AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m glad it’s just the three of us for a minute,” she says. “I know this has the potential to be awkward, but let’s not let it be, okay?” She directs her words to me. “Sofie is back in Landmark to stay, and we don’t turn our backs on family.” She turns and walks toward the kitchen. “Come on in, the food’s ready. Mmm, pies. Theo, help her carry those pies in.”
“No, she just turns her back on us,” I say under my breath.
Sofie’s eyes shoot to mine, and she grimaces. “Sorry, Theo,” she says softly. “I thought she’d tell you I was coming.”
I don’t say anything as I take the pies from her and walk away. I might not want to see her, but that strawberry pie she brought over didn’t last anytime. The girl has learned to cook since she’s been away.
There’s a holy hush when she first walks into the room. I think Grinny must have instructed everyone to be on their best behavior because they greet Sofie with warmth and kindness…not that they’d ever be rude to her, but—well, Scarlett might be. She took it almost as hard as I did when Sofie left. Sofie was like a sister to her.
But Grinny sets the stage once again. “I ran into Sofie earlier in the week and was so happy to spend a little time with her. She’s decided to make Landmark her home again and since so much has changed for her here, I hoped we could let her know our family is still the same. There’s always room for you at our table, Sofie,” Grinny says, smiling at her fondly.
My sister’s eyes meet mine and I don’t miss the concern in her expression.
We start piling our plates with food and get in our places at the table, Sofie ending up directly across from me.
Owen breaks the tension and then inadvertently creates more. “I’m Owen,” he says. “I think I’ve heard about you. Are you the one who made Uncle Theo sad?”
“Owen,” Sutton says under his breath. “That’s not our business.”
“But…” Owen whisper-shouts. “I want to know. Uncle Theo is awesome.”
Sutton looks at me apologetically and then Sofie. “Yes, he is. Welcome back, Sofie. How’s life treated you since you’ve been away?”
“It’s been pretty quiet,” she says, surprising me with her choice of words. “And not even close to as beautiful as it is here. I’m glad to be back. I really missed…home.”
She looks at me when she says that and my gut churns. I look down at my plate and try to figure out how fast I can bolt.
CHAPTERNINE
BITTERSWEET
SOFIE
I manage to get through the dinner without too many uncomfortable moments.
I knew it was risky coming here, but I expected it to be worse, actually. I should’ve known the Landmark family wouldn’t mistreat me.
That’s not to say it’s all warm and fuzzy. Conversation is stilted and Grinny, Jamison, and Owen do the hard lifting as far as doing the most talking.
Scarlett is sitting next to me and turns to look at me when we’re eating the pies I brought over. I brought a strawberry pie and a key lime pie.
“Wow. I didn’t expect these to be so good,” she says, laughing. She has a small sliver of both pies on her plate. “Remember when we tried to make cheesecake and it was such a disaster?”
I’ve always loved Scarlett. She’s three years younger than me and was just turning fifteen when I left. We were so close. She was like the little sister I’d always wanted, and I loved her friends too. They came to me for help with makeup—although it didn’t take long before I was the one going to Scarlett for help with mine. Her skills at putting together the perfect outfit and knowing just what to do to accentuate someone’s best features were always superior to mine. But I could give advice about boys, and I was a good listener, and I loved the fact that I was someone Scarlett and her friends trusted to share their deepest secrets.
Seeing her all grown up, a stunning woman now, and in love, is making my heart hurt, both in a good way and because I’m sad I’ve missed so much of it. Being with all of them is doing that to me though…
I laugh, nodding. “I remember. It was so runny it dripped off the dessert plates.”
“And those brownies that we cooked for so long that one time—they were both burnt and runny at the same time,” she says. She takes another bite of pie and hums. “But this…perfection.”
“Thank you.” I smile at her and at Jamison, who’s leaning in so he can see me too.
He’s had his arm around Scarlett or his hand on her leg for most of the meal.
“It’s good to see you so happy,” I tell her.
She flushes and looks at Jamison as he gazes adoringly back at her.
