“What are you saying?” she finally asks, a hint of desperation and hope in her voice.
“I think that if any girl has a heart big enough to love more than one person, it’s her. She needs us as much as we need her, and she completes us.” It’s something I’ve thought about way too much the last few weeks.
“I hope you’re right. I wouldn’t even consider something this crazy if it was coming from anyone other than you. You really think she’d go for that?” Abby appears pensive, as if imagining the possibilities. “At least I wouldn’t have to worry about jealousy.”
“It may take some adjusting, and nobody said everyone has to be down, but we should talk to the others,” I add as she tucks herself back into my side. I feel her nod her head against me before she falls silent. We both swing quietly, processing the idea and offering each other a reprieve from the stress.
Friday
Evening
Charlie
Danielle apparently left by the time we were done with story time. I can’t help but smile at how adorable Cole was while he read his brothers a story. I think I enjoyed it as much as the twins did and I didn’t think I’d have anything good to think about tonight.
Not to mention the kiss. I’m still shocked with myself for initiating it. Though now the guilt is back, knowing how I feel for the other guys. Then there’s Abby. I’ve never considered acting on my attraction to women, but there’s just something about Abby that draws me in, too.
Get it together, Charlie! You can’t like all four of them!
“Charlie!” Sophia rushes at me and almost knocks me over as she crushes me in her arms. “I was so worried. I’m so sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have let Danielle talk me into letting her tell you. She just insisted you’d want to hear it from her. But I’ll be with you the entire time and every single step of the process. Don’t worry,” she promises, tears leaking down her cheeks as she holds me close. I can’t help my own tears from flowing. I feel awful for making her worry but the hug from her soothes all the negative thoughts I’d had over the last few weeks and one thought stands out above the rest. She isn’t going to leave me after all. I squeeze her back to show how sorry I am for making her worry.
When I finally pull away, Sophia wipes her tears and leads me to the table. She seems to be on a mission, pulling out a takeout menu and quickly choosing what to eat, making sure I get to pick what I want, before placing the order. When she’s finished, she claims the chair next to mine and slides my notebook across the table until it stops in front of me.
“What can I do?” she asks, and the question takes me by surprise. Instead of being angry with me, she’s giving me the chance to reach out. She doesn’t pressure me to respond right away, merely sits and gives me a moment to figure out my answer.
‘I would still like to do a movie night Saturday, so you can meet my other friends since you already know Abby. I also think that I would finally like to go to my storage unit and see about my dad’s work papers, maybe I can find something for the detectives?’ I finish, sliding the notebook back. I know she probably wanted more, but I’m just not there yet.
She carefully reads it over and smiles, looking relieved to have a task.
“Your friends are welcome here anytime. They found my daughter, and that makes them worthy in my eyes. Sunday, I will clear whatever I have to do and take you to the unit. Is it in Starbrooke?”
I nod as tears blur my vision again. I’m usually fantastic at masking emotions, but tonight I can’t help it. She called me her daughter and meant it, and it hit me hard. The barriers I’ve built around myself start to shatter a bit more. With people like this surrounding me, maybe emotions aren’t so bad. I want so badly to say ‘thank you’ out loud, but I still can’t bring myself to try it.
But Sophia seems to get me anyway, giving my hand a squeeze before leading me to the living room. “Well for now, we’ll watch something and eat, then relax. It’s been a long night, sweetie.”
My smile is instantaneous, and she hands me the remote. Pulling up her Netflix, I sift through until I settle on a true crime documentary. She makes a startled noise and a short raspy chuckle escapes me.
“Okay, so these are my weakness, but are you sure?” she asks, shoulders tensing and gaze darkening. I nod and shoot her a confused look. “Oh, is that the ‘but you’re a lawyer, why would you watch this?’ look?” Her voice is mocking, and my smile grows because that was the exact thought I’d had.
‘It’s comforting for me, in a weird, morbid way,’ I write down. It’s like I know I’m not the only broken one out there, that there’s other people who’ve been through the same things, or similar at least.
“Not weird, I get it. And I love trying to guess who it is,” she says with a laugh. “Keeps my lawyer skills sharp.”
We fall silent as the show starts, only pausing long enough for her to answer the door. She plops down in front of the coffee table and slides my box and soda to me before hitting play again. I’m totally living for her play by play reactions, yelling at the TV and all.
‘The gardener did it, I’d bet money on it,’ I write down and she grins.
“No way, it’s the housekeeper. Did you see the way she eyed the dad?” I snort but shake my head.
‘She did, but she doesn’t have the strength to drag them all out and dig a hole. But the gardener would never be noticed covering that up,’ I challenge, and her mouth falls open.
“Holy crap, you’re right,” she says, shaking her head. “You’d make a good detective.”
The comment was said casually, but I smile. It’s what I’ve wanted to get to ever since I lost my family. It was my way of showing the world I wasn’t broken and would give me the chance to give families the closure I haven’t gotten.
Yet, at least.
As the ending scene comes on, they’re arresting the gardener and explaining the sentencing and I do a triumphant dance, Sophie chuckling as we turn it off and start cleaning up our mess. It’s not where I saw the night going, but honestly I’ve never felt closer to her.