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“Josh, I can talk to Kai, but I don’t know.” She frowned at her husband knowing there was more. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He scratched his neck uncomfortably. “For the first year of Hannah’s life, he called me and asked me how Kai and Hannah were doing?”
“What?” Sophie glanced around to see if anyone was looking at them. A few patrons smiled, so she smiled in return and focused on Josh. “Why didn’t you tell me or Kai?”
“For the simple fact that it only lasted a year. I didn’t want Kai to get hurt.”
“Wow, I don’t know what to say. I’m not sure how that makes a difference now.”
“He’d really like to get to know Hannah. He was shocked that Kai is expecting her second child with Roman.”
She was really frowning at her husband now. “What possessed you to tell him so much personal information about Kai?”
Josh shrugged. “They live in the same town, Sophie. It didn’t cross my mind to not tell him when they could run into each other at any time.”
“I couldn’t get that lucky Ben would have to eat his heart out, Josh.” She shook her head at him. “I ran into Richard right before my diagnosis and Jake last week. He asked how Kai and Hannah were doing.”
“What did you say?”
“The truth. She’s happy and expecting her second baby with Roman.”
“You loved it too, didn’t you?”
“Honestly, no. I can’t say that I did. He was hurting. You didn’t ask me how Richard was,” she noted.
“I see him all the time at Home Depot, Wal-Mart and the golf course. He looks like hell.”
&n
bsp; Sophie snorted. “What did he expect? He hates his life without Micki. He lost that belonging to a family and the friendships that he had with her.”
The server brought their meals ending their conversation for the moment. Sophie took a bite or two. Then she looked at Josh. “If something happens to me, find someone else Josh. You’re young, promise me that you’ll do that for me.”
She watched his hands trembling as he held the cheeseburger halfway to his mouth. He laid it down and cleared his throat. Her eyes traveled up to his face where she saw that his eyes now watered.
“I don’t want to hear this right now,” he said.
“Just promise me, please. I don’t want you to be like Richard and Jake. They made their choices. You might not have that choice. Please, Josh. Promise me and I won’t bring it up again.”
She might think about it, but she wouldn’t talk about a future that didn’t include her with Josh. He nodded. That wasn’t good enough. “Josh, I need you to stay the words for me.”
“Sophie,” he choked on just her name.
She lowered her gaze to her plate and pushed the fork around the salad, but she didn’t eat herself. Josh hadn’t touched his burger either. They sat in their booth, each lost in their sad thoughts, thinking about a life they neither one wanted to contemplate.
Finally, Josh said, “I promise. Happy?”
Her eyes moved up, so she could see his face. “I’m not but I feel better.”
Sophie left half of her salad while Josh left a quarter of his food as well. He paid the bill while Sophie stood behind him at the register. Then they walked out the door into the intense sunshine. He slipped his sunglasses over his eyes. Sophie wished that she had hers.
Josh put his arm around her shoulders and walked her to the passenger door. They were going back to the office. Her truck was there in case she didn’t want to work all afternoon, she could go home. He stopped at the door before he unlocked it. Josh was looking at her, but she couldn’t see his eyes for the shades covering them. He leaned down and gently touched his lips to hers. After all these years, her toes still tingled, and she was happy.
“I love you, Sophie.” That was all he said before he unlocked the door and held it for her.
She slipped into the passenger seat and tugged him to her. “I love you too.” She gave him a soft, sweet kiss then pushed him back.
“Don’t leave me,” he whispered.
