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“That sounds just fine.”
Chapter 21
Sofia satin the hard wooden chair at the café and squirmed. She was sore in all the best places, and feeling a little raw from Adrian’s stubble during their shower adventure. It was a miracle no one had drowned. He’d given her two more orgasms and a renewed appreciation for the pleasures her body could provide. For the first time in years, she was aware of her body without a lick of shame. She smirked and replayed the way he’d knelt and hooked her leg over his shoulder while leaning her back under the spray. The combination of steaming hot water and his wicked tongue flowing over her clit had been mind-blowing. By the time he relented and let her go down on him, she’d lost all finesse, caught up in raw passion. She made him come all over her chest and enjoyed every second of cleaning up again. Even now, the mere memories were making her tingle.
So when her mom came up behind her and dropped a hand on her shoulder, Sofia leaped from her chair and blushed beet red as her mother laughed.
“Whoa! Easy. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Sofia leaned in and kissed her mother on the cheek before gesturing to the chair next to hers.
“I was daydreaming.” And what a fine dream it was. “Can I get your latte?”
“No, darling. I’ll have a mocha, please.”
“You look lovely today. What’s the occasion?”
Josephine Valenti never dressed up without good reason. After years in the construction offices, jeans and flannels were practically her uniform. There were certain constants in Sofia’s world. Her mother wore flannel, made a mean red sauce, and always drank skim lattes before lunch. So this polished version of her mother, complete with makeup and jewelry and ordering mochas, was cause for question.
“I don’t need a reason to do the things that make me feel good. No time like the present.”
“That’s true.” Sofia dutifully ordered a mocha for her mother and an Americano for herself. While her mother, still slender at sixty, could afford the calories of a mocha splurge, Sofia could not. As of this morning, she was taking back her life and going on a diet. She’d even gone so far as to clear out her chocolate drawer at work. It was killing her slowly. No one ever died from chocolate withdrawal, she reminded herself sternly. But man, that mocha smelled divine.
She set the tempting cup in front of her mother, who smiled and drank deeply.
“So, how’ve you been, Mom? You haven’t come around the office lately to catch up.”
“I’m not giving that place one more minute of my life.” The smile dropped from her mother’s face. The vehemence behind that statement set Sofia back in her chair. Her mother had certainly been more and more withdrawn from the business since Gabe’s death, but she still popped in from time to time just to check up on things. Looking back, it had been a good six months since her mother had casually dropped by.
“Well, the pilot has finished filming. The Shahs loved their new home.”
“That’s nice, dear.” Josephine took a sip of her coffee and checked her phone.
That was it?That’s nice, dear?Sofia had spent the last month juggling the job her mother had dropped in her lap on top of this huge project. The casual disinterest felt like a slap in the face. Her mother looked up at her silence and Sofia’s shock must’ve shown on her face, because Jo quickly followed up.
“You know what I mean. I’m sure it was challenging, and I’m glad it’s done now. I didn’t know how you were going to juggle everything. But honestly, I hope the show doesn’t get picked up.”
Sensing that she was stepping through a minefield of conversational topics, Sofia tried to pick a new path. Adrian was the topic on the tip of her tongue. She couldn’t get him out of her head or her heart. Anytime she started dating someone new, her mom was the first to know. It felt strange that things had progressed so far without her mother’s counsel. She should ask about bringing him to dinner Friday. Adrian had never been to a family dinner before, and she was nervous about how it would go. But with him by her side, Sofia felt she could handle her family’s questions. Sofia wanted Adrian to be as welcome at her family table as she’d felt in Graciela’s kitchen. Maybe they could get everyone together for a talk about the proposal. It was worth a shot.
“Are we still on for family dinner next Friday?”
“Yes.” Jo had gone back to tapping on her phone. Who on earth was she texting? Since when did her mom text?
“Can I bring Adrian along?”
Jo sighed and turned her phone over. “I wish we didn’t have to bring business to the table, but I suppose it’s fine.”
“It’s not business, Ma. I’m seeing him.”
Another awkward pause filled the space between them, accompanied by a searching and faintly pitying look from her mother.Ouch.Sofia rubbed a hand across her heart to ease the pinch. What was she seeing? Her daughter playing Icarus and reaching too close to the sun? Did she just assume Sofia wouldn’t be able to hold the attention of a guy like Adrian? Or was it the opposite, more of a “no guy is good enough for my daughter” thing? Adrian was a guy who worked in construction. Did she hold that against him? That couldn’t be it. For goodness’ sake, she’d married Dad, and she’d known Adrian for twelve years. He was a good guy, and Jo liked him. So, Option A: Sofia wasn’t “enough” for him.
Her mother’s unspoken critique flowed like rancid oil through her mind, coating every good thought with thick, sticky shame. Of course she wasn’t good enough for a man like Adrian. Just look at him. Gorgeous, brave, successful. Everything Sofia wasn’t. And whose fault was that? Her own, but she resented the fact that her mother had walked away and let the business fall into Sofia’s lap. If she hadn’t been stuck behind that desk for three years, maybe she’d have more to bring to the table. Pain and frustration pummeled her in waves and threatened to pull her under into the deep world of self-doubt and shame. She cast about, looking for a lifeline. Her mother might not approve, but Sofia wasn’t going to let that sway her from her mission today. She’d told her siblings she’d find out what was going on between their parents. There would be time to tend her wounds later.
“So what have you been up to lately?”
“I’ve joined a group for older adults that plans outings to local sites of interest. It has been so fun! We got in for a tour of Moffett Field and the Rosicrucian Museum. We even helped prune back the roses at the San Jose Rose Garden. I’ve learned so much!”
For the first time since she arrived, her mother seemed like her old self, excited and full of energy. Sofia hadn’t realized how long that sparkle had been missing until it showed up full force today. She was glad to see her parents finally starting to pull out of the grieving spiral. Maybe there was no need to worry about them not speaking. Dad was probably blowing things out of proportion again.
