by Leah Atwood
Her breath caught at the top of her lungs.
“I care about you Sophie, more than I ever have for anyone, save Gracie. Don’t ever say I have no reason to visit. Not only is my family here, but you are here. You’re my reason for so many things and don’t ever forget that.”
“I’m a wreck,” she muttered, her words coming out muffled. “I’m not even sure what you see in me.” She was embarrassed for her meltdown and affected by Bryce’s declaration, a combination wreaking havoc on her nervous system.
Pulling her into his arms, he gave her understanding and assurance. “You’re beautiful in every way—you’re not a wreck. Our relationship has sort of been a tailspin into uncharted territory for both of us.”
“Can we pray?” One thought was taking predominant focus in her mind. This morning’s unexpected events had shown her just how many prayers would be needed in this relationship.
They sat back down on the micro-suede sofa with their heads bowed.
Taking the lead, Bryce verbalized their prayer. “Dear Lord, we come to you today, asking for guidance and wisdom. Sophie and I believe our relationship is of your will, but we need your strength and provision to see us through this time of adjustment and learning. Please direct our paths. In your name, Amen."
A peace washed over Sophie. The prayer, simple but heartfelt, expressed what she desired. Doubt and fear which had brought her down, spiritually and emotionally, over the last hour faded away. Drawing strength, she turned to Bryce and gave her answer. “Call Caroline. Tell her she can release a statement to confirm.”
“Are you positive?” Bryce questioned.
“Yes. Fear has no place in my life. I’m scared, but I can’t hide from this. You mean too much to me.”
“You, Sophie Thatcher, are, by far, the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
“And you are the most unique man I’ve ever met,” she teased, reverting to her usual defense mechanism when things got too serious.
“Unique?” He tilted his head and rested an elbow on the back of the sofa. “I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a compliment or not.”
“Compliment for sure.”
A slow grin appeared. “I’ll take it then.”
She glanced at the wrought iron clock on the wall. Ten o’clock. “I’m going to be late. I already missed most of Sunday school.”
“Come to church with me today. Gram and Gramps are already there with Gracie, and we can meet them for the worship service.”
She thought for an instant, going over the nursery schedule. Her turn in the rotation wasn’t until next week. “Okay. Let me grab my purse.”
“Um, sweetheart, not that you aren’t beautiful and wouldn’t be welcomed however you’re dressed, but do you want to change first?”
Looking at her clothes, a hand flew to her mouth. She giggled, embarrassed. That she still wore a pair of yoga pants and a shirt only now dawned on her. She’s only gotten as far as her hair when Kate had called. “I’ll be right back.”
Bryce looked at her with laughing eyes. “Take your time. The service doesn’t start until eleven.”
Sophie went to her room, shutting the door behind her. The dress she’d chosen earlier, a modest A-line, forest green number with printed white flowers, hung from a hanger on her closet door. After discarding the clothes she’d worn as pajamas, she slid the dress off the hanger and over her head. A quick glance in the mirror and she was glad she’d chosen this dress, even before she knew she’d see Bryce while wearing it. Completing the outfit, she pulled out a pair of cork wedge sandals and put them on her feet. By her estimate, Bryce hovered right at six feet tall next to her five feet seven inches. Even with the heels, she still wouldn’t reach his height.
A giddy feeling rose in her when Bryce gave her an approving grin—she couldn’t help it. Their relationship went much deeper than physical appearances, but she couldn’t deny that his attraction to her pleased a side of her.
They still had a few minutes before they needed to leave, and she decided to broach the subject of his parents again. “Can I say something without you getting mad?”
“You can tell me anything, Sophie. That’s kind of how relationships are supposed to work.”
“Last night, you wouldn’t talk about it and I’m not asking you to discuss it now, but in light of current events, I think you should call your parents and tell them about Gracie.”
“No.”
“I know you don’t have a good relationship with them, but they deserve to know. If you ever want a relationship with them to be restored, you can’t hide this. Imagine how they’ll feel if they find out on the news or internet.”
His eyes darkened before he looked away. “Why would I want that relationship restored? They made their choices.”
She gently touched his forearm. “Because you know it’s the right thing to do. As a son. As a Christian.”
“Can we not talk about this right now?” He turned around. “We have enough other issues to deal with today.”
“Will you promise me you’ll at least think about it?” She couldn’t stand for him to have a cyst of bitterness in his heart.
He clenched his eyes shut. “I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
“Ready to leave?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Let’s go.” Silently, she said a prayer for healing between Bryce and his parents before getting into the truck.
For the first few seconds in the vehicle neither said everything. Bryce backed out of the driveway, driving in the direction of his grandparent’s church.
“What are your plans tomorrow?” He glanced over briefly before turning his eyes back to the road.
“Not sure. My tutoring client is on vacation this week and I’m caught up on housework. Maybe I’ll start the new Gwendolyn Gwen novel.” She smiled in fond remembrance of Bryce’s gift.
“Don’t make plans. I’m kidnapping you for the day.”
“I thought you were leaving tomorrow?”
“Changed my mind. When I call Caroline after church, I’ll see if she can reschedule things.”
“As much as I wouldn’t mind the extra time with you, I don’t want you inconveniencing anyone.”
“It’ll be fine. Trust me.” Bryce’s left arm rested on the edge of the door and one hand casually gripped the steering wheel.
“Where are you kidnapping me to?”
“Depends. I have something in mind if I can work it out. Do you have any aversion to being on the water?”
“Not as long as I can still see the land.” She’d made that discovery the summer she graduated high school when she and some members of her church youth group had taken a five-day cruise to celebrate their graduation. Since she’d spent lots of time on lakes and bayous throughout her childhood, she hadn’t thought twice about taking a cruise. By the first day’s end, she’d come to the conclusion she’d stick to bodies of water with visible shorelines. Her stomach still reeled at the memory.
“Noted.” He didn’t ask anything further and in another minute they arrived at church.
Several people were milling about outside, some leaving after Sunday school and others just arriving for the worship service. This week, Bryce held her hand as they walked into the sanctuary, a deliberate action in light of the morning’s events. There was no reason to hide their relationship from anyone, least of all the trusted members of his grandparents’ church.
Gracie spotted them first and bolted from her seat, running down the aisle to greet them. She threw her arms around Sophie. “Miss Sophie, I didn’t know you were coming with us today.”
She returned Gracie’s hug. “I didn’t either until a bit ago.”
“Will you sit beside me?”
Casting a sideways glance at Bryce to make sure it was okay, she saw him nod his approval. “I’d be honored.” Releasing Bryce’s hand, she took hold of Gracie’s and walked to the pew in which Gramps and Gram sat. If they thought anything
of her sudden arrival, they didn’t say anything.
Gram simply smiled and greeted her genially. “Nice to have you with us today. I especially love Sunday mornings like today when the sun is out fully with nary a cloud in the sky.”
Subconsciously, Sophie glanced out a thin, rectangular window. She’d been so preoccupied she hadn’t noticed what a beautiful day it was. Gram nudged Gramps, and they both slid over, making room for all five of them to sit together in the pew. Gramps sat on the far end, with Gram at his side. Sophie sat sandwiched between Gram and Gracie, and Bryce took the other end.
Gramps leaned forward, addressing Bryce. “Dani came by earlier looking for you. Said she’ll call you later this afternoon or see you at dinner tonight.”
“Are her parents also coming?”
“Yes. They’re eager to meet your young lady.” Gramps cast a wink toward Sophie then turned back to Bryce. “They came to the early service today so they can visit Gil’s parents this afternoon.”
Bryce nodded. To her surprise, Sophie didn’t feel nervous about meeting his aunt and uncle. Gram and Gramps had been so kind and welcoming, Dani also in the brief time she’d met her, that she couldn’t imagine Uncle Gil and Aunt Robyn being any different. Could Bryce’s parents really be that bad if the rest of his family was so wonderful?
She didn’t have much time to ponder on that idea before the pastor took a spot at the pulpit and instructed the congregation to open to the book of Proverbs and focus on verse six. She didn’t need to open her Bible to know what the verse said. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Glancing sideways, she caught Bryce looking at her with a knowing grin. God was speaking to them. Hadn’t they just prayed those words minutes before leaving her house?
Chapter 16
“Thanks for letting me know, Caroline.” With the hand not holding his phone, Bryce rubbed the muscles of his neck.
“Anytime. Think she’s ready for it?” The genuine concern in her voice reminded him what a good friend he had in her.
“I don’t know,” he answered truthfully. About to ask her to say a prayer, he stopped. Caroline wasn’t the praying type, though it didn’t stop him from praying for her.
“Be there for Sophie. I can free your schedule up until Wednesday, but I need you back here Wednesday afternoon to sing the national anthem at the game. You’re on at six, but you need to be at the stadium no later than four.”
He wracked his brain, trying to recollect what she was talking about, and felt a small bit of guilt that he’d not made work a priority. Not too guilty, though, as Gracie and Sophie were, and should be, top priorities. Ah. Now he remembered. One of the executives at his label was part-owner of a local ball team and had invited him to open the final game with “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Thank goodness for Caroline and her staff to keep him in line or he’d forget everything.
“Got it. Anything else I need to know?”
“Not offhand. I’ll call if I hear anything definite. Siri, over at The Record, promised to keep me abreast of her people, and Keith at EWT assured me his people would stay back in return for an interview.”
Involuntarily, he scrunched his nose and groaned. “There was no other way?”
“I tried my best. Not everyone has the relationship we all have. We’re an anomaly, not the norm. Outside our realm, it’s a you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours world.”
Sad but true. He couldn’t argue because he knew it was accurate. He also knew how fortunate he was that those closest to him in Nashville were considered to be both friends and colleagues. “Please tell me you extracted an agreement from him to only ask questions from a pre-approved list.”
“The digital signature is sitting in my email as we speak. Ever since you walked out on the interview two years ago, he’s been pushing to get you back on the air.”
“And I won’t hesitate to walk out again if he starts talking trash.”
“Let it go, Bryce. You have bigger fish to fry right now.”
“Right. Speaking of, I need to get going. What time do you think TEW will show?” TEW was an online magazine and the bane of his celebrity existence. They’d do anything, go to any means, to get a story.
“I’d guess you have a few hours, tops.”
“Thanks again for the warning.”
“Call if you need anything.”
Hanging up the phone, he knew his blood pressure was skyrocketing. Caroline had called to tell him word was spreading that TEW was in the process of sending a team to Oden Bridge in hopes of getting some dirt on Sophie and him.
He was annoyed but glad he’d anticipated this happening once the news broke yesterday. The media and the circus it could be was one aspect of his career he wished he could change. There were times, like today, when he wished he could go back to being a no one in the music industry, just out doing what he loved, which was creating and playing music without all the trappings.
Going back inside his grandparents’ house, he found Gracie in her room, playing with dolls. “Daddy has to leave now. I’ll be gone most of the day, but home before you go to bed.”
“Will you be with Miss Sophie?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Can I come too?”
“Sorry, Sweet Pea. Today is just Sophie and me. I can ask her if she’d like to come over and read to you before bedtime.” He knew without asking that Sophie would love to read Gracie her nightly story.
“Yippee!” She threw her arms around him in an appreciate hug. “You’re the best daddy in the whole wide world.”
He wasn’t so sure about that, but if Gracie thought so that was fine by him. “Be good for Gram and Gramps.”
“I will. Promise.”
Going downstairs, Bryce looked for Gram and found her in the kitchen, her favorite room. “Gracie’s upstairs playing. Do you need me to do anything before I leave?”
“No, dear. Go and enjoy your day with Sophie.” Gram’s gray eyes sparkled with a special affection for her grandson.
“My phone will be on all day. Call me if anything happens.”
“We’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
No one in the entertainment world knew of Gracie yet. Taking advice from Sophie, Gram, Gramps and Adam, he’d decided that until someone found out about his daughter, they wouldn’t make mention of her in any public release. He had no guarantees, but he felt comfortable she wouldn’t be discovered today, freeing him to whisk Sophie away in case there was truth to the TEW rumors. But he still worried, regardless.
“Where’s Gramps?”
“Out in the tool shed.”
“Thanks. I’ll be back around dinner, hopefully with Sophie if you don’t mind.”
“She’s welcome anytime. I couldn’t have handpicked a better match for you.”
He winked. “Gramps gave me lessons on picking out the best.”
Gram, at seventy years of age, giggled. “Go on now before you make an old lady blush.”
Laughing, Bryce left the house, stopping by the shed before leaving. “I’m heading out, Gramps.”
The elder Landry looked up from the knife he was sharpening. “Did you talk to Caroline?”
“Yes, and it’s as we suspected. TEW has a crew already on their way, from what she’s heard.” Bryce clenched his fists, fending off anger. “I’m sorry to pull you into this.”
“Listen to me, Bryce.” Setting down the knife and sharpener, Gramps spoke in firm tones. “Blood runs thicker than water and family doesn’t back down just because the going gets tough. In the big scheme of things, a little paparazzi isn’t all that bad.”
“Maybe not to someone like you who fought in the jungle during Vietnam, but Sophie’s different. I want to protect her from them. More often than not, they play dirty, and I don’t want her hurt or overwhelmed. I know I can’t be here all the time, but for today, I’m going to be there for her. I’m not going to have her face them alone.”
“Have some faith in her. I think she can handle
a lot more than you’re giving her credit for.” Gramps’ gaze drifted toward the house, particularly the kitchen window. “But I understand protecting the woman you love. Any indication they know of Gracie?”
“Not yet, which is why I feel comfortable leaving her today. I already told Gram, but I’ll have my phone with me all day. Call me at the first sign of anything unusual.”
“You worry too much,” Gramps accused, but his expression showed nothing but respect. “You never were much like your dad,” he commented, his voice full of lament for the son who’d left his family behind.
He smiled. “I do believe that’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.”
Gramps only shook his head in response. Bryce wasn’t the only one hurt by his father’s actions, but he’d never thought about the effect his father’s distant attitude had on Gram and Gramps.
“Dani’s waiting on me to pick up the boat. Call if anything comes up.”
Snorting, Gramps picked up the knife again, resuming the task of sharpening his blade. “After seventy-two years in this world, I think I’ve learned a thing or two about how to handle a variety of situations. Put aside your worries and enjoy the extra time with your sweetheart.”
Maybe Gramps was right. Was there a chance he was overreacting? Perhaps, but he’d rather be prepared than caught unaware. He couldn’t help the protective feelings that surged through him when he thought of Sophie. Man, if he was this out of sorts just thinking of the media hounding his girlfriend, what was he going to do when his daughter started dating? He shook his head, ridding himself of the thought. That would probably send him into full blown panic. He shifted his thoughts—he didn’t need to borrow trouble today.
On the way to Dani’s, he continually darted his eyes, constantly looking for any vehicle that could be following him. For the most part, he didn’t let the paparazzi bother him anymore, but today was different because their target involved Sophie. If he was honest with himself, some of the concern was selfish in nature—he was afraid if the media hounded Sophie, she’d freak out and break things off. When he put it like that, he knew Gramps was right—he had to put more faith in her.
