The Secret Life of Daydreams

by Whitney, Lucinda

  “I’ll be right back.” Josh set out across the parking lot at a light jog, his umbrella bobbing between the cars.

  Within a few minutes, he pulled up to Sofia’s car and had the jumper cables connected to her battery. He instructed Sofia to get behind the wheel. After a few tries, the battery started. Josh disconnected the cables and replaced them in the trunk of his car.

  “I don’t know how to thank you.” Sofia exited the running car and stood by the open door. It had stopped raining, thank goodness.

  “Don’t thank me yet; I haven’t replaced the battery.” Josh retrieved the cell phone from inside his car. “Why don’t you give me your address? I’ll go find a battery and meet you back at your apartment.”

  Sofia didn’t know what to say for a moment. She should go with Josh and pay for the battery. But if she went home now, she could send Dona Luísa home and help Mother with dinner and her bedtime routine.

  Josh picked up on her hesitation. “You have something to do at home, don’t you?”

  She exhaled. “Yes, I do, and I’m already late.” She retrieved her purse from between the front seats and got her wallet out. “Here’s €20. I think it might be enough.”

  Josh shook his head. “Keep it for now. I’ll let you know how much it is.”

  In the end, common sense and convenience prevailed. Sofia gave him her address and he followed her to her building to make sure she arrived without further problems.

  When Sofia entered the apartment, she paid her neighbor for the hours she’d watched Mother, went to the kitchen, and started dinner.

  Mother padded across the hallway and into the kitchen, and sat at the table. “I don’t want her coming again, Sofia.” She sniffled. “She was mean to me and followed me through the apartment all day.”

  Sofia chopped an onion and added it to the bottom of a pot with some olive oil. She turned to Mother and gave her a pale smile. “We have a small apartment, mãe.” There was more she wanted to say, but it would be pointless. How could you reason with someone whose reasoning abilities were beginning to be compromised?

  Sofia’s thoughts flew to Josh. Was he already on his way back? She should have asked him for his number. But then that might seem like she was just looking for an excuse to call or text him.

  In the bottom drawer of the refrigerator she found two carrots. She washed and peeled them, then chopped them evenly into little cubes and added them to the pot as well. Carrot rice would go well with the fish fillets and a light salad.

  One hour later, Sofia sat at the kitchen table, finishing up the lesson plans for the next day’s classes. She’d served dinner to Mother, who had complained about Dona Luísa until the meal was done. Sofia agreed with everything she said. It might not be the best thing to do, but she didn’t have the mental energy to deal with the opposite. Mother was now in bed and hopefully sleeping.

  Every few minutes, Sofia glanced at her cell phone screen, willing it to ring with a call or with the tone of a message, but Josh hadn’t texted or called. Maybe something had happened and he couldn’t come tonight. Which was okay, even if a little bit disappointing. She just wanted to know. Waiting for a reply that didn’t come was not something she liked to do.

  She walked to the sink and filled a tall glass with water. She was halfway done drinking it when her phone pinged. Sofia set the glass in the sink and rushed to the table.

  Sofia, this is Josh. Sorry I’m so late.

  No need to apologize.

  His reply came quickly. I’m down here by your car.

  Okay, I’m coming down. Do you need anything?

  Just you and your keys.

  Yes, of course. Sofia straightened. Be right down.

  He’d come after all. Sofia grabbed the keys from her purse, put on her shoes, and locked her front door behind her. Once in the elevator, she caught her reflection smiling. It was a rather silly smile, but she had a hard time stopping it.

  Josh met her at the building’s door. “Sorry it took so long.”

  “Please, don’t apologize. You’re doing me a favor.” He had no idea how much he was helping.

  He held the door open for her. “I found the battery but then I realized I needed some tools and a flashlight, and that took me longer than I thought.”

  Sofia stopped on the sidewalk. “You didn’t buy tools, I hope?” Father had left her some tools in a wooden box she kept in the hallway closet. She didn’t know if they were the right kind, but it was worth checking.

  He shook his head. “No, I borrowed them from Paulo. That’s why I was late. I had to wait for him to get home.”

  She resumed walking and he followed her to the car. At least Sofia had parked it under a street lamp. “That’s good. Paulo has a nice collection of tools.”

  Josh chuckled. “Yeah, you can say that.”

  She unlocked the car. “Okay, what do you need me to do?”

  He propped up the hood. By his foot sat a small tool chest and he retrieved a flashlight, then handed it to Sofia. “If you could hold this light while I work, that would be a great help.”

  Sofia stepped closer and shone the large flashlight in front of his hands. Josh had shed his jacket. The green t-shirt he wore fit him well across the shoulders and back, and she spent a moment appreciating his defined biceps and toned forearms. When the temptation to prolong the examination became stronger, she brought her eyes up and turned them to the work he did instead.

  Was he one of those guys who liked to work in silence? Given his position bent under the hood, a conversation might be hard to keep. He had replaced the battery and kept working at a steady pace and Sofia tried to follow his actions. After a while, he straightened. He reached for a rag in the toolbox and wiped his hands.

  “Okay, let’s give it a try.” He took the flashlight from Sofia’s hands.

  Sofia sat behind the wheel and turned the key. Instantly, the car roared to life, the whining sound gone. She smiled wide.

  Josh leaned near the window. “It sounds great to me.” He gave her the thumbs-up signal.

  Sofia turned off the ignition and exited, while Josh closed the hood and put all the tools back in the box. A feeling of gratitude swelled within her. What a blessing it was that he’d been able to come to her aid, first at the university’s parking lot, and afterward getting a new battery in the car. He’d saved her time and money, both so hard to come by these days.

  Josh straightened, the toolbox and old battery at his foot. “You’re all set. You shouldn’t have any problems.”

  She looked at Josh. “I want to say thank you but it doesn’t sound like enough.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t mention it. I’m glad I was able to help.”

  Sofia extended her hand to shake his, but he held it up. “It’s okay. I’m all dirty.”

  “Please, come to the apartment and wash up.” She couldn’t let him go like this, not without a proper thanks. The hesitation played in his eyes. “And I didn’t pay you for the battery yet.”

  For a long minute, Josh just looked at her, saying nothing, as if he wrestled with the decision.

  “Por favor?”

  At last, he nodded. “All right. Thank you.” He pointed down. “Let me just put these back in my rental car.”

  On the way up, in the elevator, they stood awkwardly apart, and Sofia began to question her invitation. She remembered exactly the last time she’d had a guy in her home, and that was not a pleasant memory. She brushed it aside. This was a different situation and Josh was not that man. It was time to replace those memories with newer, more enjoyable ones, and Josh was just the person to do that.

  When Sofia unlocked the front door, she drew it wide and then stepped aside for Josh. “Benvindo à minha casa.”

  Josh sat at Sofia’s kitchen table. After washing up, she’d convinced him to stay for dinner. He knew better than to accept an invitation. He’d told himself not to get too close to her, but all those admonitions had gone out the door when he’d seen her at th
e university’s parking lot with car trouble. And then he’d offered to go find a battery and replace it. It was something easy that didn’t take too long, even though he was on a tight working schedule. The appreciation in Sofia’s eyes had made it all worthwhile.

  And now here he was, as she set the table and filled a glass of water for him. The kitchen was a modest size, but he guessed the rest of the apartment was small as well from what he’d seen. The galley-style kitchen was decorated with white appliances and white cabinets and a drop-leaf table large enough for four when fully open. The floor and wall tiles were light-colored as well, except for a tile rail with colored vegetables. At the opposite end, a double-wide sliding door led to a balcony.

  Sofia had changed into something more casual, a pair of dark jeans and a red top with the sleeves rolled up. The color looked good on her and the jeans accentuated all the right curves. He turned his gaze up instead. She’d rebraided her hair. He hadn’t seen her with loose hair yet. Eleven years ago she had worn it short, curling at the edges around her face. How long was it now? Maybe he should stop looking her over and try to make some small talk instead.

  On top of the refrigerator, a framed picture caught his attention. Josh stood to see it better. A small woman had an arm around Sofia’s shoulders, and both of them smiled wide, standing in front of a large country house. Sofia looked to be in her early teen years, long braids and knee shorts and a carefree expression. She was cute even then.

  “Is this you and your mother?” he asked.

  Sofia turned sideways and glanced at him. When her eyes fell on the picture, she smiled warmly. “No, that’s my Tia Joana, my father’s older sister. I spent summers with her when I was a teenager.” She resumed her task.

  “Do you live by yourself?” That was an excuse to satisfy his curiosity about her relationship status.

  Sofia looked over her shoulder from the stove. “I live with my mother.” She shook her head. “Actually, my mother lives with me.” She dipped a wooden spoon in a pot and stirred, then turned back to Josh. “My father passed away a few months before I graduated from the university and Mother came to live with me soon after. It’s a bit complicated.”

  Josh played with the fork by his plate. “Family usually is.” There was more to her story but now was not the time to pry. “Is she around?”

  “She’s already in bed.” She turned to him. “I’m sorry for my bad manners and not offering you a tour of the apartment, but I don’t want to wake her up.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’d forgotten about that custom of touring someone’s place when you visit for the first time.”

  “You don’t do that in America?”

  “Not where I’m from.”

  She turned off the gas stove. “That makes me feel better then.”

  It was a strange custom. He couldn’t go traipsing around peoples’ apartments as a missionary. Many a time he’d had to decline the invitation and risk being rude but rules had to be followed.

  Sofia brought a small pot to the table and placed it on a trivet. Then she made room for a bowl of salad and a platter with fish fillets, the Portuguese kind. She’d set the bread already, the little rolls he liked so much.

  “I hope you like it.” She indicated the food. “It’s carrot rice, hake fish fillets, and tomato and lettuce salad. Please, help yourself.”

  Josh filled his plate and Sofia followed. After a pause, she asked, “Do you mind if I say the blessing on the food?”

  The blessing on the food. That thing that church members did before they ate. Just like he’d taught her. “Of course not, go ahead.”

  Sofia waited for him to close his eyes and bow his head, and then said a simple, short prayer in Portuguese. When was the last time he’d said a blessing on the food? He’d rather not think about it.

  The fish fillets were just like he remembered, fresh and tender inside with a crispy breaded crust on the outside. He took a bite and closed his eyes. “This is so good. What’s the secret?”

  She took a knife and cut her fillet in half. “Most people deep fry the fillets. I pan fry them first, then stick them in the oven to finish cooking.” She took a bite and chewed. “I add lemon juice and pepper to the flour batter.”

  Josh smiled. “Portuguese food is the best.” He took another bite. “I travel a lot, and I always try to find the local food spots, but nothing really compares to Portuguese bread and the Portuguese home-cooked food.” He finished chewing. “Thanks for inviting me.”

  Sofia’s cheeks tinged. “Thank you for seeing me safely home and fixing my car.” She rested her fork and knife against the plate and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “You’ve got no idea how much you helped me today.”

  Josh didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. “My pleasure.” He had to turn the conversation before she offered to pay for the battery. The last thing he wanted was to take her money. “How long have you worked as a teacher?”

  “This is my sixth year.” She played with the fork and knife, pushing the rice around the plate. “And you? You said you travel a lot? Where have you been?”

  Josh pretended he didn’t notice how she turned the conversation back to him. “Where haven’t I been?” This was an easy topic for him. “I’ve traveled through most of North America, including Canada and Mexico, several countries in South America, Western Africa, and most of Europe.” He stopped to think. “That means I haven’t been to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Eastern Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.”

  “That’s amazing.” Sofia rested her elbow on the table and cupped her chin. “Don’t you get tired of all the traveling?”

  Josh finished chewing the last piece of fish and took his napkin to his mouth. “I love everything about traveling. The new locations, the people, the food, and the culture.” He paused, reining in the enthusiasm. “To be in a place I’ve never been before, live there among the natives, and then to capture all that on camera—nothing beats that.”

  Sofia shook her head. “I could never live like that. I’m exactly the opposite.”

  Why did that sound like a challenge? “But you’ve moved here from Famalicão.” Josh leaned back against the chair.

  “Yes, I did. I came here to attend the university. But that was an easy move.” She shrugged. “I’ve always loved Braga. I can’t see myself ever living anywhere else.”

  “It’s a beautiful city.” He pushed the empty plate from him. “Have you ever traveled anywhere? Do you go on vacations?”

  “Sure. I’ve been to Porto and Lisbon, to the beaches in the Algarve.” A crooked smile tugged the corner of her mouth. “I’ve even been to Spain and England.”

  Josh raised a thumbs-up. He was enjoying this girl and the easy conversation between them.

  She continued, “But the best part is coming home. To the things I know, to the city I love.” Sofia stood from the table and started clearing the dishes. “To friends and family I missed.”

  Josh picked up the glasses and followed her to the sink. “Okay, I’ll agree with you. Friends and family are good to return to.” Even as he said it, the guilt pricked at him. When was the last time he’d seen his family?

  She put the bread away in a cloth sack. “What about a family of your own? You have to agree that a traveling lifestyle is not the best way to raise a family.”

  Josh stepped back. He pushed against the wall and crossed his arms. He should have known it would come up. When he didn’t reply, Sofia stopped from cleaning the table and looked at him.

  “I’m sorry; it’s none of my business.” She walked to the sink and rinsed the washcloth.

  He sat back down and she turned, resting her back against the counter top.

  “You might as well know.” It was best he told her instead of her wondering what happened, if she hadn’t asked Paulo already. “I tried the family thing. I found the girl; we got married in the temple.”

  The weight of Sofia’s direct gaze fell on him without judgment. “What happened?” Her voice
was low.

  He shrugged, shook his head. “I gave up trying to figure out what happened.” It surprised him how frank he wanted to be with Sofia. But the time wasn’t right. “It just didn’t work out, and in the end the only thing we agreed on was to part ways.”

  There was more to it, of course, but she accepted his reply and didn’t push for more, and Josh was grateful for it. Maybe one day, if the occasion arose.

  “Any children?” she asked.

  “No children.” He let out a breath. A small blessing that they hadn’t had any.

  “I’m sorry.” Her expression was soft but he couldn’t gauge her reaction to his status.

  Josh took a hand to his chin and rubbed it. “It’s okay. It’s been a while.” That was all he could take for now. “What about you? A boyfriend, a fiancé?” He hadn’t planned to ask her so directly but now that the conversation had turned more personal, he wanted to find out.

  Sofia walked back to the table and sat across from him. “No. There aren’t many choices around here.” She rolled the hem of her top between her fingers. “And I’m definitely not going to Porto or Lisbon to find a guy.” Her tone was casual, almost flippant, but her eyes told a different story. “I can’t leave Mother or my job at the school.”

  There was something more behind her words, and Josh was intrigued by this girl. Not a girl. A woman. An attractive, intelligent, caring woman who had him wishing he could stay talking to her all night. Were Portuguese men so dense they couldn’t recognize what a gem she was?

  The thought shocked him. It had been a while since he’d felt more than a passing kind of attraction for a woman. He kept himself busy with the purpose of warding off such thoughts and feelings, and that was the way he liked it. The alternative was too familiar and too painful, and not worth it when all was said and done. Good thing he wouldn’t be around long.

  Sofia shrugged. “Besides, I don’t have the time to date right now. I’ve just been accepted to the English Literature doctorate program at the university.”

  “That’s impressive. Congratulations.” Add accomplished to her list of attributes. The more he knew about her, the more Josh liked her, and he had an inkling this attraction would only grow with time.