by Jane Porter
Sophie pressed her lips together, holding back the wave of emotion. Leo had left her for her sister, Sarah, a preschool teacher, who was, well… soft, sweet, nurturing.
Men apparently liked nurturers.
Sophie’s chest ached with her bottled air. She forced herself to exhale. “So, you have nothing bad to say about Joe?”
“Oh, my gosh, no. I’m glad Joe’s found love. I’m glad he’s found you. He’s a really good guy. Lots of the girls around here had a crush on him, but after things ended with Charity he turned his back on Marietta. Glad that he’s found his happy ever after.”
Chapter Six
While Sophie spent Thursday night working at the Wright Salon, Joe was having dinner with his family. During the meal, his grandfather seemed more chatty than usual, but his mother seemed tense, and Joe wondered if she was hurting. She didn’t like to be asked, though. Inquiries into her health made her feel like an invalid, but the fact that she’d phoned her doctor to request an appointment indicated her pain threshold was being tested.
Tonight might not be the best night to mention that he was car shopping, but if not tonight, then when? His grandfather would never get younger. His mother would never be cured. This was just life, and he needed to navigate it to the best of his ability.
After clearing the plates and making and pouring coffee for his mom and himself, Joe returned to the table, placing his mom’s coffee in front of her before he sat back down with his cup.
“I’m looking for a car for Sophie,” he said without preamble. “She didn’t bring hers out, and her family is selling it for her in California. She’ll need one here. I’ve found a couple good possibilities.” He sipped his coffee and then looked up, his expression deliberately bland. “I’m going to check out a couple different cars Saturday afternoon if either of you want to go with me?”
Granddad’s ears perked up. “What specifically are you looking for?”
“A small SUV, preferably with four-wheel drive,” Joe answered.
“Is that what she drove in California?” his mom asked.
“No, but California city roads and Montana mountain roads are two different things.”
“So she’s staying in Montana then,” Granddad said.
Joe checked his smile. Granddad sounded almost approving there. “I think so. She has a job. She’s working at Amanda’s hair salon as a receptionist.”
His mom’s jaw dropped. “She’s working for Amanda?”
Joe nodded. “It’s temporary, until she finds something in her industry but she was excited about it. She likes to keep busy.”
Melvin’s gaze met Joe’s. “Your mom’s car is just sitting there,” he said.
Looking at his grandfather, Joe had to check a smile. They were so much alike. They had the same blue eyes, the same build, the same tough exterior. Joe sometimes wondered if his dad had been the same. He didn’t remember him. He just remembered the afters—after the accident, after the move to the ranch, after his mom changed so much. “I’m not touching Mom’s car. That’s her car, her present. I’ll find something used and affordable for Sophie.”
“But you never know the history of a used car,” his mom said, speaking up. “Used cars can be very unreliable.”
“But affordable,” Joe answered.
“It needs to be able to handle the roads come winter. Ice, snow, potholes. No road.” His mom frowned. “If she’s still going to be here that long.”
“She’ll be here,” Joe said confidently.
“You think so?” His mom sniffed. “California girls are delicate—”
“You’re a California girl,” Joe interrupted with a wink. “And look at you now, twenty-six years in Montana and still going strong.”
His mom drummed her fingers on the dining table. “How much are you thinking of spending?”
“Ten to fifteen thousand. Twenty if the car’s immaculate and has low mileage.”
“Joe, that’s a lot of money.”
“I know, but I want to keep her safe.”
She stared at him long and hard. “How much did you spend on my car?”
“Mom, it was a birthday present. I’m not divulging numbers.”
“It was expensive, though, wasn’t it?”
“You only turn fifty once, Mom.”
“Joe, stop being a smart aleck—”
He laughed quietly and shook his head. “You haven’t said that since I was a kid.”
“Then don’t be irritating. Tell me what you spent.”
He leaned back in his chair. “A lot more than what I’m going to spend on Sophie. You’re my mom, and she’s my”—he took a breath—“girlfriend, and I just need something to give her some freedom and mobility.”
“I hate for you to spend fifteen thousand, or more, when my car is sitting there in the garage, rusting away.”
“It’s not rusting. I take care of it for you. And I’m not giving your car to Sophie.”
He gave her a look, his expression intent, but hopefully, loving. “You don’t like her, Mom, and she wouldn’t ever accept it, knowing it’s yours, knowing it’ll probably upset you.”
Summer slapped the table with both hands. “Now you’re just talking nonsense. I do not dislike Sophie. I have never said one unkind word to her—”
“Maybe not, but you’ve never said one kind word,” he interrupted, leaning forward to take her hand in his. “Mom, she’s not the enemy. She’s not stealing me away. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re spending an awful lot of time in Marietta, though.”
“Because she’s there. But hopefully she can come up here, too. The weather’s getting warmer. It’ll be summer soon. It’ll stay light late.”
“I’ll sell my car to you,” Summer said, pulling her hand out from under his and rising. “Eleven thousand five hundred and you can invest that money into some stocks for me. I have a list of stocks I’d like you to buy.” And then she walked out.
Joe sat there with his grandfather for a moment, before Granddad looked at him, a faint smile in his light eyes. “That’s the outcome you wanted, wasn’t it?” he asked.
“It’s a good deal. Blue book value is twice that,” Joe answered.
“Well, there you go,” Granddad said, getting up from his chair. “Things are working out.”
*
Amanda had no idea she’d given Sophie serious food for thought, but as Sophie walked back to Bramble House after leaving the salon, she replayed the conversation she’d had with Amanda about Joe and Charity, curious, but also baffled. It boggled her mind that Charity, who apparently loved Joe so much, wouldn’t move to the ranch for him. That didn’t make sense to Sophie. It wasn’t as if the drive was hours long. There was no traffic between the ranch and town. How could that distance be too much? If you loved someone, didn’t you try?
Once back in her room, Sophie kicked off her boots and stretched out on her bed to call Joe.
“How did it go?” he asked.
“Good. There’s a lot to learn but Amanda was super patient and really sweet. She’s got to be the nicest boss in the world.”
“Glad it went okay,” he said.
Sophie paused, giving him an opportunity to say he knew Amanda, or to say that he liked her, having once been rather close to her. But he said nothing and she suddenly didn’t feel like she could bring Charity up over the phone.
“How’s your grandfather’s face? Is he all bruised up?”
“He’s healing, which means, yes, he’s quite blue and yellow.”
“Dinner went well?”
“Roast chicken and boiled potatoes.”
“And you made that?” she asked.
“I did.”
“You’re pretty talented.”
“I just don’t like being hungry,” he answered.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” she asked.
“I’m hoping to take you to dinner and a movie tomorrow night. Would that work with your schedule?”
She win
ced, feeling guilty. “You’re my number-one priority,” she said. “Whatever you want works with my schedule.”
“Then have a look at what’s playing at the theater in Marietta and see if anything appeals to you. I can pick you up from work tomorrow at six and we could go straight to dinner.”
“I like it. See you then.”
*
Joe spent the afternoon the next day washing, waxing, and detailing his mom’s dark green Jeep Wrangler so that when he showed up in Marietta, he’d have a pristine car to give to Sophie. The Jeep had less than eleven thousand miles on it, and hadn’t been driven in the past eighteen months except for brief outings to keep the battery from dying. It had been a new car Joe had bought his mom for her fiftieth birthday three years ago, but her arthritis made driving too painful and after the first six months, the Jeep pretty much sat in the garage.
Joe was glad she’d decided to sell it to him. There was no way he would have ever been comfortable just taking it from her. By buying it, he ensured there would be no guilt trips later.
He made sure he was waiting outside the pink hair salon before six. It was sprinkling a little, but he was wearing his cowboy hat and the brim kept the rain off his face. He wished it wasn’t raining, though, not after all the time he’d spent waxing the Jeep. But even in the drizzle, it was shiny, and looked virtually brand new.
Sophie came outside a few minutes after six. She looked puzzled as she approached him. “Where’s your truck?”
“At home.”
“Is it not running?”
“It’s fine. I just wanted to drive your new car to you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the car key and car fob. “It’s actually not a new car. It’s three years old but it has very few miles and only one driver.” He hit unlock on the Jeep and the lights flashed. “What do you think?” he asked, handing her the key ring.
She looked at the Jeep and then him, and then back to the Jeep. “This is an expensive car, Joe.”
“I got a very good deal on it.”
“But still—”
“Sophie, don’t always worry about money. I’m not hurting for cash.” He walked to the driver’s side, opened the door for her. “Tan interior, leather seats, the seats are heated, too, which you’ll appreciate come fall. Four-wheel drive so you could go off-roading if you want.”
She made a face as she slid behind the steering wheel, “Do I look like an off-roading kind of girl?”
“I don’t know. But you sure look pretty in that car.”
Sophie flexed her hands against the steering wheel, and glanced around, admiring the interior. “Joe, it’s beautiful. I don’t know what to say.”
“As long as you’re happy.”
She reached up and tugged on his coat, drawing him down. She kissed him. “Thank you. You spoil me. I’m not used to it, but I appreciate it.”
He kissed her back. “You are more than welcome. Now, are you good to drive? We’re just heading to the Chinese restaurant next to the theater. I think we have enough time for a quick bite before the seven fifteen show.”
*
The next week passed quickly, with them falling into a routine they both enjoyed. They’d work and then meet for dinner or, in some cases, an after-dinner drink. They were enjoying a dessert date at Main Street Diner Thursday night when Joe mentioned she’d been in Montana two weeks today, and it was there at the diner they’d had their first date.
Sophie wrinkled her nose as she licked the buttercream frosting from the prongs of her fork. “I wouldn’t call that a date. It didn’t feel like a date. I was so nervous. You made me so nervous.”
“Me? You were crying even before you met me,” he retorted. “You got off the plane in tears.”
“I know. Two flights, one big layover. It gave me way too much time to think.”
“What were you thinking about?”
“That life sure can change in just a few months.”
Joe’s smile faded. “Do you still miss him?”
“Who?”
“Your ex.”
“Oh, Leo.” Sophie shook her head. “No. Not at all.”
“Why not? You were together a long time.”
She wondered if he was comparing her and Leo to his relationship with Charity, but Charity didn’t leave him for another man. Charity didn’t cheat on him by starting to see his brother…
“I met him because I worked for his family business,” she said after reflecting for a moment on what she could say without revealing the whole sordid Sophie-Leo-Sarah debacle. “Brazer Farms is one of the biggest dried fruit exporters in California, based in Central California, an hour or so from where I grew up. I interviewed with them out of college, started as an assistant to the export manager, and gradually worked my way up. Leo headed up sales, and we spent a lot of time together at work, and then began to spend a lot of time together outside of work. We weren’t a stay-at-home couple, though. We were always going somewhere, always busy, and because of our careers, we had a lot of business events and parties to attend. Looking back, I think we were too busy pretending we were a good couple instead of being a real couple.”
Joe’s brow lowered, his expression one of disbelief. “That doesn’t make sense to me. You weren’t a real couple?”
“A lot of energy went into what people saw—flowers to me at the office, dinners at fancy restaurants, vacations at posh places.” She glanced down at her plate, feeling a little heartsick at the memories. It didn’t feel good remembering Leo or the past. She still didn’t know all the details about his relationship with her sister, only that there was a point where they both developed feelings for the other, and somehow they forgot to tell her.
Her eyes suddenly prickled and her chest ached with suppressed emotion. She really didn’t want to sit here and talk about Leo. She didn’t want to think about the past. This was why she was in Montana. She had a new life now. She had a new family, new friends, new work. Just thinking of new friends and work, she thought of Amanda. Sophie really liked Amanda. Amanda was stylish and smart and funny—and incredibly compassionate.
“Amanda told me her little apartment above the salon will be available next week,” Sophie said, changing the subject. “The person renting has moved to Missoula and Amanda said she can cut me a really good deal so that it’d be a lot cheaper than Bramble House. What do you think?”
Joe didn’t look very excited by her suggestion. “You’re enjoying Marietta?”
“It’s a really cute town. I do like it.”
“You want to stay in town?”
“Well, I have to stay somewhere.”
“How do you feel about moving up to the ranch?” he asked. When Sophie didn’t immediately reply, he added, “I want you there.”
Sophie hesitated. “Your mom?”
“Truthfully? Her arthritis is really bad right now. Her hands are so swollen she can hardly grip anything with her left hand. She’s booked an appointment to see her doctor but she can’t get in for another week.”
“Your poor mom. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m telling you now.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to say. She gets quiet when she hurts. She doesn’t talk a lot about her pain, but I noticed she was moving slower, and sleeping less. Once I became aware of her discomfort, I talked to her, and realized she’s struggling.” Joe hesitated. “I’ve liked coming to town and seeing you. I really enjoy our time in Marietta. It’s been good for me, getting off the ranch, but in the end, I can’t escape the ranch. There’s no running away from it.”
“You don’t have to run away from it. It’s your home.”
“But it’s not been a comfortable place for you, and I hate to ask you to move up there—” He broke off, brow furrowing. “I worry about you there, but I worry about my mom when I’m here. I don’t know how to juggle both.”
“You shouldn’t have to. That’s not fair to you.” She pushed her plate
away. “You know, you don’t have to come see me every night. I look forward to seeing you each night, it’s my favorite part of the day, but if it’d be better for us to just see each other on weekends—”
“No.”
“If your mom is in pain, is she going to want me there?”
“It’s my home, too, Sophie, and I try to be respectful of my mom, but I need you up at the ranch. I need to see your face more. You have the best smile and it kind of does it for me.”
Sophie blushed and grinned. “I had no idea.”
“I think you had a little idea.” Joe kissed the tip of her nose. “Anyway, I’ve discussed this with Granddad. He agrees with me that you should move in.”
“He does?”
Joe nodded. “It would mean you’d be doing a lot of driving every day, but the car is relatively new and should be reliable.”
“I love the car.”
“Will you mind an hour driving every day?”
“Not at all,” she said. “And I want to do whatever I can to make this easier for you and for your mom.”
He exhaled and gave her a faint smile. “I knew you’d say that.”
“We knew this had to happen sooner or later.”
“It’ll be a change,” he said. “It won’t be easy. You’ll get put to work. I’m afraid you’ll soon miss the freedom you had here in Marietta.”
“I didn’t come to Montana for a vacation. I’m happy to take on cooking, and grocery shopping. Happy to do the laundry and cleaning. I’ve worked hard my whole life. I’m not a princess. I don’t expect anyone to wait on me.”
“There’s a lot of work at the ranch. It can feel endless.”
She leaned forward and reached for his hand. His hand was big, calloused, warm. He laced his fingers with hers, and she immediately felt safer, happier. “When you advertised for a wife, you made it clear you were looking for someone to help lighten your load. You made it clear that you needed a partner, not just for the good times, but also for the hard times. Please don’t try to protect me. I don’t need that. What I need, is to support you now. I need to help your mom. My mom’s grandmother was in a wheelchair the last twenty years of her life. She lived with us for most of that time. It wasn’t easy, but life isn’t easy.”
