Page 51 of Searching for Love

ChapterSeventeen

With Lucas’s sister and her two cats fast asleep on the sofa bed in the living room of her cottage, Avery snuggled tight against Lucas’s side.

Sophia had taken almost a full hour to shower after Avery had helped her wrap her cast in a trash bag.

Lucas had wanted to barge in there when they’d heard her crying, but Avery stopped him and held onto him while he vibrated with anger geared towards their father.

“I should have killed him,” he whispered over and over.

When Sophia emerged from the bathroom, he’d held onto her for the longest time. She’d made them a pan of lasagna that she’d had in her freezer along with a loaf of Italian bread. Then to follow that up, they’d eaten the rest of her ice cream while watching reruns of Friends until Sophia had drifted off to sleep with both cats snuggled up tight against her.

“How will they get over this?” he whispered in the quiet room.

She shifted in the dark, leaning over him. The moonlight drifted through the windows, allowing her to see his face in the soft moonlight.

“They are stronger than you know.” She met his eyes. “We are strong when there is the support and love of family. I am lucky to have such an amazing one, but yours is no less than mine. Yours is stronger in ways. Your mother is an amazing woman who raised two wonderful people after living through hell. Going through fire can be difficult but what’s left behind sometimes grows stronger. Sophia is an amazing woman already. She’s full of humor and light.” She smiled as a tear slipped down her cheek. Lucas reached up and wiped it away, cupping her face. “You’re amazing. All three”—she shook her head—“four of you.”

Lucas smiled. “That man doesn’t have to be blood to love my mom like a daughter.”

“No, he doesn’t.” She leaned down and brushed her lips over his. He winced slightly thanks to his cut lip, which she had cleaned earlier. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

“Later, when my sister isn’t just outside the bedroom door and when I won’t split my lip open, I’d like to thank you properly for taking care of them.” His hands moved over her body and she melted back down next to him, resting her head on his shoulders.

“I’d like that. For now, I’m too tired and a little sore to move again until morning.” She fell fast asleep as he ran his fingers through her hair.

Walking into Sara’s Nook the next morning to see her entire family and a few other friends gathered to support Lucas and Sophia warmed her heart. For the first few moments, Sophia appeared intimidated. Then Parker and Sara’s kids, Ethan and Ellie, started running around, and Sophia easily chased after the kids, enjoying playing with them while they waited for their food.

“If you ever need a babysitter,” Lucas joked to Parker.

“We’d love it.” Parker laughed. “There are a handful of us that could use a good one in town. MaryBeth graduated last year and left Pride hurting for a full-time babysitter who isn’t a grandparent. Also, you’ve taken one of our best babysitters away.” He motioned to Avery with a smile. “Giving her a full-time job.” He shook his head. “Are your mother and sister thinking of moving to Pride?”

Lucas shrugged. “Trust me, I’ll be working to get them to agree to move closer after this. My mother is pretty stubborn. She loves her home and has worked very hard to pay it off over the years.”

“Well, if she does want to sell and buy in Pride, have her call me,” Hannah suggested. “We have a beautiful home in Hidden Cove that some buyers backed out of that’s move-in ready. It’s a three-bedroom and backs the inlet.”

“I’ll let her know,” Lucas agreed.

“Can we see it?” Sophia said, sitting back down just as their food arrived.

“Sure.” Hannah smiled. “If you want, you can follow me from here, and I can let you walk through it. Your mom can come later, once she’s back on her feet.”

“Thanks,” Sophia said with a slight smile. Then she turned to Lucas. “I don’t want to stay at that house again. I don’t think…” She shook her head. “I can’t.”

Lucas reached over and took his sister’s hand in his own. “We’ll talk to Mom together. Besides, I was hoping she would stop working two jobs in town and come work for me when we opened.”

Sophia’s smile grew. “Seriously? She’d love that. If we lived closer, she could. I can too. I’ll bus tables or wash dishes, whatever.”

Lucas laughed. “Hold on, we still have to convince Mom, and she has to have time to heal.”

“I’m going to stay with Grandpa. I was going to tell her this morning. I don’t want to sleep in the same place I was afraid…” She dropped off and glanced over at the kids who were now eating breakfast at the next table.

“You’re welcome to stay with me,” Avery suggested.

“Thanks, but my grandfather has three guest rooms and I already have a bunch of my things there since I spend a lot of time watching his place when he travels,” Sophia added.

“If you need anything, just text me,” Avery added.

The rest of the meal was filled with talk about the kids and a birthday party they had attended the weekend before.