your email while you’re away.”

  She nodded. “That’s okay. Austin has to stay in touch with his office every day, as well. We’re adults-in-charge, Jack. We understand that at our level of responsibility, total escape is not possible. I’ll be happy for half a day, each day, of privacy.”

  “That’s big of you. I’d be wanting all day and all night. You’ve burst my honeymoon dream bubble.”

  Katia stared at him unblinkingly. “You? Have a honeymoon dream? I don’t believe it.”

  “Hey, I can have fantasies.”

  “Yeah, sure. I just didn’t think you did.”

  Jack knew his grin was impish. “Then you don’t know me that well.”

  “Does anybody?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Katia shrugged. “I was like you—before Austin. All work and no play. You have an excuse, though. This is your company. Well, yours and Barry’s. You feel like you’re Barry’s life insurance policy. He told me that he and his family are your sole beneficiaries. He’s your brother-in-law, Jack. That I understand. But he’s not your life.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “Nope. You don’t have a life.” Katia delivered the words with so much assurance and truth Jack felt she’d thrown a javelin through his stomach.

  He jerked back. He felt a burn in his heart. She was right and he hated it. He didn’t have a life. No wife. No kids. Only Frenchie—and she was a new addition.

  He rubbed his forehead, feeling slightly disoriented.

  “I shouldn’t have said that,” Katia whispered. “But you’re my friend, Jack. You’re like the brother I never had. I love you and I care about what you do for all of us and for yourself.”

  Jack read the affection and empathy on her face. Katia was like family to him. She was one of the reasons he wanted his company to grow. She’d put so much of herself into his business, he could never repay her. And he realized she was doing what a real friend did—she was telling him what he needed to hear whether he liked it or not. Katia had always been diplomatic, but she didn’t sugarcoat.

  When he needed to give her hard news, she didn’t like the truth sugarcoated, either.

  “Tell you what, Katia. I’ll put some thought into my personal life. But not yet. Not today. In order for us to save what we have and build a larger clientele, we have to be aggressive with the hospital.”

  Katia made no secret of her exasperation with him and sighed heavily. “Okay. Talk to me about Emory.”

  “Have you heard talk about a new hospital?”

  Surprise filled her eyes. “No way. Who told you that?”

  “I heard it at the Rotary meeting from three key people. Two were city councilmen. Benedictine has already sent surveyors here to check out the vacant property on the other side of the railroad station. This means Emory has to scramble to keep his job and then be accepted as the finest administrator, if Benedictine moves in.”

  Katia speared him with a stony look. “That means he’ll be trying to make Indian Lake’s bottom line as solvent as possible. We should be in good standing on that point. He couldn’t possibly get a better package than ours.”

  “It also means he won’t expand anything right now. I was hoping for that deal.”

  She shook her head vigorously. “Not necessarily. What if you presented him with something even more competitive? Something that would make even Benedictine sit up and take notice?”

  “Possible. Doable.” He rolled a pen up and down his desktop. His mind filled with different scenarios. “I think Emory will cut every expense he can. Starting with staff. Anyone not pulling their weight, he’ll fire.”

  “Usual corporate procedure. Which I hate,” she said with a biting tone. “I can see why you have to go to Indianapolis.”

  Jack folded his hands in his lap, as he always did when he mad
e a decision. He didn’t know why. Perhaps it was his form of praying he’d chosen the right course. “I also realize I have to keep Emory happy with us. If these rumors are true, we need to be prepared to deal with Benedictine. If they aren’t, then Emory is still our guy.”

  “Can you ask Emory about this?”

  Jack shook his head. “I doubt he’d tell me the truth or that he’s allowed to. I’m just a vendor.”

  “So, we’re going on speculation.”

  “I’m afraid so,” Jack groaned.

  Just then Jack’s intercom phone rang. Melanie announced that Katia’s appointment had arrived. “You’d better go.”

  She nodded and headed for the door. Then she looked back at him over her shoulder. “I’ll do all I can to help, Jack. You know that.”

  “I do, and thanks.”

  “Oh, by the way, Sophie is meeting me here today after my appointment. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Sophie?” Jack’s head bobbed up from his papers like he’d just broken through the ocean’s surface after a deep dive. “Why? What does she want?”

  “It’s what I want from her. She’s helping me with my wedding flowers. We’re driving out to her parents’ farm tonight to pick out sunflowers.”

  “Oh.”

  Katia tapped the door with her left hand. “See you later.”

  He stared after her, still thinking about Sophie.

  Wedding flowers. And was that a diamond ring Katia was wearing today?

  Big rock.

  Jack dropped his head into his hands. What was the matter with him lately? It wasn’t so long ago that he’d face a situation like Emory Wills and the Indian Lake Hospital and all he’d see were dollar signs and signed contracts.

  This time he was concerned about employee cutbacks.