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“We can do that.” I felt like I’d committed another error. Wasn’t I already supposed to know about these things? I racked my brain, trying to remember if Melanie had ever talked about teacher assignments and school supplies, but I couldn’t.
Sophie reached over and touched my leg. “Do you need clothes for school?”
Kendall nodded tightly. “Everything’s getting too small.”
“You want us to go together, or do you shop online?” I had no idea what Kendall and Melanie did for clothes.
“Mom helped me pick things out online.”
“We can do that,” Sophie said.
Maybe Sophie would know more about girls’ clothes than me. Where to shop and what to get. But was it a good idea to step aside and let Sophie handle the things I should be?
Parenting after being absent for so long was difficult terrain. But if I could handle basic training, then I should be able to handle clothing a nine-year-old girl.
“I’ve got this. I’ve never been around for any of this stuff, and I want to be.”
Kendall looked pleased, but Sophie’s expression was unsettled. Had I screwed up? Pushed her away somehow?
Navigating this situation created uncomfortable pressure in my chest. I didn’t want to hurt either one of them.
“You want to eat at Giovanni’s?” I asked them.
“It’s only the best pizza in town,” Sophie added.
I shook my head with a wry smile. “I can’t believe we haven’t tried it since I’ve been back.”
“You haven’t eaten at Giovanni’s yet, Kendall?” Sophie asked her.
Kendall shook her head.
“You’re in for a treat,” Sophie said.
I hoped we hadn’t made a mistake in telling Kendall about our relationship. I had no experience with children. Maybe I should have waited to date. Focus on Kendall first. That had been my initial plan, but then I’d run into Sophie, and it was like we’d fallen right back into our relationship. First as friends and then as lovers. It was like quicksand with Soph; she sucked me in, and I didn’t want to fight it.
“My friend Gia’s family owns it. She’s the wedding planner at Happily Ever Afters. Her dad and brothers run the pizza shop.”
“She didn’t want in on the family business?” I asked her, grateful Sophie was changing the subject from school and our relationship.
“She’s never said why, but I guess not. She has good business sense, and I’m happy to be working with her now.”
“How’s that going?” I remembered Sophie talking about getting clients referred by Gia.
“Good. We signed a few more couples this week.” Then Sophie turned around to address Kendall. “Gia is a wedding planner. She wants to be a one-stop shop, if you will. Brides will come to her for the whole package—a wedding planner, baker, photographer, and even linens, chairs, and tables if they need it.”
“And you’re the baker,” I said unnecessarily.
Sophie smiled at me. “That’s right. I had to hire some employees to handle the shop because I’ll be busier meeting with clients and fulfilling wedding cake orders, but it will be worth it in the long run.”
“So, you won’t bake anymore?” Kendall didn’t seem happy about that.
“I hired another baker to handle it when I can’t be there.”
“It won’t be the same,” Kendall said quietly.
“That’s what I was afraid of, but if Olivia sticks to my recipes, it will be fine. I can’t be tied to the kitchen all the time. I need breaks, too. I’d like to travel. I’ve never left Maryland.”
I whistled. “I hadn’t realized that.”
