Sweet on Sophie ( (A Red Maple Falls Novel, #11)

by Theresa Paolo

  “Hi Walt,” the women all said as he approached.

  “Ladies, it’s lovely to see you as always. I know you’re waiting on these.” He placed the drinks on the table. “I have half a mind to join you.”

  “You better not!” Terry’s voice boomed from the kitchen, and this time Kristen didn’t cover her laugh.

  Walt swatted his hand toward the kitchen and rolled his soft blue eyes. “I don’t listen to her.”

  “That’s what you think! Now get back in here and flip this burger.”

  “The open seat is yours, Walt. Anytime you need it.” Sophie gave him a wink, and with a smile, he strutted back to the kitchen.

  A few minutes later, Terry brought out their food and Sophie didn’t hesitate to bite into the apple cheddar turkey burger. She closed her eyes for a minute, savoring the delicious taste. She ate the same thing every Wednesday, yet every time she felt like she was tasting it for the first time and falling in love.

  “I’m worried about Drake,” Kristen said, and Sophie’s head popped up. “He was five minutes late to the office today after I had already rescheduled some of his morning appointments, and he was a bit frazzled. He’s never frazzled, no matter how stressful a day he’s had.”

  “He seemed okay when I saw him this morning,” Sophie said, and it’s not like five minutes was all that late. Registering a new student took time.

  Kristen’s head tilted. “You saw him?”

  “At the school with his niece, Charlotte. I pointed him toward the main office.”

  “Did she just blush?” Sarah asked, pointing her fork at Sophie’s face. “I swear she did.”

  “I think you’re right,” Kristen agreed. “Definitely some red spreading across her cheeks there.”

  “I am not blushing. Thank you.” Sophie popped a fry in her mouth, hoping to cover up the lie with the greasy goodness. She couldn’t help it if Drake Stevens was insanely good looking, and just the thought of his smile made her hot.

  Sarah took a bite of her side salad and tilted her head. “Are you ever going to tell us what happened on that date you two had?”

  Sophie had mentioned the date to her friends briefly when she tried to convince Kristen to give it a go with her boss.

  “There’s nothing to tell,” Sophie said. “We didn’t click.” More like he barely paid attention to her. He was more interested in the napkin in his lap than he had been in anything she had to say. She tried a multitude of topics, even asking him questions about work, but nothing hooked him. He nodded a lot, said yes a few times, then they ate in silence. It was awful, and Sophie couldn’t have gotten out of that restaurant fast enough. She was just grateful they opted for a restaurant across the town line, so the people of Red Maple Falls didn’t witness the epic failure of their date.

  “Drake gets along with everyone,” Kristen said.

  “I didn’t say we didn’t get along, just didn’t click.”

  Kristen’s eyebrow raised toward her hairline. “He’s very personable.”

  “Maybe in the professional world, but when it comes to dating, quite frankly, he sucks at it.” The words were out before she could stop them. Kristin and Sarah stared at her with a mix of confusion and amusement.

  Sarah tried to stifle a laugh, but it slipped out in a squeak. “There it is. Continue.”

  Sophie sighed. There was no point in lying now. “He wasn’t interested, and he couldn’t have made it any clearer. He was inattentive, uninterested and dull. He didn’t ask me a single question, and every question I asked him was met with a nod or a very vague answer. It was like I was keeping him from something and he was regretting having to sit at the table with me.”

  “That doesn’t sound like him at all,” Kirsten said, defending her boss.

  “Maybe he’s different outside the office,” Sophie countered.

  “I can’t imagine that.”

  “Well, anyway. I thought he could be my Mr. Right, and it was one of the biggest letdowns of my life. So here I am, still single and still on the search for Mr. Right.”

  “So, what was the blush about when you mentioned him?” Damn Sarah and her attentive nature.

  “He might’ve been a dud, but that doesn’t make him any less gorgeous, and let’s be honest, the man is not lacking in the looks department. He could bring a girl to her knees with that smile.” Come to think of it, their entire date, he didn’t smile once. His lips had been pressed into a perpetual state of discontent.

  “He is cute,” Sarah said.

  “Don’t let Cooper hear you say that,” Kristen joked.

  “Maybe you should let him hear it. He might want to finally get you down the aisle and make it official,” Sophie joked.

  This time Sarah blushed. She and Cooper had been together almost since the minute Cooper came back to their small town after years of traveling the world. He’d taken on the father role for Sarah’s son, and now they had a two-year-old son as well. They were a family in every sense of the word, but Sophie loved a good wedding. Not that the town was in short supply of those these days.

  Sarah’s sister-in-law Daisy was in the middle of planning her Valentine’s Day wedding to her high school sweetheart, and the entire town was on the invite list.

  Terry teetered over to the table and rested her hand on Sophie’s shoulder. “Don’t mind me, dear,” she said as she lifted her leg and adjusted her shoe. “These damn bunions are killing me today.” She put her foot down and patted Sophie’s shoulder. “Thank you, dear.”

  “Anytime, Terry.”

  “Now can I get you girls anything else? Another round of drinks?”

  Sarah held up her glass. “Yes, please. I’m not driving. Cooper’s going to pick me up after he gets Tommy from karate.”

  “That makes two of us,” Kristen said. “Jax is going to pick me up, too.”

  “Another round it is!” Terry announced.

  “I’ll take a water,” Sophie said. She didn’t have a significant other to come and rescue her and be her designated driver. She had to shoulder all the responsibility herself. Normally she didn’t mind, but in moments like this, she was reminded of how truly lonely she was.

  “We can drop you off,” Sarah said.

  Sophie shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I can’t leave my car here. I’ll have no way of getting it tomorrow. Besides, I have a class of ten six-year-olds to deal with first thing in the morning. I can’t have a wine headache.

  “How about I bring you some hot apple cider?” Terry suggested, though Sophie knew that Terry never just suggested. Whatever she offered, there was no refusing.

  “That sounds great,” she said.

  “I’ll even sprinkle a little cinnamon on top.” Terry made her way back to the kitchen. “And who do we have here!” Her voice resonated through the air and Sophie glanced toward the door.

  She inhaled a sharp breath as her eyes landed on Drake. His hand rested on Charlotte’s shoulder and Terry was bent at the knees talking to the girl.

  Sarah must’ve heard Sophie’s gasp because she turned in her chair and looked toward the front of the restaurant. She let out an oh before straightening.

  Terry motioned toward the dining room, and Drake took Charlotte by the hand and guided her toward a table.

  “Hey, doctor,” Kristen said as he passed.

  Drake slowed, turning his head toward them. He smiled when he spotted Kristen, and then his gaze drifted to Sophie’s. She swallowed at the intense heat that radiated up her neck when the light blue of his eyes met hers.

  “Hi, Kristen. Good evening ladies,” he said.

  “Is this the infamous Charlotte?” Kristen asked.

  Charlotte moved back, hiding partially behind Drake’s body. Sophie flashed her a warm smile. “Hi, sweetie. Did you tell your uncle about all the fun we had in class today?” She shook her head, and Sophie mock gasped. “You didn’t!” A slight smile tugged at Charlotte’s mouth and Sophie glanced up to Drake. “Charlotte made an owl today out of constructi
on paper. We wrote her name on it, and we hung it on the wall with all the other students. And don’t tell the other kids, but Charlotte’s was the prettiest.”

  A bigger smile spread across Charlotte’s face.

  “There’s that smile,” Sophie said, then turned to Sarah and Kristen. “Girls, this is Miss Charlotte. Charlotte these are my friends Sarah and Kristen. Kristen works with your uncle in the office.”

  “Hi, sweetie,” Kristen said, her voice ticking up a notch. “It’s so very nice to meet you. And how lucky are you to be in Miss Reynold’s class? My son had her as a teacher, and she’s still his favorite.”

  “My son, too,” Sarah added. “Tommy still talks about the butterfly cocoons.”

  “We’ll be doing those again in the spring,” Sophie said. It was one of her favorite activities to do with her kids. The excitement on their faces when the butterflies emerged from their cocoons was the single best part of her year. Now that she thought about it, that was pretty sad actually. She really needed to get out more.

  Terry came over with their second round of drinks. “Here we go.” She placed the glasses on the table. “And here is your hot apple cider.”

  “Terry put this round of drinks on my tab please.”

  “What, no!” Sophie exclaimed while Kristen and Sarah took sips from their glasses. “That’s not necessary.”

  “Consider it a thank you for helping us out yesterday.” He nudged Charlotte with his elbow.

  “Yesterday?” Sarah’s voice squeaked. “I thought it was today when you couldn’t find the office.”

  Heat exploded in Sophie’s cheeks. Sarah used to be the more reserved one; Cooper and his family were rubbing off on her. Or maybe it was the second glass of wine she was currently consuming.

  “She told you about that, huh? Well, yes, but she also helped Charlotte and I get all her school supplies yesterday. If it wasn’t for Sophie, Charlotte would have had the wrong notebook and probably not much more.”

  “It was nothing. I’m always happy to help students.”

  “Yes, she is,” Terry announced. “One of Red Maple Falls finest teachers, and with you being our finest doctor, it’s a wonder you two never hooked up.”

  Sophie inhaled at Terry’s remark and choked on air.

  “I’m the only doctor in town,” Drake said with a laugh, and Sophie sighed in relief as he steered the conversation away from them. “We’ll let you ladies get back to your meal.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Charlotte,” Sophie said, giving the girl a wave.

  Charlotte lifted her hand with hesitation and gave a short wave back. Sophie looked up to thank Drake for the drinks, but when their eyes met, her words got stuck in her throat. He stared at her with awe, and she wasn’t sure why.

  Heat uncoiled inside her, spreading up her chest and into her cheeks. Her lips parted as her brain tried to remember how to form sentences, but she was lost in the light blue irises that reminded her of cloudless days.

  “Thanks for the drinks, Doc,” Sarah said, holding up her glass.

  With a smile, he guided Charlotte to their table, and Sophie tried to avoid her friend’s gazes.

  “Definitely seems inattentive, uninterested, and what was the other thing?” Sarah asked.

  “Dull,” Kristen added over her glass.

  “Yes, that’s it.” Sarah snapped and pointed at Kristen. She took a sip of her wine and blinked up at Sophie. “If that’s what you consider dull, then you need to lower your expectations. Did you see how he was looking at her?”

  “It’s probably because Charlotte reacts to me. She hasn’t spoken since her mother’s funeral.”

  “I knew something was bothering him,” Kristen said. “When I asked, he started talking about insurance numbers, but I could see in his eyes there was something wrong. I didn’t want to prod. I assumed he was still dealing with the loss of his sister, and I know how hard it is to talk about when it’s so fresh.”

  “But he told Sophie,” Sarah said.

  “Probably because he knew I’d be her teacher. Seriously, you’re both looking way farther into this than needed. There is nothing going on with me and Drake Stevens, and there never will be.”

  She smiled and took a long drink of her apple cider. She and Drake were incompatible. Their date a total disaster, so why did that declaration hurt so bad?

  Chapter 5

  Drake was only five patients in, but he was ready to head home. He’d stayed up far too late reading articles about helping young children cope with the death of a parent. He hoped he’d find something that would help him be able to get Charlotte to talk, but he’d been unsuccessful. From what he could gather, she’d speak when she was ready. But what if she was never ready? What if she was twenty-three, and he still had to interpret what she needed through trial and error? How would she be able to handle the real world, when he wasn’t there to interpret for her?

  There weren’t many things Drake couldn’t figure out, and this…this was something he had no choice but to get right. Not only for him, but for Charlotte and her future.

  He rested back in his oversized leather desk chair and closed his eyes. He just needed a minute to clear his head and refuel.

  The loud, boisterous voice of Terry reverberated through the walls. He loved the woman and her cooking, but she was not known for her patience. He picked up her folder with her most recent bloodwork results and waved her in from the waiting room.

  “Terry, it’s good to see you as always.” He held the door wide for her, and she teetered by on her heels, patting his chest as she went.

  “Likewise, doctor.” She strutted into the exam room and hoisted herself onto the table. “Now let’s get this over with so I can get back before Walt sets my kitchen on fire.”

  Drake laughed. “He didn’t drive you?” It was known around town that Terry didn’t have a license, and for good reason.

  “You’ll be happy to know, I took my bike. It is parked outside.”

  A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. A couple years ago, he’d told Terry she needed to start exercising, and she went out and bought a custom-made leopard print bicycle from Caleb James’ bike shop. When Drake had made the suggestion, he expected her to maybe pick up walking, but he should’ve known better.

  He wrapped her arm with the blood pressure cuff, took his stethoscope and pressed it to her wrist. Everything sounded good. “The biking is definitely making a difference. Your blood pressure is perfect. Your sugar on the other hand.”

  “What’s wrong with my sugar?”

  “It’s a little high.”

  Terry waved her hand at him. “Oh, please. I’m sure it’s fine.”

  “It can be, but you need to cut down on the sugar before it gets to a level where it’s not.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head. “Whatever you say, Doc.”

  He pointed at her. “I know that look. You’re going to yes me to death and when you walk out of here, you’re going to ignore what I said.”

  “As long as we agree on something.”

  “I’m just trying to keep you healthy.”

  “By taking away all of my favorite things. Two years ago, it was salt. Now you want to take my sugar. You might as well take all my happiness.”

  “You’re such a ray of sunshine; that’d be impossible.”

  “Don’t you try to sweet talk me, young man.”

  “Oh no, you brought out the young man. Now I know you’re mad.”

  “Damn tootin’ I’m mad.”

  “If you remember, you were just as mad when I told you that you needed to start exercising, and look how well that’s turned out.”

  “I got a custom-made bike out of the deal. What do I get out of cutting down on my sugar other than disappointment?”

  “You can try some new recipes. Use a sugar substitute.”

  “I thought those things caused anal leakage.”

  Drake choked on a laugh. He could always count on Terry fo
r not beating around the bush. “There are a variety of substitutes available now that do not have that side effect.”

  “Tell you what. You try them out and report back to me. Then I’ll know which ones to avoid.”

  “Or you can Google it,” he said.

  “I don’t trust the Google.”

  Drake decided against asking why, since he still had a full list of patients to get through. “I’ll let you know then.”

  “Thank you. Now if that’s all, I need to get back. Lord only knows what my husband has done to my kitchen while I’ve been gone.”

  “I’m sure all is well.”

  Terry arched an eyebrow at him. “We’ll see.” Terry’s face softened, and her eyes filled with concern. “By the way. How is your niece today? Is she adjusting well? That poor girl has been through so much in such a short time.”

  That was putting it mildly. “She’s doing okay.”

  “Well, you bring her by anytime for a stack of apple pancake extra whipped cream. Unless you want to take sugar away from her, too?”

  Drake shook his head. “Not yet. Her sugar levels are okay, unlike someone else.”

  With a humph, Terry slid down from the table and headed out with a wave over her shoulder. Drake laughed, then exited the exam room and headed for the main office. His cellphone buzzed in his pocket and he slipped it out.

  He didn’t recognize the number, but clicked open the text, anyway. A hand drawn picture stared back at him. A stick figure with a basket of what he assumed were apples. Below the picture a text: Charlotte drew this in class today. She’s doing well. No need to worry. Miss Reynolds

  Drake hadn’t realized how badly he needed the reassurance until reading the text. The tension in his shoulders eased and his breathing seemed to come a little easier now.

  He texted a thank you and slipped his phone back into his pocket. He continued on to the office and smiled when Kristen looked up at him.

  “You doing okay?” Kristen asked.

  She was amazingly good at her job—attentive and kind to all the patients, no matter how worked up they were. But she also could read him like an opened book. He didn’t want to admit his doubts about parenting, especially when she was a mother of two who weathered the loss of her husband to a house fire not so long ago.