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My father’s expression clears when he sees us approaching and it goes back to the stern faced man.
I wistfully wish he would show me that same expression that came so easy to him for my daughter. But I’m an adult and I can’t envy my own child, so I just sigh and smile.
“What’s her last name?” my father asks.
“Smith. Sophie Smith. I didn’t know what else to put there.”
Actually, that’s not true.
Lucas had offered. In the hospital bed, he had offered to give Sophie his surname that would offer her a wealth of protection. Of course, at that time, he hadn’t known what protection the family name of the Smith offered.
I realize now that moment is forever carved into my memory.
My father meets my gaze and there is approval in it.
“Have you signed her up for preschools yet?” My mother questions me as she offers me her hands and I grasp them.
“Not yet.”
“I’ve heard you have to do that even before the child is born. Otherwise, all the good preschools are gone.”
I wince, “I wasn’t in a state of mind to do anything of the sort when I was pregnant. “Besides, I was thinking of sending her to a public school. There’s one which has a preschool and it’s near my office.”
“You can’t send her to a public school!” My father sounds horrified.
I blink, feeling a little shocked at his outburst. Wasn’t I sent to one of those? I shake my head exasperated. “I can’t afford a private one and besides, I prefer to have her close by, so I can pick her up as needed.”
“Nonsense!” my father says, angrily. “She’ll go to a private one. What’s not to afford? We have enough money to spare.”
My mother nods in agreement. “Also, your father and I feel that maybe you should move back home. The house is big enough and has too many rooms. I can look after Sophie while you’re at work.”
My jaw is dropping at all these changes. “Mother, I can’t just move back into my parents’ house. I’m a grown woman!”
I cannot live under the same roof as them. I’ll go insane!
Seeing the gloomy look appear on my father’s face, I bite my tongue and say, “Maybe I could look into an apartment close by. But I have to be mindful of things like rent and stuff.” His eyes flicker and I immediately say, “Look, give me some time and I’ll figure something out. I have a lot going on at the moment as well.”
To my relief, they don’t argue, but I catch them glancing at Lucas and I have a very bad feeling Lucas will be dragged into this somehow.
The rest of the wedding passes by pleasantly enough.
Debra finds out about my parents and she’s beyond thrilled. Her and Lucas’ mother come over to introduce herself and my mother and her hit it off, quite well.
Sophie is passed between the grandparents and the probably soon to be grandmother. I haven’t exactly digested the fact that there’s a very good chance that Lucas will marry me now. It’s a little too much to process.
It’s evening when I finally take Sophie back with promises to bring her to see my parents on Sunday, after church. That also means no more lazy Sundays for me. I stopped going to church after the slight falling out with my parents. Now, I have to get back in the habit and I don’t completely hate the idea.
During the ride back home, Sophie falls asleep in the baby seat that Lucas installed in the back row, permanently.
Lucas and I are quiet, though a thrumming tension between us has my heart fluttering in my chest. I haven’t forgotten his words from before and now anticipation mixed with wariness is making an odd cocktail in the pit of my stomach.
I carry Sophie inside. After changing her and feeding the sleepy child, I put her to bed.
Lucas is sprawled on the couch, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his head against the back of the couch, his eyes closed.
“Tired?” I ask, feeling my own feet aching.
He cracks open one eye and holds out a hand. “Never too tired for such a pretty woman.” He leers at me. “Come sit in my lap.”
