“We can worry about that when the time comes,” I say, squeezing her hand.
Sofia can’t stop yawning, so we encourage her to go to bed.
Jon gets up to hug her. “Thank you again for coming all this way.”
“Thank you for having us.”
“It’s a pleasure.”
“I’ll be up in a few,” I tell her, hoping for a minute to talk to Jon alone.
“I’m out, too,” Kathy says. “Is there anything I can get you?”
“No, we’re fine,” Sofia says. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
She gives me an uncertain look, as if to ask if she said the right word.
I smile at her and give her a thumbs-up.
They leave the room together.
Jon gets up to put another log on the fire and then holds up his glass. “One more?”
“Sure, thanks.”
He pours me a generous amount of whiskey and the same for himself. Smiling as he hands me the glass, he says, “This is how you stay warm during the winter in Minnesota.”
“I can see how it’d be helpful.”
“Sofia mentioned that Mateo has been sick?”
Nodding, I say, “He had a cancerous brain tumor removed more than a year ago. He’s doing well, but still working to come back from that.”
“Wow. Was that the end of it? The surgery?”
“He had radiation, and the doctors are hopeful that he’s beaten it. He’s had a lot of therapy, but they said it’s going to take time to fully recover. He’s been swimming in the pool at my house, and we can already see him getting stronger.”
“I can’t believe how much she’s been through.”
“There’s so much more than that. It’s not my story to tell you, but just know there’s more.”
“I can see that you care for her very much. Have you been together long?”
“Not that long officially, but friends for quite some time. I love her and Mateo very much. In fact, I hope to ask her to marry me soon.”
“That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“I guess it’s a pipe dream to hope you guys might move here.”
“I own a home and a business in Miami. I wouldn’t be able to move.”
“So, I shouldn’t push too hard for that, huh?”
“I want Sofia to be happy. If she’d be happier here where all of you are—the only family she’s ever really had until mine adopted her—then I’d sell everything to be with her and Mateo.”
“But home is Miami for both of you.”